How to Make Roses From Crepe Paper

Crepe paper roses are inexpensive and can be constructed quickly, after a bit of practice. The color choices are almost unlimited, and you can make roses of almost any size. Crepe paper roses can look a lot like the real thing. They are perfect for craft projects, decorating parade floats and for wedding and prom decorations. They also can be convincing theater props. They store easily and well, and with care can be used over and over again.

Things You'll Need

• Card stock or lightweight cardboard
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Crepe paper in rose color and in dark green
• Narrow knitting needle or bamboo skewer
• Florist's wire
• Wire cutters
• Florist's tape
• Silk rose foliage (optional)

Instructions

1. On the card stock, draw a heart of about the same height as the desired complete rose bloom. Make the heart a bit on the fat side, with a shallow dip at the top, and draw a wide V to make the point at the end. Carefully cut out the cardboard heart. This is your pattern.

2. Layer the rose-colored crepe paper sheets up to four layers deep. Trace heart patterns repeatedly on the top layer, making the most economical use possible of the crepe paper. Remember, there is no up or down on crepe paper, so flip the heart pattern upside down to allow you to fit more patterns on the page. Cutting through all four layers at once, cut out the hearts.

3. Using the dark green crepe paper, cut a strip one-quarter to one-third the height of the heart pattern and across the width of the paper. You'll need about 2 inches of green strip for each rose, so plan accordingly. After you cut the strip, roll or fold it so that you have multiple layers, about 3/4 of an inch wide. With scissors, cut the top into an arrow shape, taking care to keep the bottom 1/2 inch of the stack of crepe paper uncut. Use paper dolls technique: You'll want a long strip of green crepe paper with a straight bottom and a jagged top edge.

4. Cut a section of florist's wire the length of the desired rose stem. Cut a 2-inch length of florist's tape and set it aside. Cut one of the crepe paper hearts in half, from top to bottom, leaving you with two petal-shaped halves. Shape a curl into each half by rolling it lengthwise around a knitting needle or bamboo skewer, stretching the crepe paper slightly as you roll. Take the first rolled petal and wrap the tip, point down, around the top of the florist's wire stem. Secure it with the florist's tape, wrapping and stretching the tape around the base of the petal. Use only half of the tape, but leave the rest hanging from the wire. Don't cut it. Wrap the second petal over the first, overlapping the edge of the first petal. You can unwrap the florist's tape slightly to accomplish this. Wrap and stretch the remaining florist's tape over the second petal to secure it to the wire.

5. Pick up a crepe paper heart, holding one edge of each side between the thumb and forefinger of each hand. Slide your thumbs toward the center, and gently stretch the crepe paper to form a gentle cupping curve in the middle of the heart. Tape the bottom tip of the heart, point down, to the wire stem, using the tape from the roll of florist's tape. This time, do not cut the florist's tape, but instead use it directly from the roll, stretching and wrapping until the heart is rolled around the stem and is securely attached. Repeat this step, overlapping the hearts around the stem, until your rose is as full as you wish. Don't forget to leave a few partially bloomed roses in your bouquet for a more realistic look.

6. Wrap a section of the jagged green crepe paper strip to the bottom of the rose to create the calyx. Continue to stretch and wrap the florist's tape to secure the calyx, then slowly wrap and twist the tape to cover all the length of the wire. You can twist and wrap a stem or two of silk rose foliage onto the stem for an even more authentic look. Cut the florist's tape when you reach the bottom of the stem.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with a contrasting-color matte spray paint to create tipped or multicolored roses. Spray quick, light spritzes, holding the nozzle at least a foot from the center top of the roses, for the most natural results.

• Crepe paper roses are, of course, much more flammable than the real thing. Don't display them near candles.

References

• Yellow crepe paper roses
• Crepe paper roses