I've written a couple of posts over the years about where I get my materials - specifically my Italian 180gsm crepe paper, and this round I thought I should compile it all into one post for convenience, especially for my readers based in Singapore - thus this post isn't really where I buy my rolls, but a recommendation of where YOU can buy crepe paper rolls!
You may still read the more detailed original posts filed under 'Tips and Resources' on this blog, but here is a very brief summary of where to find the essential tools and materials for flower-making.
ITALIAN 180gsm CREPE PAPER
If you've been following me for a while you know that I LOVE Italian 180gsm Crepe Paper and work with it exclusively. Its durable, strong, comes in many colours, and it has such an amazing stretchability that gives us so much room for creativity.
QUICK THINGS TO NOTE:
180gsm is the thickest and has the most stretch. There are also other weights like 90gsm from the same manufacturer.
Italian crepe is the stretchiest and the brand is called Cartotecnica Rossi. There is a China-made version (on Taobao and the likes) that looks similar but be warned, the colours might not last as long and the stretch might not be as good as the Italian version.
Colour codes are indicated as 3 digit numbers on the label, but different sellers will call them by different names (Cartotecnica Rossi themselves have changed the names over the years). So colour codes are helpful for ensuring you buy the same shade every time.
1 original roll measures 250cm x 50cm (take note of this when purchasing online, as some sellers might sell HALF rolls) and is probably sufficient to make 30-40 rose-sized flowers.
Alright, so where can I buy these rolls from?
A) From the manufacturer - Cartotecnica Rossi's website
1.35 Euros per roll
I buy directly from the manufacturer Cartotecnica Rossi since I order in bulk (about 42 rolls per order). Shipping costs is quite insane to be frank, which is why I don't sell these large rolls myself.
Here's what the online store looks like. You can see that there are a whole range of weights, prints, even bicoloured options!
QUICK THINGS TO NOTE:
These is a minimum order for Cartotecnica Rossi, which I believe is 30+ rolls.
Shipping to Singapore goes upwards from SGD$100+
If you do buy from here, CHECK THE DIFFERENT SHIPPING RATES. The 3 day shipping cost is bizarrely cheaper than the 5 day shipping cost, at least for me it is. Make sure you compare before checking out.
B) From ETSY - European sellers who ship small quantities
SGD$3 to 8+ per roll
If you’re looking to purchase rolls in a smaller quantity, I recommend looking for sellers on Etsy, just search "Italian 180gsm crepe paper rolls". Most of these sellers are based in Poland and sell rolls at a reasonable price, with a lower shipping cost too. Some sellers also package the crepe paper as sets or kits, so that you can buy multiple shades in a set.
QUICK THINGS TO NOTE:
Remember to look out for the Cartotecnica Rossi label stickers, the colour codes, and weightages!
Not all sellers have the full range of colours, so it won't hurt to compare sellers and their prices.
C) Spotlight - stock might be limited though!
For a time, Spotlight stocked crepe paper rolls from Lia Griffith - it's a different brand, but I've seen the crepe and it's very much the same as Cartotecnica Rossi's. Lia Griffith also makes double-sided Crepe Paper which is similar to German crepe. I'm not sure if they still have them now, as I haven't seen them in stores, but there might be a chance that they're just restocking!
D) From me! On my Etsy Store
Occasionally, when I have extra crepe paper stock, I'll pack them into kits with florist wires and sell them up on my Etsy page. Quantities are limited only because my papers are very precious to me and it's hard for me to sell them! But what I've done is to cut them into smaller rolls of 25cm x 80cm and have them in 5 shades. Stock updates will be posted on my IG page :)
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OTHER TOOLS & MATERIALS - Quick Summary
Far East Orchid (Wholesale Florist at Thomson):
Florist wires (packs of 100 or 200pcs), florist tape, ribbons, wrapping papers
Art Friend:
Florist wires, foam balls, florist tape, hot glue gun + glue sticks, white craft glue
Thanks for reading! I've tried as much to cram as much of the crucial info as I can into a single post. Hope this helps and HAPPY CRAFTING!
Hi when would one use 60 or 90 or 140 Italían crepe paper. I am a beginner and 180 I imagine would take more experience to create realistic paper flowers.