Paper Roses?

I've had these photos in my folder and have been meaning to share them, but just haven't gotten around to it.
So I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to do so.
And since I can't sleep anyway.... here we go ;)

Last month was B and T's 1st Anniversary. I had been debating what to give them. I know suggested gifts have changed over the years, but I like the old fashioned ones. Didn't really want to give them a case of TP! Plus I needed to stay within what little budget I have. And I wanted it to be personal, something that meant something, you know.

I had been wanting to try to make some crepe paper roses and thought that they would look nice as a gift topping.
The picture I had in my head was a bouquet of paper roses ~ 12, one for each month they've been married. This bouquet I would wrap like a florist would, using pretty tissue paper and a paper doily. Tussie Mussie like.

Now don't laugh at these.....I KNOW they don't look like roses...OK OK  Can I say I changed my mind and went for carnations instead? ;)

I think I cut maybe about 3 ft of white crepe paper

Folded it it up as many times as I could, but making sure my scissors would be able to cut through all the layers, as I wanted to edges to be scalloped. I used clips to hold all the layers in place while I cut through.

I thought all white may be kind of bland so I used some paint pens I had to "color" the scalloped edged just a but. I used the colors from their wedding.

I unclasped all of the layers, then crumpled it up just a bit, so it wouldn't look to pristine.

I just started by rolling the end then making little tucks as I wrapped the crepe paper around and around. I undid and redid, several times before I felt OK with the way it looked.

Once I came to the end I twisted the bottom "stem" and tied it off with thread.

I then stuck a green pipe cleaner up in the stem. I added some hot glue to the end prior to insertion. I held it in place until I knew it was cooled and stuck

Then I wrapped the pipe cleaner and 

base of the flower with florists tape.

One down 11 more to go.

Here they are...as Carnations : /

They looked really pretty on top of their gift.

I was so excited and worried about finding a box that their gift would fit in I forgot to take a photo of it!! I'm so mad at myself!!

 I printed 'Their Song', "At Last" on aged paper and framed it.

Painted the frame cream. Glued on some sea shells and sea glass from their wedding, then filled in any gaps with sand.

I figured the print would suffice as the "paper" and the shells and glass would be good mementos.

It turned out really pretty and they loved it.

This is the paper I framed for them. 


After they opened it, I was able to snap (I guess that's an old fashioned word now huh?) a photo of it on their mantel in it's new home.
♥