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DIY Paper Flower Fascinator

Create a simple fascinator perfect for an “at home” or kids Derby party with our step by step Paper Flower Fascinator Tutorial.

pink paper flower fascinator on white head on black background

Okay, file this one under GO BIG OR GO HOME! I LOVE a cool Kentucky Derby Fascinator!

Every year at the Kentucky Derby, the hats are the show’s stars, second only to the horses.

I’ve been to the Kentucky Oaks several times now, and I can tell you that hat watching is one of my favorite parts of the event.

pink paper flower fascinator on white head on black background

I had the idea to make a Derby Fascinator out of tissue paper!  Yes, if it rains on your derby day it won’t really hold up, but the fact that it costs LESS THAN $10 totally makes up for that!

What to Wear to a Derby Party

This would be a great project if you are going to a Kentucky Derby Party and don’t want to go to all the expense of making or buying a hat.  You can whip this up in an hour.

It would also be great to use for a kid’s party. The kids can decide which colors of tissue paper that they would like their fascinator made from.

pink flower and headband on white table

Tissue Paper Flower Fascinator Supplies

Here’s how you can make one for yourself. You’ll need:

  • 8 sheets of tissue paper
  • headband
  • white floral wire
  • string
  • hot glue and glue gun
  • netting
  • extra silk flower (to use for the center)

How to Make the Giant Paper Flowers

To begin you need to make a tissue paper flower.  I used this tutorial from Nesting in the Bluegrass to make mine.   I used 8 sheets of tissue paper (4 of each design) and my tissue paper sheet was cut to was 12″ long.

pink flower on white table

Pull the center out of a silk flower.

pink tissue paper flower

After you make your flower and “fluff it”. DO NOT CUT your wire yet.

How to Attach the Flower to the Headband

Another piece of floral wire to attach the silk flower center to the center of the tissue paper flower.

pink headband and tulle netting on white table

Fold over your netting onto itself 2 or 3 times.   Using a piece of string, attach the center of the folder over netting to your headband.  Don’t attach it to the center of the headband, have it off-center.

pink tissue paper flower

Using the floral wire that you made the tissue paper flower from, wrap the wire around the headband (only a couple of times, so it’s not uncomfortable to wear) at the same point as the string was wrapped for the netting.

Now “fluff” the flower and netting to get it as you want it. To finish it off using hot glue to attach further.  Place hot glue over string/wire and under the flower where it meets the headband.

pink paper flower fascinator on white head on white background

Enjoy wearing your fascinator!

You may also like:

How to Make a Derby Fascinator

21 Adorable Kentucky Derby Party Ideas

Derby Themed Cricut SVG Files

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14 Comments

  1. I’ve followed your blog for a long long time and I didn’t realize you lived in Louisville until now, I moved here last year for my hubby’s dental School!!
    this really awesome!!

  2. I love that you used tissue paper! What a creative idea. I went to a “Mad Hatter Tea Party” last year and was desperately looking for a super ostentatious fascinator. I’ll have to tuck this idea away for the next hat party. Thanks! ~M.

  3. Pingback: A Kentucky Derby Party Means Hats, People! |
  4. I’m headed to a middle school youth group overnighter tomorrow and am making these with the girls! My ulterior motive is that I am also planning our ladies’ tea that’s happening in a couple weeks. I’m hoping this will get the girls excited about coming with their mothers. Thanks for the fun idea!

  5. I have a question, is the tissue paper a 12 inch square? I notice you said 12 inch long but the same width? Thank you , I love these!

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