paper roses made from recycled materials

i love making cute shizzle out of recycled materials.  that is one reason that i love these so much.  also, they are extremely useful and have the secret power of making anything they touch look like pure magic.  i have made and used these in several different ways.  i've tucked one into the bow on a gift, i have made boutonnieres with them, used them in up do's in my hair, attached them onto twigs using floral tape and given a dozen flowers to a friend on special occasion...but my favourite, by far, was what i used these particular flowers for.  

i was doing all the decor for a fundraiser for my sons preschool.  the theme was Wonderland.  i made centerpieces for the tables filled with these white roses.  i dribbled red nail polish and "painted the roses red" on the tips of the petals, letting the red drip right off onto the roses underneath.  i thrifted a few decks of cards and took out all of the heart cards and tucked them in between the white roses.  they were the best.  i cannot even believe i don't have a picture to show you.  i need to recreate it.  i will.  i promise.  calm down!

i sometimes buy these brown rice tortillas.  in truth, i think they have a secret ingredient that causes you to forget that they are NOTHING like a tortilla so you will, in fact, buy them again.  they crack, break, and basically make a big mess out of whatever it is you are trying to wrap up inside of them.  exhale.  rant over.  

between each one, is a round sheet of parchment type paper.  it is so that they do not stick together. i get it...but sheesh...such a waste.  that is what fuelled these roses...wondering wtf to do with them besides throw them out.

start by cutting a spiral into them.  make it simple so that the width of the paper strip is nice and thick.

now, take a toothpick (or twig, wire, pencil....whatever you'd like to use) and put a bit of hot glue on the bottom 1/3rd of it.  starting with the outside corner of the paper spiral, start wrapping/twirling the paper around the toothpick.  the glue will dry fast and keep it in place.  do it pretty tight at the beginning, but as you add a bit of glue here and there, play with wrapping it a bit looser to make more of a rose shape.  you can even play with folding the paper as you go, personalizing each one.

when you get to the inner part of the spiral, there is a perfect shape to dab some glue and then seal it up.  with a bit of practice, you'll get the hang of it and they will look so clean and just perfect for whatever you are using them for.

tah-dahhhhhh!