Crepe Paper Rose Bouquet

Martha Stewart

Now if I can only make a thousands of them. Any ideas on what to wear on your hands so they won't get dry or get get any paper cuts?

http://www.marthastewartcrafts.com/index.php?v=msc_proj_crepepaperbouquet-ht
Pic 1 - finished project
Pic 2
Work with 3 or 4 petal color sheets at one time. Neatly stack sheets, making sure that the paper grain is running vertically. Place the petal template on top of the stack. To keep paper from shifting, staple all around the outer edges of the stack. Add more staples when necessary as you cut out petals. Use the same procedure to cut out leaves and calyxes using the green paper and leaf template.
Pic 3
Place a 9in wire about one-third of the way up an inner petal. Wrap petal around wire in a tight cone shape. Secure with a small piece of florist's tape by stretching the tape while wrapping. (Tape will become sticky.) Choose one side of the paper, in either shade, to be outside-facing color for each rose. Cup all remaining petals by placing both thumbs in the center (this will be the inside of the petal) and forefingers on reverse side. Gently pull and stretch the paper with your thumbs, sculpting a petal shape.
Pic 4
Curl back the top rounded edges of the petals using a toothpick.
Pic 5
Successively attach all the small petals and then the large petals around the center, slightly overlapping them. Each time you add 3 or 4 petals, wrap florist's tape around the base of the petals and the wire stem to secure them. As the rose is assembled, it should grow wider. Allow petals to look more open as you go.
Pic 6
Dab glue down the vertical center of a leaf. Place a 5in wire on glued area from the tip of the leaf to the bottom with enough left over for a stem. Coat wire on the leaf with glue, then fold leaf in half lengthwise, hiding wire. Let dry, then pull the halves slightly apart. Wrap each leaf stem with florist's tape. Wrap three stems together, with middle leaf slightly harder. Bend and shape leaves as desired. Wrap and tape a calyx around the base of each rose. Fan the top tips of calyx outward. Gather all roses together to form a bouquet. Wrap stems together with florist's tape. Tape leaf clusters around base of roses. Cut a length of ribbon and make a bow. Cover stem piece with remaining ribbon. Pin bow onto stem with straight pin.