Making wooden flowers can be a fun and satisfying DIY project. The end result is a beautiful, handmade decoration that will liven up your home or make a lovely gift. With just a few simple tools and materials, you can create wooden flowers in any style you like. Here is a step-by-step guide to making your own wooden blooms.
Choose Your Wood
The first step is selecting the right type of wood. Basswood is a popular choice as it is relatively soft and has a fine, even grain that carves well. Birch, poplar, pine, and maple also work nicely. The wood should be easy to cut and shape without splintering too much. Avoid very dense hardwoods.
Pieces of wood that have already been cut can be used. How thick it is will depend on the flower you want to make, but for most home projects, 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick is fine.
Cut the Petal Shapes
Now it’s time to transform the wood into petals. You can use a jigsaw, scroll saw, or bandsaw to cut this out by hand. You can make a paper template and trace around it to get petals that are more even. You can sand the edges later to make it fit perfectly if you cut just outside the line.
Make sure to cut with the wood grain, not against it. Cutting against the grain raises the chance of splintering The exact petal shape is up to you Heart-shaped, oval, round, and teardrop shapes all work well. Cut as many petals as needed for your flower.
Smooth and Shape the Petals
Freshly cut petals will have rough edges, Use sandpaper to smooth out the petals and round off any sharp points or corners Start with a coarse grit like 100 and work up to 220 or 320 for a silky smooth finish
Clamp the stack between two pieces of wood and use a disc sander to add a curve to the petals. You can also add shape and contours with a benchtop belt sander. Be careful not to over-sand, and work slowly and carefully.
Assemble the Flower
Once your petals are cut and sanded, it’s time to assemble the flower. There are a few options for connecting the petals:
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Hot glue – The classic choice, hot glue sets up fast and makes a strong bond. Glue petals in concentric circles working from the center outward.
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Wire – Twist floral wire around the base of each petal to connect them. Hide the wires by wrapping green floral tape over them.
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Wood glue – For a permanent bond, use wood glue between petals and clamp until dry. Small spring clamps work well.
Add more petals until the flower is as full as you want it to be. As you add petals, press down hard in the middle to keep the shape tight and real.
Add Details and Color
Now for the fun part – adding details and color! Acrylic paints work wonderfully on wood. You can paint the flower all one color or use multiple shades and tones. Dry brushing and layered washes create depth and interest. Here are some easy ways to enhance your wooden bloom:
- Paint the edges – Darker paint on the petal edges makes them pop
- Add veining – Use a small brush to paint on delicate veins
- Dry brush – Lightly brush on paint for subtle highlights/texture
- Wood burn – Add lines, dots for texture with a wood burning tool
- Glitter and gems – Sparkle it up with some bling!
Seal the paint with a clear acrylic sealer for protection. Add a stem made from wire or a wood dowel and your wooden flower is complete!
Extra Tips
- Soak petals in water 10 minutes before shaping to make them pliable
- Work quickly with glue – have all pieces ready
- Start with inexpensive wood in case of mistakes
- Use wood with interesting grain patterns
- Protect work surface from glue drips
- Add leaves and filler flowers for a realistic bouquet
With a little practice, you’ll be churning out gorgeous wooden blooms in no time. The possibilities are endless when you make your own flowers. Let your creativity bloom! Customize them with favorite colors, shapes, and designs to make wood flowers that are uniquely you.
Paint Your Vase! (Optional)
I love metallics (and gold) and wanted to bring in a pop of shiny with my centerpiece. I used my cylindrical vase from Dollar Tree and spray painted it with Rust-Oleum Metallic Gold (you can use any spray paint color to bring in an accent color. Anyone up for trying a hot pink?!).
Once completely dry, I gave it a coat of Rust-Oleum Flat Protective Enamel. This helps to seal the paint and makes it much easier to wipe off fingerprints!.
Prep Your Greenery and Filler!
Greenery and filler usually come in bunches of stems. I find it easiest to use single stems while building my bouquets and other arrangements and here are some of my go-to moves to prepare them!.
- Take a wire cutter to each stem and cut it away from the bundle. I cut as close to the “handle” as possible.
- Take off the extra leaves or stems that are close to the stem’s base. For a small bouquet, you’ll only need the top part (up to about 4 inches from the very top), so cut off the pieces below that. Cut off the extra nubs on the stem with scissors or wire cutters. We will stem those extra leaves next!.
- There is a small “cup” at the bottom of some leaves that helps them stay on the stem. You can glue the floral wire directly into that cup. The lamb’s ear in the upper right corner of the picture above shows this.
- Other leaves/filler have a hole at the base. I like to put my floral wire through the hole and loop it over for these. To hold it in place, you can use needle nose pliers or just squeeze it hard with your fingers. You can see how to do this from the laurel on the left above!
- When you cut some fillers off the handle, the stems may be very short. As you can see in the lower right corner of the picture above, I will use floral tape or vinyl tape to attach a separate flower stem to make them long enough to put in bouquets.
While this is a relatively easy task, it can be tedious and take a bit of time. Throw on whatever show youre binging on these days and get going!.
Wooden Flower
FAQ
How are wood flowers made?
- Sola Wood Source: Sola wood flowers are made from the renewable wood of the Aeschynomene aspera plant, a fast-growing and sustainable resource.
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Oh! You’re Lovely – Sola Wood Flowershttps://ohyourelovely.comEverything you need to know about sola wood flowersJan 5, 2019 — Made from the renewable wood of a marshy plant (not tapioca or cassava as commonly misunderstood), sola wood flowers look like real flowers and last …
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- Harvest and Shaping: The plant’s soft, white core is harvested and processed into flat sola rolls.
- Hand-Cutting Petals: These rolls are then carefully hand-cut into delicate petals.
- Flower Assembly: The petals are assembled using a combination of glue and shaping to create the desired flower form.
- Dyeing (Optional): Sola wood flowers can be dyed various colors, says a post on Sola-Flowers.
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Heart and Sola Creationshttps://heartandsola.comThe Ultimate Guide to Including Sola Wood Flowers in Your WeddingWhat Are Wood Flowers and How Are They Made? … The wood flowers I use to make wedding decor and bouquets are made from the root of a plant called aeschynomene…
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Reddit · r/weddingplanninghttps://www.reddit.comExplain to me like I’m five: Sola Flowers, how do I make them?Jan 25, 2022 — Sola flowers come in either raw wood which is harder and uncolored. Or you can order the precolored packs which will be dyed and treated in softener…
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- Stemming: Once the flower is assembled, it can be stemmed with bamboo or wooden sticks, says Sola-Flowers.
How to stick fake flowers to wood?
Hot glue. If you’re trying to figure out how to attach faux flowers to a wooden sign, you might have just found the easiest option.
Do I need softener for sola flowers?
Hand-crafted wood flowers are great to use in floral decorations but without a softener they can turn brittle over time. Oct 12, 2021.
How to make wooden flowers?
The first step in making wooden flowers is selecting the right type of wood. Different types of wood offer unique characteristics and aesthetics, so it’s important to choose wisely. Some popular woods for making flowers out of wood are: Basswood: This is a softwood that is smooth and easy to carve.
What are wood flowers made of?
Wood flowers are made of various types of wood, such as birch, poplar, and pine. How Sola Wood Flowers Are Made? Sola wood flowers are made by hand from the bark of the tapioca plant.
How do you decorate a wood flower?
Let your creativity flow and personalize each wood flower. Using beads, glitter, or other decorative elements: Apply a clear adhesive and carefully place beads or glitter on desired areas. Experiment with other decorative elements like sequins or small trinkets. Ensure the glue or adhesive is suitable for wood to pr e vent any damage.
How do you glue a wooden flower?
Wood glue: Wood glue is used to attach different pieces of wood together. Opt for a strong, fast-drying wood glue for secure and durable connections. Paintbrushes: Paintbrushes are necessary for applying paint or coatings to the wooden flowers. Choose brushes of various sizes to accommodate different areas and details.
How do you make flower petals from wood?
Consider the grain pattern, hardness, and durability of the wood. Popular choices for wooden flower petals include maple, cherry, and birch. Cutting the Petal Shapes: Use a scroll saw or a band saw to carefully cut out the desired shapes for your flower petals.
Are wood flowers a good DIY project?
Wood flowers can be a fun and creative DIY project that adds a rustic touch to home decor or events like weddings and parties. With some basic materials and simple steps, you can create beautiful and long-lasting wood flowers that can be customized to fit any style or color scheme.