Dried Centerpieces And Wreaths



Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008

by
Network Marketing Income

Do you love beautiful centerpieces that accent your home? Do you love to home garden and want to know what flowers and herbs would be best for making center pieces? Would you like to learn how to make centerpieces or wreaths that you can proudly display in your home or on your front door?

Below are some examples of how to turn your flower and herb garden into decor items for your home that are both easy and cost effective.

1. Twine-Bound Roses-Cut roses from your rose garden leaving the stems long. Tie together at base with a twine. Hang upside down until fully dried. Untie the twine before making centerpiece. Wedge florist's foam into pot, using small pieces to fill any gaps, glue in place. Starting at center and working out, gently push stems into foam until pot is full. Tie roses with twine. Glue moss over foam.

2. Sunflowers-Make the same as Twine-Bound Roses, substituting sunflowers.

3. Lavender and Salvia-Make the same as Twine-Bound Roses, substituting a mix of lavender and salvia for roses.

4. Sheaves of Wheat-Make the same as Twine-Bound Roses, substituting wheat or grasses for roses.

5. Orange and Pomegranate Wreath-Cover round wreath form with moss, glue in place with glue gun. Glue dried oranges and dried pomegranates in place, positioning as desired. Glue bay leaves between fruits to fill in gaps. Attach wire to back for hanging.

6. Herb Garden-For this great centerpiece you need a shallow box or flat of desired size, foam to fit box, metal fence to fit box, dried flowers and herbs. Some suggested flowers and herbs are sage, silvery artemisia, mint, blue salvia and lavender. Cut florist's foam to fit box, glue in place. Draw desired design onto foam. The design could be 4 equal squares or diamond in center with triangles on sides. Beginning at center, fill foam with herbs, following markings. Glue moss to cover exposed foam. Place fence around edge, securing to either foam or box.

7. Rose Pineapple-Secure dowel into ceramic or metal pot with pourable craft and florist's foam, such as Insta-Foam (available at craft stores). Either you can purchase a foam piece already shaped as an egg or you can cut the foam into egg shape. Glue plastic foam onto dowel. Glue dried miniature rosebuds onto egg shape, completely covering plastic foam. Glue cluster of bay leaves to top, forming pineapple-like crown.

Some basic tips:

1. Flowers may be purchased dried or you can dry them yourself. Use the same technique as explained above in Twine-Bound Roses. Make sure when drying flowers, you hang them in a cool, dry place until dry. Drying time will vary.
2. Moss-covered pots may be purchased at floral shops. Old pots may be aged outside and left to grow moss or sheet moss may be glued to pots.

3. Keep arrangements out of direct sunlight as flowers may fade and glue may melt. To store arrangements, loosely drape or wrap in tissue paper and leave in a cool, dry place.

One of the advantages of using dried arrangements in your home is that they will last a long time if displayed and cared for properly. They can fit wonderfully with any decor such as country, traditional or Victorian. The Rose-Pineapple arrangement would go well as a centerpiece for a dinner party. Whatever your decorating style, creating a centerpiece or a wreath with flowers and herbs can add an extra touch.

 
--La Donna Jensen, co-owner Aaron's Online Boutique, owner of Network Marketing Income, Internet entrepreneur, 20 years marketing and sales, author.
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