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How To Make Crepe Paper Flowers: {Fundamentals}

How To Make Flowers With Dennison Crepe Paper (Vintage Booklet - 1948)

First Steps In Flower Making
The instructions here teach you the fundamental principles of crepe paper flower making. When you have learned these basic steps and assembled a few flowers, you will find it very easy to duplicate any real flower in crepe paper.
If you have never worked with crepe paper, it will be helpful to practice some of the more often used processes before trying to make any finished flowers. For example, practice wrapping stem wires and adding leaves as you wrap until you can do it tightly and smoothly. This is one of the more important steps in flower making.
Cutting separate petals and strips of petals are other processes you should know how to do easily.
Fastening the flower together with tie wire and cutting the surplus paper below the fastening is also important.
No. 1: The Grain Of Crepe Paper
It is important to know that when crepe paper is slipped from the wrapper the grain runs the 20″ width of the folded piece of paper. The little lines in the crepe paper, or in other words, the grain, must always run from top to bottom of a petal or leaf unless directions for a particular flower definitely state otherwise.
The direction of the grain is always indicated on the pattern with three short lines. Remember this important fact when you are cutting petals or leaves so that they may stand erect or be stretched into correct shape.
No. 2: How To Cut A Strip Across The Grain
Slip the crepe paper from the wrapper the stated width and, using the edge of the wrapper as a guide, cut across the entire folded thickness with large sharp shears. In this way you always cut the strip the desired width across the grain, Fig. 1.

No. 3: To Make Patterns
First trace the patterns on tissue paper. Paste the tracing on lightweight cardboard and cut out. The wrapper in which the crepe paper comes will often answer. This method keeps patterns intact for future use.
Never cut a single leaf or petal. Cut a number at one time. This is done by cutting a strip across the grain about 1/2″ wider than the depth of the pattern to be used. Unfold the strip of crepe paper and starting with the two ends together, refold three times thus making eight thicknesses of single crepe, or fold twice (4 thicknesses) of Duplex Crepe. Pin or hold the pattern on the folded thicknesses and cut all at once, Fig. 2.
When strips of petals are to be made, cut and fold the strip as directed above, then while the strip is in the several thicknesses, make slashes the required depth and distance apart. Shape the upper part of the petal with the pattern, Fig. 3. This may often be done without actually placing the pattern on the folded strip. It is usually better to pin the strip in several places while cutting the strips of petals to prevent slipping.

No. 4: Double Petals Or Leaves
Cut one strip of each color the desired width. Stretch slightly to prevent wrinkling. Place one strip on the other and fold so that when the petals are cut out the colors will alternate in the pile.
Lay a pile of petals on the table. Hold securely at the base with the left hand. Lift up the tops of all petals except the bottom one. Paste the top edge of this. Press the next petal down on it. Continue in this way until all petals are pasted together in groups of two, Fig. 4.

No. 5: Fluting The Edges
This means stretching the edge of the crepe paper to give a ruffled effect. Hold the edge of the petal between the thumbs and forefingers of both hands with the fingers close together. Pull forward with one hand and push away with the other. Repeat as necessary, taking care not to place the fingers in the newly made fluting. You may often flute several thicknesses of petals at one time, Fig. 5.

No. 6: Cupping To Shape Petals
Hold either side of a petal (or several thicknesses of petals) with the thumbs and forefingers of both hands as shown in Fig. 6. The instructions for the individual flower you are making will say whether to hold the petal at the top, base or half way down. Gradually stretch the entire width of the petal with both hands, pushing the petal carefully and evenly into the desired shape, Fig. 6.

No. 7: When Curling Petals
(a) With Scissors Blade — Hold as in Fig. 7-A. with the edge of the blade resting lightly on the under side of the petal and the thumb on top. Draw the blade up and along the petal thus making it curl.

(b) With a Knitting Needle — Place the needle on the edge of the petal in a slanting position, as shown in Fig. 7-B. With the thumbs and fingers roll the paper tightly around the needle, then pull the needle out. Sometimes, before the needle is removed, the crepe paper is pushed together on it from either end thus crinkling it, Fig. 7-C.

No. 8: Fastening With Wire
(a) Single Wire — Wrap one end or the center of a single piece of spool wire a given length once around the base of the flower. Twist the ends together once or twice. Cut the surplus paper off just below the wire fastening, either straight across or in a point according to the particular flower being made, cutting the paper at both sides. Bring the wire ends down over the opposite sides and twist underneath, Fig. 8-A.

(b) Double Wires — For large heavy flowers, use two fastenings of wire. Place the second one over the first, bringing the ends down on opposite sides. Cut away the surplus paper and twist the wires underneath the flower base, Fig. 8-B.
No. 9: Fringed Crepe Paper
Cut the crepe paper into a strip across the grain the required width as described in Instruction No. 2. Stretch the strip fully for a fine fringe and less for a coarse one. Fold the strip in half twice, pin if necessary to keep it from slipping, and cut with the grain, making the cuts as close together and as deep as necessary but always leaving 1/2″ or more at the opposite edge uncut, Fig. 9.

No. 10: To Wrap Wire Stems
Stems are wrapped with strips of crepe paper cut across the grain a given width. These strips may be single or doubled through the middle lengthwise according to the size of the flower and the length of the stem. Duplex Crepe may be used for stem wrapping but it should be cut in narrower strips and care must be taken to keep the same side of the strip out and to make the wrapping very tight.
When starting the wrapping, put a bit of paste over the base of the flower or calyx and wrap the end of the crepe paper strip around it two or three times very tightly. Then, with the long end of the strip coming at either the left or right of the stem, whichever is easier for you, hold the stem wire with one hand placed just above the winding strip. Twirl the stem wire around and around with the other hand, at the same time stretching the strip and guiding it diagonally downward, Fig. 10. When the end of the wire is reached, put a bit of paste on the end and continue twisting tightly. Break or cut off the end.

No. 11: Adding Leaves Or Extra Length To The Stem
(a) Leaves — Wrap the stem as directed above to the point where leaf is to be placed. Crepe paper leaves are gathered slightly at the base, held close to the stem with the right hand at a point where the wrapping will cover it at least 1/2″ or more and the wrapping continued, Fig. 11. It is not necessary to hold the leaf in place with paste or to twist the wire around the stem. Artificial leaves with wire stems are added in the same way, with the wire stem extending the required length.
(b) To Lengthen or Strengthen Wire Stems — Wrap the stem to within an inch or two of the point where the extra wire is to be added. Place the second wire beside the first one overlapping 1″ to 2″. Continue wrapping with the crepe paper. It will not be necessary to twist the two pieces together.

No. 12: Wiring Petals Or Leaves
(a) Cut a piece of covered wire 1″ or more longer than the petal or leaf to be wired. Lay wire on a flat surface and brush paste over one side. Place the pasted side of the wire on the under side of the petal with the extra length projecting below the base. Press down firmly until dry, Fig. 12-A.
(b) To Wire a Petal Cut in Two Pieces — Lay a piece of wire, pasted on both sides, 1/8″ from the straight edge of the petal then place the other half of the petal on it, overlapping 1/8″ and press down firmly, Fig. 12-b.

No. 13: Stretching Crepe Paper
Cut the crepe paper the required width, then if it is to be only slightly stretched, refold into 4 thicknesses. Grasp the two folded ends in your hands and stretch. If the paper is to be “well” or “fully” stretched, stretch a single thickness or a double thickness in the same way. This may be more easily done by two persons, one at each end and with the ends of the strip wound two or three times around a ruler, Fig. 13.

No. 14: To Color Petals
“Newpastel,” “Pastello,” or similar chalky crayons, dry pigment powder or cake rouge may be used to tint flower petals and leaves for realistic effects. Rub the coloring in with the grain of the crepe. The crayon may be used directly on the crepe paper and then rubbed in with a small pad of cotton. Avoid all abrupt edges or heavy marks unless designed for some particular flower. Make the coloring heavier at the edges and fade it off toward the center. Sometimes water color paint may be used, or the color may be soaked from crepe paper in a very little water and applied with a small paint brush.
No. 15: Shaping Flowers
Take hold of the flower stem just below the blossom and hold the wired petal between the thumb and forefinger of the other hand. Draw the fingers up and along the petal rolling it outward or inward as the case may be, to shape it correctly, Fig. 14. Hold leaves at their bases and shape in the same way.

Glossary
Terms used in Making Crepe Paper Flowers:

Calyx — The cup shaped part under the blossom — usually green.
Duplex Crepe — A ready-made double thickness crepe paper usually different colors on the two sides.
Petals — The separate sections which make up a flower to determine its color.
Pistil — The center of a flower — usually yellow and often surrounded with fine stamens.
Pollen — Fine powder-like material on end of stamens, pistil and sometimes on the petals — usually made of very finely cut bits of crepe paper pasted in place.
Stamens — Small fringe-like pieces which surround the pistil or appear separately in the center of a flower.
Tie Wire — Fine cotton covered wire which comes on spools and is used to fasten petals together. It is not actually tied but rather the two ends are twisted together tightly around the flower to hold securely.

Source: How To Make Flowers With Dennison Crepe Paper (1948)