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A Dozen Red Origami Roses

by thydzik on February 14, 2008

Table of Contents

intro: A Dozen Red Origami Roses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

step 1: Inspiration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

step 2: Equipment and Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

step 3: Folding the rose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

step 4: Stems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

step 5: Leaves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

step 6: Making the bouquet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

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Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Dozen-Red-Origami-Roses/
intro: A Dozen Red Origami Roses
A unique twist to the traditional giving of roses on Valentine's Day. Handmade origami roses are everlasting and inexpensive to make.

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Dozen-Red-Origami-Roses/
step 1: Inspiration
Looking for a unique way to convey my love, the idea of paper roses popped into my head. A quick Google search and it turned out it wasn't such an obscure idea.

The first result returned Bloom4ever a company that specialises in hand-made roses, and they were even nice enough to include a How to fold origami roses guide. The
site lists dozen rose bouquets for $80.

step 2: Equipment and Materials

Only the most basic craft stationary is required, these include:

Scissors
Ruler
(Craft) Glue
Pens/Pencils

The most important material is the paper, unable tot find any origami paper, I had to settle for coloured A4 paper, and this turned out for the better. I used 80gsm A4
paper, as i didn't already have it, I purchased 100 sheets of red and green for $6.50 AUS. You may be able to borrow some coloured paper from your school or work, 1
sheet of coloured paper is required for the rose and 1 sheet of paper is required for the stem and leaves. You should experiment with different paper sizes and thickness
to find what best works for yourself.

Other materials include:

clear transparent wrap (Cellophane) - to wrap the bouquet, around $2 from any Newsagency.
1mm diameter wire - to make the rose stems, nice to have but not a requirement.
ribbon - to tie the bouquet or roses.

Image Notes Image Notes

1. 100 sheets of red and 100 sheets of green, $6.50 each from Officeworks. 1. Standard clear wrapping paper. $2 from any Newsagency.

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Dozen-Red-Origami-Roses/
 Image Notes
1. Scrap copper wire used for the stems.

step 3: Folding the rose

This rose was designed by origami theorist Toshikazu Kawasaki.

Start with a sheet of A4 paper, and cut the paper into a square. I used a 17cm square as I found 21cm (width or A4 was too large), and 13cm (recommended by
bloom4ever) was too difficult to fold.

I will not go through each folding step as there is numerous resources already available:

How to fold origami roses (bloom4ever)] - very good instructions except for step 25.
Rose (pajarita.org) - alternative instructions
How to Fold a Paper Rose (wikiHow) - How to Fold a Paper Rose (wikiHow)

I used the bloom4ever instructions for the most part. Even though step 25 is broken into steps, I could not work out how to perform the 'twist' maneuver.

This YouTube video saved my life, big credit to the producer.

Video

I have included my own version of the tricky part. It should also help.

Make as many rose heads as required.

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Dozen-Red-Origami-Roses/
 Image Notes Image Notes
1. Different sized roses made from different sized squares of paper. 1. All the rose heads.

Image Notes Image Notes

1. Match the triangle. 1. What it should look like when folded.
2. Join the sets of lines. 2. Note, it isn't a nice fold at the center, quite scruntched up.
3. The fold line.

step 4: Stems
I found some 1.86mm copper wire lying around that could be used for the stems. The advantage of copper wire over a paper only stem is that the copper can be bent
allowing for better arrangement of the individual roses in the bouquet.

The copper wire was first straightened by pulling on the wire with one end in a vice. Once straightened the wire was cut into 30cm lengths. Each wire was then rolled with
green paper and the end glued. It is possible to make stems without the wire by only rolling paper.

I needed a simple method of attaching the stems to the rose heads. Each wire end was bent into a shape that allowed the rose heads to simply be twisted onto the wire.
Glue was then applied.

An idea that I think would look good, is to make the rose heads from silver metalic paper, and keep the stems as copper or silver.

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Dozen-Red-Origami-Roses/
 Image Notes
1. Simply insert and turn.

Image Notes
1. Secure one end of the wire securely in a vice.
2. Secure the other end of the wire securely in pliers.
3. Pull hard.
4. Copper wire.

Image Notes Image Notes

1. 30cm lengths of straightened copper wire. 1. About to start rolling the wire in green paper.

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Dozen-Red-Origami-Roses/
 Image Notes Image Notes
1. At the end, apply a drop of glue to hold the paper in place. 1. Bend one end of the wire to 'clip' onto the rose head.

Image Notes
1. All stemmed and glue applied.

step 5: Leaves
After Googling rose leaf for ideas, basic leaf shapes were cut out of green paper. Each leaf had a little stipule allowing it to be glued to the main stem. There were two
leaves per stem, glued in an alternate pattern.

Once the glue dried, the leaves were slightly bent through the centre axis and shaped to give a more appeasing look.

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Dozen-Red-Origami-Roses/
 Image Notes Image Notes
1. Cut out leaves. 1. Stipule used to glue the leaf to the stem.

Image Notes
1. Leaves slightly curved.

Image Notes
1. Glued leaves.

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Dozen-Red-Origami-Roses/
step 6: Making the bouquet
A dozen roses were bunched and arranged together to form a bouquet. the stems were securely tied together with red ribbon.

Clear transparent wrap was used to wrap the bouquet and again fastened with ribbon.

A simple card was made to accompany to flowers.

Image Notes Image Notes

1. Stems tied together with ribbon. 1. Bouquet of origami roses.

Image Notes
1. Simple card made from coloured paper.

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pop up card. by . Easy for easy origami by golics night lamp . by bouquet &
everybody. by rose you will Forming a boutonniere by Paper flower
golics Kawasaki Rose golics
golics ever see on egirlwonder .Easy way.
instructables by (video) by (video) by golics
dunnos zipykido

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Dozen-Red-Origami-Roses/
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Comments
38 comments Add Comment

Oompa-Loompa says: Dec 5, 2008. 4:30 PM REPLY

Darn, kawasaki's rose was one of those models I could just never get right.

kibbler says: Dec 31, 2008. 8:56 AM REPLY

Yep, me too. Only they really are beautiful...

Oompa-Loompa says: Dec 31, 2008. 9:36 AM REPLY

Yeah.

picgin7 says: Mar 7, 2008. 9:30 PM REPLY

It would be nice if you got a real dozen roses threw one away aand replaced it for an origami rose and said "I will love you until the last one dies." to your
bf/gf for v-day. =]

LimaA says: Dec 11, 2008. 3:37 AM REPLY

That's such a beautiful idea :)

knitter91 says: May 11, 2008. 11:46 AM REPLY

why not just buy 11 roses instead? and then add the origami one?

Mykhailo says: Apr 11, 2008. 10:03 PM REPLY

My sister did that once, 'cept she used a store-bought fake rose. They broke up a few months later....

chaosvoider says: Oct 24, 2008. 1:39 PM REPLY

I'm definitely going to keep this instructable in mind when Valentine's Day comes around...

viviluk says: Oct 10, 2008. 10:42 PM REPLY

did you know that theres a petal for it

cyanidechris says: Sep 7, 2008. 8:08 AM REPLY

These are gorgeous! I'm sure the receiver was floored.

<3

cowscankill says: Sep 4, 2008. 5:46 PM REPLY

I don't see why everyone had trouble with step 25, it is just a fold over... than again I am pretty good with oragami, if I do say so myself.

Thanks for the 'ible, I'm gonna make one for a girl in my school. :D

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Dozen-Red-Origami-Roses/
 adamu says: Jun 24, 2008. 2:20 PM REPLY
roses are nice by looking at them somebody (male or female) body can simply become happy.

mycophagist says: Mar 10, 2008. 1:09 AM REPLY

I was in a store in Chinatown here in Dallas and found some Korean red origami paper that is scented w/ rose essence. This would make a nice touch for
this instructable....

HammyHavoc says: Apr 5, 2008. 6:47 PM REPLY

Do you remember the brand name?

sergifunky says: Mar 6, 2008. 2:59 PM REPLY

Great instructable, thanks!

PyroMaster007 says: Feb 22, 2008. 2:54 PM REPLY

I'm gonna try this, but it sounds hard. I've tried before and I couldn't figure it out.

thydzik says: Feb 22, 2008. 9:59 PM REPLY

not too hard. just follow the youtube video on step 3, and follow the twist crease as show in the photos on that step

PyroMaster007 says: Feb 29, 2008. 12:38 PM REPLY

Sorry, no youtube 4 me!

westfw says: Feb 29, 2008. 1:19 AM REPLY

I really like how you gathered other instructions together with extra hints, data (love the photo with the different sizes!) , and a presentation, to make a ...
more complete project.

I notice that instructables now has its own version of Rose Folding instructions

thydzik says: Feb 29, 2008. 1:34 AM REPLY

thanks!

I like to provide as much information as possible, I spend quite a bit researching and finding links, and this also acts as bookmarks for myself. I really
don't see the need to repost information that is already available (the folding of the rose), but I like to improve on this already available information.

I would have really liked to include a rule in the picture of the different sizes, as it is quite pointless without scale. This would have given a nice rose
diameter to paper size ratio.

Sypran says: Feb 23, 2008. 8:24 AM REPLY

grr i wish i knew of ths before! cause i hate that roses like die within the week after valentines day! hmmm well...easter is comin...is there a flower for easter
or something?

Sigurd says: Feb 23, 2008. 11:30 AM REPLY

You may be looking for lilium longiflorum, the Easter Lily.

zoundsPadang says: Feb 22, 2008. 10:28 PM REPLY

wow very nice! *adds mental bookmark for next year*

you wouldnt happen to be a scientist, would you? you wrote most of that in the passive voice, something you tend to find in scientific writing.

thydzik says: Feb 22, 2008. 10:47 PM REPLY

thanks mate.

haha, not a scientist, but an engineer, why writing style probably comes from all the report writing back in the university days.

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Dozen-Red-Origami-Roses/
 Hoboman says: Feb 22, 2008. 7:12 PM REPLY
This may help for the twisting! not made by me. Found on Clicky Here for an explination!youtube.

thydzik says: Feb 22, 2008. 10:00 PM REPLY

good find, should help others, would have definitely helped me.

LarrySDonald says: Feb 22, 2008. 7:35 PM REPLY

Just managed one, but it didn't turn out nearly as well. It did go through on the second try though, despite a lot of extra creases. The twisty origamis are
perhaps better restarted sooner instead of continuing.

I made the square from a letter size piece of paper, so I folded the leftover part several times, twisted it a bit to make it solid and shoved it in for a stem. It
looked pretty decent, considering. I'm not sure I'd present mine as an elaborate gift, but for handing to my wife six feet to the right of me on her computer it
worked pretty well - I sure as hell spent more time then the time it'd take to earn a few bucks to buy a real rose without involving killing extra flowers or even
trees since it was from scrap paper.

golics says: Feb 21, 2008. 11:33 AM REPLY

Really nice origamis

pkruep says: Feb 17, 2008. 1:46 PM REPLY

I used to make these all the time and had the pattern memorized. Then I forgot it and hadn't seen the pattern since. Thanks for bringing back such wonderful
origami flowers to my memory. Excellent job on the tutorial!

+1

servant74 says: Feb 16, 2008. 7:24 AM REPLY

Youtube video seems to have been taken down:(

thydzik says: Feb 16, 2008. 11:45 PM REPLY

still seems to be working for me.

pingoart says: Feb 15, 2008. 9:34 AM REPLY

Great instructable, it really looks very nice.
Just a small tip: have you considered making kawasaki roses instead of these?

thydzik says: Feb 15, 2008. 5:09 PM REPLY

thanks,

this rose is actually one of Kawasaki's series of fourfold roses.

pingoart says: Feb 16, 2008. 10:35 AM REPLY

Sorry, then. To be more specific, this kawasaki rose.
In my opinion, they look a bit more organic (but i never tried to make a bouquet of them).

explosivemaker says: Feb 16, 2008. 1:33 AM REPLY

....the ladies LOVE stuff like this.....a special handmade something to show how much you care.....excellent idea.....

GorillazMiko says: Feb 15, 2008. 4:53 PM REPLY

Holy moly!
At first I thought these were real.
Amazingly done Instructable, looks just GREAT!
+1 rating.
(added to favorites)

canida says: Feb 15, 2008. 8:30 AM REPLY

Spectacular!
Bonus points for presentation.

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Dozen-Red-Origami-Roses/
 FrenchCrawler says: Feb 15, 2008. 7:09 AM REPLY
Excellent job!
I've tried making these roses before and because of that "twist" maneuver, I never was able to finish making one. Perhaps now with these clearer
instructions, I'll be able to make one :)

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Dozen-Red-Origami-Roses/