DIY Paper Flower Cake Topper

Showing you an easy way to bump up your boxed cake to “party worthy” status with this easy and elegant DIY Paper Flower Cake Topper perfect for your next celebration!

DIY paper flower cake topper - Sugar & Cloth

 

There is no shame in claiming box cake as your own. (Guilty!)

But after many failed attempts in decorating, I, Rachael of AppetitePaper have decided to leave the delicate frosted details up to the professionals!

Instead, I’m going to show you an easy way to bump up your “homemade” cake to “party worthy” status with this DIY Paper Flower Cake Topper that you can definitely recreate at home.

Not only are paper flowers unmistakably original. But they’re also almost always served with a side of ooh’s and ahh’s come dessert time! 

All you need are a few simple materials to get started.

DIY paper flower cake topper - Sugar & Cloth

DIY paper flower cake topper - Sugar & Cloth

 

Materials and Tools Needed to Make DIY Paper Flower Cake Toppers

Crepe paper for your flowers — We used crepe paper in bubble gum pink, coral, Marionberry, and sweet pea.

16 gauge green floral wire

Green floral tape — Ours measures 1/2″ wide.

Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Needle nose pliers

Peach acrylic paint

​Free downloadable paper flower pattern guide

Cake — You can use a store-bought cake. In addition, we have many other cake recipes, like our keto cheesecake, funfetti cookie cake, chai crepe cake, and unicorn strawberry cake.

DIY paper flower cake topper - bubble gum flower - Sugar & Cloth

How to Make the Bubble Gum Paper Flowers

Step 1 – Cut four petals from your bubble gum crepe paper.

Stretch and smooth the paper grain from the center to the edge, to form a petal shape.

Step 2 – Paint the center of your petals with the peach paint.

Step 3 – Place hot glue on the bottom of one of your petals. Set the tip of your stem wire into the glue.

Step 4 –Then, place another petal on top (paint side facing down) to sandwich the wire between the two petals.

Repeat with the two remaining petals on the opposite side.

Step 5Gently bend your petals back, forming the flower.

Cut one center from your Marionberry crepe paper. Roll and press your center into a small ball.

Using hot glue, glue at the center of your petals.

DIY paper flower cake topper - coral flower - Sugar & Cloth

How to Make the Coral Paper Flowers

Step 1 – Cut one stamen from your Marion Berry crepe paper.

Fringe the top edge of your stamen strip using your scissors.

Roll into itself and wrap the stamen bunch with your 16 gauge wire.

Step 2 – Open and fold back your stamen bunch, creating a center. Paint the center of your stamen.

Step 3 – Cut one center from your coral crepe paper. Roll and press your center into a small ball. Using hot glue, glue at the center of your stamen.

Step 4 – Cut five petals from your coral crepe paper, stretch and smooth the paper grain from the center to the edge, to form a petal shape.

Step 5 – Glue the five petals around the stamen using hot glue.

DIY paper flower cake topper - marion berry - Sugar & Cloth

How to Make the Marion Berry Paper Flowers

Step 1 – Cut four petals from your Marion Berry crepe paper.

Step 2 – Stretch and smooth the paper grain from the center to the edge, to form a petal shape.

Step 3 – Place hot glue on the bottom of one of your petals. Set the tip of your stem wire into the glue.

Step 4 – Place another petal on top (paint side facing down) to sandwich the wire between the two petals.

Repeat with the two remaining petals on the opposite side.

Step 5– Gently bend your petals back, forming the flower.

Cut one center from your Sweet Pea crepe paper. Roll and press your Center into a small ball.

Using hot glue, glue at the center of your petals.

DIY paper flower cake topper - sweet pea - Sugar & Cloth

How to Make the Sweet Pea Paper Flower

Step 1 – Cut five centers from your Marion Berry crepe paper. Twist tightly to create five small crepe paper ropes.

Step 2 – Cut eight petals from your Sweet Pea crepe paper.

Step 3 – Apply hot glue on the bottom of one of your petals. Set the tip of your stem wire in the glue, placing the five twisted Center ropes.

Step 4 – Place another petal over the center ropes, sandwiching the pieces together.

Step 5 – Continue hot gluing the remaining petals around the flower. Paint the edge of your center ropes with your peach paint for added detail.

DIY paper flower cake topper - Sugar & Cloth

More Ways to Decorate Your Cake with the DIY Paper Flower Cake Toppers

Compliment your blooms with fresh greens or silk foliage.

You can also attach your fresh greenery to your paper flowers using floral tape. 

Just make sure to trim down your wire stems to about 3 inches, and insert them into your cake.

Now it’s party time, enjoy!

You can always feel free to mix up the colors to your liking or the seasons too! These flowers would make the perfect fall or Thanksgiving statement piece too!

 

DIY paper flower cake topper - Sugar & Cloth

Best Time to Arrange Your DIY Paper Flower Cake Toppers

To keep the icing oils from wilting the paper or bleeding the colors, it’s best to coat the back of the flowers with food-safe shellac to prevent any oil stains or color bleeding!

It also helps to wait to insert the flowers until just before your event!

DIY paper flower cake topper - Sugar & Cloth

More DIY Paper Flower Projects and Ideas

DIY paper flower cake topper - Sugar & Cloth

DIY paper flower cake topper - Sugar & Cloth

DIY Paper Flower Cake Topper

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5 from 1 vote
Add a touch of handmade charm to your next celebration with this easy paper flower cake topper tutorial.
Active Time1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course DIY
Category Entertaining Decor

Equipment

  • Hot glue gun and glue sticks
  • Needle nose pliers

Materials

  • Crepe paper for your flowers
  • 16 gauge green floral wire
  • Green floral tape
  • Acrylic paint in peach or color of your choice
  • ​Paper flower pattern  free download​

Instructions

How to make the bubble gum paper flower:

  • Cut 4 petals from your bubble gum crepe paper. Stretch and smooth the paper grain from the center to the edge, to form a petal shape.
  • Paint the center of your petals with the peach paint.
  • Apply hot glue on the bottom of one of your petals. Set the tip of your stem wire into the glue.
  • Place another petal on top (paint side facing down) to sandwich the wire between the two petals.
    Repeat with the two remaining petals on the opposite side.
  • Gently bend your petals back, forming the flower. Cut one center from your Marionberry crepe paper. Roll and press your center into a small ball. Using hot glue, glue at the center of your petals.

How to make the coral paper flowers:

  • Cut one stamen from your Marion Berry crepe paper. Fringe the top edge of your Stamen strip using your scissors. Roll into itself and wrap the stamen bunch with your 16 gauge floral wire.
  • Open and fold back your stamen bunch, creating a center. Using your peach paint, paint the center of your stamen.
  • Cut one center from your coral crepe paper. Roll and press your center into a small ball. Using hot glue, glue at the center of your stamen.
  • Cut 5 petals from your coral crepe paper, stretch and smooth the paper grain from the center to the edge, to form a petal shape.
  • Glue the 5 petals around the stamen using hot glue.

How to make the Marion Berry paper flower:

  • Cut 4 petals from your Marion Berry crepe paper.
  • Stretch and smooth the paper grain from the center to the edge, to form a petal shape.
  • Apply hot glue on the bottom of one of your petals. Set the tip of your stem wire into the glue.
  • Place another petal on top (paint side facing down) to sandwich the wire between the two petals.
    Repeat with the two remaining petals on the opposite side.
  • Gently bend your petals back, forming the flower. Cut one center from your Sweet Pea crepe paper. Roll and press your Ccnter into a small ball. Using hot glue, glue at the center of your petals.

How to make the Sweet Pea paper flower:

  • Cut 5 centers from your Marion Berry crepe paper. Twist tightly to create five small crepe paper ropes.
  • Cut 8 petals from your Sweet Pea crepe paper.
  • Apply hot glue on the bottom of one of your petals. Set the tip of your stem wire into the glue, placing the 5 twisted center ropes.
  • Place another petal over the center ropes, sandwiching the pieces together.
  • Continue hot gluing the remaining petals around the flower. Paint the edge of your center ropes with your peach paint for added detail.
Cost: $20
KEYWORD: diy paper flower cake topper

Rachael is the founder of Appetite Paper, a resource for all things paper flowers. Find more of her tutorials and designs on her blog and shop!

Don’t forget to share your DIY Paper Flower Cake Topper with us on Instagram using the hashtag #sugarandclothloves. We always love seeing all of your creations! Looking for more interior design inspiration? You can find all of our home decor tutorials and ideas right here!

Please note that we may earn a commission for some of the above affiliate links. However, products featured are independently selected and personally well-loved by us!

11 thoughts on “DIY Paper Flower Cake Topper”

  1. I adore these flowers with this cake!! and well the flowers for everyday use as well :) Thank you so much for the tutorial. I also would like to ask how or what type of icing you used to create such a thickness between the layers. I’m doing a red velvet naked cake this weekend and would love to know how you did your icing to make it turn out this amazing. Thanks a TON!

    Reply
  2. I’m wonder how you keep the paper from bleeding into the frosting? Also, like the comment above was wonder, how do you keep the paper from absorbing the butter/moisture and showing spots? It looks great in the photos but do you have a trick to prevent these issues?

    Reply
    • Hey Lynne! See the above response – your right, there is definitely a trick to making these paper cuties stay nice and strong! Since they are paper, it’s best to insert into the cake right before your event – They last a good couple of days in my experience – but it doesn’t hurt to be extra careful! Always here if you want to chat – talk soon! rachael

      Reply
    • Hey Laura! This naked cake didn’t need too much help when it comes to protecting the paper flowers – but – when your icing the whole cake its best to coat the back of the flowers with a food safe polyurethane to prevent any oil stains or color bleeding! Feel free to email me if you want to chat more about paper blooms – rachael@appetitepaper.com – talk soon! rachael

      Reply
  3. It looks so amazing, and doable! I love cakes and displaying them in a nice way, well, who doesn’t! I would love to try these DIY flowers on a cake!
    DenisesPlanet.com

    Reply
  4. I love this idea! I’m not big on making sugar flowers either so I like the idea or something homemade but simpler to construct.

    Reply

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