3D Paper Quilling Sunflower Tutorial

Sunflowers are one of my favorite summer flowers, so today I’m sharing a step-by-step tutorial for making a 3D paper quilling sunflower.

This quilled sunflower is made from simple paper strips and can be used to decorate greeting cards, gift boxes, shadow boxes, exploding boxes, or even turned into a brooch.

Materials and Tools

For this 3D quilling flower, you will need:

• Yellow quilling paper strips – 3 mm wide, 80 gsm, 30 cm long – for the petals
• Black and orange paper strips – 7 mm and 10 mm wide – for the sunflower center
• Quilling glue
• Sharp scissors
• Quilling tool or a toothpick
• Tweezers
• Circle template
• Yellow and brown ink or mist
• Small sponge for shading
• Green tissue paper or die-cut leaves for the back

Step 1: Make the Sunflower Center

Start by making the textured center of the sunflower.

Take the 7 mm and 10 mm black and orange paper strips and cut fine fringes along one edge. Place a thin piece of cardboard underneath the strips while cutting to help prevent accidentally cutting through them.

Prepare six fringed strips:

• 3 black strips – two 10 mm wide and one 7 mm wide
• 3 orange strips – two 10 mm wide and one 7 mm wide

Using a quilling tool or toothpick, roll the black and orange strips together. Start with the 7 mm strips, then add the wider 10 mm strips.

Glue the ends and set the center aside. 

Step 2: Make the Quilled Sunflower Petals

Now it is time to make the petals. For a full, realistic-looking sunflower, I recommend making plenty of them.

Create loose paper coils using the 3 mm yellow strips. Make two sizes:

• 16 mm coils for the first layer
• 15 mm coils for the second layer

The two different sizes will give the sunflower more depth and create its characteristic 3D quilling effect.

Step 3: Shape the Petals

Shape each loose coil by gently pinching it to create an eye shape.

Then continue shaping the piece into a slightly wavy, curved petal. This irregular shape gives the quilled sunflower a more natural appearance.

You can see the shaping process in the photos below.

Step 4: Add Color and Shading

To make the petals look more natural, add a little color and shading.

Use a clean, dry sponge to gently apply yellow mist first, followed by a small amount of brown or vintage-colored ink around the edges.

You can shade each petal individually, but working with several petals at once is faster and easier.

Step 5: Assemble the 3D Sunflower

Cut a small circle from thick yellow or orange paper. Make it slightly larger than the sunflower center.

Apply glue to the circle and attach the fringed center.

Next, glue the larger petals around the center to create the first layer. Add the smaller petals as the second layer, positioning them between the first-layer petals.

Leave the flower for about 10 minutes so the glue can dry.

Once it is dry, gently shape the petals with a sponge or your fingers to give the flower additional volume.

Step 6: Add the Green Leaves

The final step is adding the leaves to the back of the sunflower.

You can make them from green tissue paper or use suitable die-cut paper leaves. I particularly like using tissue paper because it gives the finished flower a softer and more natural look.

How to Use a Quilled Sunflower

Your finished 3D paper quilling sunflower can be used in many different projects. Add it to:

• Handmade greeting cards
• Gift boxes
• Shadow boxes
• Exploding boxes
• Scrapbook projects
• Home decorations
• Brooches and other paper accessories

For a more durable decoration, I recommend protecting finished quilling projects with a clear acrylic varnish or craft sealer.

This sunflower is a great example of how simple paper strips can be transformed into a dimensional quilled flower with layers, texture and carefully shaped petals.