Dear Flourgal,
I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but the tunes in Michael's say it's almost Christmastime! I'm getting ready for Black Friday and expect to be a gift wrapping queen bee next weekend. I'd like to make some gift baskets or something cute to add. Also, our company is going to be handing out small thank you presents (watches, paperweights, and candles) to our best clients. Can you tell me how I can add flowers to these things so that they won't die by the time they are delivered? Thanks Flourgal!
Yours truly,
Betty Homemaker, Scottsdale, AZ
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Dear Betty H,
I love DIY projects because they are cheap and fun! Especially with a cup of hot-cocoa or spiked cider and some friends around. Gift baskets are nice because they can be shared and can also appear bigger;) For your gift baskets you can do a few things:
-Make a small nosegay bouquet the day of by gathering up some wildflowers or buy a premade bouquet, remove any unsightly flowers, and cut the stems short (about 6 inches long). Tie together using a small clear hairband, or floral tape and the base of the flowers. Using raffia (bought at a craft store), leftover ribbon, or vintage hankerchiefs (bought cheap at thrift stores/vintage shops), make a bow, and place the small bouquet inside a small plastic cup of water, carefully snuggled inside the basket.
-Insert a (recycyled preferably) paper mache container. Take a small block of floral foam, soaked in water, and insert. Using any available flowers in coordinating colors of the basket (plums, greens, a dash of dark yellow, or sunset colors of orange, blush pinks, with some sage greens) cut the stems about 4-5 inches and insert into the foam creating a patter by checkering the flowers or making rows. You can stick to one flower too- all tulips look beautiful or peonies stuck closely together.
-You can sugar fruit with eggs whites, and raw sugar, letting them dry. Add some pinecones (unscented), small pumpkins, and pomegrantes with the sugared fruit.
-Dress up a bottle of wine, liquor, or champagne by draping beads around the top, add cut orchids in between, or beautiful satin ribbon tied up like a corset.
For the gift boxes, I would just insert a flower into the bow of whatever ribbon you use, the day that you give it. Orchids will last a while out of water, and you can get about 7-10 buds off one stem. Go for singapore or dendrobiam orchids, as they come in about 10 stems to a bunch- prices vary depending on location and region, from $10-$20/bunch wholesale. Stay away from costly cymbidiums or phaleonopsis if you're on a budget.
Hope this helps!
From,
Flourgal
