How to Make a Paper Rose Bouquet

The beauty of real roses is temporary. After several days of being displayed, they begin to wilt, leaving an unpleasant smell in your home. The next time you want to impress that special someone or need to add some pizazz to your dining room table, consider making a paper rose bouquet. Maintaining its appearance longer than a fresh rose bouquet, this craft project will allow you to enjoy the look of roses for months or even years.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Crepe paper
• Scissors
• Clear tape
• Green pipe cleaner
• Glue gun

Instructions

1. Draw 10 petal shapes on in pencil the crepe paper. Six of the petals should be slightly bigger than the other four. Cut out the petals.

2. Hold the four smaller petals in your non-dominant hand, grasping the bottom of each petal. Use your dominant hand to arrange them in a circle, making sure that each petal partially overlaps with those to its left and right.

3. Roll the bottoms of the petals between your thumb and index finger until they are twisted together. Place a small piece of tape around the twisted portion to prevent it from unraveling. Set this group of petals aside.

4. Place both of your thumbs onto one of the larger petals. Rub your thumbs upwards and outwards on the petal until it takes on a curved shape. Repeat this step with the remaining large petals.

5. Tape the bottom of one of the curved petals to the bottom of the group of smaller petals. Tape another curved petal right next to the first one, making sure that their edges partially overlap.

6. Complete the corolla of the rose by repeating step 5 with the remaining curved petals, until they encircle the group of smaller petals. Make sure that the curved petals are not covering the twisted part of the smaller group of petals.

7. Twist the end of a piece of green pipe cleaner until it forms a small loop that is perpendicular to the remaining length of pipe cleaner. Insert the twisted portion of the corolla into the loop. If the loop doesn't fit tightly around the crepe paper twist, squeeze the loop between your fingers to make it smaller.

8. Use a glue gun to dab drops of glue all around the loop, attaching the pipe cleaner stem to the corolla.

9. Repeat Steps 1 through 9 to make as many more roses as you wish to include in your bouquet.

10. Arrange the rose bouquet in a vase. If you do not wish to display the bouquet in a container, wrap a small piece of pipe cleaner around the middle of the group of stems to hold it together.

Tips & Warnings

• Because crepe paper fades easily, display your rose bouquet in a place that does not get a lot of exposure to direct sunlight.