Craftiest Time of the Year? Paper Rose Tree Tutorial (and more!)

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Does anyone else take the Pinterest DIY & Crafts section as a personal challenge?  I think I need professional help (but isn't it fun?)!!!

I spent the better part of the Thanksgiving weekend down-time cutting up grocery bags for these Paper Rose Trees. (what is it with me and grocery bags?)  I'm pretty sure my Sister in Law thought I had gone completely bonkers, but I needed something to busy myself with.

First, I cut a paper bag into uniform sized squares.  They started out approximately 5" x 5".  Then I cut those into spirals.  I spent the drive home rolling them into roses and tossing them into a bag.  I wasn't the one driving, I promise!

For the first tree, I rolled the circles from the center of the spiral outward and then hot-glued each rose to the foam cone.  I kept them rolled really tightly until the glue was dry.  Once I'd covered the whole cone, I went back with smaller roses (I just tore the spiral in half and rolled 2 or 3 roses from one spiral) to fill in any gaps.  I finished by using a small paintbrush and wet q-tip to clean out most of the glue "strings" and sprayed it with a few coats of gold glitter spray!

Here's the first tree with it's friend Thumbtack Tree.

For my second and third trees, I cut larger spirals (from rectangles that started out 5" x 7") and rolled them from the outside of the spiral in towards the center.  Doing it this way made it easier to roll them without looking, so I could do it while I was watching TV!   I also let them unravel on the cone a little before the glue was completely dried.  I sprayed this one with about 4 coats of glitter spray.

 

The verdict is that they look identical, whether they were rolled from the center to the outside or vice-versa. 

 Then, I decided to add a little bling!  I found some gold Marti Gras-type beads and cut them apart.  I glued them on to the center of the roses one one of the trees (on the right).  I think this adds some fun sparkle!

 

 Sparkle, sparkle!

(Okay, admittedly not the best photo.  I swear it's festive and warm rather than blinding in person!  The camera goes in for repair in January!)

I can't wait to make a wreath with pink felt roses for Valentine's Day and maybe add a pearl or rhinestone to the center of each flower!  Did I just add to my To-Do list at the same time I crossed something off?  Typical.


I also took this great Layered Candle idea from Pinterest.  I didn't pin it though, so if it was your idea let me know and I'll give you credit - I promise!

I bought new wicks from Michaels, but only ended up using one.  Most of my used candles were previously used on a warmer rather than lit, so the wicks were just under all the wax.  I really think these are pretty, but the project made a serious mess in the kitchen!!  (and cleaning the glass will make photographs so much nicer - oops!)  I made a couple of Christmas "mixtures" as well as one for fall and one I really love for Spring/Summer - can't wait!

Also, here's a pic of our Christmas tablescape.  Some of the hurricanes are filled with Epsom salt "snow" under the candles.  The hurricanes are homemade.  I took dollar store glass candlesticks and glued them to various sized glass vases with E6000 - and you'd never know they were inexpensive!!  I'm in the process of adding monograms to a few of them, too.

What about this fun picture!?!?  My models are telling me they won't pose for me ever again!
'Tis the season for Mommy to take too many photos!!

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These were Featured here (woo hoo!):



I'm sharing all this fun here: