How to Make Roses Out of Plastic Spoons

Plastic spoon heads can be transformed into rose petals or buds with heat and patience. These crafty roses have been made for many generations and can be used as modern centerpieces, wedding favors or holiday decorations. Recycle used plastic spoons after washing into elegant rose keepsakes by curling the heads into petals. Make a bouquet with roses of different sizes and colors.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plastic spoons
• Heat gun
• 1/8-inch wooden dowel
• Hot glue gun
• Glue sticks
• Narrow green ribbon
• Green floral tape

Making Rose Petals From Plastic Spoons

1. Heat the edges of a plastic spoon with a heat gun until they soften. Gently place the spoon edge against a hard surface and press to curl it inward. Curl the other side. Add more heat and continue curling the edges in until they form a small roll resembling a rosebud.

2. Heat the edges of another spoon and curl them. Stop before the edges fold in too tight. This will form an outside petal for the rose. Continue making rose petals with more spoons. Allow all the petals to cool.

3. Gather the spoons with curled heads. Use a heat gun to soften the spoon handles just below the heads. Cut or break the heads off at the weak point.

4. Cut a 1/8-inch wooden dowel to the desired length of the rose stem. Place the rosebud at the top. Use hot glue to secure the rosebud center to the top of the wooden dowel. Allow it to cool and set completely.

5. Choose another rose petal. Hot glue it to the outside of the rosebud. Place the petal with the curled edges pointing toward the center. Continue adding more petals around the rosebud. Overlap each petal slightly with the previous one. Allow each petal to dry completely before adding a new one.

6. Wrap the wooden dowel up the base of the rose with green floral tape. Tie a bow around the rose base with green ribbon. Make large loops with the ribbon to resemble leaves.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose pink, red, or white colored plastic spoons. Experiment with mixing different colored spoon petals in the same rose. Make a bouquet of plastic spoon roses with a variety of large roses and smaller buds. Make buds by leaving the first petal curled tightly and not adding extra petals. Add plastic baby's breath, glitter or paint to decorate the plastic roses.
• Use caution when operating a hot glue gun. Never leave the glue gun plugged in without supervision.

References

• Laura Banks, Jackson, Tenn
• Evelyn Coats, Jackson, Tenn.