My Rose Tutorial.....

Two or three of the ladies on the HC design team have asked me if I had a tutorial for my roses.  Sadly I did not.  It's not that I didn't want to share...I just feel I'm not that great at doing these and I'm always afraid my pictures won't show what I want them to.  I don't have anyone to help me with my photos as my husband is totally out of touch with the digital cameras.  So this morning I'm going to attempt to show you how I do it.  Be kind, this is only my second tutorial...ever!  When making roses I always, always use Heartfelt Creations Botanical Floral 1 and 2 PreCut sets.  HCPC 3406 and HCPC 3407.  Nothing else will work for me!

Here is what I use to shape the petals.  I stamp my flowers and cut them out.  I have a water spritzer, some glue...I use this glue, you can use anything that dries clear.  These kinds of tools are for breaking down the fibers of the paper, a wooden skewer and a toothpick.  I prefer the skewer, but sometimes you need a smaller something and then I use the toothpick. I usually use the cheapest card stock I can find; it works better to make flowers.   I always try and use some inks to darken parts of the petals like a natural flower would look.  You can also use embossing powders to emboss when you stamp the petals.  Whatever you like is fine.  Each and every flower is different.  There are no two alike and as far as I'm concerned, they are all perfect just the way they turn out!

Working on the back side of the flower use the tool to burnish the card stock.  Use circle motion and a medium touch, you don't want to break the petal and put your tool through it.  Work from the outside toward the center.  The closer to the center you get the more the petals curl.  Now turn it over and push down the center of the flower.  The next picture is what it should look like.  Notice how the outside edges of the petals look so curly.

When you get to the smallest flower, work on the front of the petal.  Burnish it and when you get toward the center really apply more pressure so it will really curl.  I use my fingers and apply pressure to this little bud.  I use glue to the outside portion, down low close to the center and sort of in between the petals.  When dry this will be the center of the rose.  You can make this as tight or as loose as you like.  Sometimes I want to make a more elegant rose and if that is the case, you don't use the burnishing step. Just burnish the rosebud and skip all the rest.   Just keep the fibers of the paper the way they are and pick up here.  If you don't burnish,the rose will be very elegant looking.  The rose I'm making is more of a shabby rose.  Either way you finish with a beautiful flower to add to your project.

How you doing so far...are you still with me?  I hope this doesn't seem like too much work for one little flower, because it really isn't.  Now spritz a little water into the palm of your left hand and then  rub a little off into your other hand.  Too much water and your petals won't hold their shape ... too  little and they won't curl at all.  Place your petal stamped side up in your palm and rub around to put moisture on the petals.  After you do this a couple of times you will be able to feel the right amount of moisture in your hand.  Now lay your petal down and use your skewer to curl the petals down on this first layer.

On the next layer I use the toothpick and curl some of the petals up and I use the tweezers to twist the paper to cause ridges in the petals.  Just position your tweezers down the center of the petal and twist.

Continue on with all the petals curling some up, some down, some just the corners and twist a petal here and there.

  

I'm sorry for the blurry picture, but you can see how the petals are all curled and the little rosebud is dry and ready to go into the center. 

Now we are ready to glue the petals together.  Start with the larger ones and apply glue to the center.  I always do this on my spongy pad and use the stylus to press down in the center of the flower which makes it pop up.  I hold this until the glue has a moment to set, then do the next petal until you get to the little bud.  I just glue it into the center and don't apply pressure to it because it has too small an opening to get the stylus through.

And here is the finished rose.  You can add Stickles or glitter at this point,if you want.  Personally I like a little shine on the finished petals. 

So there you have it!  A pretty rose made by you and you can say...I did that!  Now go play and make some pretty flowers.  Don't be afraid, just jump in and get your fingers dirty.  And remember, each flower is different and perfect in every way.  When my MoJo leaves, I make flowers!  That always seems to get me creating again.  While I'm making the flowers, my mind is racing thinking about what I can add these to.  I hope this is a help and I will be looking to see what you come up with!

Now I'm off to get another cup of coffee this morning and get my day started.  I hope you have a good day and have time to be creative.  And as always remember to "Breathe"!