I’ve made paper roses ever since I was a young child. I didn’t always have glue or tape on hand nor floral wire and green tape for that matter. I came up with my own secret way of making long stemmed paper roses without a drop of glue. Now I’m sharing it with you!
Supplies
- 1 sheet of paper around 14 – 24″ long and at least 2″ wide
- I like to use paper shopping bags, because they’re the perfect thickness for a sturdy stem and hardy flower. Use brown paper bags for a more rustic look. If you’ve saved all that red and green wrapping paper from your Christmas presents it would be perfect! Just double up it if the paper is thinner.
- 1 pair of scissors
Instructions
CUT STRIPS (1/3): If you’re using a paper bag disassemble it, remove any handles, and flatten it out. I saved a red Crate and Barrel shopping bag from Christmas! The holiday hue works great for red roses. 
CUT STRIPS (2/3): Cut 1″ wide strips. They don’t have to perfectly 1″ wide. I just eyed it 
CUT STRIPS (3/3): My strips are around 19.5″ long. If your strips are shorter, your roses will have shorter stems and the flowers will be less full. If your strips are longer, the stems will be longer but flowers will be more bulbous. 
CREATE A STEM (1/3): Take one strip. Starting at one end, tightly roll the strip into a tube. 
CREATE A STEM (2/3): Roll the entire length of the strip. 
CREATE A STEM (3/3): Bend the stem about 1.5″ to 2″ from the loose end. This creates a long arm which is the stem, a short arm, and a crook that prevents the stem from unraveling. 
WRAP THE PETALS (1/8): Take a second strip. Make a 45 degree fold at one end of the strip. 
WRAP THE PETALS (2/8): Insert the strip into the crook of the stem. 
WRAP THE PETALS (3/8) : Hold the two ends of the stem together to clamp the strip in place. Loosely fold the strip away from you. 
WRAP THE PETALS (4/8): While keeping the folded edge aligning with the crook of the stem, wrap the strip around the stem, leaving about 1/4″ of the folded edge. 
WRAP THE PETALS (5/8): Again, loosely fold the strip away from you. 
WRAP THE PETALS (6/8): Again, While keeping the folded edge aligning with the crook of the stem, wrap the strip around the stem, leaving about 1/4″ of the folded edge. 
WRAP THE PETALS (7/8): Repeat the loose fold and wrap until… 
WRAP THE PETALS (8/8): …about 2″ of the strip remains. 
SECURE THE ROSE (1/8): Roll the remaining length of the strip into a flattened tube. 
SECURE THE ROSE (2/8): 
SECURE THE ROSE (3/8): Loosely fold this flat end back away from you. 
SECURE THE ROSE (4/8): Turn the rose over so you can see the underside. 
SECURE THE ROSE (5/8): Thread the flat end into one of the creases of the rose petals. 
SECURE THE ROSE (6/8): Turn the rose back to the top side and pull the flat end through. 
SECURE THE ROSE (7/8): Again, loosely fold the flat end away from you. 
SECURE THE ROSE (8/8): Again, turn the rose to the underside, insert the remaining flat end into one of the creases of the rose petals. 
MAKE A LEAF (1/7): Unroll the short arm 
Make a leaf (2/7): 
Make a leaf (3/7): Flattend the unrolled strip against the underside of the rose. 
Make a leaf (4/7): 
Make a leaf (5/7): Fold the unrolled strip in half lengthwise. 
Make a leaf (6/7): Cut a point starting from the fold to the open edges. 
Make a leaf (7/7): Open the fold to reveal the leaf. 
Use the remainder of your strips to create an bouquet!
Bao – I LOVE these! I have paper bags just begging to be used. I can hardly wait to get creative with colors. Guess what everyone is getting for Easter??? 😉
YAY! What are they getting? ?\_(?)_/?