DIY Paper Flower: Make a Spider Mum with Cricut Explore or Silhouette Craft Cutter

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These paper spider mums are a pretty addition to wedding receptions and bridal showers. If you have a craft cutter like a Silhouette Cameo or Cricut, the paper flowers are super easy to make. To get started, download the template and full tutorial.

 Tools and supplies:

• Lightweight 65lb card stock for petals and leaves
• Craft glue, such as Tacky Glue from Scotch
• Skewer or small dowel rod
• 18 gauge floral wire
• Floral tape
• Optional: bone folder
• Optional: Art marker or another coloring medium, such as this Copic Sketch Marker in Dim Green
• Silhouette or Cricut craft cutter

1. Using your Silhouette or Cricut Explore craft cutter, cut all six strips of petals for the flower from lightweight card stock or text weight paper. If you use the Cricut Design Space or Silhouette Designer Edition software, use the SVG file. If you have Silhouette Studio Basic Edition, use the DXF file. If you're new to using SVG files types with Cricut Design Space, see this how-to video on YouTube for instructions on uploading the file. 
2. Add color to one side of the smallest petals using your favorite medium. 
3. Curve the petals by rubbing the petals on the edge of a table with a sharp corner. Alternatively, use closed scissor blades or a bone folder to gently pull and curve the petals — much like curling gift ribbon.
4. Starting with the smallest end of the smallest petal set, add a thin stripe of glue to the bottom band. Roll the strip, color side out, so that the curve faces in and forms a bud. Optional: If you're using the flowers in a project that requires the flower to be on a pick, such as a wreath, roll the strip onto the end of a toothpick or short skewer.
5. Add progressively larger strips of petals, each time starting with the smallest end of the strip. 
6. Once all the petals have been rolled, slide your finger behind sections of petals and fold them down. Continue until you reach the center of the flower and leave the smallest petals unfolded to form the center.