Rose Making Tutorial

I have had computer issues this past seven weeks and am finally back on line this week. . . apologies for those who have been waiting for this tutorial. 

Here it is ~ my rose making technique that I did at Stampin' Up! Heartfelt event in Brisbane in November:

I use the Fancy Flower Punch, a bone, SNAIL, Tombow glue, scissors (very sharp ones like Stampin' Up! snips are the best) and tweezers.

I punch four flower shapes using Stampin' Up! cardstock or Designer Series Papers - these are the best materials for the job.  I find that other papers and cardstock, split, become brittle or simply tear.

Next I break down the fibres in the punch outs using a bone. I use the bone underneath each of the punch outs and pull from the centre of the flower out towards the edges.  I also use the rounded end of the bone as opposed to the pointed end to avoid tearing the cardstock.  It is important to get the cardstock to a soft almost curled stage.

Next I curl the edges of each petal of the punched out cardstock so that each piece represents a star shape.  I curl in the same direction as I have broken down with the bone.

I then stretch one of the flowers over the end of a Tombow bottle to create a "well" in the flower. This is another purpose for the glue bottle - the rounded end is the perfect mold for this purpose. I do this with the curled petals facing upwards and the smoother side of the cardstock facing down towards to the lid of the glue bottle.  I press quite hard (but not hard enough to tear the cardstock). I press the card around the shape.

I fill the "well" with a healthy dollop of Tombow glue.  Do not be stingy with the amount you use because this serves as the adhesive for the entire throat of the flower. I do this at this step in the rose building so that the glue can start to dry (which means that it holds the flower more firmly).

There are three punched out flowers left.

Using another flower, cut between two of the petals all the way to the centre of the flower.  I have used another coloured cardstock to indicate where you cut the punched out shape ~ you do not need to draw a line to cut.  Simply snip it with your Paper Snips.  Don't fret if you happen to cut too far.

Next using your SNAIL, put glue on one of the petals to one side of the cut line.

Draw the unglued petal around on top of the glued petal to create a four petaled flower.  It will create a cone shape out of the flower.  Make sure that the outer edged (the curved edge) of the flower is perfectly aligned.

Next fold the flower perfectly in half and then in quarters (or halves again).  We are going to cut the bottom out of the flower so that when we mount it in the flower base it sits lower in the base. I have drawn a line where you need to cut using a different coloured cardstock. Make the line a little bit curved to follow the line of the outer petals. I usually cut at least 1/2cm off.

This is what it looks like once you have cut the tip of the cone off.

You should be able to fit your little finger in the hole perfectly. If you can't refold the flower and trim it a bit more.

Nestle this piece into the original base flower and move it around until the glue dollop has squeezed up through the hole.

You have two punched out flower shapes left.

These two flowers have the same shape cut out of them. Cutting in between two petals on each punched shape cut out a circle the size of an Aussie 20 cent coin (which is a bit larger than a quarter).  The circle is about an inch in diameter. I have drawn on the pink cardstock to show the shape of where to cut.

Next I roll one of the shapes using some tweezers and my hand as a base and guide. I place the flower on my palm folded petals facing down ward. I grasp the upper petal with the tweezers on the upper cut piece and then curl the shape tweezers in an anti-clockwise direction away from me.  I use my fingers, thumb

and tweezers to guide the rolling.  

 

It feels a little bit awkward to begin with but the more roses you make the easier it is.  I don't let go of the tweezers and usually finish with my tweezer hand (the right on in the picture) upside down. You are giving the cardstock a memory ~ when you gently remove the tweezers the card will stay in the spiral shape. Be careful not to twist it too tightly. If you do twist too tightly, unravel the spiral a little.

Next using a little bit of SNAIL (about 1/2cm) on the last petal I stick the final petal to the heart of the rose so that it stays in the spiral shape.

This is the heart of the rose and you are going to build around the outside of it.  You can use this by itself for projects where you want smaller roses.  If you would like them even smaller than this you can actually cut off one or more petals.  Experiment and enjoy the outcomes.

You have one last punched out flower left (with the circle cut out of the centre). You are going to cut this one between the second and third petals.

Use SNAIL on the inside (the circular side) of the petal where you have cut out the circle.  I always use about 1/2cm on the entire edge. Gently mold it around the heart of the rose. I always start where I finished sticking the final petal of the heart.  I do this because it reinforces the stuck down petal and it is a good place to start the new petal (off centre).

Next run the SNAIL around the inner edge of the three petaled piece - about 1/2cm wide along the entire edge. Then gently mold that shape around the heart of the rose.  Once again start where you finished to reinforce the structure and to ensure that all of the petals are off centre in the spiral shape.  Don't be afraid to bend and fold or crease the petals a little to make the flower look as natural as you can get it to be. Press the glued areas firmly to make sure that the whole flower is securely stuck.

You could use this sized flower on projects.  The bottom of the flower sticks perfectly on a Stampin' Dimensional and will secure nicely to any project ~ and if you have used the right amount of SNAIL it will never unravel!  

Finally nestle the heart into the rose base that you have prepared with the glued centre.  Rotate the heart until it fits into the space perfectly.  Leave the rose to dry and then come back and fiddle with the petals to get them to sit exactly as you want.

The beauty of the rose base is that it is a solid surface and will adhere to any project with Stampin' Dimensionals or Sticky Strip!

The secret to making these flowers look good is to practice.  So don't give up after your first.  Make at least three and by then you will have perfected the art of rose making.

I learned to make these from another talented Stampin' Up! demonstrator the beautiful Carolyn Rakowski.  Visit her blog (on the side bar) for more flower creations.

Thanks and enjoy!
Shanni xx