Engagement Rings Advice : Wedding, Marriage, Anniversary

A delightful alternative for the flower girl, a posy ball is easy to carry.

Constructed from fresh, artificial, or dried flowers, posy balls have a charm all their own. The size can be adjusted to suit the age of the flower girl.

Make the fresh flower posy ball up to 48 hours ahead, using resilient flowers such as miniature carnations. Or substitute artificial flowers and greens, following the same directions.

Start the twig ball at least two weeks before the wedding, allowing enough time for the flowers to dry completely.

Select the lace ball with silk roses for a very young flower girl. It is lightest in weight and can be jostled about with little concern for its durability.

Making a Flower Covered Posy Ball

You Will Need

• Styrofoam ball, 2in. to 4in. in diameter
• 20 to 50 fresh miniature carnations, or artificial flowers
• Fresh green leaves, or artificial greens
• 1yd. ribbon, 5/8in. wide
• 2/3yd. ribbon,1/4in. wide
• Flat-headed straight pins
• Hot glue gun

1. Cut two pieces of 5/8in. ribbon equal in length to circumference of Styrofoam ball plus 1in. make loop with one ribbon, overlapping ends 1/2in.; hot-glue. Glue loop to top of ball, and secure with two straight pins.
2. Wrap second ribbon around ball, crossing through top loop. Overlap ends at bottom of ball. Hot-glue ends together and to ball; secure with two straight pins.
3. Hot-glue fresh or artificial leaves flat to ball, covering surface.
4. Cut flower ends off stems, just below calyx. Starting next to ribbon, hot-glue flowers onto ball, overlapping slightly so ball doesn’t show. Cover half the ball. If using fresh carnations, hang ball by loop to finish other side, Glue flowers over area where top ribbon loop is attached. Omit step 5 if using artificial flowers.
5. Mist inside of plastic bag. Insert several toothpicks all around ball, between flowers. Insert ball into bag, and seal. Prop ball up by toothpicks to avoid flattening flowers. Store in refrigerator.
6. Before use, cut five lengths of 1/4in. ribbon, 3in. to 5in. long. Hot-glue ends to bottom of ball, and secure with straight pins.

Making a Twig Ball

You Will Need

• 6in. twig ball
• 8 to 12 fresh fragrant flowers potpourri oil
• 5yd. ribbon, 5/8in. wide
• 1yd. ribbon, 1/4in. wide, for streamers
• Small cluster artificial flowers and greens
• 24 gauge florist wire
• Hot glue gun

1. Start project two weeks before wedding. Cut off heads of fragrant flowers; insert through openings of ball. Gently shake and turn ball once a day to ensure proper drying of flowers.
2. Wrap 6in. length of wire around crossed twigs on top of ball, twist to secure leaving tails.
3. Cut four lengths of 5/8in. ribbon, equal in length to circumference of ball plus 1in. Wrap one ribbon around ball; twist wire tails around ends to secure. Repeat for two more ribbons, spacing them evenly. Trim ends of wire and ribbons. Secure intersections at top and bottom, using hot-glue.
4. Make loop with remaining ribbon, overlapping ends 1/2in.; hot-glue. Secure loop to top of ball, using wire. Glue cluster of artificial flowers and greens over joined area.
5. Cut three lengths of 1/4in. ribbon, 12in. long for streamers. Layer and fold in half. Slip fold loop under crossed ribbons at bottom of ball; insert loose ends at bottom of ball and pull snug. Trim streamer ends to various lengths. Add few drops of potpourri oil for fragrance, if desired.

Making a Lace Ball

You Will Need

• 3in. Styrofoam ball
• 3 1/2yd. pre-gathered lace, 1 1/4in. wide
• 2 1/4yd. satin ribbon, 1/8in. wide
• 12 silk roses, 1in. in diameter
• 6 sprays of lily of the valley with pearls
• 26 gauge craft wire
• Sharp, pointed metal nail file
• Hot glue gun

1. Roll end of lace into tight circle. Poke bound edge of lace circle 1/2in. deep into top of ball, using point of nail file.
2. Spiraling down around the ball, continue poking bound edge of lace into ball every 1/2in., leave enough slack in lace between pokes to allow binding to be flat on surface. Cover entire ball allowing 1/4in. space between rows.
3. Cut excess lace at bottom, leaving short tail. Roll tail into small circle, as in step 1; poke into ball.
4. Cut a 10in. piece of ribbon, form a loop and hot-glue ends to center of top of ball. Hot-glue two roses to base of loop.
5. Cut two pieces of ribbon, 11in., and 25in.long. Fold long piece into six loops, leaving 5in. tails. Center short ribbon over loops; secure at center with wire. Twist wire ends together and insert wire in center of circle at bottom of ball. Repeat for circle at top of ball, cutting short ribbon 9in. long.
6. Hot-glue one end of lily of the valley sprays to center of circle at bottom of ball. Hot-glue remaining roses into lace, evenly spacing them around ball.

A hand-trimmed flower basket will charm the flower girl and everyone watching her carrying it up the aisle.

Cover a basket in fabric to coordinate with the bridal party. Or, simply run ribbon through wide lace beading, and secure it to the basket edge. Baskets can be filled with fresh, dried, or artificial flower petals, potpourri, or confetti for the flower girl to strew down the aisle. As an alternative to a bouquet, the flower girl can carry a basket filled with a fresh flower arrangement. While adding an adorable touch to the ceremony, the basket is also a memorable keepsake for her.

Tip

If your flower girl will be sprinkling petals down the aisle, keep an extra bag of petals handy in case of accidental spills.

Covering a basket With Fabric

You Will Need

• Basket with flared rim and handle
• Fabric
• 1 to 2yd. each of two coordinating ribbons
• Polyester batting
• Hot-glue gun

1. Measure basket from inside base up over rim, down the side and across the bottom, up opposite side, and over rim to inside base. Cut fabric circle 2in. wider than this measurement.
2. Place basket upside down over tall bottle. Secure center of fabric circle to base, using hot glue. Wrap fabric down sides and over the rim.
3. Tie string tightly around basket. Pleat out fabric fullness evenly. Glue ribbon tightly around basket just below rim, turning under one end and overlapping the other.
4. Cut slit from fabric edge to handle base on each side. Turn basket over; work fabric around handles and pleat out fullness down into pocket… apply bead of hot glue around base of basket pocket; secure fabric.
5. Cut cardboard to fit loosely inside bottom of basket; cut matching piece of batting. Cut fabric 1in. larger than cardboard. Hot glue batting to cardboard.
6. Center cardboard, batting side down, over wrong side of fabric. Wrap fabric to back; glue in place. Secure padded cardboard to inside basket base, using hot glue.
7. Knot ribbon around one base of handle. Angle and wrap ribbon around handle to opposite base; knot and trim. Tie ribbon bow to each handle base, covering knots.

A circle of flowers and / or leaves that is often decorated with ribbons and bows. Wedding wreaths are generally used as a centerpiece of a decorated area, or are seen above doorways. A small wreath may also be worn by the bride atop her head, if she so wishes. It may also be referred to as a garland though there are differences.

You Will Need

• 20 gauge florist wire
• Floral tape
• Wire cutter
• 4 buttonhole loops
• Hot glue gun
• Silk floral branches with leaves
• Dried baby’s breath
• 8yd. satin ribbon, 1/4in. wide

1. Form a base as in steps 1 and 2 for making a wreath of fresh flowers.
2. Cut blossoms off floral branches, leaving 1in. or more stem. Cut leaf clusters into individual leaves, with no stem. Attach one leaf to each blossom stem by putting a dot of glue at base of leaf and wrapping base around stem .Wrap stem and leaf base with floral tape. Prepare about 15 blossoms.
3. Cut small pieces of baby’s breath, group together to form clusters, and wrap stems together with floral tape for 1in. Prepare about 30 clusters.
4. Cut about twenty 4in. lengths of ribbon. Bring ends together, wrap with floral tape for 1in., forming loop.
5. Tape flowers to base as in step 5 for making a wreath with fresh flowers. Alternate baby’s breath, blossom, baby’s breath, ribbon loop.
6. Cut and attach streamers. Fold 1 1/2yd. of ribbon into 10 loops, and secure middle of loops with wire; glue loops to base, over streamers. Cut blossoms just below base; glue over center of loops, hiding wire. Or in place of streamers and bow, hot glue veil to inside of center back.

Making a Cloud of Roses Wreath
You Will Need

• 20 gauge florist wire; wire cutter
• Floral tape
• 1/2 yd. illusion, 72in. wide
• 1/8yd. polyfleece
• 4 buttonhole loops
• 2yd. ribbon rose garland
• 2yd. satin ribbon, 1/16in. wide
• 2yd. satin ribbon 1/8in. wide
• Hot glue gun

1. Form base as in making a wreath with fresh flowers. Cut 2in. strips of polyfleece, and wrap around circle, gluing in place. Unfold net; scrunch up short width, and wrap around base, overlapping widths. Glue in place.
2. Glue ribbons of rose garland to outside of wreath in a zigzag pattern, starting and ending at center back, apply glue under rosebuds, and allow connecting ribbon to form gentle loops.
3. Cut two 1to 2in. streamers of ribbon rose garland, six 14in streamers of 1/16in ribbon. And two 14in. streamers of 1/8in ribbon. Tie knots every few inches in streamers without rosebuds. Glue tops of streamers to wreath at center back.
4. Glue cluster of remaining buds over top of streamers. Glue button loops to inside of wreath; attach bobby pins.