Patriotic duct tape long stem rose

Decorate your 4^th of July table with this quick and easy to create patriotic duct tape long stem rose.  Make one or make a bunch. The grapevine wire bends easily and allows you to use them in lots of ways. Lay them on your table, twist them around bannisters or put one in a bud vase for a centerpiece.  The applications are limitless. 

Supplies:

Patriotic duct tape

Green duct tape

Grapevine wire

Self-healing mat to work on

Scissors

Ruler

Wire cutters

Marker

X-Acto or other craft knife

Flower pattern

Printer and paper

flower pattern

Directions:

1.     Cut three pieces of duct tape about 3 1/2 inches each more or less. (It just needs to be the width of the flower pattern) Attach them together lengthwise overlapping each to make one whole piece.  Repeat this procedure again and then attach the sticky sides together. (It doesn’t matter if they are uneven) 

2.     Repeat step 1 two more times so that you have three pieces of usable duct tape sheets with the print on both sides.

3.     Download, print and cut out the pattern.  Place the pattern on top of one of the duct tape sheets and cut out.  Cut a slit to the center on one of the petals and fold over the petal beside it and secure with a small piece of duct tape ½” x 1” on the inside.  (See photo)  This is the largest petal group.

It's easier to show on the pattern piece where you cut the slit on the duct tape sheet to attach one petal to the other

4.     Use the same pattern piece cut and remove one of the petals. (See photo)  Use the pattern on top of the other duct tape sheet to cut it out.  Fold the end petal over the one beside it and secure with a small piece of duct tape like you did before.  You will have the second largest petal group.

5.     For the last and smallest petal group, use the same pattern piece but cut out another petal so that you have two petals removed.  Place on top of the duct tape sheet and cut out.  Fold the end petals together laying one on top of the other and secure with a small piece of duct tape.  (See photo)

6.     Use one of the petal shapes for a pattern to cut out a piece from duct tape with the sticky side still usable.  Cut a small piece of duct tape to cover the top portion. It will resemble an ice cream cone with the sticky side at the bottom. 

7.     Twist the petal piece around a 12-inch stem cut from the grapevine wire.  (See photo) This is the center of the flower.

8.     Cut a tiny slit in the pointed bottoms of all the petal groups to make a hole. This is where you will insert the wire.

9.     Starting with the smallest petal group insert the wire through the bottom and slide up to the top.  Secure around the stem with a ½” x 1” piece of green duct tape that is cut to a point on each end.  Repeat this step with the second largest petal group and end with the largest petal group.

10. Add some extra green duct tape at the bottom and stem if needed. Use a small paintbrush end or a pencil to curl the petals.  Slit the petals a bit so that you can curl the ends easier.