Rose Kit

Enjoy making six beautiful old fashioned paper roses with the Smile Mercantile Paper Rose Kit!  Buy your kit here.

Watch the assembly video:

Instructions for assembly:

Step 1: Cut out the templates provided in the kit.  For each rose, you will need 4 of each petal size. Trace the petals onto the crepe paper using the diagram below, arranging them close together to reduce waste. Cut all shapes inside the pencil lines with the grain of the paper running vertically with the templates. Use the needle to pierce the small holes.

Step 2: Shape all of the petals.  Use one of the thick stem wires to curl the top edges of the petals away from you. Roll the paper over the wire until the curl holds.  Then, use your thumbs to gently stretch the centers of each petal outward, creating a slightly cupped shape.

Step 3: Cut a 28-inch length of silver wrapping wire from the paddle. Select a #1 size petal for the flower’s center. Use the glue stick to apply a line of adhesive along one edge of the petal.  Set the top of a stem wire onto the glue, and carefully roll the base of the petal around the stem. Use the end of the silver wrapping wire to wrap the base of the petal twice to secure it tightly against the stem.

Step 4: Thread the loose end of the wrapping wire through the eye of the needle, and twist the end of the wire against itself to keep the needle from coming off.  Using a stitching motion, use the needle to sew through the holes of the #1 petals, threading them onto the wire.  Slide the petals up toward the flower center, and use your fingers to gather the bases of the petals on the wire. Bring a petal up to the flower, overlapping the edge of the last petal. Press it against the stem, and wrap once across the pierced line with wrapping wire to secure it.

Step 5: Continue adding petals from smallest to largest, wrapping each petal once with wire along the pierced line before adding the next one. Keep the wire taut, and rotate the flower as you add petals. Once all petals have been added, remove the needle from the wrapping wire, and twist the remainder tightly around the base of the flower and stem. To make the flower look natural, carefully ruffle the very edges of the petals by gently stretching them back and forth with your fingers. 

Step 6: Apply the glue stick to the lower portion of the calyx. Wrap it around the base of the flower with the points facing up.  Press it firmly against the stem, and then carefully twist the points of the calyx to shape them. Cut a 1/2 inch segment off of the green crepe paper fold, across the grain, and then unfold it to make a long, skinny ribbon.  Apply glue to the very end, press it at a diagonal against the base of the calyx, and wrap down the stem, stretching it slightly as you go. Secure the end with glue. 

Step 7: To make a tri-leaf stem, cut out one large leaf, and two small leaves from the green paper. Cut a skinny green wire into one 6-inch, and two 3-inch lengths. Apply glue to the end of the 6-inch wire, set it onto the center of a large leaf, and fold the leaf in half.  Use your fingernail to firmly press the leaf around the wire. Let the glue dry, and then open the leaf, ensuring that the wire stays encased in the leaf. Use the side of the needle to draw veins in the leaf. Repeat with the smaller leaves, and shorter wires.  Arrange one large leaf with two smaller leaves, twist the stems together, and then wrap with the skinny green paper ribbon.  Make one or two of these tri-leaf stems for each rose, and wrap them to the main flower stems. The edges of the leaves can be snipped with scissors for a serrated effect, and the wire veins can be shaped for an organic look.