The Story of the Rose Topiary *Out for Publication*

It started with a vision...A pretty paper rose topiary to complete a little vignette in my dining room. I've had this vintage McCoy pot forever, just sitting in a closet. In my mind this pot, another vintage pot and adorable froggie planter (a gift from a dear friend) would be perfect on my sideboard.

Doesn't it look pretty!

(minus the crooked switchplate cover...men!)

The topiary started innocently enough :) I purchased the Flower Shoppe Cricut cartridge and after making a few samples I started by pulling out pink paper from my stash, figuring it would take about 35 to 40 roses. I could get 4 roses from a 12x12 piece of paper cutting them at 5 inches. The cutting went smoothly and soon they were ready to ink and shape.

First I inked the edges of the darker pink with white chalk ink and the lighter ones with pink chalk ink. Then  sprayed them with a fine mist of water and rolled each petal around a paintbrush handle to shape them. Finally I rolled them with a quilling tool and hot glued them together. Some I rolled tightly and others more loosely, so they would look more natural. The leaves were cut with Core'dinations paper, using a dry embossing tool to make the veins and then sanding them.

The first 36 were done! As I was hot gluing them onto the styrofoam ball, I realized quickly that 36 wasn't even close to being enough. So I cut another 30. Then inked, shaped, rolled, and glued them. This kept me busy through my Dad's surgery and all the next day. Then I glued this batch on...and guess what...I needed more!!! 

This led to a frantic search for more pink paper in the right colors! No one nearby had pink paper in smooth texture so I ended up cutting them upside down to make them match :) 24 more roses and 3 days later...for a total of 90 roses, It was done! A fine spray of white/iridescent Smooch ink was the perfect finishing touch.

If I can get my daughter to help me I might just attempt a tutorial later this week!