Paper Manipulation - How to make paper roses.

It seems fitting that my first page should contain my most cherished skill. Paper manipulation has been my love since taking A-level Art and Design a few years ago, using mainly book paper I created many beautiful things and taught myself it's limits and advantages.

This is a set of paper roses I made for my mothers fourth wedding anniversary.

How To Make Paper Roses.

I'm happy to show my skills, it's a bit of common sense, practice and structural know how. When it comes to choosing your paper the older the better, new books are lacking that beautiful creamy yellow colour, go to your local library and see if they're throwing away any books or go to a charity shop, shouldn't cost more than a £3-£4. Here we go! 

STEP 1

What you'll need:

• Book paper - Mine is about 4 by 6 inches (any size is fine), you're looking for decent quality, not too thin. Personally I like a mostly solid block of text without pictures or gaps, but it's up to you.
• Glue - You can use anything really, I have PVA but you can use UHU or even a hot glue gun, a good glue stick can also work.
• Scissors - Nothing fancy just as long as they cut, you can also make ripped paper roses, they look cool.
• Time - Take your time, put on your favourite playlist and enjoy being creative. 

STEP 2

Grab a piece of book paper (cut it out of the book or rip it gently), and your scissors. Your first cut creates the centre of the rose, if you want this on a stick or piece of covered wire, get that ready.

You're looking to cut a shape like in the image below, bigger at one end and smaller at the other. this is about and 1.5" by 0.5".

Roll it up from the small end and let it loose (like in the picture below) and give the very end a little bend outwards from the centre. Glue the end down and hold on to it until its secure. If you're making a stem, simply wrap it around one end starting from the thin end and stick it in the same way as below.
 If  you're using PVA and it starts to ping away from itself, you may have used too much, unroll it and scrape the excess off. I have found squishing the very end tightly makes it easier to attach the petals because the PVA is wet, but if you're using a stronger glue you may not have to.

STEP 3

The first petal. The  first of three images below shows the basic shape you're after for this and all future petals. Cut it about double the width of your centre piece and a little taller in height. For a natural petal curve soften the petal in your fingers, roll the edges over and shape until you're happy. 

 

Attach the first petal to the centre with a little glue around the bottom quarter, curve it around the base of the centre piece (like in the picture below) letting it sit a little bit out for a natural setting. For now it  doesn't matter what the bottom looks like it can be covered at the end.

STEP 4

Repeat step three, making the petals slowly larger. Allow it to form naturally and loosely, unless you're making a bud you won't want the petals to be tight in to the centre.

   

As the petals grow larger  it becomes more important to try avoiding sharp angles, rolling and unrolling the petal in different directions is a good way to soften the curves.

STEP 5

When you're happy with the shape of your rose, and are making the last petals (mine are 3" wide by 3.5" tall) you want to think about how they look, cutting the edges more roundly than you may have been before and curling it all the way around the outside to get the most natural shape.

  

STEP 6

The last and second to last petals are there to cover up any messy gaps at the base, here I finished it off as a point. If you're using a stem (wire or cane or stick) cut small pieces of paper and allow it to blend in to the stem (which can be covered in book paper itself).

If you're not happy with this kind of finish you could also make a rose leaf to cover parts you don't like.

STEP 7

Enjoy! If got something a little bit like this (or better) then congratulations, if you're not happy keep trying practice does make perfect.

Thank you so much for reading!

I recommend artists like Bronia Sawyer and Sue Blackwell for other stunning paper manipulation art!

All these images are mine and belong to me only.