Robin's Egg Blue Paper Bouquet

This timeless beauty bouquet would be perfect for a classic or a book-themed wedding.

I was inspired by illustrations in a natural history book by Gerald Durrell which my grandfather gave me years ago. I believe I was nine at the time.

The book is in Croatian, which at one point I could read and speak fluently (I can only read it now) and is one of my favorite books of all time. I had it with me when I first came to the U.S. and has moved with me from coast to coast and is currently taking up shelf space in my living room.

I love the stories about the author's life in India, in Cypress. The layouts of some of the things you could find in a regular old field or a meadow are amazing. Plants and occasional animal life spread out on white surface, still, yet also beautiful.

One of these layouts had a  color scheme which I wanted to capture in this bouquet.

Pale BLUE, like EGGSHELL BLUE, soft IVORY white and BOOK paper. I threw in a shade of pastel GREEN just to add a touch of warmth.

The blue flowers are in the new shape I am currently in love with. Sort of like magnolia blossoms, only with a pearl for the center.

Paper roses are still present, and abstract book paper roses as well. No fears, I used a different book for these flowers - - - I would never touch my grandfather's book for anything else except for reading :)

I wrapped the bouquet in a blue satin ribbon, but I also enjoy seeing it in a hand-knit vase (more about this vase in another post).

I will list it in my Etsy shop any day now. For the time being, it sits prettily on my desk and I love catching a glimpse of it every now and then.

Eggshell Blue Paper Bouquet

BLUE, BOOK and YELLOW Pomander

I created a book paper inspired pomander constructed of paper roses in a summer bride's palette: Bright Blue and Yellow.

• blue tinted book roses
• blue roses
• yellow roses
• yellow satin ribbon

See a different version of this pomander in the same colors.

BOOK Flowers and Buttons - Amy's Bridesmaid Bouquets

Amy's bridesmaid bouquets are ready!!

BOOK paper flowers and lots and lots of buttons! A lovely combination, don't you think?

Also, see Amy's book paper flowers bridal bouquet in the same theme.

Yellow, Cobalt Blue and Book Paper Pomander

I recently created wedding bouquets for a summer bride in this color palette ~ ~ ~ YELLOW, COBALT BLUE and BOOK PAPER  ~ ~ ~ and this paper flowers pomander is the complementing piece for her floral girl.

Also in the pipe line:

- Yellow and Blue Corsages for the moms and grandmothers,

and

- Yellow and Blue Boutonnieres for the groomsmen, dads, and most importantly, the groom.

Colors of the Day - GRAY and YELLOW

Today is colored in gray and yellow - golden sunshine and silver clouds.

Two paper flowers to match the mood and the light.

Enjoy!!

Copy of an actual wedding bouquet

Some time ago I received an unusual request through Etsy.

First of all, it was the groom who contacted me (I usually get emails from brides or ladies in the wedding party).

Second of all, he sent me these pictures asking me if I could re-create his bride's bouquet in paper flowers.

It was to be a gift for her for their first anniversary.

How could I say "No"?

This is such a sweet idea, that I decided to do my best and create this beautiful gift.

So far, I have most of the paper roses all ready, as well as orchids and a few of the hydrangea blossoms. A paper daisy is coming along nicely, too.

So, hopefully, in the next few days I'll have the whole piece finished.

In the meantime, here's a peek at what I have done so far.

Peaches and Cream

The shape of the paper flowers for this bouquet are brand new - I came up with it while I was thinking of something else.

What started as a prototype of the flower from a piece of cream paper soon evolved into a sophisticated bloom that requires all of one's skills (well not all, but certainly some), such as:

• paper punching,
• cutting,
• inking,
• gluing,
• folding,
• wiring,
• wrapping ...

The other flowers are a variation of what I'm already familiar with, that is, peony-like flowers and tiny spray flowers, all wired and wrapped in white floral tape.

Cute buttons in pink and beige dot the centers of the flowers. 

Yellow pearly butterflies hover about and bring life to this charming assembly of individually made flowers.

Note the variety of patterns, textures and details.

Made with such joy!!

Green LED Paper Flowers - Wedding Centerpieces

Some time ago I made a paper flower that glows in the dark with the light of 10 LED lights. I still keep it in my home - nothing better than some blue light on a winter night - makes everything more wintery :)

This time, I made 10 paper flowers with 20 LEDs in several shades of green - not just because I like to dabble in green, but because there's a creative March wedding in the works - a great event I'm happy to be a part of.

Anyways, these paper flowers, along with my favorite wall flowers will be the star decorations at the reception. They look pretty as they are, but especially enchanting when lit up.

I'm sending these babies to my friend Belinda, and come March, I'll post a few photos from the wedding, too.

Winter Colors Bouquet

The colors for this paper flowers bouquet were drawn from the feathers of a peacock.

...brilliant blues...
   ...shades of purple...
...a dash of pink... and
    ...rich hues of gold
are tied together
by
soft tender pearls...


Handmade paper butterflies land on petals here and there.


Vintage buttons adorn the centers of flowers in original shapes.

I used designer print papers, card stock, paper that shimmers, paper that folds ever-so-beautifully, tissue paper, inked paper...

Flower stamps and inks in many colors add that extra touch.

Lavender silk ribbon.

Aqua satin ribbon.

See it in my shop here.

Making Paper Decorations and Paper Flowers Bouquets

Ever since I started creating paper pieces for my wedding, constructing individual flowers and butterflies that would one day become a part of something greater (like a paper flowers bouquet) has brought me many many hours of happiness.

I find it also brings me peace.

My wedding day came and went in a daze, but the joy of making something with my hands has stayed with me. Lately, I've been creating new and even more beautiful paper flowers for other weddings and baby showers.

Coming up with new shapes of flowers, new patterns, new petal forms has become more than a way to spend an afternoon at my home studio. I now know that those delicate wall flowers I've been making will go to very special people (Belinda and her daughter Lizzie), or that the paper flowers pomander that I created new peonies for will be enjoyed by Laura. Victoria will carry the paper flowers bouquet I made from designer paper (see below), while Lisa will hang my paper rose sphere somewhere in her home.

My paper decorations are not just things I do to relieve stress any more - they have lives of their own. And the people I'm making them for are not just people that shop through Etsy. They now have names and stories, and I'm so lucky to become a part of their big day, in a however small way.

More Petal-By-Petal Mums

Here are more pictures of my recently found passion for making petal-by-petal mums :)

Petal-by-Petal Mums

 

I've been admiring mums and other fall flowers these days, and I've started re-creating them with book paper petals lightly touched with archival ink.

Each petal is cut and formed by hand, then glued in place, layer upon layer. I added a hook at the back of the flower for hanging, decorating a gift box, or for attaching a future stem to display it in a vase, and a nice brown button for the center.

More paper mums are in the making...Maybe I'll use them in a bridal bouquet, or for decorating gifts.

Paper Flowers Bouquet

Paper flower bouquet constructed out of handmade paper roses, blue paper flowers with pearls and soft fabric blossoms with glass beads.

I used only paper, wire, pearl beads, glass beads, fabric flowers, and pretty ribbon (silk, satin and printed satin). A single paper butterfly adorns the handle of the bouquet.

7" - 8" wide, 9" high.

It's perfect for a handmade wedding, don't you think?