Free Pattern: Build a Cardboard Flower Vase with HEFIGOND
Bring a little creativity into bloom! Turn clean corrugated cardboard into a freestanding decorative flower vase with the free HEFIGOND Bloom Vase pattern. Print the template, cut and score the parts, then decorate your vase with colorful plaques, paper flowers, dry stems, or lightweight artificial flowers.
Download the Pattern
Download the HEFIGOND Bloom Vase Pattern PDF
Print all four sheets on US Letter paper at 100% / Actual Size. Turn off any printer option that enlarges, reduces, or fits the pages automatically. Measure the calibration square on Sheet 4 before cutting; it should be exactly 1 inch / 25.4 mm.
What You Will Need
- Clean, flat corrugated cardboard for the pattern pieces
- Cardboard no more than 3 mm thick
- HEFIGOND cardboard cutting machine
- HEFIGOND plastic knife or another cardboard-safe scoring tool
- Scissors for trimming the printed paper patterns
- Glue stick for attaching the patterns to cardboard
- Double-sided tape or child-safe craft glue for assembly
- Ruler for checking the print scale
- Markers, crayons, paint, stickers, or colored paper for decorating
- Optional paper straws or blunt-ended craft sticks for the paper flower stems
- Optional dry or lightweight artificial flowers
Know the Pattern Symbols
- Solid dark line: Cut along this line.
- Pink dashed line: Score and fold along this line.
- Purple crosshatch: Apply double-sided tape or glue here.
- Orange outline: Suggested position for an optional decoration.
- Green dot: Make a starter hole before cutting an internal opening.
- Green arrow: Match the arrow to the direction of the cardboard flutes.
Build Steps
1. Choose Your Cardboard
Find clean, dry pieces of corrugated cardboard that are flat and no more than 3 mm thick. Avoid cardboard that is wet, heavily creased, plastic-coated, or difficult to move through the cutter.
For the strongest vase body, keep the cardboard flutes running vertically from the base toward the top.
2. Print and Check the Pattern
Print all four pattern sheets at **100% / Actual Size**. On Sheet 4, measure the calibration square. It must be exactly 1 inch or 25.4 mm.
If the square is not exact, correct the printer scaling and reprint the complete pattern before cutting any cardboard.
3. Cut Out the Paper Patterns
Use scissors to separate the printed parts:
- Part A: body wrap
- Part B: shoulder plate
- Part C: square neck
- Parts D1-D4: optional floral plaques
- Parts E1-E3: optional flower heads
- Parts F1-F6: optional leaves
Leave a small paper margin around the outside cut lines. The final precise cut will be made after each pattern is attached to cardboard.
4. Attach the Patterns to Cardboard
Apply glue stick evenly to the back of each paper pattern, especially near its edges. Press the patterns firmly onto the cardboard and smooth out any bubbles or wrinkles.
On Parts A and C, align the green flute-direction arrow with the flutes inside the cardboard. Correct flute direction helps the body and neck fold cleanly.
5. Cut the Cardboard Parts
Use the HEFIGOND cardboard cutter to cut along every solid dark outline.
- Cut the outside shape of Part A, including all top and base tabs.
- Cut the outside of Part B, then use the green starter point to begin cutting its internal square opening.
- Cut Part C, including its four small mounting tabs.
- Cut any optional D, E, and F decorative pieces you want to use.
Do not cut through the pink dashed score lines. Move the cardboard forward through the cutter and rotate the piece when changing direction. Do not force the cardboard sideways.
6. Score the Fold Lines
Use the plastic knife on every pink dashed line. Score each line once or twice, then test the fold gently.
Score:
- The four vertical panel folds on Part A
- The top and base tab folds on Part A
- The four panel folds and seam fold on Part C
- The four mounting-tab folds at the bottom of Part C
Do not cut through the cardboard while scoring.
7. Form the Vase Body - Part A
Fold the four main panels in the same direction to form a square tube. Fold the purple seam tab inward.
Apply double-sided tape or craft glue to the purple seam tab. Bring the opposite outside edge over the tab and press firmly. Look down through the body and adjust it until all four sides form an even square.
8. Close the Vase Base
Fold the four BASE tabs inward. Overlap them neatly and secure them with double-sided tape or craft glue.
Place the body upright on a flat table. Check that the base sits evenly and that the square body does not lean.
Keep the four TOP tabs open for now.
9. Build the Square Neck - Part C
Fold the four narrow panels of Part C to form a square tube. Apply tape or glue to the purple seam tab, place the opposite edge over it, and press firmly.
Fold the four small mounting tabs outward at 90 degrees. The tabs will sit underneath Part B and hold the neck in place.
10. Join the Neck and Shoulder - Parts B and C
Insert Part C through the square opening in Part B from above. Under Part B, spread the four mounting tabs outward.
Apply tape or glue to the mounting tabs and press them flat against the underside of Part B. Check from above that the neck stands straight and remains centered.
The purple attachment band on Part B should face downward toward the vase body.
11. Attach the Shoulder to the Body
Fold the four TOP tabs on Part A inward. Apply double-sided tape or craft glue to the top tabs.
Center Part B over the vase body with its purple band facing down. Press each side of the shoulder plate firmly onto the folded top tabs.
Check the vase from the front and side. The shoulder plate should sit level, and the neck should point straight upward.
12. Add the Optional Floral Plaques - Parts D1-D4
Color or paint the floral plaques before attaching them. Add double-sided tape or a small amount of craft glue to the back of each plaque, inside the purple dotted guide.
Center one plaque on each body face using the orange dotted placement outlines on Part A. You can use all four plaques, attach only one to the front, or skip them and decorate directly on the vase body.
13. Make the Optional Paper Flowers - Parts E and F
Color the flower heads E1-E3 and leaves F1-F6, then cut them from cardboard.
Attach each flower head to a paper straw or blunt-ended craft stick using tape. Add one or two leaves to each stem. Keep the stems lightweight so the vase remains stable.
Place the finished paper flowers through the square neck opening. You can also use lightweight dry stems or artificial flowers.
14. Decorate Your Vase
Add a name, patterns, insects, rainbows, garden shapes, stickers, or your own flower designs. Try giving each side a different theme.
Keep heavy decorations close to the middle or bottom of the vase so that it stays balanced.
15. Complete the Stability Check
Set the finished vase on a flat surface and check it from every side.
- The base should sit flat without rocking.
- The shoulder plate should remain level.
- The neck should stand vertically.
- The stems should be lightweight and evenly arranged.
If the vase leans, remove some stems or reposition them until the project stands securely.
Ready to Bloom!
Your HEFIGOND Bloom Vase is complete. Fill it with your handmade paper flowers, dry stems, or lightweight artificial blooms, then display it somewhere clean and dry.
Share your finished creation with **#HEFIGOND** and show other young inventors what you made.
Safety Reminders
- Active adult supervision is required while cutting, scoring, and assembling.
- Use only cardboard that fits within the cutting machine's approved thickness.
- Keep hands clear of the cutting mechanism.
- Turn the machine off when cutting is complete or when it is left unattended.
- Use scissors and scoring tools carefully.
- The completed vase is decorative and is not a container for drinks or food.
- The cardboard vase is not watertight. Never pour water directly into it.
- Use only dry, paper, or lightweight artificial flowers.
- Keep the project away from flames, heaters, and wet areas.
- Do not use pointed, splintered, or heavy stems.