How to Make a Pipe Cleaner Rose

This beautiful pipe cleaner rose looks so fancy, no one will believe it started with a fuzzy wire. With just a few twists and curls, you can create a surprisingly lifelike flower that never wilts!

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Yield: pipe cleaner rose

Author: Debbie Chapman

Cost: $1

Equipment

Materials

Instructions

Step 1: Find what you need

Gather your supplies and materials.

Step 2: Make the large petals

Connect 3 pipe cleaners, creating 1 long pipe cleaner. Whatever colour you choose will be the colour of your flower (we recommend pink or red).
Fold the pipe cleaner back on itself about 2-1/2 inches from the end.
Then curve the pipe cleaner behind itself, leaving 1/2 inch sticking out at the top.
Continue curving the pipe cleaner around itself, forming an oval spiral.
When you run out of pipe cleaner, fold the 1/2 inch at the top down to secure that side.
Then with the end of the pipe cleaner (the part you've been wrapping), push it through the center of the oval.
Arrange the pipe cleaner so it's sitting neatly (not too loose and not pulling on the shape, either) and then -- if there's enough left over -- fold it back over to the bottom front.
Optional: Use a hair straightening iron to flatten the petal. Be careful not to leave the iron on one section of the pipe cleaner too long or it could burn.
Repeat, making 4 more large petals (for a total of 5).

Step 3: Make medium sized petals

To make a medium sized pipe cleaner, connect 2 pipe cleaners together.
Repeat the same steps you used for the large petals to make a medium petal. Begin by folding the pipe cleaner back on itself 2 inches from the end, this time.
Curve the pipe cleaner around, leaving just over 1/4 inch sticking out at the top. Continue curving the pipe cleaner around itself and secure both ends.
Flat iron this petal as well, and repeat 4 times, for a total of 5 medium petals.

Step 4: Make the small petals

For a small petal you'll only need 1 pipe cleaner.
Begin by folding the pipe cleaner back on itself about 1-1/2 inches from the end. And then follow the same process to make a small petal.
Flat iron the petal and repeat 2 times, for a total of 3 small petals.

Step 5: Fold the leaves

To make a leaf you'll need 1 green pipe cleaner.
Fold the pipe cleaner in half, and then twist the pipe cleaner together a couple of times, about 1-1/2 inches from the fold.
Bend the ends of the pipe cleaner back towards the fold and then open up the folded end.
Slide one end through the gap and pull it taut.
Then gather the ends together and twist them twice.
Bend the ends back in the opposite direction and twist them together at the base, creating the first leaf.
Flat iron the leaf, and repeat, making 2 more leaves (for a total of 3).

Step 6: Form the sepal

For the sepal you'll need 1 green pipe cleaner for each section. Begin by folding one of them in half.
Bend each end down gently, about 1-1/2 inches from the center, creating rounded folds.
Then bend the ends back up, making the bottom points even with the center.
Twist each folded section ("point") together a couple times at the base (the side where the ends are), and then twist the ends around each other to secure them.
Flatten with the hair straightener and repeat, making a second one.

Step 7: Put the leaves together

Cut a 5 inch piece of 16 gauge gardening or craft wire.
Add a line of hot glue to the "stem" of one leaf.
Then press the end of the wire into the glue.
Next, glue the two remaining petals together, so they point to the left and right.
Attach these leaves to the wire below the first one. Then wrap the wire with green floral tape. (You can secure each end with glue if it doesn't stick well on its own.)

Step 8: Assemble the flower

Cut a 12 inch piece of wire for the flower's stem.
Curve each of the small petals around your finger, and push the top of the petal back slightly.
Add a line of hot glue along the side of one petal. Press a second petal into the glue, connecting them.
Then add glue to the center of this petal, and press the end of the wire into it. Finally, attach the third petal so they surround the wire.
Curve each of the medium sized petals in the same way. Then add a dot of glue to bottom center of one of the petals.
Attach the medium petal to a small petal, lining up the bottom sections.
Repeat, attaching the medium petals around the flower, overlapping them a bit and spacing them evenly.
Next, curve all of the large petals. Add glue to the bottom of one and attach it to a medium petal.
Repeat, attaching all the large petals evenly around the medium ones.

Step 9: Add the sepal and stem details

Add hot glue around the base of the flower and onto the wire. Place the sepal pieces into the glue, with the "stems" meeting the stem of the flower.
Attach a pipe cleaner to the base of the wire stem (near the sepal stems) with hot glue and begin wrapping it around.
Stop when there's a bit less than 1/2 the pipe cleaner remaining.
Bend the wire of the leaves back slightly and add a bit of glue below the curve. Attach the leaves to the wire stem.
Continue wrapping the pipe cleaner around both stems.
Then wrap the whole stem (including the pipe cleaner covered part) in floral tape.
(Again, attach each end with a dot of glue if it won't stay in place on its own.)
Your pipe cleaner rose is complete!
Now have fun making a whole bouquet of flowers you never have to water!

Notes

Looking for more pipe cleaner flower crafts? Here's a few of our favourites:

Pipe Cleaner Lily

DIY Pipe Cleaner Flower Headband

Pipe Cleaner Sunflowers