Sometimes you get an idea you’re so excited about and it turns out even better than you imagined in your mind. That’s exactly what happened with these gorgeous DIY flower paper lanterns I dreamed up.
I wanted to create dreamy, feminine, and colorful paper lanterns that looked natural. These beauties can be used for party decorations, spring celebrations, bridal and baby showers, wedding and reception decorations, birthday parties, or even as nursery or girls’ room decor!
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These gorgeous DIY flower paper lanterns are just that. Bonus points for being super simple to make with only a few supplies that you’ll need!
Oh, and did I mention that these will last forever? These flowers are artificial, so you don’t have to worry about wilting droopy leaves or how far in advance you can make these. They will last for a very long time!
My friends at Oriental Trading sent me some pretty white paper lanterns for this project. They’ve got a large selection of paper lanterns in all different colors and sizes, and for great prices too.
Before you start, think about the color scheme of your party or room decor and choose high quality flowers and leaves that match those colors. You’ll want to choose the most realistic flowers that you can so that your finished floral paper lanterns look real. You won’t need very many flowers for each lantern, so it’s worth it to invest in realistic flowers.
DIY Flower Paper Lanterns Tutorial
Supplies:
- Paper lanterns (I used white 12″ paper lanterns but feel free to get creative and experiment with different colors and sizes)
- High quality silk flowers and leaves
- Glue gun
STEP 1. Remove the flower heads you’ll be using from their stems by pulling on the whole flower to remove it. Cut off the leaves in clusters, and then cut some individual leaves off as well. Add the wire to the inside of your paper lantern to open it.
STEP 2. At the top of your paper lantern (the end with the wire hook), glue on a cluster of leaves with your glue gun so that they are hanging down.
Right next to that cluster add a large flower by putting hot glue onto the back of the flower, then carefully holding it in place for a minute while the glue cools.
STEP 3. Repeat this process by adding more and more flowers and leaves that cascade down and around the front of the paper lantern.
I only wanted flowers around the front of my paper lanterns because I hung mine so that they stayed in place.
Just keep in mind that depending on how you hang your lanterns, they might move, so you may want flowers around the entire paper lantern. It’s up to you!
If you hang them from a tree like I did, you can do it in a way that they won’t turn so you can save on flowers and make more lanterns, which is definitely a good thing.
Be sure to have some variety in your lanterns. Add both large and small blooms, dark green and bright green leaves, bright flowers with white flowers, and more to create visual interest.
I’m absolutely in love with these DIY flower paper lanterns and am so excited to use them again soon!
You can remove the wire from the inside and close these up slightly to store. Just be careful not to scrunch the top up too much where the flowers are.
Learn how to make a floral hoop wreath with some of these same flowers. Mine is hanging in my living room, but these are also perfect party decor!
Here are more of my favorite spring projects-
How to Make a Beautiful Charcuterie Board
Backyard Camping Party + FREE Printables
These are so cute and girly! And they work for so many party themes! And your flowers look so real! Where did you get them?
This is beautiful – I love this idea and could see several of them hanging from our deck railing for evening gatherings with friends.
Thanks so much Brenda! That sounds lovely and perfect for all the outdoor entertaining that comes with spring and summer!
These are SO cute! I love the twist on a basic paper lantern. I can’t wait to do these in the spring and summer for outdoor BBQs and other festivities.
Felicity | http://oliverandmoose.com
Thanks so much Felicity! These are perfect for all those upcoming outdoor parties!
Is good to be creative. I like so much this idea.
Thanks so much Carmen. I agree, it feels so great to use your creativity to make something beautiful!
What is your floral source? They look amazingly real!
Aren’t they amazing?! Even up close they look pretty real. I lucked out because my husband knew someone who was getting rid of a bunch of their artificial flowers, so he gave them to me since he knew I would use them. I wish I could tell you where they came from!
Those lanterns are beautiful! So pretty and feminine Thank you for sharing! I now have a new use for my paper lanterns.
Thanks so much Brenda! It’s the perfect way to use some lanterns from your stash. 🙂
This is really amazing….i love the choice of colors
Thanks so much Joy! I’m really happy with how they turned out!
They are crazy beautiful 🙂 I do have a question: where are the flowers from, I was pretty much SURE they’re real 🙂
Thanks so much Magda! I promise they’re fake, but they sure do look pretty realistic, don’t they? My husband actually brought home a bunch of these flowers that someone he knows was getting rid of. Lucky for me he knew I woud love them and brought them home to me. I’m making great use of them! 🙂
Thanks for this great idea. I made three flower lanterns for my daughter’s bridal shower and they were so pretty. If you’d like to see them I pinned them on my Shower Idea’s Pinterest board. Thanks again!
That’s great Carrie, I’m so glad you liked the tutorial. I definitely need to check yours out! I want to make more of these for the different seasons too. It would be fun to use different flowers, leaves, and colors depending on the season.