Rolled Rose Stud Earring Tutorial

Today's post is a tutorial just perfect for busting your fabric scrap stash and creating something cute and wearable at the same time.  These rag-roll rose earrings are easy to make and wear, and would make fantastic little gifts, stocking fillers or items for a swap party.  There are even a few suggestions for other things you can make with your roses, because you won't want to stop at just two!

Here's what you'll need:

• 2 Strips of fabric 40cm x 1.5cm (I've used cotton from my Coy Blooms collection, of course!)
• Craft glue and bamboo skewer (or hot glue gun if you prefer).
• E6000 glue or similar
• 2 surgical steel stud earring posts with a 10mm pad and 2 butterfly backs.

 Start by putting a small amount of glue at one end of the back side of one of the fabric strips.  Fold the fabric over, making sure it's wonky as shown. Wonky is a technical term.

 Next, fold the long end of the fabric up, so the edges run side by side.

Apply glue in a line from the folded up fabric to the end

Twist and roll in the end to where the glue was applied to form the centre of your rose.

Keep applying small dabs of glue to the roll, then twist and coil the fabric around.  Hold it in place where you've glued for a few seconds to make sure it's holding before applying more glue further around the roll.

Keep glueing, twisting and coiling until you reach the end.  Firmly glue down the end of the fabric, either flat to the side of the coil, or underneath it (this would be the 'back' of the rose).

Repeat the steps to create a second rose.  Try to maintain the same tension in your twists and coils to get a fairly even result.  They don't have to be perfect, near enough is good enough for these shabby chic style roses.

If you didn't already denote the 'back' of the roses by glueing the end of the fabric there, compare both sides of the rose to see which one you'd prefer to have showing to the world, and lay them face-down.  Apply a small dab of E6000 glue to the pads of your earring findings and hold them firmly against the centre of the backs of the roses.  You'll want to leave these for a couple of hours to be sure they take hold.

Here are a couple of variations to show the versatility of these roses.  Below are a couple of earring sets made using velvet ribbon.  Because it's thicker than the cotton, I only used 20cm lengths for the larger roses, and 10cm lengths for the smaller ones.  I also applied a cotton rose and some velvet roses to a hair clip with a scrap of lovely vintage-look lace.

And here are the rolled roses as pendants.  I used a large needle for bear and doll making to pierce a big enough hole for the jumprings.  They would also make cute charms on a bracelet or anklet, or even using ear wires to make dangling earrings instead of studs.

And that's all there is to it!  A simple, addictive craft that can bust your stash, fill a crafternoon and give you a pile of pretty, handy gifts to give to the shabby chic lover in your life, especially if that's you!

Don't forget to comment, Pin and share if you enjoyed this tutorial!

Hi to everyone who came here through the following link parties:
Project Pin-it at Glitter Glue and Paint
Shabbilicious Friday Link Party
Rose Garden Malevik Saturday Show Off
Dear Creatives Inspiration Spotlight link-up Party
ByStephanieLynns' Sunday Showcase
Skip to my Lou: Made by You Mondays
DIY Showoff's That DIY Party
I should be mopping the floors' Inspiration Monday
Grace Langdon Art's Making Monday
Just a Girl and Her Blog Hit me with your Best Shot
Upcycled Treasures The Makers Link Party
Kenary's Think and Make Thursday

Take care, Emma

P.S As much fun as this tutorial is, if you want to skip it and still have the earrings, they're available in my Etsy shop!