This week I got to make my first floral arrangement all by myself! This project is not as easy as just following the steps, it is important to have your own creativity and innovation behind it. Below is a How to: Make a floral arrangement.
Step 1: Get all the supplies:
1. Floral foam
2. Buckets
3. Water
4. Flower food (Floralife)
5. Floral clippers
6. A vase or box to put the arrangement in
7. Flowers & greenery
8. Scissors
Step 2: Unpack the floral foam and put it in a sink with water and floral food
Fill up a sink with water and a couple pumps for floral food. After you feel that the water is high enough, place the floral foam in the sink. DO NOT push down the floral foam into the sink to force the water in, instead let it sit above the water and let the water soak in naturally. If you force it down, the water will not fully reach the entirety of the foam. Leave the floral foam and let it soak.
Step 3: Process flowers
Take the flowers and greenery and process them. Refer to my How to: Process flowers and greenery blog post if you are not sure how to do this. When you buy the flowers/greenery make sure to have a color pallet in mind so the colors flow together!
Step 4: Start with greenery and make small piles of pre cut greenery to the size you want it
Take out the processed greenery and and start cutting it with floral cutters into piles so it is ready to stick into the floral foam.
Step 5: Take out a piece of floral foam and cut it to fit the shape of the vase your are putting it in
Take scissors and cut the floral foam into the shape of the vase you will be place the arrangement in.
Step 6: Start placing the greenery into the floral foam
Don't think too much about it and start sticking the greenery into the floral foam! Don't be too care free though, because once you put the flower or greenery into the floral foam you cannot move it because it leaves a big hole. You want to cover the entire floral foam with greenery so you cannot see any of the floral foam. Make sure that each peace of the greenery is not going in the same direction and some are taller/shorter than others to give the arrangement character.
Step 7: Place flowers into the arrangement
Similarly to the greenery, cut the flowers into piles so they are ready to put into the floral foam. When the piles are ready start placing them in! Keep in mind again to put them at different heights, different sides, and not too bunched together. Mrs. Emily says you always want a bee to be able to fly around each part of the arrangement so you can see everything and it doesn't look too crowded.
Step 8: Take a step back and look at the arrangement at all angles and make any changes
It is important to step away after you think you're done and look at your work from all angles and think as if you were the people seeing the arrangement. For example, if this arrangement is going on the table where the guests can see leveled to the arrangement and on top, you don't want any floral foam showing on the sides or on top. If you are not using the arrangement immediately after making it, stick it in the refrigerator to preserve it, and pull it out when you're ready!
Step 9: Show off your lovely arrangement!