How to Make a Table Centerpiece for a Political Event
Red, white and blue are patriotic colors and appropriate to adorn the table of a political event. Carnations are traditional American flowers used for many occasions because of their full blooms and capacity for staying fresh longer than most flowers. A centerpiece made from these flowers along with flags and ribbons in the same colors will lend a flare of patriotism to this event.
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Things You'll Need
- One dozen of each color red, white and blue carnations
- Oblong florist base for centerpiece
- Block of floral foam to fit the base
- Floral putty
- Box of straight pins
- One roll each of red, white and blue ribbon
- Three small handheld American flags (the size of a post card)
Instructions
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Putting Together a Patriotic Centerpiece
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Start with purchasing the materials you will need for the centerpiece. Carnations hold vivid colors when dyed and are inexpensive flowers to purchase. You will need an oblong base with enough depth to hold water and floral foam which can be purchased from a flower arranging shop. You will need the floral putty for securing the foam to the bottom of the dish. Call the florist a few days in advance and ask for a dozen of each red, white and blue carnations. This will give the florist time to dye the flowers for you.
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2
Pick up three small handheld American flags that are on sticks. The flags should be about the size of a postcard. Buy small rolls of red, white and blue ribbon and a box of straight pins at your local craft or fabric store. These will be used in the centerpiece.
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3
Put the floral foam in the bottom of the oval dish; secure it with some floral putty so it will not slide around. Cut the red, white and blue ribbon in 8-inch lengths. You will need about twelve pieces of ribbon of each color for this centerpiece. Next, alternating the colors, place the ribbons into the floral foam using a straight pin on one end of the ribbon. These ribbons will be pulled up and out through the floral arrangement once the flower is in place.
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4
Cut the flowers all the same length. Measure them by holding them up to the foam at different lengths before cutting them. Starting at the center of the floral foam, you will make a close-knit spiral out of the carnations by alternating the colors. Continue this until all three dozen flowers are set into the foam.
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Two of the American flags will be placed directly across from each other on either side of the arrangement, and the third one will be placed in the middle. Pull out the ribbons through the flowers so they hang down around the flowers. You can trim them if they are too long, but leave enough so that at least three inches of each ribbon piece protrude from the arrangement. Fill the base one quarter full of water to complete the centerpiece.
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Tips & Warnings
If the florist will not dye the flowers for you, purchase white three dozen white carnations and dye a dozen blue and a dozen red by leaving them in food coloring added to water overnight.
Make sure you like the length of the flowers before cutting. You can always go shorter, but you cannot go longer once they have been cut.
