Rose Buds From a Soccer Ball (or Other Sport)

I got this idea from an Etsy shop called SportBuds (http://www.etsy.com/shop/SportBuds), but I could not get them on time for what I wanted them for (Girlfriend's senior night for soccer). I also didn't have the money to spend $10 on each flower, plus shipping. So I did what any good Maker would do and figured out how to make them myself.

I picked all these up in one trip. The things you will need for this Instructable:
> Silk Roses (However many are needed. I picked up 4, but I could have used more with one soccer ball. I got mine from Ben Franklin, but Michael's also carries them)
> Soccer ball (Or whatever you want to use. Volleyball, baseball, basketball, football, etc.)
> Hot glue gun and sticks
> Scissors or x acto knife
> Super Glue

Flowers were $1.99 each, and I picked up a youth sized soccer ball from Target for $9.93. My total came to $18.45 for just the flowers and ball. I already had the other materials.

This first part is fairly straightforward. There's no tools required just yet, as you only have to peel parts off. The glue is sturdy but with a firm grip, begin to pull the crown down first. I did not tear anything doing this, so you should be fine. There is only a dot of glue on each part of the crown.
Next, you're going to want to separate the petals from the stem. This part is held on by glue around the base. Tilting and pulling the petals in each direction worked for me. Once the glue is separated, you can just pull the rest straight off the stem.
Then, you're going to want to pull off the 3 outer petals. This is slightly more difficult, as you don't want to damage the foam center or the inner petals. The glue is fairly easy to pull off of this part too, but all the fabric is connected. You're going to want to cut the outer petals apart from the inner petals, which is connected at the base. Don't worry, the inner petals are glued to the foam so they will not fall off.

After removing the outer petals, I put black paper around it and made a copy onto card stock so I had a stencil. I taped the stencil to the ball and outlined it in Sharpie. Next, I used my x acto knife to cut on the lines. I had to use scissors on the seams. I'm not sure if they were too thick for the blade or if I was just using a really dull knife.
NOTE: Make sure you remember the hole in the middle!

Since I outlined my cuts in Sharpie, the petals still had marker on them. This is easily cleaned up with rubbing alcohol, a cotton ball, and some elbow grease.

This is when it gets complicated. If you have never done something like this, your first one WILL SUCK. So don't beat yourself up or anything, just be careful. This is when you use your glue gun.
First, put your petals on the stem by putting the stem through the hole in the middle. No glue is needed.
Next, put a dot of hot glue on the RIGHT side of the petal. Then, stretch it UP so the top is touching the top of the inner petals and attach the RIGHT side on the inner petals. Do NOT glue the left side yet.
Repeat for each of the 3 petals.
Next, super glue the left side to the other petals. This should be the OUTSIDE. The petals should be attached, but have a small amount of space that is still free. In the space that the petals overlap, I put a dot in the middle. That worked well for me.
NOTE: Make sure you purchase super glue that is designed for rubber. Follow directions on package

This is probably the easiest part. Just a dot of glue on the wide part of each part of the crown, then attach it to the petals. Hot glue works here.

Great! You're finished with your sport bud! You can use them alone or do what I did and put them inside of a bouquet of other flowers. Either way, you're sure to woo that athlete or sports fanatic with this gift!

If you have extra parts from the ball used, you can cut parts from that and wrap a bouquet in the scraps from the ball. This will make it even more special and you will have less waste!