How to Make Paper Napkin Flowers

2 min read September 13, 2026 Haeley Giambalvo
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I have made flowers from tissue paper, burlap, cupcake wrappers, and even encyclopedia pages, but I’ve never tried making flowers from paper napkins until now! It turns out they can be used to create beautiful full-looking flowers in minutes. With paper cocktail and luncheon napkins coming in a myriad of fun prints and colors the options are endless for making your own colorful DIY paper napkin flower bouquet! Check out how I incorporated these flowers into my Simple and Elegant Thanksgiving Table!

Project Time
55 to 65 min
Difficulty
Experienced
Step
1

Open up the napkin and lay it flat so you can see the four quadrants. Cut out each of the four quadrants with your scissors.

How to Make Paper Napkin Flowers step 1 part 1
How to Make Paper Napkin Flowers step 1 part 2
Step
2

Stack the four napkin quadrants on top of each other with the printed side facing up. Accordion fold the napkin with about 1/2 inch folds. 

Here’s what the accordion folded napkin will look like. Trim off any excess.

How to Make Paper Napkin Flowers step 2 part 1
How to Make Paper Napkin Flowers step 2 part 2
Step
3

Staple the accordion folded napkin in the middle and trim each end at an angle to create the petals.

How to Make Paper Napkin Flowers step 3
Step
4

Take a piece of floral wire and wrap it around the middle of the accordion folded napkin (where the staple is). This will be the stem of the flower.

How to Make Paper Napkin Flowers step 4
Step
5

Working with one layer at a time, carefully pull the napkin layers up towards the center of the flower (towards the stapled area). The flower will start to form. 

Continue with each layer until you have a nice full flower!

Place the flowers in a pretty vase like this DIY washi tape decorated vase.

How to Make Paper Napkin Flowers step 5 part 1
How to Make Paper Napkin Flowers step 5 part 2
Step
6

Don’t miss the rest of my Simple and Elegant Thanksgiving Table including this DIY washi tape decorated vase and the DIY gold doily table runner.

How to Make Paper Napkin Flowers step 6

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