Things You'll Need:
- Fresh flowers
- Wrap and wire
- Wire "snips" or tin shears
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Step 1
Buy the wire. You will need two grades of wire: One size in order to put together the main construction of the corsage, and a finer grade for the very delicate blossoms. Also, you will need the wrap that is used in wrapping the wire stems.
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Step 2
Choose two blossoms from your floral arrangement. For example, you might choose to make a corsage from gladiolus. The way you "snatch" your first two blossoms is by releasing them from the stalk using a downward motion. You should now have blossoms each with a stem of about 3/4 of an inch in length.
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Step 3
Choose two smaller blossoms, meaning blossoms that have not quite reached full bloom. Additionally, retrieve a bud just ready to open.
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Step 4
Pick up one of the larger blossoms and a 12-inch piece of the heavier grade wire.
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Step 5
Insert the wire straight through the flower just above the base of the blossom. Keep in mind, if your wire is too high it will tear the flower's petals, and if it is too low the blossom may break away from its stem; therefore, you may need to practice a couple of times. Just be careful where you place your wire: The ideal location is about 1/2 inch below the tops of the leaves that are found stretching up the base of the petals.
A sure way of knowing if you have properly placed your wire is to look inside your blossom. The wire should be just visible at the flower's bottom or the throat. -
Step 6
Push the wire through until it projects approximately 4 inches on the other side of the blossom. At this point the wire should be at a right angle to the stem.
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Step 7
Bend an 8-inch portion of your 12-inch wire down until it is touching and parallels the flower's stem.
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Step 8
Wind the short end (4 inches) carefully around the stem and the long end (8 inches) of the wire. Start your first turn high up and as near the base of the flower as possible. Twist two or three times in order to hold the blossom firm and steady. However, do not wind so tight that you "crush" the flower.
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Step 9
Pinch off any excess stem that shows below the 3 twists of wire.
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Step 10
Twist the short end of the wire around the long end until the short end is used up. Now the flower is completely wired.
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Step 11
Wire the other four blossoms in the same manner as you wired the first blossom. After you have completed wiring the other flowers, you will have 5 flowers ready to tape or wrap.
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Step 12
Unroll a piece of the tape or wrap, 2 or 3 feet in length. Next pick up one of your flowers and wrap the tape around the stem and the wire. You will want to start wrapping the wire as high as you possibly can go at the base of the flower. The tape will naturally stick to the stem and the wire as well as to the rest of the tape. Just be certain you do not let it get wet. The tape will not stick to anything if it is damp.
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Step 13
Continue wrapping the wire, overlapping the tape. When you reach the bottom portion of the stem, a convenient shortcut in wrapping is to hold the tape still in your less predominant hand and use your predominant hand to twirl the flower (gripping the wire securely at the bottom with your thumb and forefinger). You will find this method of "twirling" speeds up this portion of your task a great deal and is easier.
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Step 14
Tape the 4 other flowers in the same way as you wrapped your first flower. The mechanical part of the project is complete. The latter half will involve assembling and design.
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Step 1
Hold one of the half open buds with its head up. This will be the lowest point of your corsage. Remember the blossoms will be easier to manipulate when facing front.
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Step 2
Add one of the nearly open flower blossoms below and left of the bud. Bend your wire in a way so the blossom covers the left side.
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Step 3
Hold the 2 blossoms in position and twist the wire stems together. An alternative to this approach is to take the lighter weight wire and secure the stems in place by wrapping the lighter wire around the stems of the 2 flowers.
When putting the 2 flowers together make certain the 2 blossoms are far enough apart that they do not overlap, yet are close enough together so that there is no gap or space. -
Step 4
Add the second nearly-open blossom so the presentation is to your right just below the bud. Do not allow the left and right blossoms to form a straight line across your front. This will provide a presentation that looks to "staged" or artificial. You will have a better design if the 2 blossoms (left and right sides are slightly off-center in relation to one another.)
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Step 5
Twist the third stem around the other 2 flowers in your corsage or take the lighter weight wire and secure your flower in position just as you did with the other 2 blossoms.
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Step 6
Add the open blossoms, one to the left and one to the right. Twist stems or wrap with wire as you did in the previous step.
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Step 7
Wrap the entire assemblage for the utmost in neatness. Now your corsage is completely assembled.
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Step 8
Arrange the corsage. Turn the corsage so the bud faces down. This is the way you will wear it. Next cut off any extra wire with wire snips or tin shears and wrap tape over the exposed areas. Your wire ends will be pointing upwards.
Remove as much length from the wire ends without cutting off your entire "pinning" area.
Before you pin on the corsage, arrange it so that each blossom stands out at its most attractive angle. Do this by pushing and bending the wire stems in the direction which you think looks best.
