Directions for Silk Flower Arrangements

Arranging silk flowers involves creating the same shapes as designing with natural flowers. The difference lies in employing techniques to increase the realistic effect of artificial materials. High-quality silk flowers mimic live flowers to an uncanny extent. Silk blooms provide an effective alternative to real flowers for hot weather floral arrangements and the homes of people sensitive to flower scents. With basic guidelines and the right equipment from a craft or floral store, even a first-timer can create a successful silk flower arrangement.

Marbles or sand---clear marbles work well for clear vases
Floral foam, or reuse Styrofoam from packaging
10- to 12-inch tall vase or other container for the arrangement
Knife to cut foam
Ruler or tape measure---optional
2 dozen medium-sized silk flowers such as roses, carnations or lilies
1 dozen stems of filler flowers, such as baby's breath
Wire cutters

Instructions

- 1
  Pour sand or carefully place marbles into the vase at least an inch deep.
- 2
  Cut a block of foam small enough to fit in the center of vase. Put the foam into the vase---it doesn't have to be a perfect fit. Add more marbles or sand to cover the sides of the foam. Stop adding the marbles or sand when it's level with the top of the foam. Leave the top of the foam exposed. The weight stabilizes the lightweight silk flower arrangement.
- 3
  Choose a shape for the arrangement. For example, a dome shape is a rounded floral arrangement that works well with all kinds of silk flowers.
- 4
  Cut six silk flower stems with wire cutters to 16 to 18 inches long; use longer stems for taller vases. Cut the rest of the silk flowers 14 to 15 inches long.
- 5
  Gently bend each silk flower stem to give the silk flowers a more natural appearance. Carefully pull some flowers more open than others, tilt some of the flower heads and clip off some of the leaves to make the silk flowers more irregular, like live flowers.
- 6
  Insert one of the longest silk flowers at the center of the vase. Push the stem at least 3 inches into the floral foam.
- 7
  Create a ring of five of the tallest medium-sized flowers around the center flower. Angle the stems so that the flower heads extend past the edge of the vase out toward the room at about a 30-degree angle.
- 8
  Add a ring of seven flowers around the first ring of five flowers, spacing them evenly. Add a circle of nine flowers toward the rim of the vase.
- 9
  Hold some filler flowers up to the arrangement at the same height as the medium-sized flowers. Cut the stems of the silk filler flowers with wire cutters so that they will be long enough to insert at least 3 inches of stem into the foam.
- 10
  Insert the silk filler flowers between the medium-sized flowers. For example, use silk baby's breath between silk red roses for a romantic dome bouquet. Stand back and look at the silk flower arrangement from all sides.
- 11
  Add medium-sized flowers to any bare spots. It isn't necessary for the arrangement to look exactly the same all the way around. Place the silk flower arrangement in a location away from direct sunlight.

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