Silk Floral Arrangements Can Be Expensive...But Not for Connie's Craft-a-Holics!
Do you have a room that needs a little more pizzaz? Some added color would be great, but what to do?
Here's a great little project that will not only bring a splash of color to your room, but also an afternoon of crafting pleasure!
You'll feel great when someone asks you...."Oh, how pretty! Where did you get that?"
Just smile and tell them....I made it myself!
In a swag, or a lovely little ginger jar... you'll have a lot of fun learning to work with silk flowers!
The Components of a Silk Floral Swag
Ta Da....
New Table of Contents
- The Components of a Silk Floral Swag
- Ta Da....
- Sweet & Simple...
- ...or Sparkle and Shine With Some Glittering Fruit!
- Basic Floral Tools
- You'll Need Some Basic Floral Tools for This Project
- This is Called a "Paddle" of Wire
- Silk Floral Spray Cleaner
- This is What the Professionals Use to Clean Silk Arrangements
- Time Management and Shopping
- Choose Your Favorite Wire Cutters!
- Now, Let's Get Started on Your Swag!
- Preparing the Eucalyptus "Frame"
- The Eucalyptus Foundation
- Pull the Wire Tight
- Use Your Pliers....
- Oooops! ........I Forgot to Add the Hanger!
- Add Floral Foam
- Floral Foam
- Hot Glue...Then Wire for Stability
- Now Comes the Fun!
- Now It's Time to Add the Flowers
- This is a Good Example of "Filler"
- Accent Pieces
- Bend the Head of the Flower ....
- Like This....
- So You See That Flower's Sweet Little Face!
- Work Toward the Center
- You're Almost There!
- Waste Not, Want Not!
- The Flowers Are All In Place....
- Step-by-Step
- Once You Master Arranging With Silk Flowers.... You'll Want to Try Working With Fresh Flowers!
- More Floral Books For Your Library
- I Hope You Had Fun!
- Here's Another One of My Floral Designs... It's a Miniature Lamp in a Chicken Theme
- Cemetery Arrangement
- When You're Ready to Craft a Themed Birthday Party....
- If You Would Like to Learn More About Squidoo, and How to Use It to Express YOUR Creativity....
- You Are Cordially Invited.....
- Please Sign My Guestbook!
- Connie's Craft-a-Holics Club
- You're Invited to Visit My Website... and Sign My Guest Book!
Sweet & Simple...
You can make a swag as simple as eucalyptus with a raffia bow.... ...or Sparkle and Shine With Some Glittering Fruit!
Brighten up your kitchen or dining area with some beautifully sparkling fruit!There's no limit to the ways you can dress up a simple eucalyptus swag!
Basic Floral Tools
- Wire Cutters
- Pliers
- Floral Wire (I usually use 22- 24 guage)
- Floral Tape (green or white, depending on your project)
- Hot Glue Gun & Sticks
- Floral Foam
You'll Need Some Basic Floral Tools for This Project
Once you learn how to use the basic tools, you'll soon be creating great little arrangements for your entire house!Careful of floral designing....it's guaranteed to be addicting!
- 22-Guage Floral Wire
- My personal preference when it comes to wiring....I use 22-24 guage on nearly all my floral projects.
This is Called a "Paddle" of Wire
FCM Paddle Wire
"FCM Paddle Wire Green 22 Gauge: This versatile paddle-wrapped wire is perfect for constructing garlands, holiday trimmings and many floral projects. "
FCM Paddle Wire
Silk Floral Spray Cleaner
- Silk Floral Cleaner
- Silk Flower 10 oz- quickly and easily removes dust and dirt from silk flowers and plants. Use on floral arrangements, dried flowers, artificial trees, garland and wreaths.
Just spray on-no wiping. Dries fast and has a pleasant fragrance. Keep away from children.
This is What the Professionals Use to Clean Silk Arrangements
Time Management and Shopping
Gone are the days of "just running down to the store for a minute!
In a city of 4,000,000 people, the trip to the store can turn into a 2-hour task!
I'm learning to appreciate the simplicity of online shopping, and the fact that it saves me from dealing with the sizzling temperatures of the desert.
Temperatures can soar to 114 degrees, or more!
That makes for some cranky shoppers, overheating vehicles, and a shopping trip turned sour.
So, I'll be sharing some of the great sites I've discovered for my crafty shopping. I'll share the links of the products I use and recommend...so you can spend more time crafting; and less time running out for basic supplies!
Choose Your Favorite Wire Cutters!
Every floral designer needs her own set of wire cutters! Personally, I prefer a pair with rubber handles, and are about the same size as my hand...
When you are working with bigger bushes of flowers or greens, you will find that you need a larger set to cut those big stems at the base of the bush!
Here are several to choose from!
I like the Fuller 405, and the needle nose pliers...basic necessities for the busy floral designer!
Pro Art 8.25" Scissors
Pro Art 8.25" Scissors...Stainless st more...0 points
Needle-Nose Pliers/Wire Cutters
Needle-Nose Pliers/Wire Cutters. Extremely useful more...0 points
Now, Let's Get Started on Your Swag!
Begin With Fresh Eucalyptus from Your Favorite Craft Store
Eucalyptus smells wonderful, is easy to work with and comes in a variety of colors...Be sure to choose carefully! If it's been sitting in the store too long, it will be dry and crumbly...fresh eucalyptus is pliable, has deep color and the leaves don't fall off when you pick up the package!
Preparing the Eucalyptus "Frame"
Eucalyptus is your foundation....build it strong!
Divide the bundle of eucalyptus into two equal parts, and wire it together using 24 guage floral wire... The Eucalyptus Foundation
Here's what it looks like once it's all wired together... Pull the Wire Tight
You want to pull the bundle together as tightly as you can, without breaking the wire! Use Your Pliers....
Use the pliers to tighten the wire....pull the wire tight as you turn it...Tuck the ends of the wire into the eucalyptus so they won't be poking you in the fingers while you continue with the arrangement!
Oooops! ........I Forgot to Add the Hanger!
This is the time to add your hanger to the back of the piece....I forgot to add it to mine before I completed the arrangement, but it will be much easier if you put it on NOW...instead of when you're finished!
Add Floral Foam
This is a matter of my personal preference...some designers simply add their flowers to the euc (prounounced "uke") frame...I prefer to add a piece of foam...I find that I can achieve better balance in my piece by having a little more foundation to build on...
Floral Foam
Hot Glue...Then Wire for Stability
Spread some hot glue on the bottom of the foam and lay it on the eucalptus frame...Once it's cool...you can secure the foam with more floral wire...
Tuck the ends of the wire into the foam...
Now Comes the Fun!
Now you get to start adding your flowers!Begin with a foundation of filler...you can see I have inserted the stems into the foam...
Place your stems like the hours on a clock face to achieve balance...
1:00, 3:00, 5:00
7:00, 9:00, 11:00
I usually place all the pieces until I get them where I like them....then go back and glue them into the foam...
Now It's Time to Add the Flowers
Again, thinking in terms of the clock face; begin to add your flowers...Simply insert the stems into the foam until the head of the flower is in position...
This is a Good Example of "Filler"
Lots of petals....plenty of "fluff"...it's like ground cover for your arrangement! Accent Pieces
Here's a piece that I would use as an accent piece...it's spiky and elongated...great texture...Use it in odd numbers...1, 3 or 5 of this piece gives your arrangement a more natural feeling.
Bend the Head of the Flower ....
The flowers will be laying flat when you insert them into the foam...Bend the head of the flower toward you so you will be able to see the face of the flower...
Like This....
So You See That Flower's Sweet Little Face!
Work Toward the Center
I've left the stems long for the first layers...now you begin to cut the stems shorter, as you move toward the center of the arrangment....Now you can begin to add another color of flowers...(using a different type of flower)
You're Almost There!
Now, it's getting really exciting because your arrangement is really taking shape!Now that you are at the center of the arrangement, it's time to change the size of the flowers you are adding...
I'm now adding a large, tawny color rose that has a red blush...a contrasting color that still coordinates with the burgundy flowers...I ended up using three of them in this particular arrangement...
Waste Not, Want Not!
Yes, you can even use those leftover stems! The extra leaves help fill in those little spaces between your flowers... The Flowers Are All In Place....
You can keep adding flowers until your arrangement is as "full" as you like it to be...Now, wasn't that easy?
As you can see, the possiblities are endless...you can create a new swag for every season, gifts for special people...or even sell them for a little extra spending money!
Silk Floral Swag in...
Baby Shower Centerpi...
Mini Lamp in Amber &...
Patriotic Birdhouse
Mini Lamp in Baby Bl...
Topiary in Pink and...
Heather's Bouquet
Bridesmaids Bouquets
Connie's Miniature L...
DaisyStripes
Purple & Yellow...
Begin with fresh euc...
Cut the ties
Divide in two equal...
About 30" wide
Step-by-Step
Begin with fresh euc...
Cut the ties
Divide in two equal...
About 30" wide
Floral wire, cutters...
Make a hanging loop
Cut floral foam... a...
Wrap around the cent...
Glue the foam to the...
Hot glue works best!
Select your flowers
Begin at the outer p...
Work in a circular p...
Bend the stem so the...
Begin to add contras...
Continue in a circul...
Bending the stems so...
Floral Tape & Fl...
Lengthen your stems...
Lengthen your stems...
Continue filling wit...
Once You Master Arranging With Silk Flowers.... You'll Want to Try Working With Fresh Flowers!
This video gives you a feel for the movement and flow that is part of the design process...
It truly is an elegant little bouquet!
More Floral Books For Your Library
I Hope You Had Fun!
Thanks for crafting with me again today! I hope you enjoyed yourself as much as I did!As you can see, there's no limit to the design possibilities!
So, go...gather supplies...and get set for an afternoon of floral designing that will give your home the style, personality and charm that is a reflection of the unique person that YOU are!
Enjoy! ...and let me know how your arrangements turn out...
Be sure to check out Connie's Craft-a-Holics Club
...I'd love to have you join in! Come to learn, or come to teach...if you discover that you are a gifted designer, you may choose to build a lens and sell your wonderful designs!
The holiday season is a terrific jump-start when you're ready to sell some of your hand-made designs...Custom florals are always popular; and in great demand!
So, whether for fun or for profit, join me at the clubhouse for lots of floral, painting and crafting ideas!
Thanks for visiting!
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Connie's Craft-a-Holics Club Headquarters
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I confess... I admit it, I'm addicted to crafting! I don't want my "stuff" to look like everyone else's, so I make my own. Join the club and learn how easy it is to get addicted to crafting! Shop at Connie's Craft Closet
Here's Another One of My Floral Designs... It's a Miniature Lamp in a Chicken Theme
Cemetery Arrangement
There is comfort in the time spent creating your own special designs as a lasting token of your love. The time spent arranging the favorite flowers of a loved one is time spent dwelling on precious memories. Time well spent, ending with a beautiful arrangement at the end of the day.
Cemetery Spikes (pk/12)
Plastic cemetery spikes make ideal holders for both fresh and artificial flower arrangements. Available in green and white. 10". Pack of 12.
Cemetery Spikes (pk/12)
When You're Ready to Craft a Themed Birthday Party....
Stop by and check out my theme party planning lenses!-
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How To Paint a Birthday Banner on a Window...
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Those were some of the sweetest words to my ears when my daughter was younger! When it was time for her birthday, or time to decorate her room, I would paint her favorite cartoons on everything! From furniture to clothes, to plaques and shelves to ha...
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Dear Princess...Your Birthday Cometh! It's Time to Plan YOUR Royal Celebration!
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Hello, Princess! Welcome to my consultation room! I'm very glad you're here, and am so excited to help you plan your most spectacular birthday party....yet! We'll prepare your guest list, plan your menu, decide on some games and activities....we'll e...
If You Would Like to Learn More About Squidoo, and How to Use It to Express YOUR Creativity....
Stop by my Squid Angel lens to learn more about the why's, wherefores, and how-to's at Squidoo!-
Squid Angel Overview of How To Squidoo
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It's time to fly! Yes, it's true....the founding class of Squid Angel's has flown away home to hang up our Squid Angel wings. The baton has been passed to the next class of Angels who will be seeking to discover the best lenses in every category at S...
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Are you as impressed with Squidoo as I have been?If so, I invite you to join me...just follow the link to accept my personal invitation to become the newest member of the community at Squidoo.
You'll enjoy the camaraderie of some of the finest lensmasters in the world, and you'll make money while you promote your business, your ministry, your non-profit agency...or even your SELF!
It's a simple registration process, then you're on your way! I'm only an email away if you need any help along the way...don't hesitate to ask. After all, that's what being a Squid Angel is all about!
Once you get registered, just take a look at my lenses and join some of my groups... I'll be happy to have you as part of my Squidoo family!
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Please Sign My Guestbook!
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OhMe
This is a very beautiful and informative lens. I really enjoyed reading it. 5* fav Posted October 04, 2008 |
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2knights
Hey, Connie I just love your crafts. You explain each step and of course the photos are great. Very Inspiring-thankyou. Posted September 01, 2008 |
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Jimmie
Super clear tutorial! Posted July 16, 2008 |
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Gandree
Connie, What a fun lens. It's always fun to learn a new skill :0) Posted June 04, 2008 |
Very helpful article! I used the swag instructions to help create a head table centerpiece for my wedding. =)
Posted May 19, 2008
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jzorro
Very nice lens! Thanks for sharing this information with us! Posted May 16, 2008 |
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Rolas
5! Nice lens. Added to favourites! Posted April 29, 2008 |
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Winter52
I bet you have one gorgeous house with not a bare wall in sight! Posted April 11, 2008 |
Inspiring examples!
I will come back more and more for tips
Thanks
Posted February 15, 2008
Wow this is so helpful, thank you so much for the step by step instructions. I've only done one flower arrangement in my life and it was very basic and simple. This will be my second try at it and I can't wait to get started! I'm gonna have to tell my sister about this website, thank you so much and God bless you!
Posted February 14, 2008
