Home & Garden
Quick and easy flower arrangements for special occasions
Home & Garden
Quick and easy flower arrangements for special occasions
This story originally appeared in the Canadian Living Special Issue, Home for the Holidays 2008. Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue!
Click on images to view a larger picture of each arrangement:
Vintage
Trim block of floral foam to fit snugly in silver trophy cup; push inside, then add enough water to soak foam. Working from centre to rim, trim each stem to desired height; push cut end 1 inch/ 2.5 cm into foam. To shape similar arrangements as in photo, start with large flowerhead (such as viburnum) in centre, surround it with smaller flowers (such as carnations), then ring berries around rim. Tuck in 2 or 3 trailing flower stems (such as freesia).
Whimsical
Choose 3 matching vases. For each, arrange small bouquet of 3 red roses and 3 red carnations,then add a few sprigs of rosy berries, such as hypericum. One bouquet at a time, wrap stems with 3/4- to 1-inch/2 to 2.5 cm wide grosgrain ribbon, just below blossoms, and tie. Overwrap once with 1/8- to 1/4-inch/3 to 6 mm wide green satin ribbon and tie, then trim, leaving long ends. Push each bouquet into vase so all are same height.
Country
Start with a rustic basket and a sturdy container that just fits inside. Trim block of floral foam to fit container, push inside, then add enough water to soak foam. Working out from centre to rim, trim each stem to desired height, then push cut end about 1 inch/2.5 cm into foam, to densely arrange greenery and sprigs into gentle dome. Tuck Spanish moss between stems around basket rim to conceal foam. Nestle pinecones into greenery, if desired.
Designer's tips:
• Buy berries, flowers and foliage from a florist – then add twigs, sprigs and mini-boughs from the backyard, to create your own bouquets.
• Use a muted mix of one colour plus green for easy elegance.
• Let foam thoroughly soak before adding flowers. Water bouquets daily.
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Page 1 of 1
Click on images to view a larger picture of each arrangement:
Vintage
Trim block of floral foam to fit snugly in silver trophy cup; push inside, then add enough water to soak foam. Working from centre to rim, trim each stem to desired height; push cut end 1 inch/ 2.5 cm into foam. To shape similar arrangements as in photo, start with large flowerhead (such as viburnum) in centre, surround it with smaller flowers (such as carnations), then ring berries around rim. Tuck in 2 or 3 trailing flower stems (such as freesia).
Whimsical
Choose 3 matching vases. For each, arrange small bouquet of 3 red roses and 3 red carnations,then add a few sprigs of rosy berries, such as hypericum. One bouquet at a time, wrap stems with 3/4- to 1-inch/2 to 2.5 cm wide grosgrain ribbon, just below blossoms, and tie. Overwrap once with 1/8- to 1/4-inch/3 to 6 mm wide green satin ribbon and tie, then trim, leaving long ends. Push each bouquet into vase so all are same height.
Country
Start with a rustic basket and a sturdy container that just fits inside. Trim block of floral foam to fit container, push inside, then add enough water to soak foam. Working out from centre to rim, trim each stem to desired height, then push cut end about 1 inch/2.5 cm into foam, to densely arrange greenery and sprigs into gentle dome. Tuck Spanish moss between stems around basket rim to conceal foam. Nestle pinecones into greenery, if desired.
Designer's tips:
• Buy berries, flowers and foliage from a florist – then add twigs, sprigs and mini-boughs from the backyard, to create your own bouquets.
• Use a muted mix of one colour plus green for easy elegance.
• Let foam thoroughly soak before adding flowers. Water bouquets daily.
Do you love crafts? Sign up for CanadianLiving.com's craft newsletter, Get Crafty.
Page 1 of 1
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