Thank you so much for the sweet response to our picture switch-a-roo in the Family Room! Some of you asked where the knot mirror ended up….I think it may have finally found it’s forever home. I’ll show you soon. Unless it moves again before then.
Today I’m excited to dive into Halloween! I’m not big on themes and decor for every holiday, but we love us some Halloween around here. Most of it likely stems from having young kids in the prime of their ‘excited about everything’ years. Slow down, Father Time!!! Our first project of the season is a Black Paper Dahlia…Halloween style!
This project has made the rounds all over Pinterest for months, but there is no original source. Fortunately the pinned image was fairly detailed, and I was able to easily reproduce it.
All you need is a cardboard circle, paper squares and glue. My circle is from an empty box, then painted black just in case any of it peeked through (it doesn’t). I picked up a pack of black construction paper, and cut them into squares (mine are 4-inches). The size of your circle and paper squares dictates how large your flower will be.
The hardest part of this project, is figuring out how to roll the paper into cones! My Advent Calendar used a similar technique, so I made a big pile of them while parked in front of the TV one night. I secured them with tape since that part of the cone doesn’t show.
Start around the outer perimeter, and glue the ends to the edge of the circle. Don’t leave as much space between the cones as I did, but just enough so the next layer can sit in the middle.
And just like my Convex Starburst Mirror, glue another row of cones, staggering them with the first row.
And another row, gluing just the ends so the cones stand up a bit.
To avoid crumbling the paper, I used a pencil to press the ends of the final cones to the center. I zoomed out a bit on this pic so you can see my little helper, too. She’s usually right next to me, busy with something.
Using black paper for this flower feels really Halloweeny already, but I kicked it up another notch by adding a mini-skullhead to the center.
Using Command poster strips, I mounted it in the worst possible spot for photographing…on our DIY Wall Mirror and next to black doors! Doh! But along with some bat and spider window clings, it makes for a fun vignette by the front door.
I’m pretty smitten with this flower, and how easy it was to create. Don’t you love when projects turn out better than you expect? Have you added any Halloween touches to your home? Are your kids as wild for Halloween as ours?!
Minus a couple of painted pumpkins the only Halloween we have going on is my four year old skeleton who won't take his costume off! I love this, Cassie. The skull in the center makes it.
We love halloween around here too. Our son's almost 3 and you're right.. It's so fun to have them so excited about it!
I love this! It looks fabulous! I think that red and green paper would look wonderful for Christmas too.
This turned out so great! I can't believe how awesome it looks on your starburst mirror!
Whoa, that's a lot bigger than I thought it'd be! I love it against the sunburst and the skull detail! This tutorial will be useful for any occasion.
That is a really fun Halloween idea. I might have to steal this one:)
OK, this is a REALLY great Halloween DIY! I love how it looks on the mirror, too. Thanks for sharing the steps with us all! 🙂
OK, this is a REALLY great Halloween DIY! I love how it looks on the mirror, too. Thanks for sharing the steps with us all! 🙂
Love it! Do you think there would be a way to do this with a burlap ribbon of some sort? Obsessed with all things burlap, and I love this dahlia….maybe it could work?!?
Sheaffer 🙂
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I NEED to do this! I am lacking on Halloween decorations!
-Sarah
How neat and how simple! I may just have to go and get myself some black construction paper and have a try at it.
I don't have many Halloween decorations out yet. Just a few here and there {although I did hang a spider-web up in between the kitchen/living room. I know… im falling behind!
Wouldn't this be a striking fall decoration (not just for Halloween) done in yellows and oranges?
That looks great. The skull is the perfect touch.
Cassie ~
I could see using the paper dalia idea to decorate for spring or summer, a wedding or baby shower, a mom's special tea…so many ways. Thanks for the photo tutorial.
Blessings,
Spooky AND adorable – a perfect combination!
SO cool, Cassie! Just the right amount of classy/spooky 🙂
What type of glue did you use? I have tried glue dots and a regular glue stick and neither bond well to the cardstock paper on the cardboard. I'm stuck and don't know what to do 🙁
Hi!! I used a glue gun with regular glue sticks, and it held perfectly! Hope this helps!
Ooh- I love it! The black is a really fun color for this project. I would love to link to your directions if you didn't mind!
Hi, I love this craft and want to make one for fall/Thanksgiving. Can you tell me approximately how large your cardboard circle was? Thanks!
What is the diameter of the circle?
What is the diameter of the circle?
I no longer have the wreath…but it was pretty big, at least 30-inches across. Hope this helps!