Project

Boosting Store-Bought Bouquets for Valentine's Day

Source: The Martha Stewart Show, Episode 6092

Introduction

Here's a dirty little Valentine's Day secret: You don't have to go to the florist for nice flower arrangements. And you don't have to include roses.

With a little elbow grease, even inexpensive flowers from the local supermarket or drugstore can turn into gift-worthy displays. Kevin Sharkey, executive editorial director of decorating, shares ideas for getting the most out of store-bought bouquets:

materials

For the filler:
Filler flora or fauna (lemon leaf, ferns, Hypercom berries, and seeded eucalyptus are options)

For the bouquet cuff:
Scissors

Craft paper

Edge punch

Ribbon

For the divvied up bouquet:
Scissors

Containers (such as fosted cylinder vessels, tea cups, mint julet vessels, or juice glasses)

For the corsage:
1 to 3 flowers

Scissors

Floral tape

Ribbon

Regular pins

Pearl-tip pin

steps

A little filler can go a long way toward creating an abundant arrangement. Lemon leaf adds beauty and a citrusy scent. Other wonderful filler options include ferns, Hypercom berries, and seeded eucalyptus.
For a more personalized look, try cutting the stems from your bouquet and adding a decorative paper cuff. Cut craft paper 28 inches by 6.5 inches, with a slight curve at top. Alternatively, cut a triangle 29 inches by 18 inches, curved at top to create a cone.
Punch along edge of paper to create a decorative border.
Wrap paper cuff or triangle cone around bouquet at the top. Wrap stems with ribbon and tie a bow.
Cut the stems from a single bouquet short and divide it into many little arrangements. These work great on a Valentine's Day dinner table. Frosted cylinder vessels work well, but you can also try tea cups, mint julep vessels, or juice glasses.
DIY corsages can be used to decorate a gift, and of course they make a great gift themselves for someone special to wear throughout the day. Cut flower stem(s) at an angle about 2 to 3 inches from flower.
Arrange blooms to desired place and hold together while wrapping the bottom of the stems with floral tape. Seal bottom tips with floral tape.
Wrap over the floral tape with ribbon starting at the bottom and work your way up. Seal with pins under flower.
Using a pearl-tip pin, attach to ribbon on a gift box or lapel or garment.