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Content Created by Tracey of Baker Street Living 
If you love decorating with lace and enjoy giving old items new life, lace flowers made from recycled doilies are a perfect project. These soft, vintage-inspired flowers are simple to make, budget-friendly, and incredibly versatile. With just a few supplies, you can turn forgotten lace doilies into beautiful embellishments for décor, gifts, and crafts.
What You’ll Need
To make lace doily flowers, you’ll need just a few basic materials:
- Lace doilies (any size in good condition)
- Plastic Table Cover (optional ) or baking tray
- Small Bowls (I am using kitchen Prep bowls)
- Hot glue Gun and glue
- Decorative Button
- Fabric stiffener
How to Make Lace Flowers
I recommend covering your work surface with a plastic tablecloth or wax paper. This helps make cleanup a breeze.
1 – Choose small bowls, or bowls the approximate size of your doilies.
2 -Cover the bowls in plastic wrap.
3 – Pour some fabric tiffener into a bowl, large enough to soak your doilies.
4 – Submerge the lace, making sure it is saturated.
5 – Remove the lace from the stiffener and let the extra drip back into the bowl.
6 – Lay the doily into the plastic-lined bowl or over a curved surface to help it hold its form while drying.
7 – Allow it to dry completely. (about 24 hours)
8- Once dry, use hot glue to attach a decorative button to the center of the flower. (If the lace has an open weave, make sure you have protected the surface under the lace when adding the hot glue.
19 – If desired, you can add glitter or embellishments to the lace flower.
The lace flower will be firm enough to handle and use in a variety of projects while still keeping its delicate look.
Making Double Layer Lace Flowers
To make double of triple layer lace flowers, follow all the same steps in relation to gathering and shaping. Only add the center button to the top layer.
Make each layer slightly smaller, so they sit inside one another.
Ways to Use Lace Flowers
Use them as Memory Flowers. What a great way to remember heirloom lace that has been passed down. Add to a shadow box for an extra special piece.
These lace flowers are incredibly versatile. Attach them to wreaths, gift wrap, or table décor for an elegant touch. They work beautifully as embellishments for picture frames, trays, or handmade cards.
You can also add a pin backing to create a wearable accessory or glue them onto headbands, baskets, or fabric banners.
Button Options
Any decorative button will do, but if you feel like adding more lace, you could use a coverable button. Just use the lace that you cut from the center gathered area to cover the button.
Other non- button options include:
- Discs made from air-dry clay
- Craft Jewels (use hot glue)
- scrap fabric
- Plastic Beads
- Flattened jingle bells
- Cut felt
- Needle felted discs
Get Creative with Lace Flowers
Experiment with different sizes of doilies to create layered or oversized flowers. Try dyeing or tea-staining the lace before assembling for an aged, vintage look. Mixing different button styles, wood, metal, or mother-of-pearl, can completely change the feel of the finished flower.
Making lace flowers from recycled doilies is a simple and rewarding project that blends creativity, sustainability, and timeless style. With just gathering, glue, a button center, and a bit of fabric stiffener, you can transform forgotten lace into beautiful handmade accents that can be enjoyed for years to come.
This website contains affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases (at no cost to you).