Reader Question: How Do You Make Your Newspaper Roses?

Recently, I've received a few emails asking exactly how I made the roses for my newspaper rose wreath. First, I have to say: darn nifty that people are showing interest in this project since it was one of my very very very very very first blog posts. Second, I have to thank Pinterest for that... Thank you ever so much Pinterest.

Credit was given in that earlier post to the brilliant Alisa Burke whose wreath inspired mine. She shows how she made her flowers and wreath here. My flowers look slightly different from Alisa's however, which is the reason for the inquiries I think. Mine are made of newspaper and they have a loftier silhouette. Yessir. They are tallish.

How do I get them to look like that? A valid question. One which I will endeavour to answer. To the recycling bin!

Tutorial: Newspaper Roses

1. You will need:

• Newspaper
• Pair of scissors
• Glue (PVA)
• Acrylic paints in your choice of colours
• Paint brush

2. Cut your newspaper into wide horizontal strips.

3. Separate the strips.

4. Glue several strips together along their ends making one long strip.

5. Fold the strip in half lengthwise. Unfold.

6. Fold in the sides to meet the middle foldline.

7. Fold in half again.

8. You will now have a long sturdy 4-ply paper strip (that looks like bias tape) with which to make your rose.

9. Make a bud by scrunching and then coiling the start of the strip.

10. Coil the strip flat around the bud. Every 7 inches (18 cm) or so, gently flip your strip 180°.

11. Continue coiling the strip flat around the flower, flipping gently every so often as in Step 10.

12. Now and then, add a dollop of glue on the inside of the strip to hold the lot together.

13. It's beginning to look a lot like... a rose. Sing this softly to yourself as you work.

14. Glue the end of the strip flat to the bottom.

15. Give your rose the desired shape by squishing it in your hands.

16. Paint away! I used three colours of paint for my roses. I started with my colour of choice, say pink, and covered the flower pretty well with one coat. I let that coat dry a few minutes. I then dry-brushed just a little white onto the rose for dimension. And finally, I dry-brushed a little orangey-brown to age it a little.

And there it is... Your newspaper rose! The key to getting this look, I think, is to keep the strip flat against the body of the rose as you work. Flat. That is the secret. Best of luck to you!

If you have any further burning questions, fire me off an email. Again, to see the completed wreath in all its pastel glory, find it here ages ago back in April 2010.

Have yourself a lovely day, I'll see you soon!

P.S. Here's another paper wreath for you, in case you're interested!