Rosette Flower Tutorial 2008-001

This rosette flower was inspired by a Martha Stewart Gift Packaging Ideas handout I picked up at Michaels. To create a flower cut a one-inch wide by 9 1/2" long paper strip from text-weight paper. I cut the outside edge with my decorative rotary cutter (a scissor would also work) for added embellishment. To pleat the entire length of the strip to create folds at 1/4" intervals, I used my Scor-It Board. Next, fold the pleats along the entire strip. Secure the two ends together and then for the somewhat tricky part, secure the center to keep your flower flat. I took my Martha Stewart one-inch circle punch & punched a circle out of scrap paper and ran it through my Xyron "X" to stick it to the back of my pleated circle flower. Then I used Crystal Lacquer in the center of the flower & just slightly along the top edges of the flower center. Since it tends to want to pop up at this point, I put a waxed paper scrap torn from the end of my glue dots roll on the flower center and to hold it down, I just set my circle punch on it for weight and let it dry. Once dry, add the embellishment of your choice onto the flower center and it's ready to take center stage on your card! NOTE: Although you could make these flowers using a wider pleat, I think they'd be difficult to get into an envelope, as well as to mail, however they're darling in any size for embellishing a bag/package as shown in Martha Stewart's handout!