Holiday Ornament DIY: How to Make Paper MAGNOLIAS from Vintage Sheet Music

Last year I shared a little online tour of my home decorated for the holidays.  The one thing that garnered the most comments and compliments were the vintage sheet music magnolias that adorn my Christmas tree.  Many readers requested a tutorial, and I'm pleased to say that I now have one available, for free, for you to enjoy and to make your own glittery magic blossoms at home.

To print this tutorial, scroll down to the very bottom of the post and click on the little icon that says "PRINT FRIENDLY".  It will open the post in a new screen that allows you to print and edit as you see fit.

PAPER MAGNOLIA PROJECT

Materials
Petal Template printed on cardstock (free download below)
3 Pages Vintage Sheet Music
              (from which you will cut 10 Large Petals, 6 Small Petals, and make 1 small ball)
Matte Mod Podge or craft glue (I like Mod Podge because it dries quickly)
9 pieces silver floral wire, 20-22 gauge, 8" lengths
Glue Gun (optional)
German Glass Glitter or micro-fine glitter, silver
Floral Foam or piece of styrofoam to hold pieces while they dry.
Green floral tape (optional)

PREPARING THE PIECES

Step 1:  Print the Magnolia Petal Template provided below on cardstock:


Paper Magnolia Flower Template


Step 2:  Cut out Large and Small templates.

Step 3:  Fold one sheet of music in quarters.  Trace and cut out large petal.  This will yield 4 petals.  Repeat with another sheet.  You will now have 8 petals.  Cut remaining sheet in half.  Fold one of the pieces in half.  Trace and cut the large petal template.  This will give you your remaining 2 petals, for a total of 10 Large Petals.

Step 4:  Fold remaining piece of sheet paper in thirds (lengthwise), then in half (widthwise).  Trace and cut the Small Petal Template.  This will yield 6 Small Petals.

Step 5:  Crumble one of the remaining scraps into a small, tight ball (the size of a small marble).

ASSEMBLING THE PETALS

Step 1:  Completely coat one side of one large petal with glue.  Lay a piece of wire down in the center of the petal.  Cover with a second large petal.  Pick up the petal/wire piece and pinch lightly around wire to make sure the two petals have adhered to one another, especially at the bottom where the wire extends.  Repeat with remaining petals.  You will end up with 5 wired petals.

Step 2:  Repeat the same procedure for the small petals.  You will end up with 3 wired petals.

Step 3:  To attach the paper ball to the final piece of wire, I like to use a dab of hot glue in the center of the ball.  Once glued, pinch ball to give a good shape.  It doesn't need to be a smooth ball.  In fact, a few cracks and contours looks better for the finished product.

GLITTERING

Step 1:  I like to use a flat brush to lightly edge each petal with glue.  Then, hold petal over a shallow pan or piece of paper.  Shake glitter on to petal.  Shake off excess.  Place glittered petal in a piece of foam to dry.  You can also use a pot or glass filled with rice, dried beans, or salt to hold the pieces while they dry.  Repeat glittering procedure with all of the large and small petals.  Finally, dab some glue on the wired ball and sprinkle with glitter.

Step 2:  Allow pieces time to dry -- approx. 20 minutes.

ASSEMBLING THE MAGNOLIA

Step 1:  Give each petal an upward curve by gently bending the wire in each petal.  You can perfect the shape when the entire piece is assembled.  

Step 2:  Start putting the flower together by grouping the wired ball and one small petal.  Wrap the two wires around one another so that the two pieces connect at the top (where the wire meets the paper).

Step 2:  Add another petal by wrapping that wire around the others.  Continue with remaining small petal.

Step 3:  Add the large petals in the same fashion.  

Step 4:  When complete, you should have a magnolia flower with 5 large petals and 3 small petals grouped around the ball stamen.  Bend and adjust pieces as you see fit to perfect the form.  All the wires should be wrapped together to form a single "stem".  For a completely finished look, wrap the wire "stem" with green floral tape.  You can then use the wire "stem" to wrap the magnolias around tree branches.  

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