Tools and Materials
Tulips, assorted
Large knife or clippers
Ribbon
Pins
4 vases
Water
Cut-flower food
Double-sided tape

Tulip Centerpiece How-To
1. Start by making a bouquet for each vase. Hold a strong flower or group of strong flowers in your first. With other hand, add flowers at a 45-degree angle. When the bouquet begins to feel heavy on one side, rotate it and add flowers to the other side. Support delicate flowers with sturdy ones. To cut stems, rest them on the edge of the counter and cut them with a large knife or clippers. Make a blunt cut on the ribbon; create a cuff in the edge, and stick a pin in it.

2. Hold stems in fist. Line up the top of the stems with the vase to gauge height. Cut with clippers to create a desired height (be sure that water and cut-flowers food are already in the vases).

3. Put the bouquets in the vases.

4. Trim stems short enough to be hidden by ribbon on vase. Place flowers in vase.

5. Create an impressive combination by arranging vases.

6. Position double-sided tape on the vases.

Other Tulip-Inspired Ideas
Tulip Seating Card
A flower as an icon enhances any party theme. You can letterpress it on an invitation, a program, or a place card. You can also scan it to your computer and copy it; use bright, unexpected colors, or engrave in silver to make it more formal.

Chocolate-Tulip Favor
Set the tone for your wedding with a tulip on your invitation, and send guests home with a chocolate reminder of the event. Use colored boxes to pack the chocolates; select colors according to the palette of your wedding.