How to Make a Retro Candy Bouquet

You may not be able to find it at the local candy store any longer, but the candy you enjoyed as a child is widely available on the Internet. Use the sweets to make a bouquet filled with retro candy. The bouquet can serve as a centerpiece for a party, or you can send one to a friend and share sweet memories.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Candy
• Styrofoam or floral foam block
• Shred
• Wire
• Pliers
• Florist tape
• Lollipop sticks
• Tape
• Mylar sprays
• Toothpick
• Bow

1. Locate retro candy you'd like to use online. Type in "retro candy" or "nostalgic candy" in the search box on your Internet browser for sites that sell the stuff, such as Candycrate or Sweet Nostalgia (see Resources below). You'll find many choices including wax bottles, bottlecaps, Bit o' Honey, Pixie Sticks, shoelaces and Chick-o-Stick.
2. Stand 8 to 12 boxes of Milk Duds, Good 'N Plenty or some other boxed candy vertically. Arrange them in a box shape with 2 to 3 boxes on each side. Glue one side of each box to a block of styrofoam or floral foam. Cover the top with colorful shred and then hot glue some hard candies to the top of the shred.
3. Attach candy bars and boxes to lollipop sticks with tape. For other types of candy, wrap wire around the base of each candy. Twist the ends of the wire with pliers. Wrap the wire with florist tape so that it doesn't show.
4. Insert the wires and sticks into the styrofoam base. Arrange them so that the back row is the highest and other rows are staggered. Add lollipops, wrapped rock candy sticks, and taffy suckers.
5. Stick a large swirl pop or smiley face lollipop toward the front of the arrangement. Attach Mylar sprays to lollipop sticks. Stick them in the base among the candy bars. Attach a large bow to a toothpick and insert in the front of the arrangement.