Paper Poinsettia Tutorial for Holiday Gift Wrapping

This gift wrapping idea has to be the easiest showstopper ever. The paper poinsettia can be created in five minutes with just folding and a stapler. Tape it to the top of your gift for a stunning effect, or use for holiday decorating.

Materials:

2 Sheets Red Paper
Yellow Scrap Paper
1 Sheet Green Paper
Paper Cutter
Stapler
Scissors
Hole Punch
Glue
Double Sided Tape
Boxed or Wrapped Gift

STEP 1 Fold First Paper

The key to creating this flower is crisp folds.  Take your first sheet of red paper, and fold in half.

Fold one end back to the center fold.

Then fold that end up.

Unfold the crease just made, then make your last fold to the center on that half.

Repeat on the other half of the paper.  Each time, fold in both directions and run your fingers along it, to ensure that it is crisp.  When you are done, make sure each fold goes in the opposite direction from the one adjacent, so you have an accordion shape.

STEP 2 Cut and Fold Second Paper

Take your second sheet of red paper, and trim an inch or two off the long and short sides.

Repeat Step 1 on the smaller paper.  You should now have two accordions.

STEP 3 Cut

Hold the larger red paper so that the open side is to the right.

Using scissors, trim off a curved piece of paper on each end.

Hold the smaller red sheet so that the folded edge is to the right (the opposite direction as you held the large piece.) Then, cut a curved edge on both ends of that one, too.

You will now have two sheets with the ends curving oppositely from each other.

STEP 4 Fold in Half

Fold each red sheet in half. Be sure to fold back and forth several times and run your fingers along the creases.

STEP 5 Assemble Petals

Place the smaller sheet on top of the larger sheet, aligning the folds. This is the front of the flower.

Turn over to the back, while holding the papers together, and find the center fold. Staple once through the center, as close to the fold as you can.

Spread out the petals on one side, and staple.

Repeat on the second side.

STEP 6 Finish the Flower

Punch out a few circles of yellow paper.

Glue to center of flower.

Freehand cut a couple of leaves.  Don’t worry about making them perfect.

STEP 7 Attach to Gift

Using double sided tape, place your leaves on the bottom of the flower.  Then, tape the final creation to the top of your gift.  I used a simple white box, as this flower is all the decoration I thought was needed.

It looks so lovely under my tree.