Wire Ring Ribbon Floral Bouquet

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Wire ring, 12" diameter
• Floral stems:
• Hydrangea, 1 stem (5 flower heads) for two rings
• Small flowers, 2-3 stems for two rings
• Greenery, variety of texture and colors
• Ribbon, coordinate color with floral, 14 @ 80" long, assorted widths - 3/8"- 1 1/2" wide
• Floral wire, 26 gauge
• Floral tape
• Wire cutters
• Hot glue & gun

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut stems into individual flowers with stems long. Build floral spray on top of ring without connecting to ring. Overlap the centers of the stems of the largest flowers, bending stems to contour ring. Loosely spiral wire around stems to keep in place.
2. Keep layering other floral stems on top of large floral stems, weaving stems through spiral wire. Adjust flowers to point up and out. This bouquet will fill approximately 1/3 - 1/2 of lower portion of ring.
3. Add short greenery behind and between flower heads. Spiral wire where necessary to keep stems together. Cut off any leaves that interfere with stem groupings or may be buried. Reserve individual leaves for final step.
4. Flip the floral spray. On the back, add at least two 12" lengths of wire evenly spaced around the bundle of stems. Twist well to secure. These wires will attach the spray to the ring after ribbons are secured to ring.
5. Add hot glue in between the floral stems and the spirals of wire to further secure the floral spray. Use cut off leaves to cover all exposed wire spirals. Floral tape may also be used to conceal any unsightly wires. Hold up ring and floral. Some greenery may drape lower than floral and extend beyond top of the bulk of the floral. Set aside.
6. Cut 80" lengths of ribbon. Fold piece of ribbon in half. Place ribbon loop on ring. Pull tail ends of ribbon through loop. Repeat for 14 lengths total. Slide all ribbon loops to cover the joint of the ring.
7. Lay ring on a flat surface and straighten out ribbons. Measure 36" down from ring on both side ribbons and trim the ends of ribbon at an angle. Lay a book or similar heavy, flat item on top of the ribbons. Trim the remaining ribbons to match the length of the outer lengths, creating a straight line.
8. Attach the floral to the ring using the back wires. Place the wires between ribbon loops. Twist the wires around the ring, fold over and bury the sharp ends of wire into the floral stems.
9. Adjust and fluff the arrangement.

JOANN HACKS:

• An iron may be needed to press any ribbon that was folded when packaged.