Paper Flower Shadow Box Tutorial with 36 realistic paper roses protected within a shadow box with a vinyl sentiment to personalize it #paperflowers #shadowbox #cricut #diyhomedecor

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Learn how to make a gorgeous paper flower shadow box as home decor or a heart-felt gift.

There’s just something magical about paper flowers. Not only are they gorgeous, but paper flowers can keep their beauty for years and years. Paper flowers are still rather fragile, but you can offset this by displaying and protecting them inside a shadow box. And — bonus — the glass on the front of the shadowbox frame is perfect for personalization. Paper flower shadow boxes are really popular and on-trend, making beautiful home decor conversation pieces and thoughtful gifts for someone special. And don’t you just love the ombre effect I’ve created here with different shades of cardstock paper roses? I’m delighted to share this paper flower shadow box tutorial with you today!

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Get the free SVG cut file for this project

A pretty paper flower shadow box made from rolled paper roses

One of the biggest questions I get about paper flower shadow boxes is “what size do you make the paper flowers?” In this tutorial, I will remove the guesswork by providing a specific paper flower template (my paper rose design) that is already sized for particular shadow box sizes. So you can simply follow this tutorial and you’ll get a beautiful paper flower shadow box! The size of the frame you choose is personal preference, and here’s the number of rolled flowers you’ll need to make at specific sizes for these size shadow boxes.

Paper Flower Shadow Box Sizing based on JenniferMaker's paper rose design

Still, I know that won’t help everyone, because if you decide to use a different paper flower, you’ll be back at the drawing board. Some paper flowers will roll up tighter or looser than others. What I recommend you do cut out your paper flower of choice from solid core cardstock using the sizing recommendation in the chart above, then measure the width of the FINISHED paper flower. Now use this chart to see how many flowers you need for a specific size shadow box. Just keep in mind that you may want to move up or down a line based on how tightly or loosely packed you want YOUR paper flower shadow box. I think this will give you a great starting point, though!

Paper Flower Shadow Box Quantity Chart based on finished paper flower size

And if you’re not familiar with how to roll paper flowers, I have a quick video that explains how to do that here:

Of course, if you just want to follow a step-by-step tutorial that takes out all the guesswork, I have that for you, too! Just keep reading for the full details on how to make this awesome DIY flower shadow box! They make a great gift for many occasions! Give one as a wedding gift, Christmas gift, Mother’s Day gift, or decorate your home with a variety of shadow box sizes filled with beautiful cardstock paper flowers.

A beautiful paper flower shadow box made from rolled paper roses

Ready to make your own paper flower shadow box? I’m super excited to show you how to make this perfect gift! This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Read my full disclosure policy.

Materials to Make a 9″ x 9″ Paper Flower Shadow Box

View my Amazon shopping list with the exact items we used to make this project!

Paper Flower Shadow Box Tutorial

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Active Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

A lovely shadow box holds three dozen gorgeous paper flowers. Add a saying or sentiment to the front of the shadow box to personalize it. The paper flowers stay safe and dust-free inside the enclosed shadow box so you can enjoy them for years to come.

Instructions

Step 1: Get my free paper flower designs

I have many free paper flower designs that you can use to make paper flower shadow boxes. For this tutorial, we are using the Rolled Paper Rose design, and I've made special files for you with the roses sized for a variety of shadow box sizes. Look for the "Paper Flower Shadow Box" file (Design #187) free from my free resource library (get the password to the library in the form at the bottom of this post).

Here's what the paper roses SVG cut file for a 9" x 9" shadow box will look like when you upload it to Cricut Design Space:Paper Flower Shadow Box flower design uploaded to Cricut Design Space

Tip: If you're not sure how to upload an SVG cut file to Cricut Design Space, watch this helpful video training series I made. If you're on an iPhone or iPad, here's how to download and upload SVG files to the Cricut Design Space app.

Step 2: Size your paper flower pattern to your shadow box

My paper flowers are already sized for a 9" x 9" shadow box frame. so you don't need to do any sizing if that is your frame size. If using an alternate size, re-size the flowers based on my resizing and quantity charts.

Paper Flower Shadow Box Sizing based on JenniferMaker's paper rose design

Step 3: Cut and assemble your paper flowers

This project used approximately 18 sheets of 8 1/2" x 11" sheets of 65 lb. cardstock to make 36 flowers. If you use 12" x 12" cardstock, you'll only need 12 sheets of paper.

Roll your flowers up using a quilling tool. Rolling a paper rose with a DIY quilling tool to make a paper flower shadow box

Rolling a paper rose with a DIY quilling tool to make a paper flower shadow box

Rolling a paper rose with a DIY quilling tool to make a paper flower shadow box

Rolling a paper rose with a DIY quilling tool to make a paper flower shadow box

Be sure to glue your flowers once you've rolled them up, too. Just a bit of hot glue on the bottom circle, then carefully press it against the rolled bottom edge (use finger guards to avoid burned fingers).

Gluing a paper rose with a DIY quilling tool to make a paper flower shadow box

Gluing a paper rose with a DIY quilling tool to make a paper flower shadow box

Gluing a paper rose with a DIY quilling tool to make a paper flower shadow box

Here is a finished paper rose:

A finished paper rose for a paper flower shadow box

Step 4: Arrange your flowers in your shadow box

Once all flowers are rolled and glued, decide how you want to arrange them in your frame. For this project, I arranged the paper flowers six across and six down. There are no rules here — arrange them as they please you best.

Arrange paper roses to make a paper flower shadow box

Step 5: Glue your flowers to the backing

Once you've decided on your paper flower arrangement inside your shadow box, glue each individual flower to the frame backing in the pattern you have chosen. The frame backing may be changed if desired by using a sheet of cardstock of your choice cut to the desired size that will fit into the frame.

Gluing the paper flowers inside the shadow box

Gluing the paper flowers inside the shadow box

Filling up the shadow box with paper flowers

Here are all 36 of our paper flowers glued inside our shadow box:

36 pink paper flowers glued inside a shadow box frame to make a paper flower shadow box

Step 6: Choose and cut a vinyl saying for your shadow box

Choose one of my SVG files for your saying on the front of the shadow box or create one of your own. Sayings for the frame included in the files are sized for a 9 x 9 shadow box. Adjust the size accordingly if your shadow box is is a different size.

Home Sweet Home sentiment for the paper flower shadow boxBloom Where You Are Planted Sentiment for Paper Flower Shadow Box

NOTE: Prior to cutting the saying decide if you want the saying on the inside of the frame glass or the outside of the frame glass. If applying the saying on the OUTSIDE of the frame glass there is no need for any adjustments to the file when cutting. If applying the saying to the INSIDE of the frame glass, be sure to MIRROR the saying prior to cutting. The advantage of an inside application is that it makes for easier cleaning of the frame front (that's how I am doing mine in this tutorial).

Step 7: Apply the vinyl to your shadow box

Weed the vinyl saying that will go on the frame and apply transfer tape to the weeded vinyl.

Weeding white permanent vinyl for a paper flower shadow box

Place transfer tape on your weeded vinyl.

Placing transfer tape on weeded vinyl

Scraping the transfer tape of vinyl

Remove the backing off your transfer tape.

Removing the backing off transfer tape for the vinyl

Clean the shadow box glass with rubbing alcohol using a lint-free cloth or coffee filter.

Cleaning the shadow box glass with rubbing alcohol

Apply the vinyl to the glass of the frame (either inside or outside of the glass). Our design was centered on the glass but can certainly be applied however it is aesthetically pleasing to you.

Applying white vinyl to the glass of a paper flower shadow box

Applying white vinyl to the glass of a paper flower shadow box

Scraping down white vinyl to the glass of a paper flower shadow box

Step 8: Complete your paper flower shadow box

Place the glass back in your shadow box frame.

Place the glass back in the shadow box frame

Put the frame with the paper flowers inside the shadow box.

Assembly the paper flower shadow box

Close up the back of your shadow box frame.

Closing the back of the paper flower shadow box

Enjoy your beautiful paper flower shadow box!

Paper Flower Shadow Box with pink flowers and "Home Sweet Home" in white vinyl

Notes

Fonts Used For This Project:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Special thanks to the JenniferMaker Design Fairy team, specifically Design Fairy Vicki, for helping me design and assemble this wonderful project.

Recommended Products

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I kept my shadow box right next to my bed while I was sick with the flu, and it cheered me up just to see it!

A lovely paper flower shadow box made from rolled paper roses on a bedside table

Get my free SVG files to make your own Paper Flower Shadow Box!

I’d love to see your paper flower shadow boxes and what sentiments you put on them! If you make one, please share a photo in our Facebook group, email it to me at [email protected], or tag me on social media with #jennifermaker.

Love,

JenniferMaker.com

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Make a paper flower shadow box with this complete tutorial that includes paper flower size and quantity guidelines for different shadow box sizes | Includes free SVG cut files for the flowers and sentiments | #cricut #paperflowers #shadowbox

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6 Comments

  1. This has been a godsend. I have stumbled trying to make my first one. After watching your step step instructions, I think I’ve got it.

  2. I’d I’m doing six different colored flowers, how are they going to cut and print on the card stock that I want?

    1. You will need to use white card stock, Brenda! If you are wanting to do a Print then Cut type of flower, you may also want to take a look at our tutorial that teaches how to Print Then Cut for t-shirts! You wouldn’t use transfer paper, like in that tutorial, but use your white cardstock instead and follow the rest of the directions! 🙂

  3. Hello Mam, Which material used to make that Shadow box frame means its made from wood or Acrylic or Card paper?

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