I am crazy. I am the girl who, without a single creative or crafty bone in her body, decided to DIY her wedding bouquet. Why? Because I am crazy, but somehow I was confident I could do it.
I found a tutorial on Pinterest by 100 Layer Cake for storybook paper roses (the same one Miss Gray Wolf followed). The flowers look great and the storybook idea is perfect for this bookworm; however, I am sure I could never bring myself to destroy a book (’cause I’m lame like that), but I figure I could just print a few pages and use them.
I decided to give it a try (’cause, you know, they look amazing) and make a mock-up, just to make sure I could do it. I gathered my supplies—floral tape, wire, printer paper for recycling, and courage (lots of courage)—and started.
The tutorial makes it look very simple, but it seems it was too much for my crafty-impaired mind. I cut and shaped the petals and hot glued them to the wire one by one. I kept going until I realized I went too far; my flower looked a tad too big, like I went two layers too far.
The tutorial says to finish the sepals (the little leaves under the flower) with ribbon, but I wanted to use floral tape, and this is when things started to go wrong.
I was trying to wrap the floral tape around the wire and make it go up to the petals, and it didn’t want to do that. I got sticky fingers and a long piece of ruined tape, and I wasn’t happy. I ended up yelling at the tape. There might have been some cursing—not my proudest moment, but apparently crafting brings out the worst in me. To make things worse, the darn stem got loose and fell—apparently hot glue and thin wire are not a great match—but I forced it in again and kept trying with the tape.
At last my mom got tired of me hating on anything paper and tape and came to the rescue, and with what I can only describe as magical powers she wrapped the freaking tape around the flower in no time, and I ended up with this:
Looking at my flower I realize I don’t like the shape that much. It’s not just that I put too many layers in, but I also think my petals should have been wide rather than long to get the look from the tutorial.
I love the flowers from the tutorial, and I really love the ones Miss Gray Wolf DIY’ed (she used Harry Potter!), but for me they’re too much work and I don’t see myself getting the results I want, so I don’t think I’ll be making these.
Next step: trying Martha Stewart’s flowers.
Were you discouraged from any project after making a trial run?
I think they look gorgeous, but I agree it’s a lot of work. I’ve had many, many diy projects that just didn’t really seem to come together–my STDs are one example. It’s so frustrating when you can see how it should come together, but oh it just crashes and burns in front of you. I can’t wait to see what you end up with!
I actually think it looks really pretty! Can’t wait to see what you end up with though 
thanks for mentioning me! – i really owe it all to my mom too (miracle hands, moms). i also started sizing down the flowers significantly, which i do think makes a difference (the whole outer layer basically taken away). it makes them look tighter and makes it easier to pull them together. your flower looks exactly like the tutorial!
these came out really good! Can’t wait to see your Martha Stewart flowers…. I tried several of her tutorials for flowers and they were sooooo difficult!!! btw, I’m with you, I could never rip up a book!
You are braver than me! I would have been cursing more than the tape by the end. As much as I like DIY, that’s a big undertaking. Each flower would take too long with my perfectionistic tendencies.
Mrs. Toadstool, Obregon, Mexico Age and Occupation: 23, Research Assistant Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Sales Manager Engagement Date: October 1, 2011 Wedding Date: December 2012 Venue: Hacienda los Agaves About Me: I’m a born and bred Mexican girl with a severe coffee addiction, an obsession for books and an aversion for exercise. I like to plan things, so this wedding’s my dream project---I just need to remind myself from time to time that I’m the bride and not just the planner. I recently realized brown’s my favorite color as I was trying to incorporate it in every aspect of our wedding and I'm dreaming of an autumn vibe since we don’t have that around here. I’m marrying my best friend and partner in crime on the day of our nine-year anniversary! He’s an awesome, smart, fun guy who is patient, and crazy enough to spend the rest of his life with me. We’re planning our not-so-dreamy dream wedding in December in a non-traditional way and making it our own.
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