Do you remember back in April when I made the really big pink door flower from paper Creative Twist? I said that I wanted to make another version – and it’s time for the Big Paper Twist Door Flower Take Two – Sunflower! I love sunflowers in early autumn and love this big over-the-top flower on my door! Since it’s made of paper, you’ll want to make sure this gigantic flower is on a door that’s protected from the elements – so I’ll be moving this to the inside of my door. It’s nice to have something on both sides of our front door, so we see something fun when we’re leaving for the day and coming home.
Almost all of the supplies and directions for the sunflower are exactly the same as the April flower, and you can find the directions here. You can even use the same template – just alter it to cut the petals to a point at both the top and the bottom. The big difference is the center! I wanted something to mimic the interesting center of a sunflower and I think that the coiled, chenille stems really do the trick! They add nice texture and dimension to the flower.
The additions to the supply list are:
- Paper twist – I used dark yellow for the longest back petals and light yellow for the center and front rows
- One piece of brown craft foam, 12” x 19”
- 3 packs of 25-count brown chenille stems
- Low-tem hot glue gun and glue sticks
The first row has 24 petals and should look like this.
The second row has 23 petals.
The final row has 24 petals – I put in a couple of extra petals for fullness. One all three rows of petals are done, the flower will look like this!
Now to make our center! Take one chenille stem and roll it into a tight coil. I used 75 brown chenille coils for the center – you can make this super-fast, though!
We want our center to extend beyond the edge of the Styrofoam disk, so that the bottoms of the petals will be covered. I traced a circle using a dinner plate onto the brown craft foam, cut it out and pasted it onto the foam. This gives us a good place to glue the chenille coils. Starting at the edge of the brown foam circle, glue the chenille coils around the foam, letting them extend a bit off the edge of the foam. Just keep gluing, pressing them as tightly together as possible. It’s ok if there is a little gap between coils, because the brown foam totally camouflages any gaps! Here’s how the coils look after gluing two rows.
Make a hanger for the back out of heavy gauge floral wire; dip the wire in glue and push it into the foam. Once it’s dry, you are ready to hang your big happy flower!
What do you think? I’m loving my big paper sunflower! Now I have great flower for my door in the spring and the fall. It’s a fun change from a wreath and I like the blend of sunshine and autumn. Make a big paper sunflower for your door or wall – it’s a guaranteed smile every morning!
Sharing at these fun parties!
Very pretty! great idea on the chenille twists ? visiting thry the Get Your DIY On Party
Hi JoAnn! Thank you so much – I really appreciate your sweet visit and comment. I will be on my way to return the visit soon! ? Hope you have a happy Tuesday and a wonderful week!
This is absolutely beautiful! I love sunflowers and this is gorgeous. Since it’s paper, can it be used outside? Or does the door need to be on a covered porch? I’ve never worked with this product before so I don’t know if the paper is coated with anything. I’m visiting from the Get Your DIY On link party.
Christy @ Creating a Beautiful Life
Hi Christy! Thank you so much for visiting and for your sweet comment! I love sunflowers, too! They’re such a happy flower, aren’t they? Paper twist is pretty strong and durable, but it’s not coated, so this does need to be protected from the elements! A covered porch or a front door that also has a storm door in front of it would work. I really appreciate your visit and hope you have a fantastic week!
I love your big paper twist flower! Love the fuzzy pipe cleaner center too. That was a genius idea!
Thanks, Danni! You are too kind! I actually love the center, too! Thank you so much for visiting – hope you had a happy Monday and have a wonderful week!
Cindy, that flower is awesome!!! I love it…I someone to make me one ? That would definitely brighten anyone’s day, it is so happy looking! ?
Awww…thanks, Lisa! I will make you one!! ?
Really cute! Can’t help but smile when you look at that. I have to tell you, though, I honestly thought you used acorn tops for the center of the sunflower. I had to read the list of supplies & even then I checked the pic again!!
:.)
Thank you so much and your comment made me smile! Those coiled chenille stems DO look like acorn tops! ? This is definitely happy flower and I love seeing on my door in the morning – it will be really a little bit of sunshine on a rainy day! Thank you so much for visiting and hope you have a fabulous week!
Wow, very impressive, how fun these would be at my upcoming son’s wedding in a barn!!!
Hi Terry! Thank you so much! Oh my, these would be gorgeous at your son’s wedding and congratulations!!! My son was married in June of 2012 at a destination wedding and I made a ton of things for the wedding – it was such fun! I’m sure the wedding in a barn will be so beautiful and I hope you share some of it – can’t wait to see it! ? Thank you so much for visiting and have a happy Tuesday!
What is paper twist and where do you get it? love your sunflower, that’s quite an undertaking making such a gorgeous big flower. How long did I take you to make it? I’d love to find that paper twist. At first I thought it was crepe paper but read the intro and realized it’s something else, great product. I love the little brown twists, they look like those little wormies that curl up when touched. Or are they called woolies? I’ve got to try this flower.
Haven’t been able to locate my Fall decos box in our shed but have been making so many things I won’t need it this year. I have to make things whether I need them or not. Feel incomplete if I don’t, Keeps me busy and off the streets, out of trouble. Makes hubs crazy since I have crafting stuff all over house it seems. I’m usually working on about 2 or 3 projects in different stages at same time. What else do old crafters do? Sure glad I clicked on this post. Happy week
Hi Jane Ellen! I totally understand about craft products all over the house! ? Paper twist is a great product that was really popular in the 80’s and 90’s – probably earlier, too! You can still find it online at Paper Mart, American Twisting Company and even Joann. I did a whole post on it http://www.littlemisscelebration.com/2013/01/04/flashback-fridays-paper-creative-twist/. It’s inexpensive and really durable and moldable – I love it! I worked on this over a week – once get the paper untwisted and cut, the whole thing goes together really fast! Untwisting and cutting the petals is actually kind of relaxing! I’m so happy you visited and let me know if you make anything with paper twist! Have a wonderful week!
Wow Cindy – I truly love this! Just looking at the picture brightened my day!! Pinned!
Oh, Deb, thanks so much! Sunflowers are really such happy flowers, aren’t they? Thank you so much for your visit and the pin! Have a great Thursday!
LOVE this I love sunflowers!! & what a wonderful tutorial Thanks for sharing ?
~Candice @ http://mylittlecircusandme.blogspot.com/
Hi Candice! Thank you so much for you kind comment and visit – I appreciate it so much! Hope you are having a great week and have a happy Thursday!
Wow Cindy – this is so pretty and SO creative!! Awesome job! Thank you so much for sharing this at the Get Your DIY On Fall Wreath Challenge this week! Hope to see you back next week with a thrifty upcycled project!
Krista, thank you so much for your sweet comment and for the fun party! Enjoy your day!
Cindy… that just made me… happy!
So fun and festive!! Just like you really!! ?
Thank you, Cynthia – what a sweet comment! This makes me happy every morning when I see it – sunflowers are such happy flowers. Thank you for visiting and starting my day with a smile!
Your big happy sunflower looks great, so sweet!
Heather, thank you so much! It is happy and makes me smile every morning! Thanks so much for visiting and have a happy week!
This is darling!
Kelly
Thanks, Kelly! It’s a happy flower! ? Thanks for visiting and enjoy a happy Wednesday!
This is so pretty and can be changed in color to fit about any season. Thank you so much.
Hi Trish! Thank you so much and I’m happy that you like it! Absolutely, this can be in any color and it’s fun to make, too. It was so nice of you to visit and I appreciate it very much! Hope you have a happy Wednesday and a great week!
This is GORGEOUS, Cindy!! Like….WHOAH! I can’t quit looking at it.
Kristi – thank you so much for your sweet comment! I am kind of fond of this happy sunflower to greet me every morning – it’s like happy sunshine even when it’s yucky out! So appreciate your visit and hope you have a happy Friday!
How cheerful!
? That’s exactly what I think, too, Sharon! Thank you!