Spring Floral Wedding Cake Hoop Stand

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Wall decor circle, 15"x 15", 1
• Woodline Works, 5" Plain box, 1
• Embroidery hoop, 23" Round, 1
• Rust-oleum - stain: antique white, polyurethane: matte
• Sandpaper, 150 grit, 1 sheet
• Chip brush, 1 1/2", 1
• Mineral spirits
• Wood screws: 3/4", ten; 1 1/4", four
• Bolt and nut: 3/4", one
• Wood: 1"x 2"x 1' pine
• Pliers, needle nose
• Tape measure
• Wood glue, optional
• Floral wire
• Wire cutters
• Utility knife or band saw, to cut cardboard circle
• Heavy cardboard, 18" circle
• White felt, 21" circle
• Loctite® spray adhesive
• X-Acto® knife
• E-6000® adhesive, clear
• Floral:
• Geranium leaves, vine, 2
• Berry leaves bush, cream, 1
• Hydrangea / dogwood / amaranth bush, 1
• Mini leaf hanging bush: 1 farm pink, 1 farm green
• Eucalyptus, flocked green, 1
• Hot glue
• Hot glue gun

DIRECTIONS:

1. Using pliers and a screwdriver, remove staples and jute from circle.
3. Cut 1"x 2" wood:
4. One @ 3 1/4" long, two @ 4 1/4" long (the size of the interior of the box, side to side)
5. The 3 1/4" wood will be applied to the solid hoop to resemble the wood on the larger hoop. These blocks of wood will be used to attach the hoops to the wood box.
7. Optional: lay the solid hoop on top of the 3 1/4" side block of wood, to one side, and trace the curve. Cut on the curve. This will allow the block to fit snug to the hoop.
8. Pre-drill and set two 3/4" screws from the inside of the hoop into the block of wood. Set aside.
10. The two 4 1/4" blocks of wood will be attached flush to the top inside of the box on either side. Pre-drill and set two 3/4" screws from the outside of the box into one 4 1/2" block. Repeat for the second, opposite side. This provides a means to attach the circle to the box.
12. Set the box in the center of the circle (approximately 5" in from the sides of the circle). The sides with the extra blocks of wood should run perpendicular to the spaces of planks on the circle. Lightly pencil the location.
14. Move the box to sit under the circle. Line up the edges of the box by looking through the gaps in the circle. Use a tape measure to center the side-to-side measurement. Pre-drill and set four 3/4" screws into the corners of the box. Center the screws into the 1"x 2" wood blocks, 1/2"- 3/4" from the sides of the box.
16. Stain the box with the circle attached and the hoops as per manufacturer's directions. Test the stain on the underside of the box first.
18. Tip the box on its side and hang the circle off the side of the work table. Place one of the blocks on a hoop on the side of the box. Move the block toward the circle so the sides of the hoop are snug to the circle. Pre-drill and set two 1 1/4" screws (one on either side of the block) into the box. Repeat for the second, opposite side. Make sure the wing nut is tight on the larger hoop prior to screwing the hoop to the box.
20. Set the box upright. Bring the tops of the two hoops together in the center. Use a piece of floral wire to hold together. Pre-drill and set a 3/4" bolt to hold the two hoops together. Optional: The two hoops may be wired together.
22. Apply a coat of Polyurethane as per manufacturer's directions.
23. After dry lightly sand smooth.
25. Cut an 18" circle from heavy cardboard. Cut a 21" circle or square from white felt. Apply a liberal amount of spray adhesive to one side of both the cardboard and felt. Immediately center glue side of felt to cardboard. Press flat. With scissors, cut the felt about 1 1/2" from the edge of the cardboard. Cut slits in the felt from the edge toward the cardboard every 2". Stay 1/8" away from the edge of the cardboard. Quickly press the felt to the back of the cardboard.
27. On the felt side of the cardboard, set the 5" wood box 6 1/2" from the sides of the cardboard circle. This should be centered. With a pencil, draw around the box on the felt. With an X-Acto® knife, cut and remove the 5" square of felt. Apply a bead of E-6000® adhesive within 1/4" of the edge of the cardboard square. Set the base of the wood box in the square and apply some weight to the center of the wood circle until glue is dry.
29. Floral:
30. Geranium leaves:
31. Separate into individual vines. Start 2/3 of the way around hoop. Tightly spiral vine around hoop. Use 10" pieces of floral wire to attach vine to hoops as necessary, leaving ends out to connect other stems. Use wire sparingly. Repeat with all except one vine. The leaves from this vine will be used later. Stagger the starting point of the vines.
33. Lay a section of green Mini Leaf Hanging Bush along the front edge of the wood circle for the cake. Lay one section of the same in pink along the front edge of the felt circle. The ends of the stems should lay underneath the hoops. Hot glue the stems and random leaves to secure. Only apply small amounts of glue. The rest of the stems may be tucked between this greenery. Take more of the bush sections and dry fit throughout the vines on the hoops.
35. Cut the large leaves off the stems of flowers. Dry fit all the flowers into the vines and lay in approximate locations under the wood circle. Use the large leaves as fill and to help attach the stems. Use one large leaf to cover the 1"x 2" wood on the hoop. Apply glue to one area of a leaf and press under the front edge of the wood circle. This will hang and fill space.
37. Start at the end of the vines and hot glue to secure all stems. Trim and tuck all wires flat. Use individual leaves, from the one geranium vine that was not used at the start, to cover visible wires and hot glue spots.

JOANN HACKS:

• When applying floral take time to adjust leaves to face away from the hoop as they are set in place.
• Step back from the floral often to make sure that there is good balance in the greenery.