Showstopping DIY Giant Paper Tulips: Easy Coffee Filter Decor

If you love unique and impactful decor, you’ll love this! I recently decided to create some giant paper tulips using coffee filter crafts, and I’m so excited about how they turned out. I was inspired by some giant tulips that my friend Stacy shared from her garden. I could picture the oversized blooms standing on my table for a stunning centerpiece. Today, I’m sharing step-by-step instructions for making these showstopping giant tulips with coffee filters, kraft, and crepe paper. So gather your supplies and let’s get started.

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How To Create Giant Tulip Petals With Coffee Filters

You will need six petals or six coffee filters per tulip. Here’s how to create giant tulip petals using simple coffee filters: follow these five easy steps.

1. Fold the coffee filters in half and cut them into an oval shape.
2. At one end of the filter, cut several small strips so that it appears frayed, as pictured in Image 2.
3. Lay the individual cut coffee filters on a paper plate and spray them with water.
4. On the frayed end of the coffee filter, paint with the marigold paint. Then use a combination of the hot pink and seashell pink to paint the remaining filter. The paint will be runny, like watercolor, and you don’t want a heavy coverage.
5. Place the watercolor coffee filters on a clean paper plate and dry in the microwave for approximately one minute. Once you have six dried petals, you are ready to begin assembling them.

How To Assemble Giant Tulip Petals

To create a giant tulip petal, you will need six dried watercolor coffee filters, a champagne flute, and a hot glue gun.

Begin by folding the first coffee filter around the rim of the champagne flute, with the marigold-painted edge inside the glass and the pink area wrapped around the outside of the glass.

Next, add a small amount of hot glue to the rim and overlap the next petal. Continue to add glue and overlap each petals until you have all six in place. Finally, press the outside of the petals around the champagne flute to create the shape of a tulip. Then remove the flute.

How To Make The Paper Tulip Stem

Now you are ready to add the paper tulip stem. First, determine how tall you want each tulip to be. I cut the rods into different lengths to achieve a variety of heights for the giant tulips. Then cut your dowel rods to size. I used pruning shears to cut the wooden rod easily.

Add a small amount of hot glue to one end of the dowel rod and begin wrapping it with the green crepe paper streamer. Once you reach the other end of the rod, secure the crepe paper with additional hot glue.

How To Add The Paper Flower To The Stem

To add the paper flower to the stem, you will need to squeeze the bottom of the tulip petals. I used a small amount of hot glue to hold the squeezed edges in place. Then insert the crepe paper-covered dowel rod and add more hot glue to secure.

How To Make Tulip Leaves

Now it’s time to make the tulip leaves. Gather your crepe paper, floral wire stems, and hot glue.

1. Begin by cutting the crepe paper and floral wire stems to the length you want your leaves.
2. Next, fold the crepe paper streamer lengthwise and cut one end at an angle.
3. Add a bead of hot glue down the center of the crease.
4. Place the floral wire stem into the glue at the center of the crepe paper. Ensure that wire is secured by folding the paper around it.

How To Attach The Leaves To The Tulip Stems

To attach the crepe paper leaves, bend the floral wire away from the wooden stem. Use hot glue to attach the leaf to the wooden stem. Use a small amount of the crepe paper streamer to wrap around the base of the leaf and secure with hot glue. I added two different-sized leaves for each tulip. Once you have your leaves secured, you are ready to create the bulb.

How To Create The Paper Tulip Bulb

To create the tulip bulb, start with pieces of craft paper that will cover your chosen jar. I soaked the craft paper with coffee and allowed it to dry. You can place it in the microwave for one minute to speed up the process. The coffee will stain the paper, giving it a more organic appearance.

Next, fill the bottom of your jar with a few pebbles to weigh it down. I added hot glue to the wooden stem of the tulip and added it to the center of the pebbles. Holding it in place, I added more hot glue around the stem and filled in the gaps with paper filler to pack it tightly. Ensure that your tulip is standing straight as you fill the jar.

Add Craft Paper To Jar

Finally, wrap the jar with the prepared craft paper. Add hot glue to the rim of the jar and squeeze the paper around it to secure it in place. You may need to add hot glue to some folded areas of the paper to ensure it fits snugly around the jar.

To enhance the authenticity of the bulb, I added a few sprigs of Spanish moss around the top of the paper. Just add a drop of hot glue to secure the moss. Then shape the leaves and you are ready to decorate with your paper flowers.

Paper Tulip Centerpiece

To decorate with these stunning paper tulips, I created a centerpiece for my dining table. I used three of the bulbs in a woven container and filled around the bulbs with moss balls and Spanish moss. Then I added the other two to the table, placing them on either side of the container.

The weighted jars allow the giant tulips to stand on their own for easy styling.

The centerpiece makes a stunning display for Spring and Summer when combined with woven placemats, cabbage plates, and festive napkins. I had previously used the DIY paper cabbages on my tablescape, but decided to move them to the wall basket for this updated table setting.

The DIY giant tulips will also look amazing grouped on a mantel or open shelf. How would you decorate with them?

Video Tutorial

I hope you enjoyed this fun tutorial and I look forward to sharing my next adventure with you!