SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
- Green leaves bush, 1
- Hydrangea dogwood amaranth bush, 2
- Berry bay leaves bush, green and white, 1
- Berry leaves bush, cream, 1
- Floral wire
- Wire cutters
- Hot glue
- Hot glue gun
- Ribbon, match floral color, 1 1/2", 4'- 5'
- Masking or painters tape, optional
- Vase, optional
DIRECTIONS:
- Cut the vine Green Leaves Bush into separate stems. This will be used to build the base of the hanging section of the bouquet. Start at the bottom of the hanging section. Lay one section of stems over the next to desired length. Reserve two sections for the upper bouquet. Tie and spiral 1' sections of floral wire around center stems. Twist one section of wire to the next to reduce loose ends of wire. Leave the top of the hanging section as a stem with no leaves. This stem will be added to the handle portion of the bouquet.
- Cut the berry & flower stems into individual stems keeping them as long as possible.
- Use a vase to position the floral and greenery desired for the upper portion of the bouquet. Trim lower leaves off stems and side cut any lumps on stems. Keep the bouquet close to the tail of the bouquet to make sure that the two parts will look good together. Position berry stems and flowers over the vine tail. Attach stems to the hanging section by inserting them into spiral wire sections and adding small amounts of hot glue. Position leaves to point forward as stems are added.
- Spiral wire around all the stems for the handle portion of the bouquet. Keep this spiral 2" away from the cut ends of the stems. Add the stem of the tail portion. Look in the mirror to adjust. Add or delete stems.
- Trim handle stems. Finish wiring the cut ends of stems together. Add a layer of tape over the cut ends then spiral around stems, covering the wire spiral.
- Hot glue individual leaves to the backs of the large floral. Add additional leaves to the back of the upper bouquet down to the handle. Use the remainder of leaves to cover all wires in tail. This will also help to secure the sections together.
- Cut a 6" section of ribbon. Fold ribbon over the cut ends of handle. Use hot glue to attach. Cut a 4'- 5' section of ribbon (this length may vary depending on the length of the handle). Hot glue one folded end on the handle. Spiral ribbon down the handle to cover all stems, wires and tape. Hot glue every other spiral and fold over at the end.
JOANN HACKS:
- Hold the bouquet sections and look in a mirror often during construction. Gravity will produce a different lay of floral.