How to Make a Paper Plant With Marbled Leaves

3 Materials
$5
2 Hours
Easy


In this fun tutorial, I show you how to make a pretty paper plant with gorgeous, marbled leaves


Paper plants are a fab way to brighten up your home. They’re easy to make and are perfect for corners where you can’t have a real plant. This paper plant is destined to sit next to my computer and climb up my moss pole cable tidy. It’s the perfect solution for a spot where I definitely can’t use any water.

What you need to marble print card with acrylic pour paints



There are a few different techniques to marble paper and card. The aim is to float paint on the surface of water or another medium, so you can swirl it to make a marbled pattern. Traditionally, oil-based inks are used, but we have discovered that acrylic pour paint makes a fabulous alternative.



Note: We mixed laundry starch from the powdered form using the directions on the packet. (1 ½ heaped tablespoons per litre of boiling water) Then left it to cool overnight before using it.



  • Card or paper.
  • Plastic Tray.
  • Cocktail Sticks or similar to swirl paint.
  • Disposable gloves (optional).
  • Newspaper to protect the table.
How to marble print card (or paper).



Pour the mixed laundry starch into the tray. It only needs to be a centimetre or so deep.


Hold the paint near the surface, then squeeze it on to the water a drop at a time. The colour will spread as it lands, as shown in the photos.

 


We find using at least four colours gives the best pattern.


Once the paint covers the surface of the liquid starch, use a cocktail stick to swirl the colours into a pattern.


Place a piece of paper or card over the surface of the tray, pressing it gently to ensure it comes in contact with the paint. Then lift out and turn it face up, before placing it on the newspaper to dry.


Add more paint to the liquid starch and repeat the process.


We marbled ten sheets of card with one batch of liquid starch. Once the marbling was dry, it was time to turn them into gorgeous leaves for my paper plant.


What you need to make a paper plant



  •  Leaf template 
  •  Card
  •  Scissors 
  •  Craft knife 
  •  Paper tape
  •  Wire
  •  Something to hold your plant in (I used a planter and floral foam)
How to make a paper plant.



Start by making leaf templates. If you want to use the one I used you can find it in my original post. Print out the leaves in your choice of size, then transfer them on to some card to make them easier to use.


Fitting as many as you can on each piece, mark out the leaves on the card you are using. I used three sheets of A4 card and ended up with 34 leaves of varying sizes.



The leaf template I used is a lovely monkey mask leaf. I cut the leaf shape with scissors and then used a craft knife to cut out holes. 


Score along the centre of each leaf, then fold to give it some shape.



Finally, attach a wire to the underside of your leaf with tape to create a stem and push into your floral foam.



And here is my completed paper plant.



Doesn’t it look pretty?



As well as making the potted paper plant, I also made a wire string of leaves to climb up my moss pole cable tidy. The two of them together help hide all the unsightly wires lurking on my desk.


Resources for this project:
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Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
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  2 questions
  • Susan Smiley Susan Smiley on May 14, 2020

    Can I have a printed copy of your marbled paper project? It looks much simpler than all the other techniques I have seen and I would love to do it for Christmas and other celebration gifts.

    Thank you

    Susan Smiley

    suesmiley@comcast.net

  • Johanne Palange Johanne Palange on May 14, 2021

    First I thought okay, another cheesy project, but forgive me for entertaining that thought cause this looks great. Very inspiring and quite easy. I'm always wondering what to do with gorgeous useless poured projects. After you've hung a few on your walls and supplied your whole family, what do you do with them? Stop making them? This here is a great idea. I love it.

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  • Tam Tam on May 14, 2021

    Verrrrry pretty colors...I could see getting some picture frames...and making a smaller gallery wall...like 4 of them in a certain location. I LIKE THIS!

  • River River on May 13, 2022

    Oh WOW!! These are so incredibly awesome! I have never seen anything like this before, so beautiful! I saved it so cool! I think they are probably the only "plant" I couldn't over water or under water! You should sell them, I would buy them, totally awesome!!

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