Tuesday, January 19, 2010

how to: instant recycled paper flowers


I'd like to introduce you to my new favorite helper: Shredder! She's sharp, quick, and to the point! Literally.


I discovered this crazy Edward Scissorhand tool in one of my favorite tiny shops in San Francisco, Bell'occhio. They use it for their signature gift wrapping. I was so taken with its ability to instantly transform simple paper into something extraordinary, that I had to get a pair. I am now turning every bit of paper I get my hands on into flowers. A garden is beginning to blossom inside the walls of my winter home... as newspaper, maps, and vintage sewing patterns get snip, snip, snipped.

A belated birthday party for my December daughter is coming right up and these flowers will help set the scene. I think they'd be a wonderful addition to any Valentine's Day crafting, as well. Ahh! That's how we can use the holiday wrapping paper we couldn't toss out!

I'm sure you can come up with millions of uses for these little blooms. Where can you find these fancy shears? They're a common office supply store staple... they're just hand paper shredders. Really. Online, I found them here for a very nice price.

And here's how to make some flowers of your own...


Instant Paper Flowers

  • assorted paper (lightweight and tissue work the best)
  • shredder
  • stapler

-Fold paper:
  • tissue paper should be folded over a couple of times
  • maps and thicker paper fold in half

-Cut along the folded side for tissue and the open side for thicker paper, but experimenting is what makes this fun, so try it a couple of different ways. Just remember to insert the paper as far back into the scissors as possible.-Roll from one end to another.


-Staple the bottom.

So seriously fun!!



Note: Never use shredding scissors on fabric! That will be the end of them.


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92 comments:

  1. this is just fabulous! i'm considering all the other fabulous things you could do with those flowers... wonder if they carry those scissors at michaels?

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    1. We are agree with your comment and also this blog is a good for paper craft work and its nice paper flower.

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    2. You can get the scissors at michaels..Martha Stewart section. Not too expensive.

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  2. Oh my gosh! This is fantastic Maya! You brilliant thing you! I love these and can't wait to get my hands on some! :)
    xo
    Melis

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  3. love! i need a pair of these, thanks for sharing :)

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  4. Those scissors have to be the most ingenious gadget I've seen in a long time. Thanks for sharing.
    Berte

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  5. Gorgeous flowers, they would be fun to add to my daughter's paper flower bouquet. Thanks for the tutorial.

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  6. ooohhh!! These are lovely!! I need that shredder!

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  7. Oh how lovely! The flowers are gorgeous and I'm dying to have those scissors. Happy shredding!

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  8. AMAZING... i need that shredder asap. you can use these flowers for so many things... im thinking garland!!! thanks for sharing

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  9. So fun ~ I can't wait to make these! Thanks for sharing =0)

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  10. SO easy and SO sweet! Thank you so much for sharing. I can't wait to make some.

    Those are some wicked scissors by the way. :)

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  11. wow. those do look crazy edward. but what a great craft - fun, easy, and looks incredibly cool. the best kind. :) thanks for sharing!

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  12. I love it! Never seen a scissor like that! just great!

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  13. I have similar scissors that are for cutting herbs but they don't work well for that. The herbs get stuck inside and it's a mess to clean. I think those scissors might be finding a new home in my studio.
    Thanks, I will be trying this for sure.

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  14. Oh, these are just fabulous - both the bows and the scissors. Thanks so much for sharing this. Can't wait to try it out.

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  15. These are super cute. They remind me of the fabric flowers in the Alabama Stitch book.

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  16. so lovely... so fun... can't wait to try it1

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  17. I want, I want, I want!!!!!! Those are fabulous!

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  18. THAT is AMAZING. i'm going to try too!

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  19. gorgeous!!! I love these....especially the one made from newspaper! very cool

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  20. I'don't have this fantastic scissor, maybe i can do this flower with one common anyway...

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  21. Awwwwww. How did you know that I really wanted to try those on fabric. *sigh*

    ;-) Love them!

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  22. This is so darn awesome; thanks for posting the tutorial!

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  23. I love these flowers. I am going to have them to my list of things to make even if I don't have those awesome scissors.
    OnceUponAParent.blogspot.com

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  24. I've seen those scissors before and always thought they were a "one trick pony", just for shredding. How wrong I was.

    Fabulous Flowers Maya!

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  25. Okay, I NEED these scissors ASAP. And I hope there are some scissor-making people out there somewhere who realize that we sewers/crafters would definitely jump all over a fabric version of these shredders!

    Thanks for the tutorial, I will definitely be making these!

    Valerie

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  26. This is so sweet - yet simple. Thank you for sharing.
    Warm wishes,
    Tonya

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  27. Thanks so much for sharing this idea! Easy and fabulous!

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  28. Lol, igot a pair for Christmas and was about to toss them. Thanks for the save!

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  29. Wow! I have a feeling we're about to see a lot of paper flowers blossoming! Thanks for your enthusiastic response... what's not to love about those scissors? Of course, you don't have to run out and buy them. A regular pair of scissors will get the job done, too. There's absolutely nothing wrong with slow and steady. I just think that the act of snipping was so darn fun with these, that I had to share! Sweet dreams to you all!

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  30. I am in love! I have a super scissor fetish and those are amazing scissors! I had to steal a few photos and link up with your tutorial. Thanks so much!

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  31. I MUST have that shredder! Oh I hope Joanns (home of the 40% coupon) carries them because I'll be buying a pair asap. Thanks so much for this fabulous idea! I'll be linking as well. Way cool!

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  32. So simple and cute! Thanks for sharing Maya :)

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  33. so simple , can light up everything , thanks ....

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  34. WOW!!!! I am so happy to have come across an Indian, who is into crafts.... And what crafts.. no words to express how I feel.... Those beautified cute cuttings to flowers are simply awesome.... What a transition.... Lovely!!!! I happy!!!

    Ash...
    (http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)

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  35. look at what a fantastic trend starter you are
    your beautiful mind is just brimming with fantastic ideas
    take care

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  36. LOve, love;)

    Nice blog you have here,
    hug from a new follower.

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  37. Best recycle idea I've seen thus far this year! :-) Cheers, Julie

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  38. hey, you're nominated for a Poppy award on Poppytalk!

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  39. **Sharp intake of breath**I must have those! Not only do they make awesome paper flowers, they're super cool looking!

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  40. GREAT idea! I found the scissors here - not too expensive either: http://www.amazon.com/Jobar-Multi-Blade-Shredder-Scissors/dp/B001ANQVF4

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  41. I love the flowers! They'll look fabulous in my spring displays! Thank you for sharing!

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  42. Hi, Just found your blog via Poppytalk. These are amazing. I have a pair of the shredding scissors, so I can't wait to try the flowers. Thanks for the tutorial!

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  43. want...to...make...some...right...now...

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  44. These scissors are great - I got a pair in my stocking this Christmas - my boyfriend listened to my hints! My scissors came from Restoration Hardware.

    Your paper flowers look great on the packages - thanks for sharing!

    Julie

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  45. Awesome! I love finding new and beautiful ways to reuse papers! These are elelgant. Thanks so much.

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  46. I just discovered your blog. Thanks for the fabulous tutorial. I LOVE your book list and just went through the whole list and requested as many as I could from my library! Can't wait to start reading! Thanks for the suggestions!
    -Sarah from Create Studio
    www.createstudio.blogspot.com

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  47. Cutest EVER idea. Love those scissors. I've seen something else neat used with them, long time ago, but cannot for the life of me remember what it was... Hmmm... Thanks for the idea.
    xx,
    Autumn Clark

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  48. You're ALWAYS a great source of inspiration. I'll be linking over the weekend!

    Joanne @ Ready, Set, Craft!
    http://www.readysetcraft.blogspot.com

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  49. Lovely, I found your site via One Pretty Thing... I happen to be doing a week of DIY Flowers so you have been blogged about (again)!

    Thanks for the awesome step-by-step tutorial. =)

    [http://skinniepiggie.blogspot.com/2010/01/extra-diy-flowers.html]

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  50. How fascinating, and bizarre; who ever heard of scissors which would be ruined by fabric but not by paper!?

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  51. They're like nothing I've ever seen before! Thank you for sharing the tutorial, and your inspiration.

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  52. Neat-o scissors! Thanks for the link to Bell'occhio too. Never heard of them but have added them to the list of "must see" shops for my next SF day trip. :)

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  53. Such a great idea! and those scissors rock...

    I've included this in my link roundup which will be posted later today at Dabbled.org -- thanks for sharing!

    dot

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  54. OMG!!! SOOOO CUTE!!! I just saw these scissors at Michaels in the Martha Stewart section (or somewhere in the store) and I was thinking why would anyone bu that... now I know! I WANT ONE NOW!!! hehe.. thanks for the tutorial!!!

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  55. maya, I have a lot of glass baby food jars in my recycling... and I am hoping there is a hidden purpose for them beyond holding safteypins and buttons...

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  56. Just found your blog! This tutorial is great! I need to get those scissors... I am a new follower, you are welcome to visit my blog too!

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  57. I really hate it when I see something and my mind fills up with "I want" I want" I want" - but then again, this is just toooooo coooool!

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  58. I have a shredder... he is 5 and his name is Aiden! hahaha, seriously though, since I don't have those cool scissors I think I am going to give my boy this project to do since he ask if he can cut something every single day.

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  59. I saw these scissors on sale at JC Penney yesterday for 2.50 (from 19.99..seriously?..I digress). Guess where I will be at 10 when they open?

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  60. I have never heard of these scissors but just stumbled across your blog and this post. So glad I did. Thanks for sharing. These are a must have!!

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  61. Oh, dear, I may be break my resolution of no new craft supplies for these, because they are wonderful. Love the results. Thanks for the post!

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  62. i need some of those magic scissors!

    :)
    candy

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  63. Wow! This is really fantastic! You're a brilliant! I love these! Thank you for sharing. :)

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  64. I am writing from Lima, Peru and I like your site very much. Thank you for sharing... Although I cannot get the scissors here, I used a manual paper shredder and carefully rewinded back to get the paper cut leaving a border.

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  65. OMG these are sooo cool!!! Now I have to get some of those scissors :)

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  66. I just got a pair of these scissors and I'm going to try the flowers! Great tutorial.

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  67. Amazing! I bet I could do that with my fabrics too. TFS!

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  68. i've seen these scissors in catalogs before and thought "why would I want those?"..Well you've told me why!! ;) I went and bought a pair yesterday at Bed, Bath, & Beyond w/my 20% off coupon. They are 5 blades instead of 10, but they were only $8 +tax. Now I have to keep trying to make mine as gor-juss as yours!! Thanks for sharing!!

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  69. I love these! They are so cute and easy, which is just my style! Thanks for the idea!

    Question: How are you attaching them to the gifts? I can't seem to find a way that will allow them to stay "upright".

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  70. I love the "bow" - amazing. fun. easy. what else is there?

    Thanks for the visit = I'm following now.

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  71. Hey Maya, great name, my little on is also a MAya. I am actually planing her party for Halloween, so Im pretty excited. These bows are supper fun, what a great idea. I would so LOVE it of you would link up to my party with this, and if you have any other fun projects, please keep me in mind. Also my NEW party is open for all things Halloween **6 weeks 2 Spook** so come check it out, and participate. WOuld so LOVE to have you, and your support. Thanks again, Bella :) Am totally your newest follower.

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  72. Wow.....Amazing!! Brilliant idea. I will try it....Thanks for the tips. Good job. :)

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  73. Great little project even if it took a bit longer to use normal scissors it is worth it. Thanks for sharing.

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  74. I LOVED this idea so much I ran right out and got the scissors and found an old atlas. The flowers turned out GREAT, but now i'm having trouble with how to get them on a "stem"... anyone have ideas? I tried pipe cleaners, and it doesn't look right...

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  75. The flowers look great, but I think those scissors could give me nightmares!

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  76. I just got those for Xmas to shred my mail.WOw thats cool.

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  77. Interesting. I am considering getting a pair of scissors just to make these flowers, they aren't that expensive and I love creative wrapping.

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  78. What a fabulous idea, its fantastic will have to try to find some shredders!

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  79. I'm not a liar but I just wanna say that I love this blog so much for sharing good info and photos at the same time regarding the great purpose of paper shredder. Thanks!

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  80. I'll adopt your procedure which is helpful for reducing waste. Clutters should as old magazines and paper shreds from Paper Shredder are good source of such material.

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