How to Keep and Use Dead Flower Arrangements

Stuff the bottom of a vase, jar or pot with floral foam to help keep your dried flower arrangement in place. Put the dried blossoms and greenery into the holder one stem at a time, turning the container so that you can see it from all sides to ensure the arrangement is evenly filled out.

Bundle together 8 to 10 dried flowers and secure them with a rubber band; snip the stems so that they're no more than 6 inches in length. Wrap and tie ribbons around the bundles to hide the rubber bands and hang the arrangements upside down in a window.

Use a hot-glue gun and glue sticks to attach dried flowers to a plain grapevine wreath. A loose twist of floral wire will hold the flowers in place temporarily while you figure out exactly where you want them. Insert the glue stick into the hot-glue gun according to the manufacturer's instructions. Wait until it heats up (usually 20 to 30 seconds). Use a pencil or chopstick to lift the dried flowers just enough so that pulling the trigger on the hot-glue gun releases a thin stream of melted glue underneath the flower. Use the pencil or chopstick to pat the flower down into the line of hot glue. Let it cool.

Wrap gifts in brown butcher paper and tie them with ribbon. Decorate the gift with dried flowers either by gluing the flowers to the wrapping paper or by tying them into the ribbons.

Store dead flower arrangements in tightly sealed plastic containers to keep out insects like museum beetles, roaches and silverfish. (Make sure you wash the containers thoroughly and let them dry completely before putting the flowers inside of them). Add naphthalene flakes to discourage the bugs.