Home >> Do-It-Yourself >> Flower Arranging Tips

Flower Arranging Tips

Add to the impact of the design byusing a scooped-out melon, with itsdeeply ridged texture, as an unusualcontainer. Watermelons, pumpkinsand marrows (squash), or oranges andlemons also make interesting short-term flower holders. You can dry theshells in an oven at a low temperaturefor a longer-lasting display.

Choose flowers that contrastdramatically with each other in size,shape and texture for this arrangement,such as huge, glossy yellow lilies andtiny, fluffy mimosa flowers, as well asyellow roses, mauve Singapore orchidsand carnations. Eucalyptus foliagemakes an attractive accompaniment.

1. Gather togetherthe materials youwill need: a scooped-out melon or othercontainer, a knife, a dessertspoon, aplastic foam-holdingsaucer, a cylinder of absorbent stem-holding foam, pre-soaked in water,narrow florist'sadhesive tape,scissors and florist's scissors.

2. Cut a thin slice from the top of themelon, and a sliver from the base so that itwill stand steadily. Using the spoon, scoopout the melon seeds into a bowl. Scoop outthe melon flesh into a second howl, takingcare not to pierce and damage the shell.

3. Press the plastic saucer over the top ofthe melon and press the soaked foam intothe indent. Criss-cross 2 lengths of adhesivetape over the foam and saucer and downon to the melon shell. Arrange stems ofmimosa to make an irregular shape.

4. Arrange the orchids to make a triangularoutline, the tallest one in the centre and 2slightly shorter stems at the sides. Positionthe carnations to give weight to the designat the top and sides. Cut the lily stems andposition them at the heart of the design, where the fully opened flowers will heseen head-on.

5 Add the cream roses, positioning someat the hack so that they will he viewedthrough the more prominent flowers, andone low at the right. Complete the designwith light sprays of foliage, placing some onthe left of the arrangement to balance therose. Keep the foam permanently moist,adding water at least once a day.

OTHER CONTAINER IDEAS

You can use all kinds of baskets, pots,jugs, teapots and even decorated foodcans as unusual holders for flowers.Rustic baskets always look attractive,either left plain or painted to harmonize with a particular colourscheme. If you are using soakedabsorbent stem-holding foam in abasket, line the basket with a sheer ofplastic, or fit a plastic container inside.

FIXING A SAUCER OF STEM-HOLDING FOAM

Preparing a container in this way allowsyou to use a tall vase, carafe or jug as a pedestal, positioning flower and foliagestems to slant both downwards andhorizontally, or in any direction you choose. You will need a tall container,a strip of florist's adhesive clay, a plasticfoam-holding saucer, a cylinder ofzstem-holding foam (either absorbent or dry according to the materials to bearranged), narrow florist's adhesive tape and scissors.

1 Cut small lengths of adhesive clay andpress them on to the underside of the plasticsaucer, where they will come into contactwith the top of the container. Press thesaucer firmly in place to hold it securely.

2 Soak the foam if it is to hold fresh flowersand foliage. Press the foam cylinder into the indent in the saucer. Cut 2 lengthsof adhesive tape long enough to go over thefoam, across the saucer and down on to thecontainer rim. Stick them in place, criss-crossing them on top of the foam.

Other Do It Yourself Articles:

| Austrian Blind | Buffet Party | Buying Plants | Ceiling Decorating | Choose Paint Brush | Choosing Floor Coverings | Choosing Your Own Flower Arrangements | Choosing Landscaping Plants | Choosing Themes | Christmas Decoration Ideas | Cleaning Tip | Container Gardening Ideas | Cooking Methods and Choice of Nuts | Cooking Tip | Cornice Window Treatments | Covering Floors | Cusion Materials | Daily Household Chores | Decorating Rooms | Decorative Art Painting Technique | Decoupage Equipment | Decoupage Ideas | Dinner Table Etiquette | Display Lighting | Diy Soft Furnishing Hot Tips | Do It Yourself Wood Storage | Door Repair | Double Glazing Windows | Draught Proof Door | Dried Fruit Loaf | Dusting Tips | Easy Cushion Embellishments | Emergency and First Aid | Fabric Repair Holes | First Aid Survival Guide | Fish Varieties | Fitting Shelves in an Alcove | Fixing Electric Fan | Flooring Repair | Floral Displays For The Home | Flower Arrangement Center Piece | Flower Arranging | Flower Arranging Tips | Flower Bathroom Decor | Flower Decorating | Flower Drying | Flower Drying Equipment | Food Safety Guidelines | Free Standing Shelving | Fresh Flower Arrangement | Fruit Preparing | Garden Floor Plan Designs | Garden Gravel | Gardening Finishing Touches | Garden Lighting Ideas | Garden {aving | Gilding Equipment | Gilding Techniques | Grass Alternatives | Handsewing | Hanging Doors | Hanging Picture Frames | Picture Hanging | Healthy Diet Plan | Home Appliance Repair | Home Improvement Budget | Home Interior Decorating | Home Ligting | Homemade Christmas Decorations | Home Safety Awareness | Home Safety Checklist | Home Security | House Cleaning Tips | Household Tips for Laundry | Housekeeping Tips | How to Make Bed Linen | How to Make a Wreath | How to Make Icing | Herbs and Spices | How to Decorate a Table | Candle Decorating | Decorating Tip | House Plant Care | How Do I Pick A Good Vacuum Cleaner | How Do You Decorate a China | How to Increase Livable Space | How to Antique Furniture | How to Build a Pergola | How to Decorate Glass Ornaments | How to Decorate Lamp Shades | How to Decorate My Home | How to Dress a Bed | How to Build a Storage Box | How to Choose Ceramic Tile | Lawn and Garden Care | How to Build a Closet | How to Create a Beautiful Outdoor | How to Install Cabinet Hinge | Patio Ideas | Window Dressing | Dried Flower Arranging | Using Herbs | Kitchen Gardening | How to Install Vinyl Floor | Create More Space in the Home | Stain Removal | Home Insulation | How to Fit a Door | How to Fit Dado Rail Upstairs | How to Make Curtain Valences | How to Make Roman Blinds | How to Organize Space | How to Plan a Party | How to Prepare to Paint House | How to Prune Trees | How to Recycle | How to Sew a Box Cushion | How to Use a Paint Brush | How to Use Fresh Ingredient | Hydroculture | Ideas On How To Set Up Contract For Home Improvement | Illness and Child Care | Indoor Plant Display | Installing Crown Moulding | Home and Interior Garden | Ironing Tips | Kitchen Lighting | Kitchen Organize Tips | Landscape Garden Design | Last Day Before Holiday | Lawn Weed Control | Laying a Foam Backed Carpet | Laying a Woven Carpet | Laying Carpet on Stairs | Laying Floor Tiles | Laying Hardwood Flooring | Laying Vinyl Tile | Low Maintenance Plants | Hanging Mirror | How to Make Curtain | Textile Patching | Moving House | Napkin Folds | Outdoor Safety | Paint Effects | Painting Doors | Wallpapering Tips | Paperhanging Tools and Equipment | Party Planning Ideas | Pet Safety | Planning Your Garden | Plant Decoration | Plant Potting | Plaster Wall Repair | Preparing For Paperhanging | Preparing Garden Soil | Preparing Surfaces For Covering | Preparing Wood Floors | Proper Table Setting | Hanging Wallpaper Border | Removing Old Finishes | Repairing Furniture | Household Appliance Repair | Rose Center Piece Flower Arrangement | Save Energy at Home | Sesame Seed Bread | Soft Furnishing | Soft Furnishing Hot Tips | Soft Furnishing Sewing | Solid Wood Floor Installation | Stamping Equipment | Stamp Making | Stem Cutting | Stencilling Equipment | Storage Organize | Storage Shelving | Stripping Old Wall Coverings | Table Flower Decorations | Tiling a Wall | Tiling Tools | Tools and Equipment for Furnishings | Type of Houseplant | Using Colour Pattern and Texture | Using Cushions | Wall Decorating Ideas | Wallfixings | Wallpainting Ideas | Wallpapering Ceilings | Wallpapering Corners | Wallpapering Stairwells | Wall Repair | Watering Plants | Well Equipped Kitchen | Window Dressing Ideas | Window Repair | Wood Embellishment | How to Use a Sewing Machine | How to doWall Tiling | How to Install a Door | How to Fit a Curtain Pole | How to Fold a Napkin | How to Make A Round Bolster Cushion | How to Make A Stencil | How to Make Couch Cushion Covers | How to Make a Table Cloth