How to Make a Paper Quilling Clematis Flower – Step-by-Step Tutorial

This paper quilling clematis flower is made from layered paper coils shaped into delicate, dimensional petals. The technique uses shaded quilling strips, which create a beautiful transition from darker to lighter color across each petal.

Each petal is built from three basic quilling elements: one eye-shaped coil and two curved moon-shaped coils. After the elements are assembled and wrapped with a paper strip, the petal is shaped and then combined with four more petals to create the flower.

The finished flower can be used to decorate handmade cards, gift boxes, exploding boxes, scrapbook projects, and other paper quilling compositions.

Materials

For one flower, you will need:

• 15 shaded quilling paper strips, 3 mm wide and 30 cm long, approximately 80 gsm
• 2 yellow quilling paper strips, 2 mm wide and 30 cm long, approximately 80 gsm
• PVA glue or your preferred quilling glue
• Quilling circle template
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Quilling tool or slotted toothpick
• A clean sponge for shaping the flower

The shaded strips are important to the look of this flower. I recommend starting each coil from the darker end of the strip so that the lighter color remains along the outer edge of the finished element.

Step 1: Make a Tight Coil

Take one 3 mm × 30 cm shaded paper strip and roll it into a tight coil.

Start rolling from the darker end of the strip. This places the lighter part toward the outside of the coil and creates a subtle light border when the element is shaped.

Step 2: Loosen the Coil

Place the tight coil into the appropriate circle on your quilling template and allow it to loosen to the desired size.

Once the coil has expanded evenly, glue the end of the strip with a small amount of PVA glue.

Step 3: Shape an Eye

Remove the loose coil from the template and gently press it to shape the center.

Move the center of the coil slightly toward one side rather than leaving it exactly in the middle. Then squeeze the opposite edges to create an eye-shaped quilling element.

This eye will form the central part of the clematis petal.

Step 4: Make Two Moon-Shaped Elements

Make two additional loose coils using the same shaded paper strips.

Shape each one into a slightly curved moon or crescent shape. These two curved elements will sit on either side of the eye shape.

For one petal, you now have three basic elements:

• one eye shape
• two curved moon shapes

Step 5: Assemble the Petal

Arrange the three elements together with the eye shape in the center and the two curved shapes on either side. 

Glue the elements together carefully at their touching edges. Allow the glue to hold before moving the petal.

Step 6: Wrap the Petal

To strengthen the construction and give the petal a clean outer edge, wrap a light section of the same shaded paper strip around the assembled elements.

Glue the end securely.

This outer strip helps hold the three internal elements together and gives the petal a more finished appearance.

Step 7: Shape the Petal Tip

Once the petal is secure, gently press the top to make the tip more pointed.

This small adjustment gives the petal a more elegant shape and makes the finished flower look more defined.

Repeat Steps 1–7 until you have five petals.

You can also make more petals if you want to create a fuller, multilayered flower.

Step 8: Assemble the Clematis Flower

Arrange the five petals into a flower and glue them together at the center.

Leave the flower to dry before shaping it further.

The five-petal version creates an open, balanced flower, while additional petals can be layered to create a fuller 3D effect.

Step 9: Add Volume to the Flower

Once the glue has dried, place the flower on a clean sponge.

Gently press the center of the flower into the sponge with your finger or another rounded tool. This pushes the center downward and gives the petals a more pronounced three-dimensional shape.

The sponge technique is especially useful when you want your quilling flowers to stand away from the background rather than remain completely flat.

Step 10: Make the Yellow Flower Center

Take the two 2 mm × 30 cm yellow paper strips and cut them into four equal sections.

From these shorter pieces, make seven small tight coils. Glue the end of each coil without allowing it to loosen.

Arrange the seven yellow coils together to create a small flower-like center.

Step 11: Attach the Flower Center

Glue the small yellow coil cluster into the center of the clematis flower.

The yellow coils create a contrasting focal point against the shaded petals and complete the dimensional flower.

If desired, you can add a small amount of glitter or another decorative detail to the center.

Finished Paper Quilling Clematis Flower

Your handmade paper quilling clematis flower is now complete.

The combination of shaded paper strips, layered eye and moon-shaped coils, pointed petals, and a cluster of tiny yellow coils creates a detailed 3D flower with plenty of texture.

Try making the petals in different color combinations or layering additional petals to create a fuller flower. You can also change the direction of the shaded strips to create different color effects.

These quilled clematis flowers work particularly well on handmade greeting cards, wedding cards, gift boxes, exploding boxes, scrapbook layouts, and floral paper art.

Recommended Quilling Tutorials

If you enjoyed making this dimensional flower, you may also like these other step-by-step paper quilling tutorials:

🌿How to Make Paper Quilling Leaves – Step-by-Step Tutorial — Learn how to create delicate two-tone quilling leaves with shaped coils, a darker paper border, and a handmade stem. These leaves are especially useful for building complete floral arrangements around quilled flowers.

🌸Pink Husking Multilayered Flower – 3D Quilling Tutorial — Learn how to create a dimensional multilayered flower using the husking technique. It is a good project to try after mastering the layered construction used for this clematis flower.