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    Home » Crafts

    DIY Paper Flower Fascinator

    Updated: Apr 20, 2021 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 13 Comments

    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.

    Table of Contents
    • What to Wear to a Derby Party
    • Tissue Paper Flower Fascinator Supplies
    • How to Make the Giant Paper Flowers
    • How to Attach the Flower to the Headband

    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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    • DIY Paper Flower Wreath Tutorial decorated for the Kentucky Derby; lots of cute ideas for Derby Decorations and Derby Parties on this site too!
      DIY Paper Flower Wreath Tutorial; a Kentucky Derby Decoration Idea
    • DIY Kentucky Derby Wreath- cute decoration for Derby Day!
      DIY Kentucky Derby Wreath & Video Tutorial
    • Printable Kentucky Derby Party Decorations and Ideas- printables for kentucky derby party invitations and craft ideas #kentuckyderby #derby #derbyparty
      21 Adorable Kentucky Derby Party Ideas
    • Kentucky Derby Party Ideas and FREE Printable Derby Party Items & Games
      Family Friendly Kentucky Derby Party: Reader Submission
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    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love.” Her work and designs have been featured on HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. rocio lewis says

      April 19, 2013 at 9:41 pm

      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!!

      Reply
      • Melissa Mortenson says

        April 22, 2013 at 10:44 pm

        Oh Cool! I’ve been here for 17 years and LOVE it. My hubby’s a dentist also.

        Reply
    2. Rhonda says

      April 19, 2013 at 11:42 pm

      I love to see the hats you wear every year for the Derby – this one takes the cake!

      Reply
      • Melissa Mortenson says

        April 22, 2013 at 10:43 pm

        Thanks Rhonda, but this one’s not for me, they do an auction at my husbands office to raise money for charity and this is the one that I made for the auction!

        Reply
    3. M. says

      May 02, 2013 at 3:22 pm

      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.

      Reply
    4. Kristi says

      April 16, 2015 at 11:42 am

      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!

      Reply
      • Melissa Mortenson says

        April 25, 2015 at 10:19 am

        Oh these would be great for that!!! Easy and inexpensive, just right for a party like that!

        Reply
    5. Trina says

      April 24, 2015 at 12:17 am

      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!

      Reply
      • Melissa Mortenson says

        April 25, 2015 at 10:12 am

        No, it’s the width of the tissue paper when you buy it.

        Reply

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