Ribbon Flower Arrangements

Steps:

1. Secure six black double-headed stamens using 3 inches of 32-gauge wire. Glue this wire to a 9-inch piece of 18-gauge wire.

2. Make six petals using 5 inches of 1-1/2-inch wide red wire-edge ribbon for each petal. Fold the ribbon in half. Begin stitching the gothic arch stitch pattern 1 inch down from the top fold.

3. When the stitch pattern is complete, turn the ribbon inside out and press flat. Gather across the bottom of the petal and pull tightly.

4. Stitch/glue the first petal to the stamen/stem.

5. Arrange two more petals evenly around the stamens and stitch/glue in place. This helps stabilize the stamens on the stem.

6. Glue the remaining three petals under the first row of petals so they peek out between the petals in the first row.

7. Cover the raw edges of the petals and the stem with lightly glued green bias-cut silk ribbon.

8. To make a tube stem cover: Using 8 inches of olive green bias-cut silk ribbon. Sew up the long side of the ribbon, turn right side out and then slip it over the stem and glue/stitch it as close to the base of the petals as possible.

9. To make the tulip leaf: Make a wide tulip leaf using 18 inches of olive green ombre ribbon and 10 inches of 22-gauge wire. Fold the ribbon in half and stitch the top of the ribbon (at the fold end) in a tall gothic arch stitch pattern. Start stitching 2 inches down from the fold.

10. Turn the ribbon right side out and press flat. Insert the wire into the cavity and secure with a dot of glue at the raw edge of the ribbon.

11. Fold the base of the ribbon on itself and secure with floral tape.