Sunday 30 June 2013

Paper flowers


Japanese Kusudama, this tutorial is featured on Craftuts
Anyone can do that, I assure you. The proof: I can, just take a quick look at my result below. And, believe me, I am neither meticulous nor particularly patient. You could even say I’m the opposite.
Paper Flower Kusudama Ball by PinkOnHead
Below you can see my very first attempt to create paper flowers.
my first experiment with single elements of kusudama ball
What you will need to make your own Kusudama paper ball?
Paper Flower Kusudama Ball Kit
1. Paper – 60 square pieces of paper, all of the same size. I use advertising catalogues (for your convenience in the first part of this tutorial I use plain blue paper so that the folds are more visible). My squares are 3,5 cm x 3,5 cm but you can make them bigger, smaller squares would be rather hard to fold. For every flower you will need 5 pieces.
2. Ruler 
3. Pencil
4. Glue – the glue I use have two nice properties: (1) it does not dry very quickly which allows small corrections when necessary (2) being initially white it turns translucent while drying
5* Scissors (optionally) I prefer torn paper instead of cut. I fold it several times before tearing slowly.
6* Beads (optionally) Use them to add some extra glamour.
7. Toothpick – to apply the glue.
Preparation to Kudusama Ball






You have to start with a single petal. Don’t give up, it may seem that it will take ages before you make all 60 petals but you will progress faster with every next piece :)
Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 1Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 2Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 3Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 4Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 5Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 6Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 7Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 8Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 9Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 10Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 11Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 12Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 13Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 14Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 15

























Now you have to glue your 5 petals into a flower.
Paper Flower Ball step 16
Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 17














Apply the glue to only one side of each petal, except for the last one, in this case cover both sides with glue.
Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 20










Your first flower is done.
Paper Flower Ball step 21


















Don’t glue every petal right after you make it. Make the whole 60 and then glue them into 12 flowers, it’s really faster this way, believe me.
12 Paper Flowers Ready to Make Kusudama Ball










When all 12 flowers are finished you have to glue them together. You start with gluing the first half – six flowers together. With your first flower you have to apply the glue on two adjacent petals, with five next flowers you apply glue on three adjacent petals. Put the glue not exactly on the middle line of the petal but a little to the right.
Paper Flower Kusudama BallPaper Flower Kusudama BallPaper flower Kusudama Ball
Paper Flower Kusudama BallPaper flower Kusudama Ball
Paper Flower Kusudama Ball
When two halves of Kusudama Flower Ball are ready you have to glue them together. You can put a cord between the halves so that your ball can hang down. I make my Kusudama Flower Balls for a table decorations so I don’t put a cord.
Paper Flower Kusudama BallPaper Flower Kusudama BallPaper Flower Kusudama BallPaper Flower Kusudama Ball
Paper Flower Kusudama BallPaper Flower Kusudama BallPaper Flower Kusudama Ball
Paper Flower kusudama Ball