How to Make Pretty Egg Carton Flowers
Looking for a simple Mother’s Day craft or hands-on spring activity for kids? Upcycle an empty cardboard egg carton into pretty flowers that will not wilt!
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Old egg cartons make for endless crafting possibilities. Creating flowers out of empty cartons is a fun way to reuse household materials, and you don’t need a lot of additional craft supplies. Skip the pom pom and pipe cleaners, as these flower crafts are backyard compostable!
Materials Needed to Make Egg Carton Flowers
Making egg carton flowers only requires a few simple materials. Here is a list of what you will need:
- Empty egg cartons (I like to use cardboard egg cartons)
- Bamboo skewers
- Scissors
- Box cutter
- Cutting board
- Hot glue gun or white glue
- Optional – different colors of acrylic paint, tempera paint, craft paint, paint brush, markers, or crayons to add color to your egg carton flowers*
Using hot glue to attach your flowers to their stem drastically reduces the drying time of the flowers and so is my go-to glue of choice. However, if time is not an issue, white glue will work just as well. If you choose to use hot glue, please be sure to provide supervision if little hands are involved in the egg carton flower construction process. I have a cordless, battery powered hot glue gun and I love it!
*you may also use egg cartons made of polystyrene (what we typically think of as styrofoam), just know that if you plan to color your flowers you may have to adjust the material you are using, as polystyrene is a form of plastic and will not absorb paint, markers, or crayons the same way that paper egg cartons will. In addition, take care to use hot glue with polystyrene egg cartons, as the heated glue may cause the carton to melt.
Instructions to Make Egg Carton Flowers
Follow these simple instructions to create your own bouquet of DIY egg carton flowers, perfect for Mother’s Day or any occasion!
- Remove the lid of the egg carton.
- Lay the egg carton flat, cut off the peaks between each individual egg cup and set them aside. These peaks will serve as the center of your flowers.
- Using a scissors or box cutter, separate each egg carton cup. If using a box cutter, be sure to use a cutting board underneath the egg carton to avoid damaging the underlying surface.
- Once all egg cups have been separated, use scissors to shape four rounded flower petals out of each cup at approximately 90 degree angles from one another. You will need two shaped cups per flower.
- Color the egg cups using the art supply of your choice. Allow for drying time before proceeding to the next step.
- Use a bamboo skewer to poke a hole into the bottom of a flower-shaped egg cup, with petals facing in the same direction as the pointy end of the skewer. Slide the egg cup down the skewer about an inch.
- Using the same bamboo skewer, poke a hole into the bottom of a second flower-shaped egg cup and slide it down on top of the first egg cup.
- Rotate the second egg cup so that the petals are opposing the first egg cup, creating a fuller-looking flower. When you have them positioned the way you like them, glue the two egg cups together.
- Glue an egg carton peak in the center of the two egg cups, placing it over the top of the bamboo skewer point.
- Allow the egg carton flower to dry, then place it in a vase to display your masterpiece!
Ways to Use Your Egg Carton Flowers
Egg carton flowers make fabulous floral arrangements for three main reasons: they’re made of household materials, they never die, and if you make them with paper egg cartons, they’re compostable! Here are some ways to use your newly crafted egg carton flowers:
- Gift your upcycled egg carton creations for Mother’s Day, creating a beautifully, DIYed bouquet.
- Grab a glass vase and use them as a stylish centerpiece for your next dinner party.
- Donate the flowers to your local librarian or your child’s teacher to brighten up their day.
- Make a bouquet of beautiful egg carton flowers to display for Earth Day to demonstrate the beauty of sustainable crafting.
- Skip the bamboo skewer “stems” and make an egg carton flower wreath.
This fun craft is a great way to engage both younger and older kids in making a bouquet of flowers with sustainability in mind. As an added bonus, these upcycled egg cartons last much longer than fresh flowers!
Video Tutorial for Making an Egg Carton Flower Wreath
As an alternative to making freestanding egg carton flowers, you can make an egg carton wreath instead. Here is a quick video tutorial to walk you through the simple instructions, step by step.
Egg carton flower wreaths make for great classroom crafts for Mother’s Day, as well as an easy spring craft for kids.
How to Make Pretty Egg Carton Flowers
Looking for a Mother’s Day gift or a hands-on spring craft for kids? Upcycle your old cardboard egg cartons into pretty egg carton flowers that will not wilt!
Materials
- Empty egg cartons (I like to use cardboard egg cartons)
- Bamboo skewers
- Scissors
- Box cutter
- Cutting board
- Hot glue gun or white glue
- Optional – different colors of acrylic paint, tempera paint, craft paint, paint brush, markers, or crayons to add color to your egg carton flowers*
Instructions
- Remove the lid of the egg carton.
- Lay the egg carton flat, cut off the peaks between each individual egg cup and set them aside. These peaks will serve as the center of your flowers.
- Using a scissors or box cutter, separate each egg carton cup. If using a box cutter, be sure to use a cutting board underneath the egg carton to avoid damaging the underlying surface.
- Once all egg cups have been separated, use scissors to shape four rounded flower petals out of each cup at approximately 90 degree angles from one another. You will need two shaped cups per flower.
- Color the egg cups using the art supply of your choice. Allow for drying time before proceeding to the next step.
- Use a bamboo skewer to poke a hole into the bottom of a flower-shaped egg cup, with petals facing in the same direction as the pointy end of the skewer. Slide the egg cup down the skewer about an inch.
- Using the same bamboo skewer, poke a hole into the bottom of a second flower-shaped egg cup and slide it down on top of the first egg cup.
- Rotate the second egg cup so that the petals are opposing the first egg cup, creating a fuller-looking flower. When you have them positioned the way you like them, glue the two egg cups together.
- Glue an egg carton peak in the center of the two egg cups, placing it over the top of the bamboo skewer point.
- Allow the egg carton flower to dry, then place it in a vase to display your masterpiece!
Notes
Using hot glue to attach your flowers to their stem drastically reduces the drying time of the flowers and so is my go-to glue of choice. However, if time is not an issue, white glue will work just as well. If you choose to use hot glue, please be sure to provide supervision if little hands are involved in the egg carton flower construction process.
*you may also use egg cartons made of polystyrene (what we typically think of as styrofoam), just know that if you plan to color your flowers you may have to adjust the material you are using, as polystyrene is a form of plastic and will not absorb paint, markers, or crayons the same way that paper egg cartons will. In addition, take care to use hot glue with polystyrene egg cartons, as the heated glue may cause the carton to melt.
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