Different Homecoming Ideas With Mums

Homecoming mums are special and fun to wear.

A right of passage for many high school students, especially in the South, is receiving and wearing a homecoming mum from a special someone, to the big football game and the homecoming dance. Nowadays, homecoming mums are typically made using silk flowers rather than fresh ones, because they hold up better and take hot glue well, which allows more creativity when designing a homecoming mum corsage.

Bear

Because homecoming silk mums come in a selection of sizes, it is easy to create fun arrangements with them. To make a bear, visit the local craft store and purchase a large backing that measures at least 12 inches long by 5 inches wide. To make a bear, purchase two large mums that measure at least 6 inches in diameter. Purchase seven small mums that measure approximately 1 1/2 inches in diameter. With a hot glue gun, glue one large mum to the top half of the backing, this will be the bear's head. Glue the other large mum on the bottom half of the backing, this will be the bear's belly. Glue one small mum in the center of the large top mum for the bear's muzzle. Glue two small mums to the top of the top large mum; these will be the bear's ears. Glue two small mums on either side of where the two large mums meet to become the bear's arms. Glue the remaining mums to the bottom of the large bottom mum for the bear's legs. Glue large jiggle eyes in place on the large top mum. Use cutout pieces of pink felt as the center of the bear's ears; glue felt in place on the ear mums. Take black felt, cut out a black triangle for the bear's nose and glue in place. From black felt, cut out one oval and three circles to make the pads of the bear's paws for its arms and legs and glue in place. Add colorful ribbons and trinkets to the bottom of the backing to finish the mum design.

Picture Frame

Buy a large circular backing at the local craft store. Purchase enough 4-inch-diameter mums to create a mum frame. Glue mums around the circumference of the backing to make a mum frame. Using a laser printer and photo paper, print out a cute picture of the girl who will be wearing the mum and her special date. Cut the picture out in a circle that will fit in the center of the mum frame. Use school colors ribbons, charms and trinkets to complete the look.

Hearts and Flowers

Purchase three circular mum backings that measure at least 6 inches in diameter. With a hot glue gun, glue two of the backings on top of one to form a triangular shape, you will be creating a heart on this backing. Purchase three large white silk mums that measure between 6 and 12 inches in diameter. Purchase around 18 small 1 1/2-inch mums. Glue one large mum in the center of each of the circular backings. Using the small mums, glue them around the three large mums to create a frame for the three mums and to make a heart shape. Purchase small school colored flowers and glue them into the heart shape to add pops of color to the overall look of the mum corsage. Decorate with colored ribbons, bows and trinkets to finish the look.

Sash

Purchase 1 1/2 yards of a 3-inch-wide silk ribbon either in white, a favorite color or school colors. Create a sash, much like what would be worn by a pageant girl, and tack at the bottom to hold the sash in the correct position. Purchase enough medium-sized silk mums, measuring between 3 and 6 inches in diameter, to cover the entire sash. Using a glue gun or a needle and thread, attach the mums one at a time to the sash in rows until the entire sash is covered. Use school colored ribbons to make a variety of bows to glue into the sash. Add trinkets, charms, glitter and letters to personalize the look.

References

• Plush in a Rush: How to Make Mums
• Divine Kreationz: Homecoming Mums
• The Artful Crafters: Homecoming Mums