Luvstoplant, floral arrangements

Dramaqueen · November 6th, 2009, 03:44 PM

Hello dear

Can you give me some advice on how to make floral arrangements using pine branches, willow, juiper then decorating it with some christmas stuff and berries and some artificial Pointsettas etc? Its for a grave, thanks

I bought some dried things for the arrangement including pine cones and some funky tropical things as well as lotus and little wooden apples etc. I also bought the sponge foam that will keep the greenery alive longer. thanks

springfever · November 6th, 2009, 07:44 PM

Make sure you soak the floral foam in water until it is completely soaked thru. I usually soak it over night. A good thing to cover the foam with is dried moss.
Then just start putting the different things in as you like. Make sure to attach anything with floral wire so it doesn't fall off in wind. You might consider a central object that is embedded really deeply in the foam and anchored with wire.Then arrange the other objects around it and wire it to it, perhaps a really pretty limb or a cross etc. A basket is a good thing to make an arrangement in as you can wire the foam in so it doesn't wiggle or fall out.

Butterflylover · November 7th, 2009, 12:19 AM

spray glue and glitter

LuvsToPlant · November 7th, 2009, 06:53 AM

Funny you should ask...
I just started the containers today for outdoor use.
I use any container with depth and fill it with a heavy grow mix for outdoor use.
(you can use rocks in the bottom if lightweight soil)
I only use the foam for indoor arrangements but if you choose to use foam
just weight down the bottom of your container.
For outdoor use ...make sure it has drainage.

Don't worry about the greenery, pine brush, juniper it will stay green for a long time
without water....I make mixed wreaths with this material.

Begin in the center and add maybe your willow branches for height.
Next add to the sides and in front of the willow the next highest material
Then fill in with your shorter stuff for a filler, a tuck here and there throughout.
Add your cones and other decorations with wire attaching as you see fit.
Just dont over do it...
Colorful items I always work in with odd numbers...1, 3,5, etc
it's more eye apppealing.
You can add a bow ...attached with wire to a stick and add to the front if you wish.
Just push the stick down into the soil, as you did with the branches.
Tip...if the branches of any material is to nimbley, just wire to a stonger stick.

I wll try and get a pic of somethings done today...
I'm doing a 50 foot length container Monday

That will be fun....

You will do fine!

Dramaqueen · November 8th, 2009, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuvsToPlant

Funny you should ask...
I just started the containers today for outdoor use.
I use any container with depth and fill it with a heavy grow mix for outdoor use.
(you can use rocks in the bottom if lightweight soil)
I only use the foam for indoor arrangements but if you choose to use foam
just weight down the bottom of your container.
For outdoor use ...make sure it has drainage.

Don't worry about the greenery, pine brush, juniper it will stay green for a long time
without water....I make mixed wreaths with this material.

Begin in the center and add maybe your willow branches for height.
Next add to the sides and in front of the willow the next highest material
Then fill in with your shorter stuff for a filler, a tuck here and there throughout.
Add your cones and other decorations with wire attaching as you see fit.
Just dont over do it...
Colorful items I always work in with odd numbers...1, 3,5, etc
it's more eye apppealing.
You can add a bow ...attached with wire to a stick and add to the front if you wish.
Just push the stick down into the soil, as you did with the branches.
Tip...if the branches of any material is to nimbley, just wire to a stonger stick.

I wll try and get a pic of somethings done today...
I'm doing a 50 foot length container Monday

That will be fun....

You will do fine!

WOW, I would love to see your photo today, my head is hard, I am visual and I have to see something before I can do it so a pic will help me greatly. the container I am using is heavy stone flatish round, will this not work? It had marigolds during summer. It is 7inches tall by 14 inches wide and very heavy with a hole at the bottom. So this will be the round arrangement. I also wanted to do a little wooden cross, but now you said greenery will last a long time. Can I nail the greenery on a wooden little cross to stand near the headstone? Since this cross will be two by foud timber 2 inches by four inch timber?

What I had in mind and have bought for the centerpiece is a golden metal sparling christmas tree since my theme will be gold and red with some browns? Do you think this will look good? With the size of bown i am using do you think the arrangment will be double its size?

Luvs, if this big thing you are making what they call a grave blanket?

Dramaqueen · November 8th, 2009, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Butterflylover

spray glue and glitter

glue spray? I have never seen glue spary

Dramaqueen · November 8th, 2009, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by springfever

Make sure you soak the floral foam in water until it is completely soaked thru. I usually soak it over night. A good thing to cover the foam with is dried moss.
Then just start putting the different things in as you like. Make sure to attach anything with floral wire so it doesn't fall off in wind. You might consider a central object that is embedded really deeply in the foam and anchored with wire.Then arrange the other objects around it and wire it to it, perhaps a really pretty limb or a cross etc. A basket is a good thing to make an arrangement in as you can wire the foam in so it doesn't wiggle or fall out.

You know I am so dumb, I bought the long spikes of green floral wire but do I still need those long wooden sticks? Or can I use sticks from trees to make it look more natural?

I didnt see the wooden sticks at all.

Then i am so dingy I picked up a glue gun with jumbo sticks in it an dbought small glue sticks so I have to take them back. When should I put it onthe grave abouts? her grave still has a lot of marigolds going strong even tho we have had multiple freezes

Since I am using the form and didnt know I had to water it first that way, but since i am giong to use it as well as little stones do I fill the whole 14 inch round with foam or bits and pieces here and there?

LuvsToPlant · November 8th, 2009, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dramaqueen

WOW, I would love to see your photo today, my head is hard, I am visual and I have to see something before I can do it so a pic will help me greatly.

I also wanted to do a little wooden cross, but now you said greenery will last a long time. Can I nail the greenery on a wooden little cross to stand near the headstone?

What I had in mind and have bought for the centerpiece is a golden metal sparling christmas tree since my theme will be gold and red with some browns? Do you think this will look good? With the size of bown i am using do you think the arrangment will be double its size?

Luvs, if this big thing you are making what they call a grave blanket?

I will get pics tomorrow...have been to busy to get back to the shop over the weekend.

Your wooden cross... I will take a pic of the one I did.
Have you ever made a wreath?
I use wire and layer springs of evergreen boughs onto the "form".

Your center piece is hard to visulize for me to answer
but I bet you will do fine.

The 50 ft. container filled with evergreens is for a buisness outdoors near the entrance.
I fill it full of annuals in the spring and I change it ...for the winter months.
A grave blanket is usually a "spray" as they call it, that is approximately
3ft. x 6ft. that lays flat on a grave. It is made with evergreens and other decorations.

Below is a 36 inch wreath I made into a peace sign...I did a couple days ago
made with Balsam fir.
Hope it sells ...what do you all think?

Dramaqueen · November 8th, 2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuvsToPlant

I will get pics tomorrow...have been to busy to get back to the shop over the weekend.

Your wooden cross... I will take a pic of the one I did.
Have you ever made a wreath?
I use wire and layer springs of evergreen boughs onto the "form".

Your center piece is hard to visulize for me to answer
but I bet you will do fine.

The 50 ft. container filled with evergreens is for a buisness outdoors near the entrance.
I fill it full of annuals in the spring and I change it ...for the winter months.
A grave blanket is usually a "spray" as they call it, that is approximately
3ft. x 6ft. that lays flat on a grave. It is made with evergreens and other decorations.

Below is a 36 inch wreath I made into a peace sign...I did a couple days ago
made with Balsam fir.
Hope it sells ...what do you all think?

Oh my, what a l ovely wreath. How big is it? I want it, can you send it to me now now now

i love it. It will sell and you will be in demand to make more

Ok, so the cross is one thing I will make and the arrangement is another. I have so many kinds of evergreens in my garden I dont have to buy a think excep the deco stuff which I have already bought. so you cut the sprigs of evergreens and then wire tie it to the cross?my cross may be two feet by 1.5 feet at the most, its just for a standing thing near the headstone. The big arragement will be more to the middle or the foot. I have time to wait for your photo as i wont be laying this until like Thanksgiving weekend if so early.

LuvsToPlant · November 9th, 2009, 07:01 PM

Ok ...1st pic is the Christmas container made for outdoor use.
Any container with drainage holes, filled with a soil mix, shredded bark mulch mixed with loam is what I use.
It is a mix of greens with branches of berries, pine cones and a bow.
Simple and sweet.

The second pic is a cross wreath, about 1.5 feet in length.
I layer tips of the branches (a little shorter than the length of my hand) a few at a time, and wrap with a wreath wire.
I start and each end and work to the center,
then I sart at the bottom and work up
To hide the wire in the center, you can add a small bow,
There is a way to hide the wire, but since you have never made one
a bow will be good.

One more important part...wrap the wire several time in the spot that you wish to start to secure, when ending the area wrap in a manner that will secure so it wont unravel.
Good luck!
Practice!

November 6th, 2009, 03:44 PM	#1
Dramaqueen Certified DramaQueen Join Date: May 2008 Location: Okie in Southern Germany USDA Zone: 7a Posts: 3,501	Luvstoplant, floral arrangements Hello dear Can you give me some advice on how to make floral arrangements using pine branches, willow, juiper then decorating it with some christmas stuff and berries and some artificial Pointsettas etc? Its for a grave, thanks I bought some dried things for the arrangement including pine cones and some funky tropical things as well as lotus and little wooden apples etc. I also bought the sponge foam that will keep the greenery alive longer. thanks

November 6th, 2009, 07:44 PM	#2
springfever missouri Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: missouri zone 6-7 Posts: 3,152	Re: Luvstoplant, floral arrangements Make sure you soak the floral foam in water until it is completely soaked thru. I usually soak it over night. A good thing to cover the foam with is dried moss. Then just start putting the different things in as you like. Make sure to attach anything with floral wire so it doesn't fall off in wind. You might consider a central object that is embedded really deeply in the foam and anchored with wire.Then arrange the other objects around it and wire it to it, perhaps a really pretty limb or a cross etc. A basket is a good thing to make an arrangement in as you can wire the foam in so it doesn't wiggle or fall out.

November 7th, 2009, 12:19 AM	#3
Butterflylover Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: northeast missouri Posts: 325	Re: Luvstoplant, floral arrangements spray glue and glitter __________________ GOD BLESS AMERICA

November 7th, 2009, 06:53 AM	#4
LuvsToPlant Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Maine USA USDA Zone: 5a Posts: 1,416	Re: Luvstoplant, floral arrangements Funny you should ask... I just started the containers today for outdoor use. I use any container with depth and fill it with a heavy grow mix for outdoor use. (you can use rocks in the bottom if lightweight soil) I only use the foam for indoor arrangements but if you choose to use foam just weight down the bottom of your container. For outdoor use ...make sure it has drainage. Don't worry about the greenery, pine brush, juniper it will stay green for a long time without water....I make mixed wreaths with this material. Begin in the center and add maybe your willow branches for height. Next add to the sides and in front of the willow the next highest material Then fill in with your shorter stuff for a filler, a tuck here and there throughout. Add your cones and other decorations with wire attaching as you see fit. Just dont over do it... Colorful items I always work in with odd numbers...1, 3,5, etc it's more eye apppealing. You can add a bow ...attached with wire to a stick and add to the front if you wish. Just push the stick down into the soil, as you did with the branches. Tip...if the branches of any material is to nimbley, just wire to a stonger stick. I wll try and get a pic of somethings done today... I'm doing a 50 foot length container Monday That will be fun.... You will do fine!