Instructions for Crepe Paper Roses
Many people know that crepe paper is good for decorating parade floats and good for draped party streamers, but you can also use crepe paper to make roses. They are simple to make; it is possible to make an entire bouquet of them in a couple hours. Crepe paper flower making was big in the early 1900s and it didn't end with just crepe paper roses. There were irises and morning glories, too. Back then these crepe paper flowers were used to decorate graves for Decoration Day, which today is known as Memorial Day. Instead of mounting the crepe paper roses on wire stems, mothers sent their boys out into the woods to bring home small branches to mount the roses to. Today instead of crepe paper flowers, silk flowers are used.
Things You'll Need
- Red crepe paper streamer, 30 inches
- Green crepe paper streamer, 12 inches
- Florist wire stem, green
- Glue
- Scissors
Instructions
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1
Cut a 30-inch long streamer of red crepe paper. Fold the steamer in half length-wise and crease it.
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2
Lay the streamer flat on a table horizontal to the edge of the table. The fold is on the bottom. 3 inches in from the right end of the streamer bend it straight down. Holding the 3-inch tail in the dominant hand, start winding the long length of the streamer around the point at the top of the bend. Wrap the crepe paper around at least three times to form the tight center of the rose.
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3
Bend the long side of the streamer straight back and down to form a triangle coming away from the tightly wound center. Continue wrapping this folded crepe paper around the center of the rose to form a single petal. Fold the streamer back and down again and repeat the wrapping process.
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4
Repeat Step 3 until all but the last 2 1/2 inches of the streamer has been wrapped to form consecutive rose petals.
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5
Wrap the 2 1/2 inches around the 3 inches held in the hand starting in Step 2.
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6
Insert a green florist wire stem into the base of the crepe paper rose and rap the red crepe paper tails around the wire.
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7
Cut out a free form X-shape out of the green crepe paper streamer. Make the arms of the X in the shape of simple leaf forms. Cut out the green X.
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8
Poke the bottom end of the florist wire through the center of the X and slide it up to the base of the rose.
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9
Take the remaining green streamer and start wrapping the wire from the base of the green leaves down to finish off the stem. Put a dab of glue at the bottom of the steamer to cement it in place and to keep it from unraveling.
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Tips & Warnings
If you plan to set your crepe paper roses outside, check first to see if the paper dye is waterproof.
