13. Bohemian Dried Look Paper Protea & Pampas Wall Display
Introduction
A modern bohemian wall installation mimicking expensive dried botanical arrangements, featuring handcrafted paper king proteas, dried palm spears, and paper pampas grass.
What This Idea Means
This idea captures trendy dry-flower aesthetics using durable paper techniques. Handcrafting dried proteas, faded eucalyptus, and sun-bleached palm spears out of muted taupe, terracotta, and ecru paper yields long-lasting boho wall art that never sheds or gathers dust.
How to Make It
- Paper Protea Center: Create a tall cone core out of pink/terracotta crepe paper. Glue dozens of tiny pointed fuzzy paper bracts in tight overlapping rows upward around the cone.
- Protea Outer Leaves: Cut stiff outer protea petals out of muted terracotta cardstock, ink-blending the tips with dark brown pastel chalk. Glue them around the protea center, flaring tips outward.
- Paper Palm Spears: Fold cream-colored cardstock into accordion pleats, trim the top into a pointed arch, and secure the base to form ribbed paper sun palm spears.
- Paper Pampas: Fringe long strips of fine kraft paper, curling the fringed edges with a wire brush to simulate fluffy pampas grass plumes.
- Arrangement: Bundle the paper proteas, paper palms, and paper pampas into a fan shape, securing the bundle with jute twine and mounting it inside a wall-mounted wooden shadow vessel.
Tips and Variations
- Tip: Use light tan distress ink brushed over paper edges to create an authentic sun-baked, dried botanical patina.
- Variation: Add real dried lagurus (bunny tails) or preserved eucalyptus alongside your paper creations for mixed-media texture.
What You Need to Make It
- Cardstock & Crepe Paper (Terracotta, Ecru, Taupe, Muted Pink)
- Brown & Tan Distress Ink Pads with Sponge Applicators
- Jute Twine & Wire Brush
- Wall-Mounted Wooden Shadow Vessel or Sconce Bracket
- Scissors & Hot Glue Gun