Paper Roses

Written and Created by PaperCraftCentral Susan

Little paper roses (or rosebuds) are easy to make once you know how. Keep reading to find out how to make yourself some today.

"The rose speaks of love silently, in a language known only to the heart."

~Anonymous

You can use paper roses on your scrapbook layouts, on handmade greeting cards, and on off-the-page projects, or anywhere else you believe would be improved by adding a few pretty embellishments. They would look nice on the lid of a handmade paper box too.

How to Make Paper Roses

This little video shows you how to make the rosebuds step by step. Scroll down for the written instructions and supply list:

You will need:

• Thin designer series scrapbook paper (thick paper or cardstock is harder to fold but can be used if desired) for the buds and some plain cardstock for the stems and leaves
• A square punch or a ruler and pencil to measure out some squares of designer series paper, or use your paper trimmer
• A heart punch (or draw them freehand)
• A wavy paper trimmer is helpful for making the stems but you can cut them free-hand instead
• A bone folder
• Adhesive of choice
• Scissors
• Decorative pens to add some details

Here's what to do for each of your paper roses:

1. Start with the thin designer series paper that you have cut or punched into squares. The size of your squares will determine the size of the finished rosebuds.
2. Fold your square point to point, then unfold the paper and fold the other points, so you wind up with a square that has a 'cross' in it. Make your folds really crisp and as accurate as possible. Use a bone folder to crease
3. Unfold your square and fold the points all in to the centre
4. Unfold your square. Pinch it together to make the shape shown and crease well with the bone folder.
5. Fold two points up towards the top point (not down, unless you want a more elongated shaped flower) to make the petals. Widen them out so you have a 'middle' to the flower.
6. Fold the other two points up to meet in the middle of the back of the flower. You don't want them to show so they should be as close together as possible. Place some adhesive on the back and stick the back folds to the flower to make it flatter.
   

7. Cut a thin, green strip of cardstock and fold it over the bottom of the flower to form the flower base. Wrap the strip around the bottom of your rosebud and adhere the wrapped ends to the back of the flower. Trim the ends if necessary so they don't show when the flower is turned over.

I then used my bone folder to emboss the veins of the leaves and a gold pen to embellish the flowers and leaves.

To make the leaves and stems:

1. Punch out some heart shapes from green cardstock. Each heart will make two leaves
2. Cut the hearts in half vertically
3. Trim the two halves of your hearts into leaf shapes, with the point of the heart being the tip of your leaf
4. Cut some thin wavy stems using the trimmer or you can cut them out freehand. Arrange your stems, flowers and leaves to suit your project

More ideas to try:

• Use plain paper to make the rosebuds
• Try different sized squares and hearts to make the elements (You will get different sized flowers and leaves this way)
• Arrange the buds into a bouquet
• Use several different coloured papers to make your buds
• Use glitter, gems or embossing powders to further enhance your buds and/or leaves

I hope you will enjoy making paper roses for your special projects. And remember you can also make 3-d flowers with your versatile heart punches too.