DIY Rose Flower Bouquet
A rose flower bouquet is a classic choice for brides and always makes a special gift. Making your own bouquet is easy and you can accomplish it in an hour or less. Roses are available year-round, are long lasting and come in a variety of colors.
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Preparation
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To make a round, dome-shaped bouquet, about 8 inches in diameter, you'll need about 30 to 60 roses. This will create the classic look of a tightly packed wedding bouquet. As a less-expensive alternative, use fewer roses and pack them less tightly. Florists usually have the freshest roses, but they can be expensive. If you live near a wholesale flower market, ask if they sell to individuals. This way you'll get the freshest flowers at the lowest price.
Store the roses in a bucket, or sink, filled with water. Use a stem stripper, or your fingers, to remove the thorns, extra foliage and wilted petals. Using a stem cutter or knife, trim about 2 inches from the bottom of each stem, cutting at an angle. Place the flowers back in the water to let the freshly cut stems drink for a few seconds. Store the cut roses in a bucket, or sink, half full of cool water until you're ready to create your bouquet. If any of your blooms haven't opened, force them open by immersing the stems in hot water. It's best to do this just before you make the bouquet.
Assembly
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Arrange four blossoms in a square, while holding the stems together in one hand. This is the center of your dome. With your free hand, add more flowers, one by one, around the center. Create a dome shape by making each circle of flowers slightly lower than the next.
Bind the stems with a rubber band, or floral tape, about 3 to 4 inches below the flowers. Bind them again about 2 inches up from the bottoms of the stems.
Trim the stems evenly to about 7 to 8 inches. Use a paper towel to blot any excess water. At this point, you can tie a ribbon around the bouquet, or create a bridal-style ribbon-wrapped bouquet. For a wrapped bouquet, cut a length of ribbon about three times the length of the stems. Secure one end of the ribbon under the top rubber band, or tape. Begin wrapping the ribbon around the stems in a spiral pattern. Wrap down the length of the stems and back up again. At the top of the stems, trim the excess ribbon to 1 inch and tuck it under the top of the spiral. Secure the ribbon in place with a long straight pin, or corsage pin. If you wish, cut more ribbon to create a bow to tie around the stems.
Presentation
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If your bouquet is for a wedding, keep the stems immersed in water as long as possible before wrapping the stems with ribbon. If you are giving the bouquet as a gift, present it wrapped in a sheet of colorful tissue paper.
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