How to completely deconstruct the Rose Bear trend!
First of all, they’re everywhere and everyone kinda wants one, just admit it.
But enough with the sticker shock!
The demand has reached a sort of fever pitch with Hallmark Corporate Profits day (2/14) coming up next month, so they have cropped up everywhere.
Anyway fuck that, I’m the Thrifty Princess and I’m going to bust this one wide open.
Alright if you’re going the DIY route, the first thing you’re going to need is your base.
If you’re super crafty, you could probably cobble one together with styrofoam from your local craft store and carve it into your desired shape - but if you ain’t got time for that shit, read on.
Right now, the bear molds are coming in two generic sizes, small and large - dimensions are in the pic. Remember that you’re gluing a ton of roses to this thing and that’ll add an inch or so to its finished height. You can find one in either size by taking a quick search through eBay using the term “Foam Bear” and picking whichever seller has the best feedback and shipping times.
Next, you’re going to need your roses. I recommend buying “mini” foam roses as these molds aren’t particularly big and having larger blooms will leave you with something a little wonky looking, like this poor guy:
So, type “mini foam roses” into your eBay or Amazon search bar, and look for something that looks like these:
They’re generally around 2-2.5cm, about an inch wide, to give you a size perspective. You’ll probably need more than one pack of your desired color(s) - better safe than sorry!
Once you have these two things on hand, it’s time to get crackin’!
I know some craft stores will try to upsell you on a pricy glue made for styrofoam, but you don’t need it, seriously! Hot glue is more widely available, more affordable, and the bonus is the heat will bind your roses to your foam a lot easier!
Start with the center of the nose and work your way out in rings - this way it will look more even where it counts and as you cover the more complex shapes, like the side of the neck and crooks of the arms, it won’t mess you up!
After the bear is completely covered, now it’s decoration time! Traditionally I’ve seen them with a ribbon bow at the front, but you can do anything you want!
Honestly, don’t be afraid to get creative! I’ve seen goth af bears in black or grey, or both:
I’ve seen them with little childrens’ tiaras:
And I’ve even seen them without roses at all, like this one done up in pearls:
Just think about who you’re making it for, what they would like - anyone would love something that you made yourself with thought and care!
I also found a seller on eBay who has the clear display boxes available that you could decorate any way you want: [LINK].
....Or, alternatively, I guess you can just buy the whole knockoff kit and kaboodle from this seller in California for $25 and free shipping: [eBay link]
If this helped you in any way, consider supporting me on Patreon! I post tutorials on everything from event decor/tablescapes to teatime recipes and more - all for those on a budget!
