Photo from The Shakers Brief Eternity,” September 1989, National Geographic magazine
A Basic Dried
Flower Arrangement
Place
your vase on a lazy susan, this is something you will glad you have for
floral designing. Find them at art supply stores (sculpting section)
or look for one in a resale shop.
from Kristen at Kio Kreations
Use floral clay to affix your
vase or basket onto to the lazy susan - make sure you can turn it easily to view
your arrangement from all sides.
1. Wedge a piece of floral foam into your container. Establish the overall shape
of the design using line material such as dried or preserved grasses,dried or preserved lavender, dried wheat, straw, etc.. (See all the dried botanicals and fillers) Fill in the center with
maidenhair fern, caspia, gyp,flax, galax leaves or any dried foliage.(See all the preserved flowers and greenery)
2. Insert the larger focal flowers like hydrangeas or cockscomb first , then add
medium size flowers like dried and preserved roses, straw flowers. Space the flowers evenly throughout.
3. Add some additional line material like larkspur or delphinium to accent the
overall shape, and add extra fern to fill in any empty spaces. Use
dried flax for fullness.
Dried Floral Tree
Small trees made with real branches for the trunk
and a cone-shaped piece of dry foam for the tree are easy and charming.
Purchase some plaster of Paris (not pre-mixed), a container, some
moss and floral pins to secure the moss and small, dried flora for tree
decorations.
1. Line your container with slivers of floral foam. The plaster of Paris
expands as it sets. The foam acts as a cushion and keeps the pot from
cracking.
2. Mix enough plaster of Paris and water to fill the pot two thirds full. Make
sure the slivers of foam stay in place as you spoon the mixture into the
pot.
3.
Insert the trunk, making sure it rests on the bottom of the pot. Turn the
pot and adjust the trunk until it looks straight from all angles. Add
plaster to within 1" of the top of the pot.
4.
When the plaster is dry, push the foam cone onto the trunk, and cover it
with moss. Use floral pins to hold the moss in place.
5. Decorate the
tree by hot gluing dried flowers and leaves to the moss. Cover the top of
the plaster with glue and add moss and a few flowers.
Note: Really small
trees do not require anchoring in plaster. Wedge a piece of floral foam
snugly into the pot, and insert the trunk with the foam in place.
Photo from Ceremony Magazine
Blossoming Tree
Large-scale arrangements need not be difficult to make or expensive.
Gather several natural tree branches (or any suitable
branches), 8 to 10 stems of dried delphinium, preserved orchids, preserved rose heads and some floral foam, a pot and
some moss, and you have all the ingredients for a spectacular tree. The
container you select will determine the mood of the arrangement. Wooden
tubs, terra-cotta pots, fiberglass containers, Chinese ceramic pots, wicker
or vine baskets are all interesting possibilities.
1. Secure the
foam in the pot with hot glue.
2.
Insert the branches in the foam. When you have them where you want them, add
quick setting plaster to the pot covering the space around the foam and
around the branches. When the plaster dries, cover it with some moss.
3.
Use hot glue to attach tiny florets of dried hydrangea, orchids or rose heads to the branches.
Distribute them evenly throughout the tree and build up density gradually.
Glue the flowers where branches meet rather than along an open branch
Continue in Floral Design Instruction with More dried flower arranging projects including a wreath and swag
See more on drying flowers, arrangements and techniques below.
