How to Make Silk Flower Swags
Silk flower swags are bundled arrangements of silk flowers, other artificial plants and/or dried plants including branches, ferns, fruit, pine cones or sticks. They provide a colorful, natural looking accent or top border above a wide variety of areas such as doorways, archways and windows in homes and businesses. Although often associated with a curved or sagged appearance, linear/horizontal silk flower swags also exist. Whether you like silk flower arrangements in your home or can't display real flowers for health or other reasons, with preparation and the right flower arrangement items you can easily make silk flower swags.
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Paper
- Pen
- Colored pencils
- Swag or plant images (optional)
- Graphic design software (optional)
- Silk flowers
- Silk branches and ferns
- Artificial fruit (optional)
- Pinecones (optional
- Sticks (optional)
- Wire
- Wire cutters
- Flower tape (optional)
- Scissors
- Handheld saw (optional)
- Glue gun
- Ribbon (optional)
- Rhinestones (optional)
- Artificial water kit (optional)
- Eyedropper (optional)
Instructions
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Preparation
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1
Decide on a swag style for above your area. Choose a linear swag shorter than the total width of the area, a swag equal to the width, a swag that hangs beyond the width/over the sides of the area or a curved swag in a short, equal, long or overhanging style. If you haven't decided, go to Steps 3 and 4. Then return to Step 2 before purchasing flower arrangement items.
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2
Measure the width above your area. Add or subtract length to the measurements based on the swag style. For curved swags, measure a linear width and then pull the tape upward adding length until you've created a curve to the size needed. This final measurement equals the length needed to design and make a linear swag and, when finished, bend it into a curved shape.
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3
Look at silk flower swags in stores or online for ideas and write down the names and colors of the flowers, other plants or accessories that you believe will look best in the area you've chosen for the swag.
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4
Sketch your swag design or upload images of the flowers, other plants or accessories into graphic design software, edit and position/layer the images to create a design.
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5
Purchase the craft items needed to complete your design.
Make a Swag
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6
Arrange your plants loosely to match your design. Redesign or refine your design during this step by adding or subtracting from the gathered items.
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7
Take apart and set aside the loosely gathered plants except for those making up the back---the largest background pieces (branches, sticks and/or ferns) on which you arrange the others. This layer may consist of one single artificial branch with leaves, two branches symmetrically placed opposite each other with the branch ends in the middle of the swag, sticks bundled parallel or crossed or a combination of these pieces.
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8
Tie these pieces with wire or flower tape. If your bottom layer includes flowers or ribbon that fan to the outer edges of your swag, layer/tie at the same time.
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9
Cut off excess wire, tape or branch pieces with your scissors, wire cutter and/or handheld saw.
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10
Position and tie your other layers to the background layer, gradually shortening each layer in width until you reach center. Use hot glue to add any pieces without stems.
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11
Add any additional accents, such as additional ribbon/bows or artificial water droplets. If adding artificial water droplets, use self-adhesive tiny clear rhinestones with dome-style tops---also known as "dew droplets"---or an artificial water kit and an eyedropper to apply droplets that dry clear in a resin-like form.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Never apply hot glue directly to silk flower petals as the heat can singe, burn or discolor the silk.
