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Floral Mantel Runners

TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-907 -- More Projects »
Floral designer Ardith Beveridge demonstrates how to make both simple and elaborate mantel runners with flowers and other decorative items.

Initial Tips


  • A fireplace mantel may be decorated in a variety of ways. It can be very elaborate with flowers and other decorations, or a simpler look can be obtained with decorative garland or casually placed foliage.

  • A fresh mantel runner will dry in two to three weeks, but will last dried for another six to eight months.

  • You'll usually want to leave at least two to three inches of garland on either side of the mantel.

Materials:

decorative garland
assorted fresh or artificial flower products and foliage
heavy, black plastic trash bag or green polyfoil
floral pins
glue
assorted ribbons

Steps:


  1. Lay out the garland on a table and layer with decorations to see how it will look before completely assembling it on the mantel.

  2. Place fresh or artificial flowers throughout.

  3. Wrap stemmed artificial flowers around the runner to hold it together.
PHOTO

Figure A
  • Glue large blossomed flowers into the runner (figure A).

  • Line the mantel top with the plastic with a heavyweight, plastic bag if using fresh flowers or any fresh foliage.
    • PHOTO

    Figure B
    PHOTO

    Figure C
  • Place the runner on the mantel. Rather than tie the ribbon into the runner, try this trick: Cut a long strand of ribbon and loop it at various points throughout. Wrap wire around the loop and around a wood pick. The wood pick can be used to insert the ribbon onto the runner (figure B). You can now change out the color of the ribbon seasonally.

  • The look of your runner can be easily changed simply by replacing the flowers, adding ornaments or by adding dried fruit (figure C).
    • Resources
    Designing With Fresh Flowers
    This is one in a 12-volume series of videotapes.
    Floral Communications Group, Inc.
    13200 Lincoln St., N.E.
    Minneapolis, MN 55434
    Toll-free: 888-757-5776
    Website: www.floralcommunications.com
    Guests
    Ardith Beveridge
    Floral Designer and Teacher / Director, Koehler & Dramm
    Minneapolis, MN
    Phone: 612-362-3102
    E-mail: Abeveridge@koehlerdramm.com
    Website: www.koehlerdramm.com
    Also in this Episode
    TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-907
    •Favorites From the Field
    •Cute Snacks
    •Floral Mantel Runners
    •Tip of the Day
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