Flower Arranging, Three Ways - Part 3

Welcome to the third and final installment of the floral design series.

This time I used a metal container (the seams had been sealed so it wouldn't leak) and fresh flower floral foam.

When buying the floral foam make sure you get the kind intended for fresh flowers. There is dry foam that looks similar but won't hold water. I started by cutting it to fit the container. You don't want to push it in because it will compress the foam too much and it won't hold water as well.

Next I filled a container with enough water so that it's deeper than the foam is tall and placed the foam on the surface.

Let it soak up the water by itself. If you push on the foam it will end up with dry pockets inside.

I placed inside the container, secured with waterproof floral tape, and filled with extra water.

I like to lay out all the flowers and see what I have to work with.

I started by adding greenery to the foam in a soft triangle shape with the tallest part in the back half of the container. Remember to cut the stems at angles and remove any leaves from the stem that will be inside the foam.

I happened to have some bear grass in this bunch of flowers so I added that after the main greenery.

Now, at this point I accidentally switched to auto pilot and completed the whole arrangement without taking any more step-by-step photos. Doh! So I apologize for the following few photos and hope you get the idea.

After the greenery I placed the bigger flowers that would be the main focus of the arrangement. The most visual weight should be at the bottom in the front, close to the rim of the container. From there the flowers should be spaced out in various directions, at varying heights, leading your eye to travel around the arrangement. The flowers can also be facing different directions; they don't all need to be facing the front.

Next I placed the tall linear flowers towards the top of the arrangement creating height, and a couple of Queen Anne's Lace to fill out the sides.

Side View

Finally I took the daisy mums (Chrysanthemums) and filled in the gaps all the way around, front and back. The arrangement doesn't need to be densely packed, but you do want to conceal the foam and tape.

And there you have it!

Back View

Part 1 - a simple arrangement in a low glass vase
Part 2 - arranging with a tall glass vase

------------------------------

I'll be linking up to the wonderful parties listed below!

Monday - Craft o Maniac Monday -- Pink Hippo Party -- Craft Catwalk -- Craftastic Monday -- Amaze Me Monday -- Polly Want 2 Party -- Making the World Cuter Monday -- Making Monday Marvelous -- Tuesday - Get Your Craft On -- Sew Cute Tuesday -- Tip Me Tuesday -- Take a Look Tuesday -- Show Me What Ya Got -- Tuesday Time Out -- Show and Tell at Blue Cricket -- Tutorial Tuesday -- Anti-Procrastination Tuesday -- Anything Related -- Wednesday - Seven Thrity Three -- Wallet-Friendly Wednesday -- Show Off Your Stuff -- Create and Share -- A Crafty Soiree -- Whatever Goes Wednesday -- We Did it Wednesday! -- Your Whims Wednesday -- Linkin’ with Lil’ Luna -- We Did it Wednesday -- Passionately Artistic -- Thursday - Strut your Stuff Thursday -- Transformation Thursday -- Thrilling Thursday -- House of Hepworths -- Chic and Crafty Thursday -- Friday - Remodelaholic Friday -- Flaunt it Friday -- Frugal Friday -- Weekend Wander -- Furniture Feature Friday -- Show and Share Day -- Fun with Food Friday -- It's Fun to Craft! -- Tickled Pink Fridays -- Weekend Wrap-up Party -- Catch as Catch Can -- Friday Flair -- Feature Yourself Friday -- Fantabulous Friday -- Simply Link {Party} -- No Rules Link Party -- Pity Party -- Saturday - Funky Junk's Saturday Nite Special -- Saturday is Crafty Day -- Let's Get Crafty Saturday -- Show and Tell Saturdays -- Saturday Spotlight -- Sunday - The DIY Showoff Project Parade -- Sunday Showcase Party -- Creative Bloggers Party -- I Heart Naptime -- Think Pink Sundays