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Real roses aren’t perfect. The petals aren’t smooth across the top nor are they all the same size. I have a pattern but, honestly, I just cut out free form petal shapes to make the most of my scraps. This is a good exercise in releasing control!
Additional Supplies:
Flower pattern (optional)
Directions:
Cutting Out Petals
Cut out a bunch of petals of varying sizes, some with dips in the middle and some with a little bulge on the top. Make sure they all have relatively straight cut bottoms.
Shaping Petals
1. Place a small dot of glue right in the middle on the base of a petal.
2. Pinch petal together and hold for a second or two.
3. Turn petal over and find the little wedge you just made.
4. Without cutting it all the way off, trim the excess wedge.
Repeat with all petals except the four large ones.
Add Character to Petals
Roses have little curls in the tops of their dainty petals. There are two ways to add the same to your felt roses:
A. On the petals with a little bump on the top, place a small dot of glue and fold it over toward the back.
B. On the flat topped petals, place a fine line of glue across the top. Gently roll the edge down and hold in place for a few seconds while the glue sets. For petals with a dip, you can do this technique to one side or both sides.
Making a Rose (1 Small petal, 10 Medium petals, 4 Large petals)
1. Take a small petal, fold into a tube and glue.
2. Take a medium petal and place a line of glue across the base.
3. Curl medium petal around the center.
4. Repeat on the other side. You have created the first ring!
In the second ring, use three medium petals. In the third ring, use five medium petals evenly spaced.
The outside ring will only have the four large petals. Instead of using the pinch method from earlier, make two snips in the bottom (1) and glue them together in a little stack (2). This makes a deeper cup shape that will allow them to get around the flower. Glue the last four petals onto the flower (3 and 4) and this part is finished.
Adding Greenery (6 leaves, 1 five point leaf)
If you didn’t start the rose on a stem, insert thicker floral wire through the center and secure with a bit of glue. There should be a small hole through the center but, if it got covered up, use scissors to poke a hole through the glued petals.
A. Cut out the five point leaf and snip a small hole in the center. Put the wire through the center. Add glue to the base and secure to the underside of the rose.
B. Cut out six leaves and add three snips into each side. Place a line of glue onto the end of the floral wire and place onto the top leaf. Add a line of glue to one edge of the second leaf. Make a sandwich with that leaf, the wire and the third leaf. Repeat for the second leaf branch.
Making a Rose Bud (1 Small petal, 3 Medium petals, 1 four point leaf)
1. Place a thin glue line down the edge of a small petal. Place the stem wire in the glue and wrap the petal around and secure. Glue three petals around the center.
2. Cut a four point green leaf bottom, poke a hole in the center and secure to the base of the rose bud.
3. Use floral tape and secure the second leaf branch to the rose bud stem.
4. Combine the rose bud with the full flower for a beautiful and realistic pair!
These little flowers are my favorite to create. They look beautiful, are easy to make and, best of all, use up a growing scrap pile!
Color Tips
Try using complementary colors in the same flower, like Butter and Ecru, Peony and Pink, Red and Crimson, or Linen and Oats. You might also try experimenting with unexpected combinations, such as Black and White or Gray tones.
Alicia Burstein is a long time maker, mom, wife, nurse and lover of all crafty things. Follow her on Instagram @deann52.
