The Rose Bud

-The rosebud can be used either alone or with an initial. This is a relatively simple design, and is great for anyone just starting out, as well as anyone that is doing jewelry for craft shows and fairs.

Start at a point left of center, and about 7/8ths of the way up the cabachon, scribing a shape like the one on the left.

Next, you'll be adding the first inner petal by drawing a line from the right tip, curving all the way to the base of the rosebud.

Then the second inner petal. Be sure each line is connected to the other, or else it will look unfinished.

Now, the inner most petals.

Next, you will add the petal that is just unfolding. This gives the same

intriguing psychological effect as a partially opened Christmas present.

With the bud almost fully done, you now need to add the leaflets to the

base (this is the green part that protects the bud until it opens).

Now you need the stem. Give it a little curve for interest.

Remember not to go all the way to the bottom of your

cabachon (the line I've drawn here is a little too close).

Next will come the stems of the leaves. Roses actually have three leaves per stem, but this is a stylized rose, so we can take liberties like these.

Make two leaves, both teardrop shape.

Add the veins to the leaves. Four per leaf maximum, you'll see why soon.

Now it's time to colorize your piece. If you've followed the original instructions, fill in what you've scribed, let it dry completely, then rub off the ink.

You must CAREFULLY scribe inside the lines you've scribed. This takes patience and skill, since you don't want to nick the black lines, but you want to come as close as possible. Once again this takes practice. I tend to get as close as I can to the left hand side, and leave some of the right unscribed to simulate light shining on the rosebud. Also on the right edges, I make sure the color is lighter, just to enhance the 3-d effect.