Twisting, pinching and rolling your way to magic

If you’re a faithful visitor to Planet Kerth, you may recall that a couple weeks ago I told you about a magic trick I like to perform.

Well, as I explained, it’s not a magic trick exactly, because it doesn’t really take any magic to turn a simple napkin into a long-stemmed paper rose with a single delicate leaf halfway up the stem.

But then, once the trick is over, that’s when the magic begins, because a little paper rose can brighten even the darkest day of anybody you choose to give it to.

And judging by my email, it seems that a lot of people out there could use a little touch of magic in their lives.

Jay S. wrote: “Dude, you SO gotta teach me this!!”

Frances K. wrote: “I IMPLORE you to teach me how to make a rose and cause the magic!”

It’s hard to say no to three exclamation marks in just the first two sentences.

Of course, a magician never reveals his tricks. But since I admitted to you that it takes no magic to create a paper rose — the magic only comes later — I guess I have no reason to keep it to myself.

So go get a handful of napkins. I’ll wait.

Start by fully unfolding a cheap paper napkin and lay it flat. It’s important to use a cheap paper napkin, because expensive napkins often contain some non-paper materials, like cotton or even nylon fibers. And while additives like that can help a napkin soak up a bathtub of water and still support a bowling ball, we’re not bowling in the bathroom here. It’s magic we’re after, and the magic can only be released if you start with the cheapest napkin you can find.

You gotta love that it only works if you spend less money on materials, not more. See, the magic has already begun! Also make sure that it’s a single-ply napkin you’re using. If all you have is a double-ply, peel it apart and use just one ply.

Once the napkin is fully unfolded, roll it loosely until it’s a long tube about an inch in diameter, sort of like a paper cannoli shell. Then pinch the tube about an inch or so from one end. That “bulb” at the end will become the whorled petals of the rose.

You can see it taking shape already, can’t you?

From that point, make the stem of the rose by pinching, twisting, and rolling between your thumbs and forefingers. Technique is important here, and it may take a few tries to get it right. You want the stem to be twisted into a tight spiral, but not so aggressively that the fibers tear apart. At the same time, you want the fibers to be crushed together by pinching and rolling between your fingertips. You’ll know you’re getting it right if the stem is skinny and tight and doesn’t unravel or sag when you hold it upright. When you nail the technique, your rose will stand upright even if you hold it from the very bottom.

But unless you want a leafless rose, don’t go all the way to the bottom. Not yet. It’s time to make a single, fragile leaf that will give your paper rose some lifelike zing. Unfortunately, this is also the most challenging part of the project, so take your time.

To make the leaf, stop twisting and rolling once you get about halfway down the stem, or a little farther, if you like. Wherever you stop, that will become the base of the leaf.

To find the tip of the leaf, look to the bottom of the paper “cannoli tube.” There you’ll find two of the napkin’s corners — one at the center of the tube, and one at the outside. Gently take the outer tip and pull it back up over the twisted stem, an inch or two above the leaf’s base. To do this without ripping the paper, you’ll have to unfurl the bottom of the paper tube a bit, turning the outermost layer inside-out, sort of like the lapel of a shirt. Hold the tip against the stem, straighten the rest of the bottom of the tube, and pinch the bottom of the “leaf” tight where you left off twisting at its base.

Whew! The hard part is over. The rest is gravy. (Well, that’s a lousy metaphor to use when you’re knuckle deep in paper flowers, but you get the point.)

To finish the rose, just keep twisting, pinching and rolling all the way to the bottom of the stem.

And that’s it! You’re done!

It’ll need a bit of primping, but that’s the fun, easy part. The leaf looks best if you get the tip to arch outward and down. Also, find the tip of paper at the very center of the rose head and give it a twist to increase the swirl of the petals a bit.

Of course, you can add your own embellishments, like my nephew Billy did when he spritzed two-dozen paper roses with perfume before giving them to his girlfriend.

Another fun touch is to gently singe the edges of the petals with flame, to give them a bit of dark contrast against the white of the napkin. (Of course, your rose would have an aroma that would only appeal to a chain-smoker, but hey, chain-smokers need a bit of magic too, right?)

And that’s all there is to it, except for the most important final step: Give your paper rose to somebody who looks like they’re having a hard time finding anything to smile about.

Because that’s when the magic happens.

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