Step 1: The Stem

Creating the main part of the stem is the easiest part of the process. Basically, take a fairly large square of your green paper and wrap it around your empty ink pen. Make sure it is several layers deep and that it is tightly wound, then secure it with tape. It should be secured the full length of the pen and leave a descent amount of tape overhanging each end (this will come into use later).

The second part of the stem is the leaves. Use another piece of your green paper and begin cutting out four, equal sized leaves. If you’re using printed paper, like I was, you may have to fold the paper over and tape it together so that green is on both sides. Also make sure that the base of each leaf is fairly small because that will be the part where they all meet at the top of the stem. Once they’re ready, cut out four small strips of tape and secure them together (top and bottom) at the center in a cross pattern. Now you should have a sturdy, X-shaped leaf topper. Now, cut small slits in the tape that you left overhanging the stem. Think of it like the guns that exploded in old cartoons; it should go from being a small tube of overhang tape, to four smaller strips that peel back. Use these to secure your leaf topper to the stem. (We will be reinforcing everything later).

Before you’re finished with the stem, make sure to cut out a final leaf that will be taped to the side of the stem. This one gives it more of a rose feel and is a great place to write any sort of small love note or the date that you gave it to your significant other. Also, you may secure the bottom of the stem by similarly cutting the overhanging tape and stuffing a small ball of the green paper into the bottom.