Dried Flower Wreaths and You

Passover is a Jewish and Samaritan holy day and festival commemorating the Exodus from Egypt and the liberation of the Israelites from slavery. It is also known as Festival of the Unleavened Bread. According to the Hebrew Bible, Passover begins on the 15th day of the month of Nisan, the first month of the Hebrew calendar. Since the Exodus of the Jews took place in spring, hence Passover is celebrated in Spring for seven to eight days.

This year, decorate your house with dried flower wreaths on the occasion of Passover.

Step 1: First of all get some foliage some 6-inch long enough like magnolia, oak, fern, cushion bush etc. They dry very soon. 

Step 2: cut the stems up to 6 inches from dried flowers like dried lavender, hydrangea, straw flowers p to 6 inches.

Step 3: Now make a wreath frame using a thin flexible wire. Or you can always opt for ready-made wreaths frames.

Step 4: Along the wreath frame attach a floral wire.

Step 5: Now, place the stems of the foliage together in a bunch with their ends facing same direction.

Step 6: Now you place the dried flowers on the top of the bundle of the foliage you have made in the previous step.

Step 7: On top of the frame where the floral wire is connected place this bundle on the top.

Step 8: Wrap the floral wire around the bundle, holding the bundle tightly in place.

Step 9: Now leave the wire attached to the frame. Keep another bundle of flowers and foliage in a way so that the leaves overlap with the first bunch and cover the cut end.

Step 10: Repeat the steps with each set of foliage and flowers wiring them to the frame tightly until you complete the circle.

Step 11: Now, lifting the first bundle, wire onto the frame and tuck the end under it.

Step 12: Knot the wire on the frame by twisting the wire tightly around the last bundle. If there is any remaining wire, then cut it using scissors.

Your Passover wreath is ready to adorn your house.

You will need the following materials:

Wire wreath frame or a coat hanger

Dried daisies

Fresh foliage

Ribbon

Wire cutters

Floral tape

Foliage

Before you begin your work visit your local craft store and purchase dried daisies. Any other dried spring flower like tulips and dahlias will also serve your purpose. You can also dry fresh daisies at home by keeping them in a mixture of borax and cornmeal. However freeze dried flowers are the best as they retain their color and softness. Choose the color and type of the daisies that you require in making a fresh spring wreath. The other colors like the color of the ribbon and other decorative items should match with the wreath form.

Purchase all the materials from any local craft store. Gather all the materials of the wreath on a table before you start your work.

Now decide on the frame of the wreath. You can either use wire wreath frame or coat hanger. Just bend the coat hanger to get the circular shape of the wreath. Leave the hook of the hanger that will help you hang the wreath anywhere you want.

Now wrap the wreath frame with floral wire. Start placing the daisies on the wreath. Before that take the foliage and place them on the frame of the wreath. As you place the leaves wrap them with floral wire. Make sure that the leaves should face the same direction. Cover the stems of the foliage with floral tape. Now start placing the daisies on the wreath.

Cut the stems of the daisies at an angle of 45 degree. Lay the daisies on the wreath. Place the daisies and wrap them with floral wire.

You can push the daisies if you are using a grapevine or straw wreath. Wrap the ends of the daisies with floral wire. Cut the ribbons and make bows and attach it on the wreath using glue or wire. Pack the wreath vey carefully and send it to the funeral service of the dear departed soul.

“Death

As a dark shadow

Beckons his prey

Into the unknown

By a soft whisper

In the soul”

                       Cindy Cheney

Since the birth of the earth, its denizens have always answered the call of death, willingly or unwillingly. Kings and paupers, saints and sinners have all bent their heads to the mighty call. The only truth of life always manages to baffle and stun us with it advent. Floral wreaths help us to comfort those who are left with an irreparable loss.

You will need the following materials:

Styrofoam wreath

Satin wired ribbon of different colors

Wire silk roses

Baby’s breath

Hot glue gun

Straight pins

Instructions:

Unroll each roll of ribbon before you begin your work Then add pin at one end of each ribbon to the same spot. Remember that the ribbon should be completely lying on top each other.

Now hold each ribbon and wrap it around the back of the wreath. You have to make an X with the help of the ribbons. Just criss-cross the ribbons and bring them back around.

Then again make an X with the ribbon on the front, wrap it and bring it back around. If you need to put pins in the back side of the wreath as it will save the wreath from slipping.

You must try to partly cover the ribbons all the way around the wreath. Wrap the ribbons in such a way that the Styrofoam is not visible. When you finish wrapping the wreath cut the left over ribbon at the end.

After cutting the ribbon you can also pin it. Pin it in such a way that the pin is not visible. When you are over with covering the wreath with ribbon, start decorating your wreath.

Decorate the top of the wreath using an amazing bow using both the ribbon colors. If you do not know the procedure of making a bow then you can take the help of a floral department worker of your local craft store.

“Destroying is a necessary function in life. Everything has its season and all things eventually lose their effectiveness and die”

Margaret J. Wheatley

Death not only destroys the effectiveness of things but also causes irreparable loss to the near and dear ones of the dead. Someone has very correctly said that death is more the affair of those left behind than the dead. Life suddenly loses its meaning for theme. We cannot bring back the departed from their world of eternal peace but can surely strive to console the bereaved family and friends. Condolence wreaths help to apply a soothing balm on the burning hearts.

Willow wreath base

Sheet moss

Artificial or dried red maple leaves

Sprigs of yellow and orange maple leaves.

Smaller yellow and green maple leaf sprigs

Small mum flowers (dark orange)

Artificial sunflowers (about 1 –1/2” diameter)

Dried roses, zinnia

Rice flowers, fern

1. Soak the sheet moss in warm water for a few minutes and take it out. Cut it into few wide strips and cover the wreath with them.

2. Deciding the correct placement for your flowers is very important for this wreath. Make sure that the position is quite pleasing. Use hot glue to attach some of the maple leaves in the lower semi-circle and the rest in the upper semi-circle of the wreath

2. Make 3 small bunches of the orange mum flowers and tie with raffia. Secure the bunches with florist wire and attach to the wreath at equal intervals.

3. Make 3 bunches of sunflowers and attach in similar manner.

4. Make 3-4 bunches of roses and zinnia and attach to the remaining blank spaces of the wreath.

5. Decorate the wreath tastefully with sprigs of rice flowers and fern and your wreath is ready.

Your labor of love will definitely touch the hearts of the grieving family

“While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil”

            John Taylor

John Taylor may be right but the consolation that others are rejoicing to meet him, who meant the world to us, provides little solace to our burning heart. It takes Herculean effort to come to terms with the loss, but life has to go on. We cannot bring back the dead but can strive to lessen their grief. Floral wreaths serve this purpose with dignity and appropriate grace. Try making this dried spring wreath to provide solace to grieving hearts.

Materials you will need:

Circular Styrofoam wreath

A large bunch of dried Anemones

Vines

Dried Aqapanthas

Dried gerberas

Ribbon

Strong glue

Scissors

You may follow the simple steps:

1.   Before starting, let’s make the necessary preparations to avoid unnecessary hassles. Clear your worktable of all mess and cover it with newspaper to protect it from scratches. Now, carefully cut some of the flowers and foliage to 6-8 inches in length. Remember dried flowers are quite brittle; therefore be very careful while cutting them. Cut the flower heads of the remaining Anemones and keep them aside.

2.   Soak your floral wreath base into water for some time and take it out. Take care not to over soak the wreath, as it will cause the arrangement to drip.

3.   Wrap the foam with the vines and attach them to the wreath with floral tape. Arrange the vines close to each other so that the foam is not visible at all.

4.   Tie the Anemones, Aqapanthas and gerberas into separate bunches with floral tape or twine. Dried flowers are a bit brittle, so do not tie the flowers too tightly or they may break. You may also mix the flowers in the same bunch. Wrap an ivory ribbon over the tape.

5.   Place each bunch of Anemones, Aqapanthas and gerberas alternately on the vine covered wreath base and tie them firmly with twine or florist wire. Snip off the excess wire and tuck the tail of the wire inside the vine.

6.   Insert or attach any decorative leaves or foliage in and around the bunches with hot glue or floral tape. This will make the wreath look fuller, professional and will also conceal the twines on the bunches.

7.   Now you may decorate the wreath with the flower heads. For this you may drive a long straight pin through a flower and pin it to the wreath. If you are using silk flower heads, apply some glue to the base of each flower head and attach it to the wreath.

8.   You may decorate the wreath further with little satin ribbons and bear grass. Though this wreath is basically made of dried flowers, you may also combine fresh flowers and twigs to give certain uniqueness to the wreath.

This condolence wreath of dried flowers will surely help the bereaved family to bear their loss with more fortitude.

“Death is the essential condition of life, not an evil”

                                                                                    Charlotte Perkins Gilmer

No mortal is unaware of this eternal truth, yet all wisdom dissolves in the fathomless sea of pain and loss when the merciless hand of Death snatches away a dear one from us. During these sorrowful moments of our life, a few words of sympathy, a comforting hand on our shoulder, surely help us to bear with the tragedy. You can complement your sympathy gestures with a dried flower wreath of a variety of colorful flowers.

Materials you will need:

Dried Birds – of - Paradise, cherry blossom, dahlia

Twig wreath base

Fresh flowers like daisies and roses

Preserved statice, fern, lavender

Spirea or yarrow

Sharp scissors

Hot glue and strong ordinary glue

Florist wire

Floral tape

You should remember that as time passes the color of the dried flower changes. The green color of the stems and leaves tend to change. The best and the long lasting colors of blue and gray don’t change and retain their color for a longer period of time.

At first decorate the twig wreath with a small quantity of spirea or yarrow. Next, make several bunches of the dried flowers and tie them with floral tape. Place each bunch on the wreath base and secure with floral tape. Arrange the rest of the bunches on the wreath in clockwise manner, keeping a 3 inch space between each bunch for the fresh flowers.

Make bunches of the fresh daisies and roses and place them in the spaces between the dried floral bunches. Remember that the stalks of all the bunches must face the centre hole of the wreath. Color combination of the flowers is also very important. Try to place a bright hued bunch with a lighter one.

After you have finished off with the dried and fresh flowers, its time to decorate the wreath with the preserved statice, fern and lavender. Insert them in between the bunches to add dollops of color and variety.

While using your dried flowers you should be careful in arranging them. Fine grasses or baby’s breath can be added. You can also add some dried herbs to make it more beautiful and fragrant.  

Camping is an outdoor amusing activity. The campers in camping get away from urban areas and go to far away places. They generally enjoy the beauty of nature and love to spend one or more nights that are usually famous as campsites. Camping may involve the use of tent, a primitive structure or sometimes no change at all. Camping as a recreational activity became popular in the early 20^th century. The campers love to visit places like national parks any publicly own natural areas.  Camping is an economical form of lodging for the campers. During camping the campers visit different places, perform sport events and have lot of fun. In camping we come across several such things those that are rarely seen. 

If you have just finished your camping and want to preserve your memories in an artistic way then why not try making a camping wreath. Spring is the best time to organize for a camping. For making a camping wreath you will require the following materials:

• Grapevine wreath base
• Floral wire
• Floral green tape
• Dried wild flowers
• Pictures of camping
• Ribbon
• Wreath hanger

During the time of camping you must have surely collected some wild flowers that are hardly available elsewhere. When you come back from camping you would like to preserve those priceless memories. So before you start making your wreath it is better to dry the wild flowers. You can follow any process for drying the wild flowers.

After the flowers are totally dried it’s time to arrange the wreath base. As you determine to use grapevine wreath base for making the camping wreath start preparing the wreath. Cover the entire wreath base with floral wire. Wrap the floral wire around the wreath base. Tie a knot when the two ends of the wire meet.

To conceal the floral wire in the wreath base it will look better to wrap the floral green tape around the wreath base. Remember to overlap the edges of the green tape so that the wire is not visible from any side. At the end of the wreath tie a knot to secure the green tape.

Now take the pictures that you like the best during your camping. But before placing the pictures you should place the dried wild flowers. Place the dried wild flowers in the wreath with wire or hot glue. Press the flowers so that they do not fall of the wreath base. Remember to leave gaps in between the flowers.

Apply glue at the back of the pictures and attach them in the gaps that are left. The picture that you feel is the best place it in the center of the wreath. At last make a large bow and attach it at the top of the wreath. At the back topside of the wreath attach the wreath hanger.

Now hang the wreath in your room to cherish the memories of your camping.

Some Christians keep Saturday as a day of Sabbath rest and worship while others keep Sunday. A Sabbath is generally a weekly day of rest or times of worship that people observe in any of several faiths. The word Sabbath is a Hebrew origin “Shabbat” that means “to cease” which was first used in the biblical account of the seventh day of the creation. The Christians keep the Sabbath as a blessing and their favorite day of the week.

If you want to make a dried Sabbath day wreath then you need to collect the following materials:

• Straw wreath frame or coat hanger
• Dried tulips
• Dried foliage
• Florist wire
• Floral tape
• Hot glue
• Wire cutters
• Artificial berries
• Satin ribbon

Gather a bag full of foliage at a length of 6” from the garden. Some suggested foliage is magnolia, asparagus fern, and bay laurel. These foliage dries soon. Sniff off the stems of the dried flowers so that you can have 6” long as it will be easy to work.

Make use of dried tulips in the Sabbath day wreath. Use straw wreath frame or make your own from the coat hanger. Wrap the wreath frame with floral wire. Cover the entire wreath frame to secure the straw wreath. Tie a knot at the end of the floral wire. Now choose the various stems of foliage and place them jointly in a bunch.

Remember to place the foliage in the similar direction. Place the dried flowers on the top of the bundle of foliage. Set the bundle on the top of the frame and connect them with the floral wire. Grip the bundle with one hand and wrap the floral wire around the bundle and the frame.

After placing the dried tulips and dried foliage its time to place the artificial berries in the wreath frame. Set the berries anywhere in the wreath. Make the wreath look pretty. 

Wrap the floral wire twice to secure the materials in the wreath frame. Attach the wire to the frame. Gather one more bundle of foliage and dried flowers and overlap it with the first bunch. Ensure that the stems of both the bunches face the same direction.

Carry on overlapping the dried foliage and dried flowers until you cover the entire wreath frame. Raise the first bundle and attach it with the second bundle with floral wire. Cut the excess wire with wire cutters.  

Now hang the dried Sabbath day wreath in the front door. Apply hair spray on the dried tulips to keep them in a good state.

So you have successfully made the dried Sabbath wreath to hang on your front door.

Arbor day is a holiday in which every body encourages to plant and care for trees. Arbor day first took place on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska. Arbor day offers an opportunity of fostering the love of natural beauty. It is to create awareness in public upgrading as well as instructing knowledge about the value of trees. It also provides a practical training in planting trees.

On this Arbor Day let us try making an evergreen wreath. For that you will require the following materials:

• Coat hanger
• Heavy gauge wire
• Craft wire
• Pinecones
• Dried cranberries
• Ribbons
• Fresh spruce

As you begin crafting the evergreen wreath for Arbor Day at first keep fresh spruce in the water for sometime. Let them soak the water totally for about 24 to 48 hours so that they turn out to be the suppler adequate to work with.

Take the coat hanger and bent it to get the circular shape of the wreath frame. Cover the wreath frame with floral wire to secure the wreath frame. Then cut three or four 10 to 12” sprigs from the branches.

Make use of reel wire to tie them together. Wrap the branches with the wire two to three times firmly around the cut end. Wrap the entire circle with spool wire to secure the branches.

Cover it around the branch bundle that you have made, keep the wire uncut. Attach it in place on the wreath frame. Repeat the similar procedure with the same size bundles of sprigs.

Place the bundles close to each other. Remember not to keep any gaps in between the bundles, as it will make your wreath look condense. See that the bundles as tight enough. Wrap the wire around the pinecones if you want to add some of it.

Attach them to the wreath frame either using floral wire or with hot glue gun. Make sure that the wreaths are fair. After that you can also add the dried cranberries against the pinecone branches. Secure the dried cranberries with floral wire.

Now attach the fresh spruce in the wreath base and secure them with floral wire. After placing the fresh spruce its time to decorate your wreath.  For decorating the wreath make a large bow at the top of the wreath. At the center of the wreath attach a sticker with the words written “happy arbor day”.

Felicitation is an expression of pleasure at the success or good fortune of another person. It is a way to express our gratitude for our friends on achieving success. Let us try making a felicitation wreath with precious memories. For that the following supplies are required:

• Grapevine wreath base
• Floral wire
• Floral tape
• Artificial flowers
• Artificial berries
• Scissors
• Glue
• Wire cutters
• Colorful curly ribbon

To start making the wreath first decide on what photographs you are going to put on the wreath. Select only those photographs that carry the memories of your friend. Select such photograph where you find your friend enjoying and which are his favorite. The selection of photographs is totally on your choice.

Now start making the wreath. Take the grapevine wreath base and wrap the entire wreath with floral wire. Hold one end of the floral wire with one hand and start wrapping the wire around the wreath. Tie a knot when both the ends of the wire meet. Use wire cutter to cut the excess floral wire.

Now place the artificial flowers in the wreath base remember to leave gaps in between. When you start placing the artificial flowers wrap them with floral wire. Repeat the same procedure and cover the entire wreath base with flowers but leave the gaps as they are. Cover the floral wire with floral tape so that the tape is not noticeable.

Now take the photographs and start placing them on the wreath base. It would look touching if you place your friends best photograph at the center of the wreath. Use glue to attach the photograph in the wreath. Then place any photograph the way you like in between the intervals.

Apply glue at the back of the photographs and attach them to the wreath. Place the pictures randomly to make it look special. After placing the pictures attach the artificial berries in the wreath. Do not make the wreath look heavy with too many arrangements.

To make your wreath look eye-catching attach the colorful curly ribbons. You can even make small bows with the curly ribbons and attach them with each picture.

Fantastic!!! You have made such a wonderful wreath. Now hang it so that when your friends room so that he or she can notice it. The wreath will help your friend treasure those memories in his life.