Inexpensive Floral Arrangements

Rose of a Thousand Petals

Materials:

large rose
smaller roses
scissors
22-gauge floral wire
green floral tape
hot-glue gun

Steps:

1. Cut the stem of a large rose down to about three inches, and remove any loose greenery from around the base.

2. Thread a piece of floral wire through the stem just under the petals, and bend the wire ends down so they parallel the stem. Repeat with another wire inserted at a right angle to the first wire so you have two sets of ends bent down along the stem.

3. Wrap the wire extensions, which become a lightweight stem, with green floral tape, starting under the flower and continuing down the length of the wire.

Materials:

gladioli
scissors and/or small knife
miniature rose
24-gauge floral wire
hot-glue gun
decorative leaves

Steps:

1. Cut off the stem of a gladiolus all the way up, just under the flower.

2. With a small knife, go into the center of the flower and remove the stamen.

3. Thread a piece floral wire through the base of a miniature rose and pull the ends of the wire straight down and together.

Materials:

five carnations
22-gauge floral wire
scissors

Steps:

1. To open a carnation, pinch the calyx (the base of the flower where the petals are joined together) and while holding the calyx, gently spread the petals (figure C). Continue with four more carnations.

2. To make a huge carnation, join the five blooms together, gathering them very tightly at their base. Wrap the flowers together with floral wire. Insert the flowers into a green plant or a spray of cut green foliage. Use five to six super flowers for a large arrangement.