All Activities
Make Floating Paper Flower

Make Floating Paper Flower
Green highlight

Make a floating paper flower using tissue paper, wire, and a shallow water tray; test buoyancy and decorate petals while observing surface tension.

Orange shooting star
Download Guide
Collect Badge
Background blob
Challenge Image
Skill Badge
Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to make a floating paper flower

What you need
Adult supervision required, coloring materials, scissors, shallow water tray or shallow bowl, thin craft wire, tissue paper, water

Step 1

Gather all your materials on a flat table with an adult nearby.

Step 2

Cut six palm-sized squares from the tissue paper using scissors.

Step 3

Cut each square into a rounded petal shape by trimming one edge.

Step 4

Use coloring materials to draw bright designs on each petal.

Step 5

Slightly scrunch the base of each petal between your fingers to thicken the center.

Step 6

Make a small loop at one end of the craft wire using your fingers or pliers with adult help.

Step 7

Slide the scrunched bases of the petals onto the looped end of the wire so they overlap.

Step 8

Twist the wire below the petals once to lock the petals in place.

Step 9

Fill the shallow tray with water until the water is about 1 centimeter from the rim.

Step 10

Hold the flower gently by the wire stem over the tray.

Step 11

Lower the petals onto the water so the petals touch the surface first and settle softly.

Step 12

Watch how the water surface holds the petals and notice whether the surface bends or stays flat.

Step 13

If the flower sinks gently spread the petals flatter to trap more air at the edges.

Step 14

Place the flower back on the water to see if it floats after you adjust the petals.

Step 15

Share their finished creation on DIY.org

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

Complete & Share
Challenge badge placeholder
Challenge badge

Help!?

What can we use if we don't have tissue paper or craft wire?

If you can't find tissue paper, use coffee filters or thin paper napkins cut into palm-sized squares (step 2), and swap craft wire for a pipe cleaner or a sturdy twist tie to make the looped stem in step 6.

Why does my flower sink and how do I fix it?

If the flower sinks after you place it on the water (step 11), spread the petals flatter to trap more air (step 13), re-scrunch the bases (step 5), and twist the wire more firmly below the petals (step 7) to keep them sealed.

How can I change this activity for younger or older kids?

For younger children the adult can pre-cut the six palm-sized squares and make the wire loop (steps 2 and 6) while older kids can add detailed designs with coloring materials (step 4) and experiment with layering extra petals for larger blooms.

How can we make the floating flower more creative or scientific?

Extend the activity by making several flowers (repeat steps 2–11) to compare how different petal sizes or paper types (step 2) float, or add a drop of dish soap to the water to show how surface tension changes the result observed in step 11.

Watch videos on how to make a floating paper flower

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

DIY Lotus Flower Making Idea | DIY Paper Water Lily

4 Videos

Facts about buoyancy and surface tension

⚖️ Buoyancy (Archimedes' principle) means an object will float if it pushes aside enough water to equal its weight — that’s why even heavy ships can float.

🧼 A single drop of dish soap breaks surface tension locally and can make nearby floating petals suddenly move or sink — a dramatic demo!

🪄 Surface tension lets tiny insects like water striders walk on water because the top layer of water behaves like a stretchy skin.

🪡 Thin wire can be shaped into a hidden frame or ring to spread weight across the flower so it floats more stably.

🧻 Tissue paper soaks up water very fast; layering petals or adding a light seal can help them stay afloat longer.

How do you make a floating paper flower?

To make a floating paper flower, layer 4–6 squares of tissue paper and round or pleat the edges into petal shapes. Thread a short length of thin craft wire through the center and twist it underneath to form a small loop or coil that supports the petals. Gently spread petals into a cup shape and flatten the coil so the base sits evenly. Place it very gently on a shallow tray of calm water and watch it float; add a tiny drop of dish soap to demonstrate surface tension breaking.

What materials do I need to make a floating paper flower?

You’ll need tissue paper in several colors, thin craft wire (or floral wire), scissors, small wire cutters or pliers, a shallow tray or bowl, and water. Optional items: a drop of dish soap for surface-tension experiments, markers or watercolor for decorating petals, and a towel for spills. Use child-safe scissors and adult help when cutting or twisting wire.

What ages is this floating paper flower activity suitable for?

This activity suits ages 4 and up with adult assistance. Preschoolers (4–5) can layer and decorate tissue paper while an adult handles wire and cutting. Ages 6–9 can shape petals, twist wire with supervision, and test floating. Ages 10+ can run simple experiments (adding soap to show surface tension) and refine construction. Always supervise when using wire and small tools.

What are the benefits of making floating paper flowers?

Making floating paper flowers builds fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity through decorating and shaping petals. It introduces science concepts like buoyancy and surface tension in a hands-on way, encouraging observation and cause-and-effect thinking. The sensory experience of tissue texture and water calmingly engages children, and the activity supports cooperative play and simple experiment design for early STEM learning.
DIY Yeti Character
Join Frame
Flying Text Box

One subscription, many ways to play and learn.

Try for free

Only $6.99 after trial. No credit card required

To create a safe space for kid creators worldwide!

Discovery Tools

DIY Wiki

DIY TV

Creativity Tools

How to draw

Teacher Tools

SafeTube

DIY Blog

2025, URSOR LIMITED. All rights reserved. DIY is in no way affiliated with Minecraft™, Mojang, Microsoft, Roblox™ or YouTube. LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO® Group which does not sponsor, endorse or authorize this website or event. Made with love in San Francisco.