How to Make Paper Flowers for Day of the Dead

Step-by-step instructions on how to make paper flowers, the beautiful decorations popular in Mexico for all sorts of celebrations. An easy craft for anyone!

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Day of the Dead is coming up on Sunday and Monday. We set up our alter last weekend and are beginning to decorate it with candles, incense, and pictures of loved ones who have passed.

Today I will place a little jar of salt on the alter to represent the earth and to cleanse the spirit.

The final piece will be the colorful addition of large paper flowers.

In Mexico, enormous fresh marigolds in red, orange, and yellow are used to decorate the graves and alters but tissue paper flowers are also popular and are often strung together to make elaborate garlands which are draped overhead and along the edges of the gravestones.

an easy paper flower tutorial

Now DIY paper flower tutorials can be elaborate. If you’ve ever watched a Lia Griffith video tutorial of her rose paper flower you know what I mean.

As much as I love looking at a giant crepe paper rose, it’s not exactly something I want to make. I mean, I don’t even know what a cutting file is!

This step-by-step tutorial is just the opposite.

It requires no cutting machine, no templates, and no hot glue. Just an easy fun paper craft that even you little ones can do.

I am not, not, not a crafter so believe me when I tell you they are very simple to make.

supplies

Beautiful paper flowers require very little and are really inexpensive to make.

All you need is

• one package of colorful tissue paper
• some pipe cleaners or craft wire
• Sharp scissors

15 sheets of tissue paper and 15 pipe cleaners should make about 15 flowers.

how to make paper flowers

Step One:

Take one sheet of tissue paper and cut it in half, then cut that piece in half two more times until you have several sheets that are about 8-inches long x 4-inches wide.

This doesn’t matter too much—the bigger the sheets, the larger the flowers. You can use this method to make medium and large flowers. For medium flowers cut the pieces in half three more times.

For giant paper flowers, use 8 full sheets of tissue paper. Basically large papers equal large flowers.

Stack 8 pieces of cut tissue paper together (you can use all the same color or multiple colors).

Step 2:

Starting on the short end make a 1/2-inch thick fold.

Step 3:

Flip the tissue paper over so the folded side is down and then take the folded piece up and fold it again so now the fold is on the top, like an accordion. I wonder how many times I can use the word fold in a sentence, hmmmm.

Step 4:

Keep working your way up, folding back and forth until all the tissue paper is folded.

Step 5:

Bend the pipe cleaner around the middle of the stack and twist to secure. This will be your stem.

Step 6:

Cut each edge, either in a triangular shape or rounded.

Step 7:

Then fan out the paper.

Step 8:

Now pull one layer of tissue paper at a time towards the middle, carefully peeling the pieces of paper apart to create large sized petals.

Continue with the remaining pieces of colorful paper to make as many beautiful flowers as you like.

You can even make gigantic ones to hang from the ceiling using full sheets of tissue paper.

And that’s it! I have so much fun making these, I might even try construction paper flowers next—but don’t hold your breath.

For those of you celebrating Día de los Muertos, I hope your hearts are full of celebration this weekend.

Cherish these days; share family stories, eat Pan de Muerto, and leave a flower or two for those who can no longer walk with us on this earth, but who are waiting to show us the glorious world on the other side.

more day of the dead fun

Don’t miss these other fun Día de los Muertos crafts and activities to try with your friends and family.

super easy sugar skulls

These simplified, super easy Sugar Skulls are basically foolproof and are perfect for little ones to decorate for Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead.

marigold smudge sticks

How to make marigold smudge sticks to cleanse your environment and prepare your home to welcome loved ones for Day of the Dead celebrations.

10 day of the dead altar essentials

A Day of the Dead Altar is the focal point of holiday celebrations. Everything from candles to incense, Papel Picado to even Pan de Muerto can be ordered online. Here are 10 essentials to order now to prepare your Ofrenda by October 31.

chocolate peanut butter calaveras

Calaveras or skulls are a traditional symbol of the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead. These peanut butter calaveras are like chocolate peanut butter cups!

these paper flowers also make beautiful cinco de mayo decorations

Check out our Cinco de Mayo Party Guide for lots of DIY decor ideas, cocktails, and Cinco de Mayo recipes.

day of the dead recipes to try!

• Vegan Ceviche with Avocado and Lime
• Sofrito Black Beans
• Slow Cooker Carne Adobada
• Spicy Raspberry Jalapeño Margaritas
• Caldo de Pollo
• Pork Flautas
• Red Mole Pork Tamales

decorate and share!

Give these paper flowers a try and don’t forget to share with me by snapping a pic and tagging me on Instagram @holajalapeno and #holajalapeno so I can see or leave me a comment below (don’t forget to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating) ! Also, don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!

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