Make a Rosebud Wreath
Ribbon, rosebuds and a heart-shape form make a lovely wreath just right as a May Day surprise or as a gift for Mom.

By Meghann Foye
Photographed by Theresa Raffetto

Rosebud Wreath
11"�?2" plastic-foam heart-shape wreath base

Ribbons:

3 1/4 yd 1 1/2"-wide green-and-white stripe (Mokuba 4831)
1 1/2 yd 2"-wide pink-and-white stripe (Mokuba 4832)

Tacky glue (Fabri-Tac by Beacon); pins
About 20�?4 large, fresh, unopened roses (see Note)

For waxing roses:

1 lb paraffin wax
double boiler or pot and clean can
garden pruners
plastic berry baskets or drying rack or
large-hole colander (to fit stems)
wax paper

Optional: 1" hole punch

Note: For the waxing process, petals and sepals of fresh roses should be completely dry. Waxed fresh roses will last about 1 1/2 weeks. Wreath can also be made with artificial roses. Simply cut blossoms, including sepals, and pin to ribbon-wrapped base, omitting steps 2�?.

1. Starting at center top of wreath base, wrap green-striped ribbon around, overlapping to cover foam; secure ends with glue and pins. Pin ends of 15" pink-striped ribbon to back at top for hanger.
To wax roses, follow steps 2�?:
2. Place water in bottom of double boiler and paraffin in top. Heat until paraffin melts. Lower heat to let wax cool (to keep from burning roses); stir occasionally to keep liquid.
3. One at a time, cut rose stems to 3" and quickly dip cut end in wax to seal. Holding stem, dip blossom and green sepals at base in wax for a thin, complete coating. Insert stem in openings of upside-down berry baskets to let wax harden. Maintain heat to keep wax in pan melted.
4. Cut a 1" circle of wax paper for each rose (punch or cut through several layers at a time).
5. When wax on roses is dry, lay out a sheet of wax paper. One at a time, cut stem off rose flush at base of sepals. Quickly dip cut base in just enough wax to cover; pat a wax-paper circle over the hot wax. Stand rose on the sheet of wax paper. Let dry.
6. For waxed or artificial roses: Starting with rose at center top and bottom of ribbon-wrapped wreath base, attach roses to front, inserting pins through sepals (and paper circle on waxed roses) into foam.
7. Tie pink-striped bow, and pin under top of heart or to center of hanger. Handle wreath gently. Remove when roses wither or spoil and save base for future use.