How to Make a Corsage for Beginners

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Things You'll Need

  • 3 to 5 roses

  • Stem stripper

  • Pruning shears

  • Thin gauge floral wire

  • Wire cutters

  • Floral tape

  • Baby's breath

  • Leather leaf fern

  • 1/2-inch ribbon

  • Scissors

  • Corsage pin

  • Damp paper towel

Even a beginner can make a corsage for a special occasion.

Corsages are small arrangements of flowers worn by women during special events such as weddings, dances and parties. Corsages can be worn on the wrist or on the shoulder depending upon how the corsage is made. A corsage consists of three to five boutonnieres held together with floral tape. Each boutonniere contains one large flower, a filler flower and a piece of greenery. A multiple loop floral bow is attached to the base of the corsage to accent the flowers.

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Step 1

Remove the leaves and thorns from the stems of five roses. Cut the stem of each rose to a length of 2 to 3 inches using a pair of pruning shears.

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Step 2

Cut five pieces of thin gauge floral wire, 5 to 6 inches in length, with a pair of wire cutters. Select one rose and one piece of wire. Stick one end of the wire through the center of the green base, also called the calyx, of the rose. Pull the wire halfway through the calyx.

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Step 3

Bend the two sides of the wire downward so that they are parallel to the stem of the rose. Wrap floral tape around the stem and wires to hide them from sight, beginning just above the top of the wire. Wire each of the remaining four roses in the same manner.

Step 4

Cut a a small sprig of baby's breath from the larger stem. Make sure the sprig has a 1-inch stem. Cut a piece of leather leaf fern that is just longer than the rose. Cut the fern so there is also a 1-inch stem.

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Step 5

Position the fern so that it is flat behind the rose. Add the baby's breath to one side of the rose toward the front. Pinch the stems together in one hand. Wrap floral tape around the stems of the fern, baby's breath and rose to secure them together. Repeat this with the remaining four roses.

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Step 6

Place three of the completed boutonnieres in a triangular grouping, with one boutonniere at the top and the other two side by side below. Pinch the three taped stems together in one hand. Wrap floral tape tightly around the three stems to secure them together.

Step 7

Add two more boutonnieres side by side to the bottom of the grouping. Pinch the stems together and wrap floral tape around the stems in the same manner as before. Bend the tip of the resulting corsage stem around your finger to curl it.

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Step 8

Cut a 22-inch piece of 1/2-inch ribbon with a pair of scissors. Starting 3 inches from one end of the ribbon, fold the ribbon back and forth to create four loops each 2 inches in length. You should end with a second 3-inch tail. Wrap a 6-inch piece of floral wire around the center of the loops. Twist the wire ends together at the back of the loops.

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Step 9

Wire the bow to the base of the corsage by wrapping the wire ends around the corsages stem. Trim any excess wire with wire cutters. Stick a corsage pin through the center of the stem of the corsage. Store your corsage on a damp paper towel in a refrigerator until needed.

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