Step 1: Break Your Dowels Into Pieces (Optional)

Trust the process! This part is messy and does not look pretty. Watch out for splinters! Take your dowels and break them into pieces. Pick the pieces that you can put together to build the base of your stem. Use Hot glue to secure them together. NOTE: you can leave your dowels intact, this is an option if you want to make your project more realistic.

Step 2: Wrap Your Dowel In Green Ribbon

Use your hot glue to secure the ribbon to the top of your flower at a angle. Wrap tightly around the dowels moving towards the bottom of the flower covering the dowels entirely.

Step 3: Cut Your Strips Of Ribbon

a. Check the ribbon conversion chart for your ribbon size and suggested cut length. In this example, we used 3” ribbon and cut it into 6” strips. The most commonly used size is 1.5” ribbon because you can easily wrap it around a standard debit/credit card to measure and cut strips quickly.

b. Cut 16–17 pieces at 6” each, depending on how full you want your rose to be. Tip: Cut a 6” piece of cardstock to use as a template for faster wrapping and cutting.

Step 4: Create Your Petals

With the shiny side facing down, add a small dot of hot glue to one corner and tack it in place so the edge lines up (Image b). Then apply hot glue and fold the same corner inward so it aligns with the edge of your first fold. Repeat on the other side.

Step 5: Repeat For All Pieces

Repeat step 4 until you have made all of your petals, then count out 12 pieces and set them aside.

Step 6: Join Your Petals

a. Use hot glue to join the 12 petals you set aside. Fold the sides upward slightly to form a semicircle — this will make wrapping easier later.

b. Repeat with the remaining petals to form a smaller circle (Image c). If you’re unsure whether you want to use all of them to fill out the lower part of the flower, don’t complete the circle yet — you can add more petals later as needed.

Step 7: Wrap Your Large Petal Chain Around Your Stem

a. Flip your petals so the folded sides are facing down. This helps the petals open as you wrap them around the stem.

b. As you wrap the chain around the stem, watch how the petals open. Keep the first few wraps tight, then gradually loosen them to create a more natural flower shape. Apply glue as you go to hold the petals in place.

Step 8: Wrap Short Petal Chain/Attach Your Circle Of Petals

Finish the base of your rose by wrapping the short chain or circle of petals to create a fuller shape. Apply glue near the bottom to secure it, clean up the base, and give your rose a polished finished look.

Step 9: Add Leaves (Optional)

Cut five strips of 1.5” ribbon (the same ribbon used to wrap the stem) to approximately 4”to 4.5”, or your desired length. Trim each strip into a rough leaf shape.

Optional: Use a lighter or candle to gently heat-seal the edges to prevent fraying. You can also shape the edges slightly to add texture and make the leaves look more natural.

Use hot glue to attach the leaves at the base of your rose. Repeat for each stem branch to complete your flower.