Some of my favorite flowers in the entire world are peonies. If you have ever grown peonies, you know that they are definitely plants that require gardening patience. Peonies take time and seasons of growing to knock your socks off with their big luscious blooms and intoxicating fragrances. My peonies have been growing for years and I just adore their blooms. Each spring I yearn for their return. This year for an early fix, I decided to create peonies from tissue paper. They are simple, beautiful and I can’t wait to make a bunch for friends.

To make a bunch of peonies, you will need:

• assorted colored tissue paper
• scissors
• green pipe cleaners
• fake floral stamens

For illustrative purposes, I used yellow and pink tissue paper. To make one flower, cut 5 sheets of tissue paper into 6 inch squares. Repeat and cut another 5 sheets of tissue paper into 3 inch squares.

Center the small tissue paper squares on top of the larger squares and fold them accordion style. The fold width should be about 1 inch. Next, round off the ends with a pair of scissors. This creates the petals.

Next fold the top 3 inches of a pipe cleaner onto itself.  Center 4 stamens into the pipe cleaner fold. Then, twist the pipe cleaner with the stamens onto the center of the flower like so.

Slowly begin at the center of the flower and spread apart the tissue paper. Work in the center of the flower and gently tease each layer of tissue paper apart toward the stamens. Continue working until all the petals are teased apart and your flower has “bloomed.”

Make as many as you like. Take a peek online at different colorations of peonies. Enjoy these clustered in a vase, tie them on gifts or even pin them on a lapel. The fun and possibilities are endless with these paper faves.

From a distance, you might mistake these for real flowers. The best part is that these will bloom all year long.