How to Make Floral Arrangements (Part 2)

Floral Ornaments for Plants and Gift Baskets

In our first articles, we introduced you to the origins of the world of floristry. We talked about the elements of floral arrangement, focusing on the use of color and design. Now, we're going to talk about the specifics of creating floral arrangements. For this two-part series, we discuss the do's and do n'ts of flower arrangement. We'll learn how to use different containers and common styles for various occasions. In Part 1, we gave you basic step-by-step guides for popular arrangements. This involved container selection and creating designs based on the customers' needs. We helped you learn how to make floral arrangements for any container. In this second part, we discuss more about creating floral arrangements for any occasion. Read ahead for in-depth guides to using flowers as a classy addition for any occasion. Learn more about wedding florals, bridal bouquets in our following article. Read ahead for suggestions on where to take programs on making floral arrangements. This includes the American Institute of Floral Designers (www.aifd.org) and the Society of American Florists (www.safnow.org). You can also check out other similar organizations offering classes in floristry.

How to Make a Gift Basket

Whether it's for yourself, your friends, or for customers in the holiday rush, creating DIY baskets is fun and easy. Plus, it gives your gift a special, personalized touch. Here are simple steps you can follow to create your own gift basket. Select a theme. Whatever works - gardening, fruits, new house, new baby, or the holiday season. Selecting a theme will make it easier to plan for and design the basket. Find a basket or container. You can't go wrong with standard wicker baskets, but you can choose virtually any container for your present. Boxes, bags, and buckets may even work, depending on your theme. Put filler at the bottom of the container. Whichever container you use, place layers of crumpled paper or any filler at the bottom. They'll serve as a sturdy foundation before placing the gift items in. Put in and arrange your gift items. This could vary from gardening supplies, to different fruits, or custom packages. Put the tallest item in the center and put in other items by height, and their weight. Stuff extra filler to keep it stable and balance out as needed. Embellish with flowers and ribbons. Put a few flowers and wrap ribbons. You can place them on the handles or around the container for a nice aesthetic.

How to Dress a Plant

It doesn't matter what plant you own and where you have it - in the office, living room, kitchen, or nightstand. There's a couple of quick and cost-efficient ways to keep them beaming and lively in any room. We've compiled a list of these handy techniques to dress up your plant and give it an instant upgrade.

Stencil art

Readily available in local art supplies outlets, stencil is very flexible for use. Cut out a few templates and paste on your potted plants for an instant intricate design.

Paint

One of the simplest and cost-effective ways to dress up plants. Paint is very accessible and excellent for a wide variety of designs. This is also the best choice for kids who want to help you out!

Lace

Give your pots an instant refined look with lace wrapped around it! Paste with care at the borders to prevent unwanted stickiness and a neat, delicate look. There's a lot of other materials you can use to dress up your potted plants. Some, you can even find around your home! These include your ordinary burlap, spare fabric from old clothes and socks. You could even use scarves, bracelets, and even your kids' cute artwork. Cut them up to a suitable length and wrap them around your pots with glue or twine string. Enjoy custom-made pot designs!

Read all about How to Make Floral Arrangements (Part 1) in our next article.