How to Make Cheap Flower Arrangements

Gather your supplies. Look around your house for useful items such as ribbon, vases, silk flowers, greenery, tin cans, terra cotta flower pots, Styrofoam or baskets. Use your imagination for reusing household items.

Save the tin can from last night's dinner. Rinse the can thoroughly and peel away the paper label. Let the can dry completely. Paint the can a festive color to match your décor, or wrap the can in fabric. Secure with a rubber band near the top of the can. Allow extra fabric to drape over the edge or trim the fabric and hot glue it to the inside rim of the can. Or place two thick rubber bands around the center of the can and put asparagus stalks inside the bands.

Hide the rubber band and prepare the container. Raffia makes a good cover to hide bands. Or use a matching ribbon and tie on a bow to hide the rubber bands. Fill the can three-fourths full with fresh, cold water and a dab of household bleach, if using fresh flowers. The bleach keeps the water fresh longer.

Select flowers. Pick flowers from your garden, or choose silk flowers from the local craft store. Take apart an old flower arrangement and reuse the silk flowers and greenery. Check local stores for the best deal on fresh flowers. Use seasonal flowers or other inexpensive flowers, such as daisies, mums, tulips or carnations.

Arrange the flowers. Remove any thorns and leaves below the water level. Leaves rot in water, making the flowers wilt and causing the water to smell. Cut fresh flower stems at an angle, so as much water as possible is absorbed. Place flowers into the container and arrange so they are spaced evenly. Allow a few flowers to hang over the container's rim.