Paper Rose Tutorial (Four Sizes)

Hello everyone!  After a lot of positive feedback and questions about how I made the flowers in my previous post I've decided to do my FIRST tutorial so here it goes... =]

In this tutorial I'll show you how to make paper roses in four different sizes, or how I make mine at least.  =P  I made my previous roses out of Pink Paislee cardstock so to test things out a bit, this tutorial uses background paper from Jenni Bowlin.  I must say, although it wasn't any harder to work with, I like the final outcome and stiffness of the final product from the cardstock much better than from the paper.

So let's get started!  =]


First we'll gather up our supplies, I used:

• Glossy Accents or Sobo (Or any liquid scrapbooking glue)
• Embossing Mat (I used the backside of my mouse pad since I don't have an embossing mat)
• Glimmer Mist (Any color you want to use but I used pearl) (optional)
• Sharpie
• Rhinestones, Buttons or something for the center
• Stickles or something for the petal edges once finished (optional)
• Embossing Stylus (or rounded end of a paint brush)
• Paper piercer or needle (Something long, round and thin)
• Craft Knife
• Tweezers (optional, to position petals on final product)
• Paper or Cardstock
• Punches or diecutter

First you'll need to cut out your flowers, now since I'm a very spontaneous scrapper and I like to be prepared I cut out WAY more flowers than you'll need, but I plan on making extras to have ready later so it's all good.

I used my Pazzles and cut a variety of different sizes, some five leaves but most were six.  You can use different punches or a cutting machine.  When I first began I didn't know what would work best but I ended up using both and just saved the cutting file so I can cut whichever sizes I want when I want.  Here's the different sizes I used, they range from 1/2" to 2" as you can see from the grid underneath.  The more sizes you use the better your flower will look I've found out, even if it's just 1/4" or 1/8" larger or smaller. 

and here's my little piles of assorted sizes lol (like I said.... way too many!)

First I took the smallest flower (1/2") and cut short slits between each petal, be careful not to cut too far or you'll cut the petals off.

Then I took the small end of my stylus and my mouse pad and using a circular motion rubbed each petal until it curled up into a little bowl.

Then I did the same thing to the center of the flower but used the larger end of my stylus.

Next I glued my center rhinestone but you can use buttons or even brads if you wanted.

I sat that aside to dry and grabbed the next size larger five leaf flower.  I cut slits between it's petals as well and used my stylus (the larger end this time) to curl the petals and center just like I did with the smaller flower.

So now you have this:

Take the center piece, making sure it's dried, and roll it closed between your fingers.

Then glue the center piece inside of the second flower.

After it dries I like to scrunch it up again with both flowers.

You'll then take the next largest six leaf flower and cut slits between it's petals and using the stylus curl it.

You'll then take another six leaf flower of the same size and WITHOUT cutting slits in it, curl it's petals as well. 

You should end up with this:

Using your liquid glue, glue them one inside of the other.

Now that is the completion of the SMALL rose (about 1/2" across).

To make a medium size rose you'll need your small rose, a 1" five petal and two 1" six petal flowers.

Cut slits between the petals of the five petal flower and one of the six petal flowers.

Use your stylus to curl up all three petals and centers.  If you tear your flower at ANY point don't worry about it, it will work just fine.  I actually kinda like mine torn a little but the tear here was an accident lol.

Take the small rose bud you just made and glue it inside of the five petal flower and then glue that flower into the next.

Now before I glued these last two pieces for the medium flower together, I took my paper piercer and curled the petals on the last layer back (sorry the photo is blurry but you get the idea)

It should look like this and then you can glue them together.

So you've learned how to make a small and medium rose:

Let's move onto the large rose.  To make a large rose you'll take a medium rose, one 1-1/4" flower, one 1-1/2" flower and one 1-3/4" flower. 

Slit the two smaller ones between the petals and round them all using the end of your sharpie.

One the larger one, after you've rounded it, you'll hold each petal with two fingers (one on top and one on bottom) and using your other hand pinch the end to make it look like this.

I then used my paper piercer to curl the middle flowers petals back.

Take your medium size flower and glue it in the center of the flower on the left.  Once it's glued use your fingers and bend over the outer petals towards the center.

Assemble the rest of the flower and I usually use my stylus to press down in the center to make sure it's glued well all the way through.

So now you have a small, medium and large flower.

To make an even bigger flower you need a large flower that you made and a 2" flower.  I forgot to take a pic of it before but you'll use your sharpie to round out the petals and center then pinch the petals like you did before.  It should look like this when you're done.

Next you'll glue your large flower onto the 2" flower base.

So now your flowers are complete, for the finishing touches you can spray with shimmer mist, or something similar.

and add glitter to the petals using stickles or a glitter glue technique.  These I didn't add glitter to but on the previous ones I used the stickles pictured above.

If you have ANY questions just let me know!  I'd be happy to help in any way I can.  Thanks for visiting and if you use my tutorial link me and let me know, I'd love to see what you all create!