How to Make a Wrist Corsage With Carnations

A light red carnation says "I admire you."

A wrist corsage is a stylish alternative to flowers that must be pinned onto a woman's clothing. Low cut or strapless dress styles can make it difficult to secure a traditional corsage, and floral pins can damage delicate fabrics. Further, if the occasion calls for dancing, the wearer has to spend her evening worrying about the corsage being crushed. Whether you need flowers for a prom, a wedding or a special occasion such as Mother's Day, making a wrist corsage allows you to add your personal touch and may make the event more enjoyable for the person receiving the flowers.

Things You'll Need

• Floral preservative
• Bucket
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• 2-inch wide velvet ribbon
• Floral tape
• Floral glue

Instructions

1. Mix one packet of floral preservative with a quart of tepid water in a clean bucket.

2. Hold the stem of each carnation you want to use under the water in the bucket and cut each stem approximately 1 1/2 inches from the bottom of the flower. You may want to bundle several stems together for a large statement or use only one flower to make a simple, but elegant, corsage. Remove any foliage that might remain on the stems. Allow the cut carnations to float in the treated water for 3 to 24 hours.

3. Cut a piece of ribbon approximately 18 inches long. The ribbon should be long enough to wrap around the wearer's wrist and dangle 3 to 4 inches on each side. Find the center point of the ribbon and cut a small slit in it, just wide enough to slide the stems through.

4. Insert the carnations into the hole. Wind green floral tape around all of the stems. Use enough tape to make the stem bundle too thick to slide back out through the slit in the ribbon.

5. Apply a dab of floral glue to secure the stems to the ribbon. Allow the glue to dry, and tie the corsage around the wearer's wrist. Trim the loose ends of the ribbon if needed, and cut the ends on an angle for a finishing touch.

Tips & Warnings

• Use more than one type of carnation to create an interesting corsage. Spray carnations are delicate with several small flowers branching from a center stem. Large carnations are the type most people are familiar with; they have a single pom-pom-like blossom. Dwarf carnations develop many small blossoms on a single branch.

• If you are giving the wrist corsage as a gift or using them in a wedding, be aware that different colors of carnations symbolize different sentiments. In the language of flowers, a striped carnation means refusal or regret and a yellow one means disappointment and dejection. Choose a white carnation to declare your pure love or to wish someone good luck. Dark red carnations symbolize deep love and affection.

References

• Martha Stewart Weddings: Two-Minute Corsages
• FlowerShopDeals.com: Fresh Cut Carnations Care Guide
• Absolute Astronomy: Carnations