Create festive flowers for your tree this Christmas

Paper Flowers inspired by the Kitchen Garden will feature in the decorations at Kingston Lacy this Christmas

Make a paper orchid, inspired by the passions of Henrietta Bankes, to decorate your tree at home.

If you have visited the house at Kingston Lacy at Christmas time you will no doubt have noticed the Christmas tree on the State Floor beautifully gilded with over 700 handmade paper orchids. 

Local artist Isobel Barber created the design and was helped to craft them by staff and volunteers in 2018. The design takes inspiration from Henrietta Bankes, one of the women of the Bankes family who helped shape the Kingston Lacy we see today. Henrietta created the recently restored Orchid House in the Kitchen Garden which was once one of the finest in England and kept many varieties of orchid, some very rare. 

If you would like to have a go at making your own paper orchid decoration please download the instructions and watch our helpful 'how to' guide below.

Download the instructions (PDF / 4.6MB) download

Paper Flowers inspired by the Kitchen Garden will feature in the decorations at Kingston Lacy this Christmas Play Video
Video

How to make a paper orchid decoration

Follow these steps, led by the artist Isobel Barber, and create a Kingston Lacy paper flower decoration for your tree this year. You will need to download the festive floristy PDF and cut out the templates before you start.

Remember to share the results with us on social media using #kingstonlacy – we would love to see your efforts.

Paper Flowers inspired by the Kitchen Garden will feature in the decorations at Kingston Lacy this Christmas

Isobel Barber, Papercut Artist 

Isobel Barber is a Paper Set Maker, living and creating in Dorset. Find out more about how Isobel helped us create a magical Christmas experience in the house at Kingston Lacy in 2018 and 2019.