There are some basic tools in scrapbooking that make everything go much more quickly and easily. A 12 inch paper trimmer, adhesive roller, and a good pair of scissors are some basic tools for scrapbooking that everyone must have. When you get past the must-have's you come to the would-really-like-to-have's. One of these is the circle punch. Circle punches come in sizes that vary from as tiny as the head of a pin up to 3 inches. These punches allow you to very quickly create circles. You can use circles in a wide variety of ways on your scrapbook pages and greeting cards. The steps below show you how to use a circle punch to make flowers. You will be able to create flowers from cardstock or patterned paper in seconds with this easy circle punch technique.

1. Punching Flower Petals with a Circle Punch

To get started making flowers using your circle punch, you will want to select the papers. You can use solid colored cardstock, cardstock weight patterned paper, thin chipboard, or any patterned paper. The supplies needed other than paper are only a circle punch, adhesive, and embellishments for the center of the completed flower (optional). The patterned paper shown here is called Balsam from the Farm House Paper Company Norland collection. 

Begin by punching out circles from the patterned paper or cardstock that you have chosen. You will need one circle for every two petals.

2. Punching a Petal Shape

To create the petal shapes, you will place a punched circle back into the paper punch. Turn the paper punch upside down so that you can see the punch area. Slip the circle into the punch just far enough to make an elliptical shape. See example shown here. Do not go past half way across the circle when you are placing it back into the punch. Punch this elliptical shape and you have your first petal. 

3. Tracing the Petals

In order to make sure that all of the petals are exactly the same size and shape, it is helpful to use your first petal as a pattern. Place it on the back of each of your punched circles, lining it up with the edge of the circle. Trace the curved line. Place the petal shape on the other half of the circle and trace it again. Two petals should fit on each circle. Place the circle with the traced lines on it back into the punch and carefully line up the traced line with the cutting edge of the punch. Punch the new petal shape. Place the remaining piece back into the punch carefully and punch the second petal from that circle. 

4. Making a Flower

You can make a flower design with as few as 5 of these petal shapes. The flower shown here uses 6 petals. You may want to place the petals on your project without adhesive to confirm placement and get each one where you want it before it is permanently attached. Begin by placing one petal. The next, will slightly overlap the first and so on.

5. Fuller Flowers with More Petals

 Flowers will look fuller and can be spread larger or wider when you include more petals. The flower shown here has ten petals.

6. Add a Center to the Flower

The center of the flower can be as simple or intricate as you wish. The center shown here is simply punched with a smaller circle punch from coordinating patterned paper.

7. Add Gems to the Circle in the Center of the Flower

After adding the smaller circle to the center of the flower, you can add further embellishments such as gems, sequins, rub-on's, stickers, or whatever else you wish.

8. Add Pre-made Chipboard Embellishment to the Flower

And finally, you can use embellishments that you already own as flower centers. This pre-made, 3-D chipboard embellishment works perfectly as the center of the flower.

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12 Ideas for Making Paper Flowers

For more ideas for making your own flowers from paper or cardstock be sure to read the article 12 Ideas for Making Flowers here on About.com Scrapbooking