A Flower A Day Keeps the Wilting Away, Part One: Roses

Hello All! Sorry for the delay this week. I'm doing my best to get a post out every Wednesday! To make it up to you I'm going to post one DIY a day for the next SIX days. The next few posts will all be a series in creating felt flowers. So let's get started with the first! Roses! Roses are most people's go to, they're pretty, never been my favorite, but they are super fun and easy!

Set Up:

• Glue Gun & Glue Sticks
• Scissors
• Felt Sheets (1 dark red, 1 red, 1 green)
• Sticks
• Flower Tape
• Time: Most of one episode of Four Weddings (I am admittedly a TLC addict)

Step One: Swirl the Square

Cut a square of the red to start, should be about 3.5"x3.5". Then cut that square into a circle by folding the square in half and cutting half a circle. Tip: This is the best way to make a perfect circle every time. Symmetry will always be your best friend when cutting shapes. Take the circle and cut a swirl into it leaving the center part slightly circular.

Step Two: Make some Petals!

Cut 6 small rectangles out of the dark red felt in the shape of rose petals. Rose petals are usually pointy-ish on one tip, and roundly fat towards the bottom.

Step Two Point Five: Make the center!

Cut a thin strip of the dark red. Fold over in the center to create a cone like shape. Cut the tails so it is not enormous.

Step Three: Make the Greenery!

For the greenery underneath the rose cut a square of green felt. Fold this felt in half and cut into a cross shape. Take each tail of the cross and cut into diamond like shapes. Fold this shape in half and make a small slit in the center, un-fold and re-fold the other cross making a bother slit. This creates a criss-cross in the center for you to pull it through.

For the leaves cut two 3"x1" strips. Fold the strips in half and cut a hill shape to create the leaf. Tip: This is more of that awesome symmetry stuff!

Step Four: Assembly of the felt pieces!

First take the center cone you created and glue it to the tip of your stick. 

Next, take the circular center of your red swirl and glue it to the back side of the center cone. Start wrapping the swirl around the center in your desired flair, glue as you go. Tip: Glue every few cm's of the swirl, you don't want to over glue if you need to adjust and you don't want it to unravel if you don't glue enough. 

Take the petals and glue a V shape on one side of the bottom. Pinch the bottom of the petal around the stick and upward towards your swirled rose. Repeat this step for each petal. Tip: Space out your petals so that the second round goes in between the first round of three. 

Take the center of the cross greenery and pull the stick through the center. Glue the cross with a small dollop in the center to the bottom of the rose. Once dry glue small lines on each strip of the cross.

Take your leaves and put a small strip of glue on the bottom. Pinch the strip and the felt to the stick, repeat this for the other leaf. 

Step Five: Wrap it up!

Take your floral tape and cut a strip of about 3 inches. Use a small drip of glue on the base of the rose, attach one end of the floral tape to that drip. Start wrapping the floral tape tightly around the base and down towards the stick. Tip: Floral tape is waxy, embrace it and use your fingers to pressure the tape onto the stick. You can always wash your hands after! 

Repeat this step for the base of the leaves.

Step Six: You're Done!

You're finished now! you have a beautiful Rose! Repeat all these steps and make another one and another one and another one!! Spray them with something that smells good so you can stop and take a whiff! 

Enjoyed the tutorial but don't feel like spending the time? Well pop on over to the ETSY shop and buy one for yourself! Each of these roses comes out unique since they are handmade, just like each rose is unique!