If needed, cut your floral wire to whatever length you’d like the stems to be.
Sort all of your leaves into groups. I like to make piles by both colour and size. So here, I have piles for red, yellow, and bicolour/mottled leaves. Each colour is divided into 3 sizes - small, medium, and large.
Pick a small or medium sized leaf. Fold the top half of the leaf backwards, as shown.
Hold the leaf so that the bottom part of the leaf is behind the top part of your first floral wire stem, as shown.
Wrap one side of the leaf forward and across the floral wire, tucking the leading edge in and rolling it inward.
Wrap the remaining side of the leaf forward and around the “bud” that’s been forming.
Gather the bottom edge of the leaf tightly around the floral wire, holding it with one hand.
Use floral tape - sticky side down - to secure the base of the gathered leaf to the stem. Be sure to pull the tape as you wind it - that’s what activates the adhesive.
Once the “bud” base is wrapped, continue wrapping the tape down the stem for another inch or two. This step will secure the flower to the stem, and provide a good base to build on.
Next, pick a medium sized leaf and hold it up to the rosebud, as shown.
Bend the leaf backwards - so the tip and stem end both meet - and form a “petal”. Depending on the size and shape of the leaf, you may wanted to bend the leading or tailing end of the leaf, to shape it.Wrap this leaf around the rosebud, leaving a little bit of space around the top of the bud. (Hold it tight at the base, though!Once you have the “petal” the way you want, secure to the base of the bud with more floral tape. Repeat with another medium or medium-large leaf.
Continue - using progressively larger leaves - until you’re happy with the fullness of your rose.
Once you’re satisfied with your rose, pick our 2-3 smallish leaves, and wrap them around the base of the rose, as-is. (No folding!). Play around a bit with the positioning, until you’re happy with it.
Secure with a final wrapping of floral tape. Wind it all the way down the stem, this time.
Repeat as necessary with another set of leaves, to make as many roses as you need.
As you finish roses, mist with a bit of water and gently set them aside.
Remember, you’re aiming for somewhat natural looking, not super uniform in appearance.
Once you’re finished your roses, gather your stems and arrange them as desired. Secure with more floral tape, if needed.