I posted a tutorial for Altered Composition Notebooks a few days ago and had a couple of requests for a tutorial on how to make the rolled paper flowers I embellished it with. I’m happy to oblige. Let me know if you have any questions.
Start by cutting a piece of 12 x 12 paper in thirds or a piece of 8.5 x 11 in half. This step is just to make the next step easier to accomplish.
Next step is to crumple the paper up several times.
Next roll it between the palms of your hands or against a table to soften it up. Keep doing this until it is the texture of soft paper towels.
It should be soft and flexible before you go to the next step.
Tear the paper into strips about 1/2 inch wide. These are about an inch wide. You want them about half this size. My photo for this step didn’t come out too well.
Once you have the strips torn you can start rolling them. Most of the time I can get them to cooperate by simply using my fingers but if you need some extra help then the a pipe cleaner is a great tool for this. If using just your fingers then just bend and shape the end of the paper into a point. Holding the point, begin to twirl the paper around and around until you get a basic straw shape. You will tighten the paper as you shape it into a flower.
If you can’t get a good grip on the tip of the flower then you can use the pipe cleaner to hold it. Just bend the pipe cleaner around the tip of it while you work with the rest of the strip.
You may notice that the paper tears in places. That is okay. I think it gives it character and dimension.
Begin to work the paper into a circle like a flower. Twist it as you go adding small glue dots to adhere it together. Once you have it rolled into a flower you tuck the end around and onto the back of the flower. You can use a small piece of tape or glue dot to adhere the last piece to the back of the flower.
Use a good bit of snail adhesive or glue dots so that it will stick to your project. I do not recommend using a glue stick or liquid glue. It takes too long to dry and will cause the flower to unravel… of course you could sit there and hold it while it dries but you will glue your fingers to the flower and that’s not real pretty. I’m just sayin’.
After you have it secured to your project you will want to use a product similar to Crystal Effects to complete the flower. Just squeeze a small bit around the insides and edges of the flower then use an old paint brush (I have one just for glue) and just brush around a thin layer to secure and protect the flower.
It causes it to form a hard, protective edge around the flower.
Create a bunch of them and embellish your projects. They make all kinds of things pretty!
