Flower Power

The regular reader of this blog will know my passion for latex flowers like these roses.

For my latest design I created a couple of larger roses and here is how I did:

1. The basic material for my latex rose is a 60cm long strip of latex that is about 3cm wide at one end and 5cm at the other. The 3cm end will be the center of the rose.

I used 0.35mm latex of metallic honey color. A bit translucent and very tasty.

2. Apply glue to both long edges of the strip (on the backside) and glue them together.

3. Now clean and glue both edges on the frontside. As you need to turn the strip to apply the glue on both sides use some cling film to protect the glue

4. Start at the narrow end rolling the strip into a flower. Overlap the latex to give the flower form.

5. Add some additional glue (or liquid latex) to the bottom of the rose.

Ask, if you have questions. Make your own flowers and show them. Can't wait to see them.

Making Small Latex Roses

I have a couple of latex circles as leftovers from making ruffles. Time to convert them into some little latex roses.

1. The circles are cut out from 0.35mm bubblegum latex with an outer diameter of 8cm. I cut out a second circle in the middle of the larger one with a diameter of 4.5cm. This leaves a ring of latex ca. 1.7cm wide (top left).

2. I cleaned both sides with latex cleaner and applied latex milk to both the inner and outer edge of the front and back side. I also cut the ring into two halves for two roses (top right).

3. The next step looks tricky but isn't. I glued the outer circumference onto the inner one to create a ca. 8mm wide strip like the one on the picture (bottom left).

4. I rolled this irregular strip from one end to the other (bottom right).

5. The folded side of the rolled strip now looks similar to a little rose. I applied additional latex milk to the loose end and glued it in a way that the fold goes down to the bottom of the rose (top left).

6. I cut out little leaves from 0.35mm jade green latex (bottom left).

7. Finally I glued the leaves to the bottom of the roses (right).

I would like to see other types of latex flowers. So please send me photos and/or instructions of your creations.