About Paper Roses
Most people hear "Paper Roses" and think of the song sung by Marie Osmond in the 1970s. However, paper roses are also a craft project used to invoke the image of a rose without the thorns and pollen. There are many do-it-yourself instructions out there for paper roses, so it isn't difficult to learn how to make these flowers. It is important to learn a few things about paper roses before you begin.
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Identification
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Paper roses can be either a craft or an origami project; both identifiable by the paper either cut or folded in the shape of a rose. Crafted roses are often attached to pipe cleaners (or Chenille stems) or green wire. Origami paper roses can be displayed the same way. They must of course, be created from paper to obtain the name paper rose.
Types
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There are several ways to make paper roses, all of which produce a different style of flower. Some are cut from a template comprised of circles strategically drawn to (when cut out and rolled) resemble rose petals. Others are made form a strip of paper twisted to form a rosebud-like shape. Origami paper roses are created in a careful 21-step process. Each technique produces a unique paper rose.
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Features
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Papers roses have petals and a stem like real roses. They can be scented with light perfume applied to the paper and allowed to dry. Again, the technique used to create the rose determines the style of rose that you will have. They may be completely open or closed like a rose bud. Leaves are usually made of paper, cut out of a template and glued to the stem. Paper roses offer the beauty of a rose without the thorns and pollen that can make them unattractive.
Significance
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Without the thorns and pollen, roses are a thing of beauty and a great gift for anyone. Paper roses are hypoallergenic (unless scented) and the hazard it poses is a paper cut. These roses are also a great way to celebrate the first year of marriage, traditionally known as the paper anniversary. Although there are many unique gift ideas out there for this anniversary year, the paper rose offers a bit of tradition, and if created by the giver, a sentimental gift like no other.
Considerations
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When deciding on a paper rose project, choose your technique by the look it will produce. Some paper roses are more realistic than others are. These are great for the paper anniversary or other sentimental gift. Some techniques produce paper roses that are less realistic, like origami paper roses. These have sharp edges and corners that compliment a clean modern style. Still others produce a wide, open rose with curly petals. These are best suited for a "pretty" look because of their large wide petals and often uneven lines. Before beginning a rose, simply look at a photo of the end project--there is usually one available on the craft sites or in craft books--and decide whether that rose fits your project and the message it is meant to send.
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Resources
- Photo Credit King Yeung
