How to Make a Flower Garland Headdress
Making a floral garland headdress is simple with proper planning. Most problematic is choosing the right number of flowers, since the amount you'll need depends on the garland's size, the size of the flowers and how the flowers will be arranged. With a cutting garden, this won't be an issue. Otherwise, it's best to overestimate your needs. Use a tape measure to determine the garland's length, then bring the measure to the florist to compare against the blooms. Ask the florist for advice, but buy extra blooms. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Sturdy flowers, roses or carnations
- Floral preservative
- Coiled craft wire
- Wire cutters
- Floral tape
- Floral wire (optional)
- Ribbon
Instructions
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Prep the Flowers and Wire
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1
Strip leaves and thorns from each flower, leaving only a stem.
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2
Stand the cut flowers in preservative solution in a cool place for a few hours so that they stay strong as you work with them.
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3
Cut the craft wire long enough to fit around the wearer's head, plus about two inches extra.
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4
Bend one inch on one end of the wire into a hook and one inch on the other end into an eye. Make sure the form still fits the wearer's head.
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5
Wrap the wire with floral tape.
Make the Headdress
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6
Cut each stem to about a 1/2 to 1-1/2 inch, depending on the size of the flowers. Don't cut a stem until you are about to use it on the wire form.
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7
Place a flower against the form and tape its stem to the form. If you find the flower stem is too short for you to have good leverage or if the stem isn't sturdy enough, wire and tape the stem first, extending it with the wire if needed. To wire the stem, lay the floral wire against the stem, then wrap the stem and wire together with floral tape.
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8
Arrange the next flower by the first and tape its stem in place. Continue placing the flowers, overlapping them so that the top and sides of the form are covered and there are no bare patches.
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9
Tie ribbons to the form's ends, creating streamers or decorative bows so that the hook and eye don't show.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Store the garland for a short time in a cool place like a refrigerator if you have to wait a for the garland-wearing occasion to start. Apply a bit of hot glue to the wire to help the flower stay in place as you wrap and to give the garland an extra level of sturdiness.
