Using simplified steps, you too can make a rose like those from Blooms4Ever without all the crazy twirling!

If you have ever been to the Blooms4Ever website, you'll notice that they do provide a step-by-step of their procedure. However, it is unnecessarily complicated and involves a lot of weird twirling. Using methods learned from YouTube videos, I've made this little Instructable in the hopes that others' anguish will be defeated.

Revision August 26, 2008:
Hello!
If you have been waiting for a video about step 2-3 involving the folding, I am sorry that it has been such a long time! I was abroad for a while and now I am having some trouble getting video off my camera. I will try to explain this step as best as I can. Please go to steps 2-3, since I can't remember which one all the trouble was on. I will try better to explain.

Step 1: Getting Started: Preliminary Folds

First, fold your origami paper in half, either way. Then do that again the other way. Be sure to make strong, crisp creases in the paper.

Step 2: Folds 2: It's Almost Like an Accordian!

Unfold your paper if you haven't already and fold it to either side, on the crease you just made. Now, fold the top, closed portion of the paper down, just about to the center. Crease it nicely, then fold that top part down again until you are left with a strip. Crease.

Unfold those creases, then take the very top part of the paper and fold it down so it touches the line of the first third. (See pictures for details.) Unfold. Repeat for the other crease, so that you have a paper that is heavily creased. (See pictures!)

Revision!
Imagine your paper is in thirds lengthwise. Fold the top CLOSED end of your paper down to meet the bottom of the second third, closer to the open end. Again, fold this portion down. You should be left with a long strip of paper. Unfold this whole thing, rotate the paper, and fold in half again so that these lines are going vertically. Repeat the horizontal thirds on this end. It's hard to really put into words, but if you look at the pictures I guarantee you'll get it. Just remember the thirds!!

After you do this, take your TOP third and fold it down ONLY SO IT MEETS THE BOTTOM OF THAT THIRD. Essentially you'll be folding the top third in half, creating a small line. IN TOTAL YOU SHOULD HAVE FOUR HORIZONTAL LINES ON YOUR PAPER. See the illustration to show how lines work. Credit to Snoyes, thank you very much!!

Step 3: Getting a Little Tricky!

Turn your paper over, so that the colored/patterned side is down on the surface. Fold it in half, either way, then fold it again, so that you get a square. You will notice the square has a lot of lines on it. We're going to pay attention to the tiny diamond at the top. Fold it down and CREASE WELL, as this crease is going to benefit us a lot. Unfold it, and then unfold the square so you have the rectangle again.

Now, slightly open the paper and look at the diamond in the center. Very, very carefully, push it down with your finger so it caves in on itself. Make sure just the diamond caves in. See the pictures for details. If done correctly, the paper will still be folded in half and two lines will be sticking out from the sides of the diamond. Press it down so you have a sort of slash at the top of your rectangle.

Step 4: It's About Halfway Done!!

Fold down the flaps that are adjacent to the diamond. It makes no sense, but if you look at the pictures, you'll see what I mean. Fold them down on both sides so you are left with a sort of raised diamond in the center that essentially "locks" the paper together. It can be undone with a gentle pull if you want to back out of the rose now.

Turn your paper over so the colored side faces you. Arrange the paper so it is a diamond, then fold up a corner to the corner opposite, stopping below the corner of the topmost diamond (see pictures). Crease well, and repeat for all four corners until there is a square shape in the middle with little "roads" leading to it.

Step 5: The Trickiest Part: the Gathering of the Folds

This part is tricky, so I've included a video of how I did it.
Click here to see.
Basically, you want to fold the triangles to the far right of each quadrant of the paper back, so you are twirling the rose without actually twirling it. This step is made far easier with guidelines and the creases we made. When you watch the video, don't be intimidated by the grab I do, since I do it quite fast. I had been creasing and recreasing that paper for ages trying to shoot the video, so it was fairly easy to do. It may take a few tries, but you'll get it. Everything will sort of slide into place and it'll produce a nice result.

Step 6: Fold Down the Triangles

This part is also a little tricky, but unfortunately, I could not capture video of it. I will try my best to explain how I did it.

You will be left with a box with a swirl at the top. Facing the inside of the box, so you can see the white, fold down the first flap. It will form a sort of triangle shape over the flap next to it, at the same time forming a triangle on the opening of the box. Follow suit with each flap, so you form a "locking" box made of overlapping triangles. When you get to the last triangle, slip it down under the first. This will effectively stop it from opening and ruining your gorgeous rose.

Step 7: Final Touches!

This is my favorite part! You can easily leave your rose at this stage, but if you want to make it extra pretty, take a pencil or other dull instrument (i.e. a pen, a chopstick or another long, slightly-round, thin instrument) and essentially "scoop" inside the center of the rose, opening up the inside. I wish, again, I had video, but just do a little swirling until you leave a little dip in the rose. Be sure to rotate in circles to smooth the dip.

Once you have effectively carved the center of the rose, you may then curl the flaps a little to give it a sort of peeling rose look. You can do this by rolling back the flaps and giving them a few rolls, then pulling them out slightly.

Step 8: Vous Avez Fini!!

You're done! Give your creation to someone else, or keep it as a decorative desk ornament. Keep practicing to make beautiful bouquets to give your loved ones, or to leave in random places as cute gifts for others to find. Thanks for reading, hope it was helpful!