How To Make Convincing Faux Magnolias Out Of Crepe Paper

If you love the look of magnolia blossoms, you're going to fall in love with this clever craft. Magnolia trees only bloom for approximately three beautiful weeks. Even if you've learned how to grow and care for magnolia trees, the short lifespan of the flowers means you don't get to enjoy them for very long. If you want to display magnolias all year long, consider the power of faux flowers. While plastic faux flowers can look tacky, there is a delicate DIY alternative that's almost as good as the real thing.

There are several game-changing tricks that make artificial flowers look real, and utilizing paper is one of them. By creating flowers out of crepe paper, the lightweight, textured surface will more closely mimic the appearance of real petals. In order to create convincing faux magnolias, you have to gather a few key materials. You'll need crepe paper, coffee grounds, watercolor paint, small paintbrushes, craft glue, cardstock, and a small faux flower with a wire stem. For the paint, consider the Ecoline Liquid Watercolor Mixing Set for ease of use and color mixing.

Once you have your materials, you'll want to keep your crepe paper folded in several layers. Then, cut the paper into approximately 5-by-5-inch sections. Next, soak the layers of paper in water by holding the stack in the sink. Grab two mugs and fill one with coffee grounds and a small amount of water. In the other cup, activate green watercolor paint. Bunch your wet crepe paper together and dip the layers in both cups on the same edge. Then, take a piece of cardstock and cut it into your desired petal shape. After your colored crepe paper is dry, fold it over itself and glue the pieces together. You can then use the cardstock as a stencil to cut out the petals. For the final colorful touch, paint pink veins and add shading.

Now that the petals are done, all you have to do is glue them around your faux flower base. If you can't find a faux flower that works, you can stick a wire into the center of a foam craft sphere. You can also press colored toothpicks or matches into the foam sphere to more closely mimic magnolia stamens. There are several more ways to modify this hack based on your stylistic goals. If you prefer a more saturated appearance, start with light pink crepe paper rather than white or cover more of each petal in paint. Try working in layers and adding more coats of watercolor paint as needed. Remember, the less water, the deeper the color will appear. Now that your magnolias are done, DIY a creative vase for faux flowers using an unexpected item.