Flower Arrangement: 2008

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Tips for the Amateur Flower Arranger

It is extremely easy to simply go to the flower shop and buy a pre-made flower arrangement for your house. However, it is much cheaper and rewarding to pick your own flowers and arrange them yourself. If you are clueless when it comes to flowers, don't worry. Here are some amateur flower arrangement tips you can use for your creations.

Cutting the Stems
Many people have seen florists cut flower stems under running water, but do they know why? If you cut flower stems under running water, it prevents any air from moving up the stem. Air blocks water flow. Also, if you cut the stem at an angle, it provides more surface area for water to soak. It also prevents the stems from sealing to the bottom of the container or vase preventing water flow.

Remove the Foliage
One of the main ways to quickly kill a flower arrangement is to leave foliage remaining below the water level. Foliage encourages bacteria growth in the water. Also, foliage above the water does nothing but take water away from the flower blossoms. It is best to remove most of these leaves as well.

Size of Container
You never want your flowers to be overbearing to their container, or too small for the container. A good rule to keep in mind is to leave the tallest flower no taller than 3 times the height of the container. Any flower with a large blossom should only be 1.5 times the container height while more delicate flowers can be somewhat taller. An overbearing flower arrangement can be distracting, so be sure to keep these tips in mind.

Anchors
Most florists use oasis blocks to anchor flowers in arrangements. These are foam blocks that hold water and keep the flowers steady. You can place them at the bottom of any container or vase. However, if you do not have an anchor laying around your house, you need to improvise. Simply take a bag of marbles and place it at the bottom of the container. The marbles will hold the flowers in place while allowing water to flow freely around the stems.

There is nothing more beautiful in a living space than a nicely designed flower arrangement. It brings life, color, and creativity into a room. Although you can still buy your flower arrangements from the store, arranging them yourself is fairly simple and very cost affective.

By Kendra Dahlstrom

The Japanese Art of Flower Arrangement

Ikebana is a Japanese art of flower arrangement; also known as kado- he way of flowers. I learned about this art form while I was a college junior at Saint Louis University, Baguio City, Philippines. I was so much enthralled by the beauty of the flower arrangement displayed in one of the display windows of a flower studio close to the university. The studio was owned by an elderly woman who was married to a Japanese businessman. They owned a flower and antique shop specializing in Japanese potteries, prints, and other relics while selling potted bonsai and Ikebana flower arrangements. Their store was frequented by the affluent locals and their flower arrangements graced the lobbies of some of the popular hotels and restaurants in the city. My curiosity led me to go inside and investigate further. The old lady was nice enough to let me in and answered a lot of my questions. Since then, for two months after my chemistry class, I would go to her shop and watched her as she arranged flowers for customers. I particularly enjoyed learning the Ikebana flower arrangement from her. She allowed me to help her create the arrangements as I learned the art. She then presented me with a beautiful Ikebana which I gave to my paternal grandmother for her 80th birthday.

Ikebana's origin is said to date from the sixth century when Buddhist priests offered up flowers before Buddha. Ikebana arose from early Buddhist offerings and grew throughout the fifteenth century into an art form with many styles and schools all over Japan. The most popular styles are Sogetsu, Ohara, and Ikenobo.

Ikebana flower arrangement is simplistic by nature. Instead of using massive blooms which is the traditional way of arranging flowers, Ikebana uses only a small number of blooms. It uses the line and curves of twigs and leaves to highlight the arrangement. The balance of the composition is evident in the choice of plant, vase, and placement of the branches. What makes Ikebana different from the traditional flower arrangement is its use of empty spaces as a part of the composition which is dealt with creatively. The arrangement used symbolism representing ten or shin (heaven), chi or hikae (earth), and jin or soe (man).

SYMBOLISM:

Heaven: This is the longest stem which suggests the sun in heaven. This is the main line where branches and twigs are used. It is important to choose the branch which is the longest, most beautiful, and has the strongest curve.

Man: The symbol is a rectangle which is the medium stem. This suggests a man standing squarely on earth. This line follows the main line.

Earth: The symbol is a triangle and is the shortest stem. This suggests a mountain peak on earth. This line balances heaven and man.

The container used also plays a key element to the arrangement. Most vases have simple designs, one that doesn't compete with the beauty of the arrangement within. The choice of the vase has to be in harmony with the plant and other compositions. Ikebana can be roughly divided into two styles - the moribana (shallow vase style) and the nageire (tall vase style). Generally, these simple vases are filled with water then by adding twigs and/or branches, rocks, and flowers to the arrangement and adjusting the height of each element to achieve the variation of a scalene triangle.

The materials used for an Ikebana is restricted to two or three kinds, and not more than that. Branches and twigs are used as main lines while flowers are used as additional lines. The larger and darker blooms are positioned at the lowest part of the arrangement while the buds or smaller flowers with lighter shades are placed higher. Using scissors to cut the height of each element and by moving or repositioning each element helps in achieving a balanced look.

Ikebana is a beautiful, elegant, and simple way to decorate a home. This is a very good choice to decorate a clutter-free home, where less is always more. This is a true art form that you can enjoy as well as add balance and harmony to your design.

By Josienita Borlongan

Silk Flower Projects to Decorate Your Home

Using silk flowers to decorate your home can be a frugal way to liven up your home. There are millions of projects that anyone can do with silk flowers for decorating your home. Fake flower arrangements in vases, baskets, buckets, shoes, tableware, and wreaths will make a pleasant addition to any room's decor. Silk flowers come in a wide array of colors and sizes. Also, there is a wide range of fake greenery that can be used with fake flowers.

Silk Flower Projects

Materials Needed for the Silk Flower Arrangements

Bushes of fake flowers, babies' breathe, and greenery. The greeneries are bushes of leaves or ivies.

Wire Cutters. You will need the wire cutters to cut the flowers from the bushes.

Styrofoam Pieces. The Styrofoam pieces come in squares, rectangles, circles, half circles, and cones of various sizes.

Various containers. The containers can be anything that you are not using in your home such as colored plastic buckets, metal buckets, any type of wicker or bamboo baskets, old shoes, tableware such as gravy urns, large bowls, etc.

Vase Silk Flower Arrangements

Get a bush of silk flowers, babies' breath, and greenery, any color or style that you like, cut the baby's breath and greenery stems off the base of the fake bush. Place the whole bush of silk flowers in the vase. Arrange the baby's breath and greenery throughout the fake flowers for a fuller and prettier arrangement.

NOTE: For the following silk flower projects you will cut all silk flowers, greenery, and other additions from the larger stem at the bottom of the fake flower and plant stub.

Dinnerware Silk Flower Arrangements

Use any piece of glassware for this project. You can use glasses, bowels, gravy boats, and other types of serving dishes to create silk flower arrangements for your dinning table.

For glasses, use a cone-shaped piece of floral styrofoam. Place the cone-shaped styrofoam with the skinny part facing down in the glass. This will allow you to use the wider portion of the Styrofoam to arrange the silk flowers in. Also, you may want to use smaller flowers for this silk flower arrangement.

For bowls, you should use a half circle piece of floral styrofoam with the curved area facing down. For other glass pieces, square or rectangle styrofoam pieces will be used

Arrange the silk flowers and greenery in an order that is aesthetic to the eye. You can arrange a few of the flowers to be a bit taller than other silk flowers.

Shoe Silk Floral Arrangements

Use any style of a shoe for this silk flower arrangement. Sometimes, the styrofoam piece may need to be trimmed to fit inside the shoe. If you are using heel dress shoes, you may need a touch of glue to hold the styrofoam in place. The glue will need to dry before placing the silk flowers in the styrofoam.

For boots, a cone-shaped piece of floral styrofoam will be used. The cone shaped styrofoam will be inverted into the boot in the same manner as in the glass silk flower project. With the boot silk floral arrangement, I suggest using vine greenery around the outer area of the boot.

These are just a few silk flowers home decorating ideas that can be done in about half an hour. The larger the base pieces you are using, the longer it may take you to make your silk floral design. The best think about making your own silk floral arrangement is you are able to make the color scheme work for your home. You are also able to use your favorite types of flowers for these projects.

By Karen Barnes

Silk Flower Arrangement

Floral arrangements always bring vibrancy, elegance, and a sense of beauty into a room or to a person. Flowers appeal to our innermost selves and allow us to cut a snippet of earth's grandeur and take it indoors or wherever we choose. They give voice to emotions and make perfect gifts that speak volumes. Flowers also denote divine and virgin beauty. It is no surprise that floral arrangements are used to decorate places of worship, banquets, hotel lobbies, wedding receptions, and the like.

Silk flowers are known to imitate their original counterparts very well; further, they endure hot and cold climates relatively well. Floral designers will also find silk flowers very easy to work with because very little care has to be taken and mistakes can be easily rectified. There are a variety of arrangements that can be worked upon and enhanced. Combining silk flowers with fresh flowers or dried flowers gives one amazing results, and it adds to the ambience of a particular arrangement.

With silk flowers, you can make quick, beautiful floral arrangements with a few snips here and there and a shifting of flowers. You can also make elaborate and sophisticated silk flower arrangements by picking the right silk flower to matches your d?cor and taste. Also, with silk flowers, there is very little waste. If you have left over pieces (leaves, blooms, and so forth), you can just pack them away and keep them for later design. And there is room for mistake with silk flower arrangements. If, for example, you have cut a stem too short, fret not. Just add a floral pick or wire to the end of the stem, and the problem is solved.

Silk Flowers provides detailed information on Silk Flowers, Silk Flower Arrangements, Silk Wedding Flowers, Wholesale Silk Flowers and more. Silk Flowers is affiliated with Flower Bulbs for Sale.

By Peter Emerson

Special And Unique Wedding Gifts For Your Special And Unique Guests

It isnt easy coming up with wedding gifts that are both special and unique because it seems a lot of ideas have already been thought of. If you dont want your wedding guests saying been there, done that when they eye the keepsakes you hand out during your wedding reception, then you really need to do a lot of work hunting down special and unique wedding gifts.

A lot of times the best wedding gifts are the ones that come from our closest friends simply because they are the ones who know us best and are on very intimate terms with us. This does not mean that the best wedding gifts are the most expensive, take note. Rather, the best wedding gifts are those that come from the heart.

For instance, if you know the wedding couple like champagne a lot, then you might want to buy them a set of champagne glasses. You might even have these glasses engraved with a special message, or the names of the happy couple and the date of their marriage. If champagne glasses are a bit dear as far as cost is concerned, then try pooling your funds with other friends of the couple. This should help you spread around the cost so that you can still present the couple with a valuable gift they can treasure for generations without wiping out your personal savings.

A less common type of wedding gift could be time capsules for the wedded couple. A time capsule basically is a can or tube that will contain mementos prized by the wedded couple which they can store away somewhere (some might even bury the time capsule under ground) so that years later they can unearth the time capsule and re-examine the contents. The value of a time capsule is really in the memories the contents will evoke in the person viewing the contents. A cheap trinket placed in a time capsule could be worthless to a burglar but to the wedded couple it may represent that first real date when they realized that they were really in love to one another. A faded rose whose petals have come loose would be garbage to your househelp but to you the rose petals will bring back memories of the first time your hubby proposed to you. Though a time capsule is a pretty simplistic type of wedding gift, it may provide great benefits to you as far as intimate wedding gifts are concerned.

Monogrammed stuff might have become a clich? as far as valuable wedding gifts go but actually many wedded couples love monogrammed stuff. It helps make them realize that they are really, truly a married couple now while at the same time putting value on their individuality. A bathrobe with his initials on it could have a different color and type of font from a bathrobe with her nickname and a particular type of embroidery affixed on the back. If you have friends who give such monogrammed stuff to you, say thanks because at least you realize that you still have an identity as an individual even if you are now part of a two-some.

By: Ron C Edwards

Dried Flower Wreaths Keep Nature's Beauty Alive

There are few things more beautiful than a flower. Floral decoration is a mainstay because of this unrivaled natural beauty. Drying and preservation techniques allow one to decorate their home with true flowers instead of sometimes-inferior silk and artificial alternatives. Dried flower wreaths provide a spectacular way to keep nature's beauty alive for several years.

Often, wreath makers rely on artificial leaves and flowers for adornments. After all, plant life tends to wither, along with its beauty, when left to its own devices. However, flowers can be carefully dried or otherwise preserved in ways that allow their use in spectacular decorative wreaths.

Some flowers can be dried on the plant. Generally this requires a period of hanging in a relatively dark, dry space. The end result is often delicate (petals can break away easily, for instance), but the beauty of the flower is preserved.

Other flowers respond better to being dried in a silica compound. Silica, which is something akin to completely dry sand, can draw out the moisture in a flower while leaving it completely intact and in retention of its natural beauty.

Inserting the stems into a glycerin solution dries other flowers. The flower absorbs the glycerin, resulting in a completely preserved, yet pliable decorative item.

Dried flowers are then used to make some of the most stunning wreaths imaginable. By using real flowers, a wreath maker can produce a wreath that not only mimics nature's beauty. Instead, the final product is actually a lasting example of flowers' perfect beauty.

Dried flower wreaths will never be as durable as artificial varieties. As such, it is recommended that those hanging dried flower wreaths try to keep them away from significant foot traffic and direct sunlight. However, if well maintained, a natural dried flower wreath can last years and provide unrivaled beauty throughout its lifespan.

By: Dawn Keadic

How To Make Simple Tropical Floral Decorations

Tropical flower decorations to be put in different places of the house are very easy to make. Use mainly palm leaves, hibiscuses, geraniums, some dried twigs and vases of course. The hibiscus lasts for only a day, which is really unfortunate. However the palm leaves last long and even when yellowed or dried, they look great.

An interesting thing about using dried twigs is that you can make a bouquet that will last really very long.

All you got to do is to glue a leaf to a small tube, attach an iron rod to the tube and use the iron rod to tie the tube to the twig. You can then place any flower you like in the tube and this will give a real nice look plus you've got an infinite number of possibilities if you got a choice of various flowers in your garden.

It's really worth trying.

Some additional tips:

You can use a gold spray to embellish the palm leaves

Some artificial flowers can also be attached to the dried twigs. This will give a nice look to the general arrangement.

If you do not have the iron rod at hand, you can use cotton threads or any other threads. Green ones will look better.

So table pieces, it would be better to keep the arrangement flat, while for other pieces, the height can be kept tall.

Always make sure to attain a balance in the arrangement, otherwise the arrangement will not look so nice.

By Morinn Chamilall

Original Wedding Vows How To Write Your Own Unique Memorable Wedding Vows

So you are going to get married and you want to write a beautiful, original wedding vow that the memory of it will last for a lifetime for you and your partner.

Original wedding vows are becoming more and more popular these days. Many couples, just like you, decide to write their very own unique vows to make their special day different and memorable.

But there's a challenge here: When you sit down to write your wedding vow, you might get the writer's block and can't come up with any ideas on what to say.

The good news is, you're going to learn 3 great ideas to help you write your wedding vow easily. Here you go...

Idea #1: Tell Him/Her Why You Love Him/Her

The person you are going to marry is very special to you and you love him/her very much, right?

So why not start your wedding vow by letting him/her know WHY you love him/her so much? What is it about him/her that have made you fall deeply in love with this person?

Tell him/her how different and wonderful your life has become because having him/her in it, and explain why. Simply speak from your heart, because what comes from the heart, reaches the heart.

This will make the perfect beginning for your wedding vow.

Idea #2: Make A Promise about How You Are Going to Make His/Her Life Different

You are planning to spend the rest of your life with this man/woman who you really care about. So tell him/her how the rest of his/her life is going to be... with you.

Here's a sample wedding vow to help you get the picture...

I will be the shoulder you can always lean on. I will be the rock on which you can always rest. Whatever lies ahead, good or bad, I will stand beside you and face it with you. I will be your friend, your lover, and your husband/wife for the rest of our lives.

It's a good idea to use a romantic wedding poem here, because sometimes nothing can show our deepest feelings better than a romantic poem.

Idea #3: Take His/Her Hands and Look into His/Her Eyes

No matter what words you are speaking, taking your partner's hands and looking deep into his/her eyes will definitely double the effect of your words, because they will just flow deep into your partner's heart.

So take your partner's hands! It is a very romantic and memorable gesture that will make those moments a beautiful memory you both will cherish for the rest of your lives.

By: Ladi Lashkari

Summer Flower Arrangements

Summer is a busy time for the gardener and flower arranger. There are so many blooms out there that are just ripe for the picking and are screaming to be arranged. Flowers reflect the freshness and warmth of summer and it always nice to have a flower arrangement at home. Certain flowers only bloom in the summer and it is best to feature them in your summer flower arrangements.

Here is a list of summer flowers that you can use for your flower arrangements:

- Sunflower. Representing the brightness of the summer season, sunflowers are considered the primary summer flowers. These big, eye-catching, and vibrant flowers only bloom completely during the summer. They are great for big and elaborate arrangements.

- Aster. Aster attracts bright and colorful butterflies in the summer. These flowers come in beautiful shades of white, pink, blue, and purple. According to flower myths and traditions, aster signifies patience, variety, and delicacy.

- Sweet Pea. You can add sweet pea to your flower arrangement to give it a nice, sweet scent.

- Daisy. This summer flower denotes innocence, gentleness and purity. Sometimes called he marker of summer, the daisy is also called the day's eye because it opens up and closes along with the sun. For a simple flower arrangement, simply get an empty milk bottle, fill it with water and put in a handful of these pretty blooms.

- Lily. The sensitizing effect of lilies will never fail to lighten your mood or bring a smile to your face so add them in your flower arrangement.

- Snapdragons. Snapdragons make beautiful cut flowers. They are great hung from a basket or kept in a tall, slim vase.

Make the best of summer by filling the spaces in your house, garden, and office with these summer blooms. They will not only beautify your room, they can lighten up your mood as well.

Flower Arrangements provides detailed information on Birthday Flower Arrangements, Christmas Flower Arrangements, Dried Flower Arrangements, Flower Arrangements and more. Flower Arrangements is affiliated with Send Easter Flowers.

By Ken Marlborough

Why Purchase Silk Flower Arrangements 10 Reasons

How many reasons do you need to enjoy silk flower arrangements? We only need one, because we think they are beautiful. However, if you need more reasons, here are ten reasons that occurred to us. How many more do you think you will need to brighten your world?

1. Silk flower arrangements will not wilt. After a few days, a live plant will droop with its colorful petals raining on the table.

2. Colors stay as vibrant as the day you bought them. The colors in your silk flower arrangements will remain alive and as stunning from the day that you purchase your arrangement for months to come.

3. You can change the theme of your office or living area with the seasons. You can save your arrangements and use them throughout the seasons and holidays. We use arrangements with a patriotic theme and color around the Fourth of July, Labor Day and Memorial Day. Bright floral arrangements are used in the spring and summer. Yellow, orange, and red foliage colors displayed for the fall, Thanksgiving, and Halloween. Green pine sprays and reds for Christmas.

4. They make great gifts that will last for years. Instead of sending live arrangements that will parish after a few days, send your well wishes during illness, celebration, anniversaries, and wedding. Your gift will be cherished long past the event.

5. Flowers add life and vibrancy to a room.

6. No water required. Go on vacation and your silk flower arrangements will still be as beautiful as the day that you left.

7. Artificial arrangements are easy to maintain. A feather duster or low cool setting on a hair dryer will do the job. See our other article on caring for your silk flower arrangements for further suggestions.

8. Silk flowers are always in season. You can buy a silk flower arrangement with your favorite blossoms year-round.

9. Silk flower arrangements can take you away. A tropical arrangement conjures up dreams of Tahiti. A Tuscan container and arrangement; you fly off to the rolling hills of Italy.

10. Silk flower arrangements perform fine in limited lighting. Unlike live plants, your artificial floral arrangement will flourish in your office or room that has limited or no natural lighting.

Make up your own reasons if these are not enough, but do not hesitate to brighten up your world with silk flower arrangements.

Corey Regelin has been designing custom home decor for years and specializes in silk flower arrangements, silk wreaths, and swags. We hope these tips will help you enjoy your arrangements for the years to come.

By Corey Regelin

Unique Wedding Gifts For Guests Of The Wedding

You will be getting married soon, and as such you are trying to make sure all of the plans are finalized. However, one of the things that you cannot decide on is which unique wedding gifts to choose for your guests. Consequently, what you need are some ideas to help you find unique wedding gift for your guests.

When choosing wedding gifts, cost will probably be the first consideration, and this is driven by both the cost of the items and the number of guests.

To be unique with the wedding gifts that you give your guests, it is important to first pick a theme for the gifts. It does not have to be along the traditional lines of wedding gifts. In fact, the more creative your thinking, the more unique your gifts will be.

For example, what about a beach theme? You can give your wedding guests specialized seashell favors, starfish favors, flip-flop coaster, beach chair place-card holders, and many more beach and sea related wedding gifts.

A popular wedding favor gift is a disposable camera, with the name of the bride and groom, followed by the date of the wedding on them. These are an especially fun wedding favor gift for children, since many children like to take pictures of the bride and groom.

You can also be very creative and unique with candle wedding favors.

When it comes to giving food as a wedding favor gift, a popular choice is chocolate. People generally love chocolate! You can make very beautiful and unique wedding favors from different shaped chocolates. Just a word of advice, do not give only chocolates. It will not be appreciated if your wedding guests include people who have diabetes.

Some couples prefer to offer more practical things as gifts for guests that are still unique. Perhaps the most popular example of a practical wedding gift is a ballpoint pen. Some couples might want to add a personal touch by choosing to include their favorite romantic quote.

You can also make your own wedding favors by purchasing the basic components, such as takeout boxes or organza bags and then adding to them the candles or whatever other unique wedding gifts that you prefer.

When it comes to finding unique wedding gifts for the guests of your wedding, the sky is literally the limit.

By: Chrystal Holman

Decorating Your Home With Dried Flower Arrangements

The interiors of a home reflect your personality. The choice of colours and lighting needs to be carefully chosen. Though cosmetic effect is necessary, a house needs to look like a home. It is normal to present a bouquet when you meet someone but dried flowers seems to have longer life and can be included as a house warming present. Petals, grass, flowers, buds and also nuts can be used as decoration. This is certainly an unique way of adding style to your interiors. It must be remembered that when dried flowers are used, the arrangement needs creativity and the illumination on the same should be just right.

Oshibana or the Japanase art of pressed flowers is the oldest form. Dried flowers are of multi purpose value as the same can also be availed for medicinal use. Adorning the house with dried flowers can be traced in the Victorian times. The flowers can be used as a centerpiece. One could also place a bouquet of dried flowers over the shoe rack or the end table. If one has a corner table in the farthermost corner of the house, dried petals of rose or lily along with gleaming marbles or white stones will just bring about more life in the room.

If one is having a party in the balcony or a typical BBQ party then the arrangement of a lotus or mahogany dried petals seems to charm the entrance of the house. Elegant styling of furniture with Victorian hints and upholstery can be nostalgic with a mixture of assorted items in a potpourri. Dried flowers arrangement is all about unleashing creativity. The fragrance emanating from the potpourri is the result of preservation of the aromatic oils which lasts for months. Use a potpourri of maize, birch pine or sponge mushroom has benefits. Mixing the dried flowers is a careful, yet personal choice. The contrast colours of flower arrangement might just pep the walls and the leaves in pressed form can be scattered casually in a basket.

There is a certain forest-woody feeling, when one is able to use the dried flower arrangement near the fireplace. An ethnic urn close by and also a lantern with a candle illumination will add a mystery appeal. For a perfect candlelight dinner at home, purchase a few bright candles in yellow, orange and reds and place an assortment of leaves and pine needles.

Vibrant foliage can be collected with the annual flowers like Dahlia and oregano. Perennial varieties include Daisy and Flax. Again over stocking the place with too many flowers and contrasting colours will be confusing the style element. The need here is minimalism and a touch of creativity. Use it in the corners of a section, the entrance or near the fountain. Flowers at the mantelpiece or near the bookshelf in single stalks seem a good idea.

So the next time you plan to decorate your house try the dried flower arrangements it is also one of the best summer activities for kids. Also check for Halloween crafts on our website.

By Jennie Gandhi

Thoughtful And Inexpensive Wedding Favor Ideas

Wedding favors are enchanting little devices that add that a special extra touch to your wedding and reception. They serve as a perfect little token of appreciation that you can present to your guests. Here are some ideas for inexpensive and thoughtful favors that you can easily purchase, embellish or make.

Wedding mints are traditional, but instead of using the traditional customary netting to house them, choose an alternative receptacle such as a champagne flute with your wedding date on it, a decorative trinket box topped with a silk bloom, a heart-shaped ornament, lace doily, or small hand-painted saucer. Also consider replacing the mints with gourmet chocolates or candy hearts.

Tiny photo frames come in all shapes and sizes. Consider small frames that house the bride and grooms name along with the date of the wedding. Frames can also be easily crafted with any materialsatin or white linen covering a cardboard base.

Bookmarks can also be craftedconsider a pressed flower, a photo bookmark of the bride and groom, or a classic love poemeach encased with plastic purchased from any office store. Another creative favor is a magnet that is specially designed with the date of the wedding or a love themed quote.

Depending on the weddings theme, there are many ways to create unique and memorable flairs. For example, for a beach wedding try using a silk bag full of small seashells or for an outdoor country wedding use bouquets of dried flowers and herbs.

Your options are endless so be sure to also consider items including: tea candles, a CD of love songs, bud vases, key chains, lockets, ornaments, small decorative tins, small etched mirrors, small keepsake photo albums, decorative coasters, heart-shaped pins, embroidered handkerchiefs, or small book of love poems (easily printed from your computer).

Favors are nice way to acknowledge your guests and to say thank-you. Ensuring that you provide thoughtful favors will make your event all the more memorable.

By: Amanda Pinkston

How To Brighten Up Your Home With These Flower Arrangement Ideas

A beautiful flower arrangement piece can become the focal point of the room you choose to decorate. It's truly fascinating how we can combine different flowers to create a mesmerizing bouquet. With the vast selection of colors, fragrances and shapes, you can create or readily buy a flower arrangement piece that will speak to you and others walking in the room what you want to communicate.

First thing to do is decide where you will be placing your flower arrangement. Will it be placed on the floor in your hall, on top of a piece of furniture?

What about the space where your arrangement will sit? Will you need a finished piece that is tall, round, wide or full? What is the decor of the room you've selected that will contrast powerfully with your flowers?

Don't limit your creativity!

There are several design styles you can choose from and we have included a variety of design here for you to get those creative juices flowing.

Use these as a guide to creating your own flower arrangement style. Pictures of the flower arrangements below can be found at our site.

Bud Vases

A bud vase with a single stem or several stems of your favorite flower(s) is a simple but elegant flower arrangement piece. Cut your flower stems to about twice the height of your vase. To enhance your flowers beauty, also include some linear foliage.

One tip I will give you with bud vases is to be imaginative. If you don't have a bud vase, recycle any beautiful glass containers you have lying around the house such as perfume bottles or any other.

Basket Arrangement

A basket flower arrangement brightens up your favorite room very well. They make perfect gifts for a housewarming occasion, birthday, or to send and cheer a loved one who is sick.

Baskets come in all sizes and shapes and if you are designing your own basket arrangement, you can find the one that will be perfect for you. There is so much you can do with flower baskets - let your creativity run wild!

Garden Arrangements

Don't these flower arrangements look like you've picked them from your garden?

After years of living in the city in an apartment block, I have now the great fortune of living in the suburbs and I've taken great pains to create a heavenly garden filled with white and red roses, carnations and lilies. With greenery surrounding their flower beds, my little garden looks like a little paradise.

Centerpieces And Table Arrangements

The trick for a successful centerpiece or table arrangement is not to make them too tall as to obstruct views across your dining table.

Choose or create the piece to generate the mood you want to achieve. Flowers at your table will enhance the dinning experience.

By Gina Stathopoulos

Artificial Christmas Trees

In days of old, the holiday season was filled with the smells of roasted turkey, pumpkin pie and pine trees. Today, sadly, many homes only get the fresh smell of a Christmas pine tree when someone is burning a pine-scented candle. An artificial tree may be the perfect solution for holiday decorating. Factors of cost, ease of setup and maintenance, health concerns and even fashion may play into the decision to forsake a real tree for a facsimile.

It isnt any secret that the artificial trees are becoming more and more lifelike than every before. Artificial Christmas trees in the past were stiff, uncompromising and did not arrive with lights already strung. For many, the idea of setting up an artificial tree, stringing the lights and dealing with storage wasnt that far off from traveling to purchase a natural tree, stringing the lights and disposing of the dried tree at the end of the holiday season. Using a natural tree provided that fresh holiday pine scent and for a little extra money and effort each year, it was worth buying fresh for many people. However, todays artificial Christmas trees are much easier to set up, many come pre-strung with Christmas lights and are easy to store in their original box or storage bags. It takes only seconds to set up a pre-strung artificial tree and once set up, the tree can remain on display for an extended period of time without drying out.

Artificial Christmas Trees are proving a strong competition for Mother Nature as more and more families gather around the artificial Christmas tree on Christmas morning. One of the most valuable reasons to use the artificial Christmas tree is the reduction in fire hazards; the fake tree is simply safer for a family to use. In addition, the artificial tree is a one-time purchase that can be used over and over again. If you are someone that enjoys the family outing to hunt for the Holiday Christmas tree, the sweet smell of fresh pine as you set up your tree and the sense of tradition that is built on these types of holiday activities, then an artificial Christmas tree is not for you. It is impossible to get these traditional holiday emotions when shopping for a plastic tree at your local department store.

In our house, we compromised for a holiday solution that satisfies everyone. In the living room, which is heated with a woodstove, we use an artificial Christmas tree so that we need not be concerned with the problems of a natural tree drying out or becoming a fire hazard. In the kitchen, another place where heat is a concern, we use another slim fitting artificial Christmas tree. In the family room, a room that is always kept a bit cooler, we use a large natural tree that fills the entire room with the fresh scent of pine. By utilizing this compromise each year, we get the best of both worlds; fire safe trees where it is important to be cautious of fire hazards and the fun holiday tradition of a freshly cut Christmas tree picked out by the little ones from a u-cut tree farm.

By: Roger Thompson

Inexpensive Wedding Gifts For Anyone

wedding gift does not have to be expensive to be well received and appreciated by the couple. While the extravagance of some weddings may compel their guests to purchase pricey gifts, it is not necessary to do so. Many people are invited to a number of weddings each year and its not feasible to purchase an expensive gift for every wedding you attend. While you may want to splurge on an extravagant gift for a close friend or relative, you are not required to invest a great deal of money in a gift for a casual acquaintance. Even if you are very close with the couple you may be able to create a very inexpensive gift for their wedding. The following are just a few ideas for inexpensive wedding gifts that are sure to delight the couple without breaking your budget.

One inexpensive gift idea is to fill a mixing bowl with a variety of kitchen utensils. This is both an inexpensive and an extremely useful gift. Many couples are starting their life together and will need a few basic utensils and kitchen gadgets to get them started. This gift is thoughtful and useful without being detrimental to your budget.

Another inexpensive gift idea is to create a basket containing elements for a romantic dinner. You could put this basket together by yourself and include items such as dry pasta and sauce as well as a bottle of wine and two wine glasses. You might also want to include a non-perishable desert such as biscotti to complete your meal. You could even include a recipe card with one of your own personally tested recipes. This inexpensive gift idea will be greatly valued by the couple because it essentially giving them the gift of a romantic night alone.

Picture frames can also be an inexpensive wedding gift idea. The couple will likely have a wide variety of photos that they will want to display in their home and providing them with a few simple frames is an inexpensive way to give them a truly useful gift. While many picture frames can be expensive, you could find simple wooden frames in a craft store and paint or decorate to suit the couples taste. You could also shop at closeout stores for these items and may find quite a few bargains available. Picture frames are an inexpensive and useful wedding gift idea that is likely to be cherished by the couple.

The couples registry could also be another source of inexpensive wedding gift ideas. Many couples will register for an assortment of items that span a large price spectrum. You may find that the couple has included many inexpensive items in their registry that may fall within your budget constraints. Choosing an inexpensive item from the couples registry ensures that you are giving them a gift that they will truly like and appreciate because they picked out the item themselves.

If you are a close friend or relative of the couple you may be able to make a very inexpensive wedding gift that will also be unique and greatly cherished by the couple. If you have many pictures of the couple, you might consider arranging these pictures in a unique way in a photo album to give to the couple as a gift. You could also use the photos to create a scrapbook or even a video presentation set to music that features the couple. These gifts will be greatly appreciated by the couple and can be created for a relatively small cost.

Candles are another inexpensive wedding gift. Newlyweds often incorporate candles in their decorating and also use candles to create ambiance during dinner or on other occasions. Just after they are married is the time when couples are most likely to enjoy candlelight dinners frequently and for no specific occasion so a wedding gift of candles is bound to be used often. Candles come in a great variety of colors, sizes and scents so it should be easy to find an assortment of candles that will be appreciated by the couple.

A wedding gift does not have to be expensive to be useful and appreciated by the couple. Many wedding guests spend a great deal of money on fancy china or glassware that is only used on special occasions while inexpensive gifts such as candles and kitchen utensils are used by the couple on a daily basis.

By: Sarah Williams

Artificial Lighted Christmas Garlands

Artificial Christmas Garlands unite tradition and elegance like few Christmas decorations do. Because they look organic and have tips that resemble those of Christmas trees, they function as a mainstay to almost every holiday household. Highly flexible, and designed to last for years, they compliment any standing furniture piece, tree, outdoor structure, and even certain indoor architectural keynotes. Artificial lighted Christmas garlands can wrap around trees, intertwine through the support railings of gently sloping staircases, and add a sense of light and nature to bookshelves, display cases, and the often-empty spot on top of the mantle. Pre-lit garlands offer tremendous decorative benefit with return on investment, adding illuminated accent to room and holiday lighting motifs that will return undiminished, on time, for many seasons to come.

Pre-lit Christmas garlands offer some of the best compliments to the top of any fireplace mantle. Lush, full, and durable, they look truly organic in the shadowy space above the fire. The Black Forest Christmas garland package includes four 9 artificial Christmas garlands that can wind unobtrusively around the base of religious candles and icons, compliment family photographs, and drape gently over the sides of the fireplace. Each garland features 14 tips and comes pre-lit with 100 Christmas lights concealed at the base of the tips that radiate an aura of light from within the foliages interior. Black Forest Pre-lit garlands are just wide enough in diameter to wrap around a seven-day candle on top of the mantle, extending the candlelight outward with 100 shining lamps that flow over the edge and drape over the sides in balance and in light.

Most people who decorate with Garlands almost invariably add at least one natural or artificial garland to the Christmas tree. This tradition has been with us for centuries and will doubtless continue for many more. The problem people encounter, however, is that generic garlands blend into the tree too wellmaking it difficult to see the garland for the tree. There is a simple solution that maintains tradition and offers differentiation in keeping with the true spirit of the season. The 9X12 Colorado Frost pre-lit Christmas Garland comes with 200 frosted tips that makes any tree they decorate look like it has been touched by freshly fallen snow. Its white lights make an excellent compliment to any number of multi-colored LED or Christmas string lights that we affordably provide. Decorators who prefer to use pre-lit garlands as their main source of Christmas tree lighting can add a multi-color Sierra that measures 9 in length and a full 14 in diameter. Use one or two of these together to layer the tree in a total of 200 lights that follow winding spiral paths from treetop to base, weaving in and out of the branches like living ornaments of greenery and light.

Pre-lit Artificial Christmas garlands offer even greater creative and expressive options for decorating beyond the boundaries of the room, the furnishings, and the Christmas tree. Our pre-lit, two-color light garland alone can add holiday brightness to both indoor fixtures and outdoor settings alike. Featuring 300 lamps and a 30-inch lead cord, it can wind around porch pillars, gazebo railings, and trees in both front and back yards. Inside, it adds color and a subtle touch of light to the foot of the stairs, creating steady ambience that compliments the flash of Christmas tree lights across the room. To make the staircase come to life, add a Kennedy pre-lit Christmas garland that measures 108 in height and 14 in diameters. Let it wind between the railings just under the handrail, meandering along side human steps with 100 clear lamps that lead to a multi-colored finale at the foot of the stairs.

By: Kimberly Quang

Dried Flower Arrangements

Flowers have a curious magical power over people. Not only do they add to our present but are also linked to our past. Dried flowers, in this respect, are an important part of our lives.

To dry fresh flowers, you can either freeze-dry them or air-dry them by hanging them upside down, or you can use silica gel. You could also place flowers in the microwave.

To make a dried flower arrangement, place your vase on a lazy Susan, stick the base of the vase with floral clay and fix a piece of foam into your vase. With lepidium, lavender, and straw give an overall shape to your arrangement. Now, fill in the center with flax, galax leaves, maidenhair fern, or foliage. Place flowers in descending order of sizebegin with large flowers such as hydrangea, and then move on to medium sized flowers, spacing them evenly. For better effect, add larkspur, delphinium, or dried flax.

To make a dried floral bouquet, you should first imagine a triangular floral arrangement with a flat back. Use enough materials to make an arrangement 1.5 times the size of the vase. Begin by using twigs, ferns, long seed heads and spiked flowers. For depth, use longer pieces such as larkspur at the back of the arrangement.

Now, add filling material, say tansy, statice or hortensia, reaching half the height of the twigs and ferns. For greater appeal, place the most attractive flowers with the main colors of the arrangement in the center of the arrangement.

Take care to see that the arrangement is in a fine balanceneither too heavy on one side nor too weak on the other. While maintaining the basic shape of the arrangement, keep putting in flowers and heighten its effect with grasses and seed heads.

Flower Arrangements provides detailed information about flower arrangements, Christmas flower arrangements, dried flower arrangements, and more. Flower Arrangements is affiliated with Growing Hibiscus.

By Ken Marlborough

How to Create Flower Arrangements

Cut flowers are a wonderful way to bring the beauty indoors. As well as making nice bouquets of flowers, they smell good too. There are several flower bulbs that make very nice vases of flowers. Some examples include but are not limited to irises, gladiola, lilies, and daffodils. Flower arrangements make delightful bouquets for the office or for special occasions, such as baby showers or dinner parties. People love to treat their eyes to the sight of beautiful flowers, and anybody can create a nice flower arrangement.

To start you will need a vase half full with water and a pair of scissors. Then head out to the flower patch. When cutting the stems on flower bulbs, be sure to cut the stem at an angle. Also, the longer the stems are, the longer the blooms will last. One other thing to keep in mind while making cut flower arrangements is the colors of the flowers. Some colors can drastically change the affect of a flower arrangement.
For an arrangement that will be placed in front of a wall and viewed from three sides follow these easy steps.

1. Cut any leaves off that will be in the water if left. This will help keep the water from getting scummy.

2. Start by placing the tallest cut flowers in the vase first, facing the blooms toward you in a fan like position. They will be to the back of the bouquet.

3. Then in front and to the sides of the tallest flowers begin to place the next tallest flowers in the vase. The blooms in the center of the flower arrangement should be facing towards you. The blooms to the right side should be turned slightly to the right. Likewise, the blooms to the left side should be turned slightly to the left.

4. Continue in this fashion until you finish placing all but the shortest flowers in the arrangement.

5. Personally, I always place the shortest flowers close to the top rim or slightly above the vase rim. It seems to fill in and finish the flower arrangement.

If you find that flower arrangement is top heavy, just get a larger vase that holds enough water to support the weight of the flowers. To create a vase of flowers that will be a viewed from all sides is a little different from the above procedure. It works much better if the stems are about the same size. Also it will help if the vase opening is only slightly larger than all of the stems put together.

1. Start by placing the tallest cut flowers in the vase first, facing the blooms outward in all directions. They will be in the center of the flower arrangement.

2. Then all the way around the vase place the next tallest flowers until completed.

If the cut flowers that you have selected lack leaves and the flower arrangement looks a bit stemy, just add some. Just about any leafy plant will work. For example, you can easily add a couple leafy cutting from a bush. Just trim the leaves that will be in the water off.

Making a flower arrangement is that simple. Have fun, be creative, and enjoy the wonderful aroma.

By Kathy Case

Preparing The Perfect Flower Arrangement

In United States, flowers, gift baskets or jewelry are popular choices for gift ideas. Most people purchase gifts that are thoughtful and appreciated, that gift is flowers.

If you are getting married soon, you are going to find out that silk wedding flowers are the new and improved flower to have at any wedding. Do it yourself wedding flowers are also offered in large quantities. Spring wedding flowers are flowers used for weddings that occur during the spring time. One of the most popular flowers are the spring time flowers, the petals are delicate and the colors are bright and they are used for bouquets. When planning for a wedding choosing the flowers can be fun for you and your bridal party and they might even come up with great ideas that you would have not of thought of. When choosing flowers it is a good idea to work with a florist, they are able to show different displays and arrangement that can stimulate ideas that can turn out to be very unique which in a lot of situations fits into the budget you are working with.

By adding cut flowers to your arrangements from various plants can really spruce up the arrangement. Moreover, their arrangements change from time to time; you can always expect something new. Choosing between silk flowers and real flowers is a sometimes a difficult task because silk flowers look so real today. Most people opt for real flowers because real flowers have a beautiful aroma while silk flowers do not.

Flowers symbolize many different things so be careful when choosing them. Garden basket types are one of the most popular arrangements you can find in the market.

Most florists and garden centers carry delightful little blooming plants in 4 pots that are surprisingly inexpensive and can add color and charm to any desktop or vanity. There are many online sites that offer many different choices plus you are able to get the flowers at a discount most of the time.

To buy sympathy flowers, you can access a flower delivery service by telephone or the internet, or you can go directly to a flower shop and place an order for future delivery. These flower shops also offer delivery of their products. So how do you know which online florist to choose and trust for superior product quality and top delivery efficiency?

There are many flowers stores that offer the same day delivery service, but check with the store because sometimes there is a distance restriction. They should offer a guarantee for delivery on the date specified, and use an encryption system for processing credit card payments online. There are also discount flower delivery services available on both the national and local level.

Doesnt matter why you are purchasing flowers, you are able to arrange and order the flowers to project and say the right saying. There are so many different occasions you can by flowers for anniversary, birthday, Im sorry, new baby and get well flowers.

Looking for flowers that are unique or a designer flower arrangement you can save money by not adding as many flowers and replacing the missing flowers with babys breath. There are so many options to choose from when trying to choose a floral arrangements they are only limited by the imagination, and floral arrangement can be made to fit your budget. A good florist will understand your budget and will think of creative ways to keep you within your budget.

By: Melissa Fishman

Silk Flower Arrangements A Brief History

People have been recreating flowers with a myriad of materials for centuries. The earliest artificial flowers were crafted in ancient China. First using cloth, silk flowers began to catch on in the United States in the 1800s, but early efforts produced silk flower arrangements and silk florals that bore little resemblance to their living counterparts. Yet today dust resistant, realistic, low maintenance silk floral arrangements can be found if a consumer is willing to look.

Artificial flower arranging took a giant leap forward in the early 1970s with the use of plastics and high-quality synthetic fibers. As technology and manufacturing techniques improved, these materials enabled manufacturers to create silk flower arrangements with greater botanical accuracy than ever before. Though the commonly accepted term is silk flowers, it is something of a misnomer, as modern flowers are rarely made of silk.

Today's silk flower arrangements have continued to get better and more realistic. From the delicate veins running through the leaves, to the way the stem seamlessly meets blossom, today's silk flowers are often so realistic, they have to be touched to be believed. It's not uncommon to find that even the leaves feel like they have fuzz growing on them, adding that realistic finishing touch.

The creation of artificial flowers and artificial foliage is an exacting process and one that requires creativity, keen senses and a commitment to the production of quality silk floral arrangements. Today's consumers are demanding in their desire for realistic artificial flower arrangements. Dust resistance, realism, and easy to clean are just some of the required characteristics that go into creating the finest items possible.

As manufacturing processes continue to improve, you can expect the quality and consistency to continue to rise. You should also expect to find the best deals and the widest selections available online. The internet revolution continues to help to connect people with the realistic, beautiful silk flower arrangements that they seek and often at the best prices available anywhere.

Johnny Best is a freelance writer and online commerce expert covering the latest trends and emerging product segments in e-commerce. He is also the owner of several e-commerce businesses including the popular site DesignerSilkPlantsandFlowers.com where they feature Beautiful Silk Flower Arrangements, Silk Floral Arrangements and more.

By Johnny B.

Flower Meanings

Certain types or colors of flowers mean different things, and you don't want to send the wrong message if you give them as a gift! Of course, not everyone knows what a particular flower means, but you can never be too sure!

FLOWER NAME and/or COLOR -- FLOWER MEANINGS

Carnations

Carnation (General) -- Fascination
Carnation, Pink -- Emblem of Mother's Day, I will never forget you
Carnation, Purple -- Antipathy and Capriciousness
Carnation, Red -- Admiration, my heart aches for you
Carnation, Striped -- No, Sorry, I cannot be with you
Carnation, White -- Pure Love, Sweet Love, Innocence
Carnation, Yellow -- Disdain and Rejection

Lilies

Lily, Calla -- Majestic Beauty
Lily, Day -- Coquetry
Lily, Orange -- Hatred and Disdain, Wealth, Pride
Lily, White -- Majesty and Purity, Virginity
Lily of the Valley -- Purity and Humility, Sweetness

Roses

Rose, Coral/Orange -- Enthusiasm, Desire
Rose, Dark Pink -- Thank you
Rose, Light Pink -- Admiration
Rose, Musk -- Capricious Beauty
Rose, Pale -- Friendship
Rose, Peach -- Let's get together, Closing of the deal
Rose, Pink -- Love, Grace, Gentility, You're so Lovely
Rose, Pink & White -- Love, Desire, Respect, Courage, Job well done
Rose, Red -- Majesty and Purity, Virginity
Rose, Red & Yellow -- Congratulations
Rose, White -- Charm, Secrecy, Silence, You're Heavenly
Rose, White on Red -- Unity/Flower Emblem of England
Rose, Yellow -- Infidelity, Joy, Friendship, Welcome Back, Remember me
Rose, Yellow & Orange -- Passionate thoughts

Tulips

Tulip -- Symbol of The Perfect Lover
Tulip, Red -- Believe me, Declaration of love
Tulip, Variegated -- Beautiful eyes

Others

Daffodil -- Emblem of Annunciation/Regard, Unrequited love
Daisy -- Gentleness, Innocence, Loyal love
Iris -- Faith, Wisdom, Valor, Your Friendship means so much
Orchid -- Magnificence, Love, Beauty, Refinement
Sunflower -- Homage and Devotion

By: The Gift Wizard

Wedding Bouquets Fresh Flower Or Silk

When you are thinking about the wedding bouquet you want for your wedding, the first thing you need to consider is whether you want to have fresh flowers, or silk flowers.

Don't just assume that you should get fresh flowers!

There are many good reasons for why you might choose to get silk flowers instead...

Probably the biggest benefit of silk flowers, is the cost. Usually, a silk flower bouquet will end up being considerably cheaper than a fresh flower bouquet. It's much cheaper to make a silk flower, than it is for a farmer to carefully grow a fresh flower in their garden, and then for a florist to look after it!

Another benefit of using silk flowers in your wedding bouquet, is that after you are married, you can keep the bouquet, as a reminder of the happy day. You can also keep fresh flower bouquets, but to do this they will need to be preserved, which can be quite expensive.

Finally, with silk bouquets, you can actually try making the bouquet yourself! Although it's quite easy to make bouquets, it can be hard with real flowers, and it's much easier for beginners if they are using silk flowers instead.

There are a few benefits to using real flowers though...

The main benefit is the smell. Even if you spray them with perfume, a silk bouquet will never smell as nice as a fresh flower bouquet.

Another benefit of fresh flower wedding bouquets is that there are a lot more places to buy the flowers, and it can be easier to get more variety. This depends on where you shop though. If you can find somewhere local to you that sells silk flowers, or you buy them online, then silk flowers can be just as easy to get as fresh.

But wait a second...

Aren't I forgetting the most important thing? That fresh flowers LOOK a lot better than silk?

Well, this may have been true once, but these days, it's quite easy to get beautiful silk flowers, that are indistinguishable from the real thing. I've personally made quite a few silk-flower bouquets that people have tried smelling, because they thought the flowers were real!

Ultimately it's up to you to decide what type of wedding bouquet you want. All I can suggest is that you don't jump into it, and give silk-flowers serious consideration, as they have many benefits. After all, the smell from a fresh-flower wedding bouquet will only last for a few days, anyway!

By: Peta D'Silva

Select An Artificial Tree For Christmas

The use of the Christmas tree began long ago in Europe, mainly in Germany. Gradually, the age-old tradition of a Christmas tree came to the United States where ornaments containing edible items such as candy, nuts, bits of fruit, and handmade cloth and paper decorations. The Christmas tree is now a universal symbol of Christ's birthday and brings about a message of hope, love, and peace to all.

A good old-fashioned Christmas tree will bring many fine memories of family holiday dinners and parties with friends and relatives. Today, people have the option of buying Fresh cut or synthetic Christmas trees. Initially, most people cannot readily cannot tell the difference between the two types of trees and each type of tree has its benefits. Both have that special magic and glow of festive and happy times, which contain memories people treasure.

Most of the retail stores display heavily decorated imitation Christmas trees during the holidays, so that it is a common sight for shoppers. The original artificial Christmas trees were created from dyed green bird feathers that were supposed to imitate a green fir tree. Presently, these synthetic trees are crafted from synthetic fire resistant materials, and are very realistic. Mainly,man-made trees were crafted for people who wanted to save time, money, and the energy of maintaining and cleaning up the needles of a real tree.

Purchasing an artificial Christmas tree is also a money-saver as it can be used repeatedly again by families for years to come.

There is no need to chop down a beautiful fir tree in the forest, when there are synthetic trees that look very similar. There are also so many styles and heights to select, such as heavy or flecked imitation white or even pink snow on the branches, evergreen, and many more types of trees.

Here are some of the reasons why a synthetic tree is best:

1. An artificial tree does not have to be watered daily.

2. Imitation trees can be used every year because they are easy to care for with no needle shedding to worry about.

3. These trees do not give allergic reactions and are treated so that they are flame resistant.

4. Some artificial trees are prelit, so the next step is to decorate the branches to personalize the tree.

5. The trees are so realistic that many people cannot discern the difference, and can be used indoors or outdoors.

6. Most of these trees can be assembled and taken apart easily for storage.

In sum, artificial trees can be a great bargain and a convenient way to go for the holidays.

By: Will Sandey

Silk Flower Arrangements

If you are someone that keeps up with the ever changing popular decor for homes, you are probably realizing that silk flower arrangements are replacing fresh flower arrangements in many homes. This is because when you buy a silk flower arrangement, you are going to get an arrangement that will not die in 2 weeks. You do not have to keep constantly replacing the flowers, and you will not have to worry about the water lever in the vase. When you use silk flowers, you can just arrange them, and keep them free of dust, and they will last you a really long time and look nice for a while.

Many wedding decorators are using the silk flower arrangements in decoration as well for weddings. This is because you can buy silk flowers is many different colors, and you will get the same effect as if you were using the real flowers. Arranging them to look nice is easy as well, and many of the people that decorate weddings for a living will keep a nice variety of silk flowers that they will use over and over for many weddings.

Also when you use silk flower arrangements at weddings, you can always find homes for the many silk flowers that you will have left once the wedding is over. Rather than throwing the real flowers away a week later, you will find that you will love having reminders of your wedding all over your home, and you can even send some of the flowers home with your guest if you wanted to, so that they could have the pretty flowers in theirs as well.

Because many people are choosing silk flower arrangements over the real flower arrangements, you are going to find that they can sometimes be a little hard to find. Check with your local florist and many of your craft shops if you are interested in making some for yourself or even someone else. Making a flower arrangement of silk flowers to give as a gift is a great idea, and anyone that received a gift such as that would surely love it.

By Charlena S. Stadelman

Modern Wedding Bouquets

The bride and bridesmaids hold the most noticeable flowers on the wedding day, but they are simply not the solitary flowers essential for that special day. The gentlemen in the marriage celebration, counting the bride's father as well as the Page Boys, every single one needs a buttonhole flower that goes together with, or corresponds with the bouquets. The other men in the family can in addition be offered a different flower or bud. Always keep in mind that the buttonhole flowers are supposed to be positioned pointing upwards. The mothers of both, the bride and groom need a spray each. The spray does not necessarily have to go with the flowers of the bride. You must confirm their colors with their outfit collection. Men customarily have on their buttonholes on the left lapel and the women have their respective ones worn on their right side.

For the bride the modern wedding bouquets are usually not as big and traditional, and are less likely to take the focus away from the dress. Although they will usually have a wow factor of their very own if chosen well.

The Flower girls: The Flower girls might or might not require flowers. It is up to the bride to decide whether she wants her flower girls to carry flowers. A few flower girls hold a basket filled with flowers or maybe even a spray. There are others who spray petals and a few even hold an extra souvenir for instance cupids, ribbon preparations, teddy bears made exceptionally for weddings or sometimes also a theme of a wedding dream catcher. It may possibly be that the Flower Girl, in addition holds on to the ring bear or ring pillow if a Page Boy is not present.

The flower arrangements: Additional flower provisions rely on the location and fashion of the wedding. Flower preparations are frequently to be found in the church and party spaces. The flowers may be positioned at the extreme ends of the few pews placed in front for the relatives, at a wedding celebrated in a church. The tables at the party area may perhaps comprise of a flowery showpiece each. The bouquets of the bride and her assistants decorate the Table meant for the Bride and the tables that are meant for cutting the cake and signing the register.

Why not add a few extra touches: In memory of the period of the courtship and the engagement, you could use all the dried up flowers that were exchanged then. These add to the passionate additions of the special day. The petals that have been dried can be placed into the basket of the flower girl or scattered across the table of the bride or the table where the cake is to be placed as an adornment. If there is an adequate amount, the petals could be put to use so as to spray the bridal pair or draped in organza as a memento for the guests. Nowadays, there are a number of brides who add to their bouquets two additional flowers. As the bride walks down the aisle, she halts and presents one flower to her Mother. Coming back, she presents the other flower to her now Mother-in-Law.

By: Karen Lincoln

Inexpensive Wedding Favors For Your Upcoming Wedding

When you are getting married there will be a lot of details that need to be taken to get everything ready. One of the details that will need to be taken care of is the wedding favors.

Wedding favors are used to show your guests your love and gratitude for their participation in your wedding. You can find inexpensive wedding favors that you can get. This will help you save money and still have the favors that you need. There are a couple of different types of inexpensive wedding favors that you can choose to use.

You can find inexpensive wedding favors at various places as well. You can get them at a local party supply store, talk to your wedding planner if you are using one or you can shop for them online. How you get them is up to you but you want to make sure you shop around until you find the perfect wedding favors for your wedding day.

Here are a few inexpensive wedding favors that might appeal to you for your wedding.

Homemade wedding favors: You will cut your costs considerably when you use these types of wedding favors.

Almonds are a good wedding favor that is inexpensive. All you need to do is to wrap the almonds in elegant fabric.

You can also use flower seed packets and place them in transparent covers with a small card attached to them with ribbons.

How about using candles? You can use decorated candles and tie an attractive ribbon around it.

Homemade bookmarks are another great wedding favor to use. You can add personal messages to them.

You can also use place cards, place card holders and frames made with cheap material.

Personalized inexpensive wedding favors: These wedding favors can be given to guests to share your feelings with them and let them know how much you appreciate them.

You can use personalized mints, candies, napkins, candles, playing cards or flower cards for the favors for your wedding.

Coffee or tea favors are popular because you can get a custom designed label added to each one and it is inexpensive.

How about using monogrammed and foil wrapped chocolates, medium sized seashells with candies, small wedding mint tins, miniature frames, heart shaped soaps, petite handbags or sugar stars? These are all inexpensive wedding favors.

Unique wedding favors: These kind of wedding favors are not often seen and are not that expensive.

Place favor cards at each place that includes a thank you message to your wedding guests. Fresh flowers can be placed at each table and then afterwards the guests that want to can take them home.

Another idea is to use wedding favors that have to do with hobbies or interests of the groom or bride.

These are not all of the inexpensive wedding favors that you can get but they are ones that are the most popular. You just need to make sure you find the right ones for your wedding. You will be happy you did when your big day arrives.

By: Joe Palladino

Making Your Own Flower Arrangements

Flowers have long been used to symbolize lifes important events and emotions. Roses are symbols of love, lilies, the flowers of death and renewal, and carnations a sign of appreciation. We use flowers as wedding decorations, Valentines Day presents and Christmas ornaments. No matter what the occasion is, a beautiful flower arrangement is a wonderful way to celebrate life through vibrant colors and rich floral scents.

Florists provide customers with a variety of arrangements made specifically for certain occasions and events. However, if you are on a budget, flower arrangements can be fairly pricey. Professional florists charge exorbitant amounts for their expertise, and the flowers themselves can be extremely expensive. Making your own arrangements can be a fun and creative alternative to ordering pieces from a florist. By purchasing flowers individually, you can choose the exact colors and scents you need to say exactly what you want to communicate.

When making your own flower arrangement, you should first consider its purpose. If you are making arrangements for a wedding, white is typically the presiding color. You should start with basic white flowers and add a few accents that match the bridesmaids dresses. Large leafy green pieces add a nice contrast to delicate buds for table centerpieces, and sometimes simplicity is the best aesthetic tactic. If you are making centerpieces for several tables, you can purchase your flowers in bulk and use one design over and over again, or you can make each piece an individual work of art.

For vase arrangements, choose your container first, and pick flowers that are the correct height for the vase. When you cut your flowers, be sure to cut the stems at an angle so they can absorb water correctly and stay fresh for a long time. Vase arrangements require a focal point, and this can be one large flower or a grouping of several. It is important to choose a color scheme and to stick with it. For instance, you would not want to mix red and pink roses, or to combine yellow daisies with died green carnations. Make sure you choose flowers that look and smell good in combination with each other, and fill in the gaps with babys breath and leafy greenery.

When you are making larger potted flower arrangements, an aesthetically pleasing plant is a great base for your design. However, you might not want to combine a spiky cactus with soft blooming roses. If you are using only flowers, you will need a piece of arranging foam to provide a structure for the piece. Green foam can be purchased at most craft stores, and it can be cut to fit any shape you need. Before you start sticking in your stems, you might sketch out an idea of the final product. If the arrangement is to be large, pick a few large flowers to act as focal points rather than picking a multitude of tiny blooms. Too many small flowers distract the eye and make the arrangement seem busy rather than soothing.

Once you have chosen all of your flowers and greenery, begin arranging them in the container. It will take several tries and lot of adjusting before your create a finished product, but be confident and do what looks best. Arranging flowers is an intuitive art, and if you have chosen a good color scheme and a variety of shapes and sizes, the correct eye-pleasing concoction will often fall into place with little effort. When you are finished, you will have a beautiful, natural decoration to perk up even the gloomiest of environments, and you will have the satisfaction of having created a wonderful work of art.

By: Sintilia Miecevole

Making Dried Flower Wreaths

Dried flower wreaths can be especially beautiful and add that little bit of elegance to the interior of your home, or can be used as a door wreath, as you prefer. Personally I like to make them and hang them on a mirror of a buffet cabinet in the dining room or on a round wall mirror in the living room. I call these grandmothers wreaths, because I choose to make them in the old fashioned way in which my grandmother made them.

You will want to gather a bag full of trimming material, vines etc with leaves on them as well as fall flowers and lay them out to dry in a cool yet dry area, such as a garage. When your wreath making materials are completely dry, then you will be ready for the next step, the actual making of the wreath. You will want to cover your work area with newspapers to avoid messy cleanups as much as possible.

I like to use a wire coat hanger as a base for this kind of wreath rather than buying a wreath base, simply because my grandmother did it this way and she taught me. You may prefer to buy a wreath base or perhaps to try it both ways to see which way you like best. You will need your wire snips and you also might want to wear gloves for this, sometimes the vines will have unsuspected prickers on them and getting one of those in a finger doesnt exactly add to the pleasure of wreath making.

Cut your foliage pieces, vines etc, into six inch lengths, take several of them and put them together, what ever amount looks right to you, I like to use three, then add some dried flowers to this mixture, this is called making a bundle. Wire your bundle to the top part of the hanger, next to the hook. Make another bundle and do the same thing, overlapping the first bundle so that the stems are covered. Do this around the circle of your wreath base until it is covered. The stems on the last bundle should be tucked up under the first bundle and wired in place. If you used a store bought wreath base, make a circle with the wire to hang the wreath by, then wrap and cut the wire, tucking the end in securely to avoid later injuries. If you used a coat hanger, the hook part is already there to use as a hanger so you just need to cut the wire and secure it. You may want to take this outside and lightly spray it with some sort of preservative, to hold it all in place. Some folks use extra firm hair spray for this purpose. Now give yourself a pat on the back, you have worked hard and you have made a beautiful decoration for your home.

By: Dawn Keadic

Unique Centerpieces For Your Wedding

A couple wishing to really make a statement at their wedding may want to invest in truly unique centerpieces. Typically reception halls do not allow for a great deal of creativity in the decorations as they utilize standard table linens and place settings. However, utilizing unique centerpieces is one way that the bride and groom can make their reception truly memorable.

Incorporating live fish into the centerpieces is one truly unique centerpiece idea for a wedding reception. Simple glass bowls can be used and filled with a few colorful glass marbles along with some water and an exotic and colorful fish. You could even include a small amount of fish food at the table where children will be sitting with careful instructions on how to avoid overfeeding the fish. The children will have a lot of fun and will be less distracted then they would have been with a more traditional centerpiece on the table. This lively and interactive centerpiece idea is sure to be a hit with kids and will even keep adults entertained.

Another unique centerpiece idea is to arrange a collection of board games in the center of each table. This idea is not only unique but if the guests choose to partake in the games; it gives the guests at the table the opportunity and incentive to get to know those seated at their table if they dont already know them. This is an excellent option for guests who dont enjoy dancing because they wont feel so left out of the fun of the wedding.

Cakes or cupcakes arranged on a serving tray and artfully decorated with fresh or artificial flowers also make a lovely and unique centerpiece. These cakes can be used in place of the traditional wedding cake. Using several small cakes as centerpieces is not only an extremely unique centerpiece idea but it also allows the couple the option of having several different types of cakes and fillings. These centerpieces can be collected by the wait staff and sliced in the kitchen for desert or they can be sliced at the individual tables for additional entertainment value.

An attractive journal that matches the theme of the wedding along with several pens can also serve as a unique centerpiece. This centerpiece will not only look lovely on the table but can also be used by the guests to leave messages of congratulations or words of advice for the couple. This way the couple not only had a unique centerpiece but they also have a treasured souvenir of their wedding day in the kind words recorded by their wedding guests.

Mirrors and candles can also be used to create unique centerpieces. An attractive round mirror could be placed in the center of the table with several lit candles resting on the glass. The flickering light of the candles reflecting on the glass makes for a very striking centerpiece especially if the light in the reception hall is kept dim.

Gift boxes of several sizes can also be used to create unique centerpieces. The couple could take gift boxes of three different sizes and wrap each box in a different but complementary piece of wrapping paper. Once the gift boxes are wrapped they can be glued together at odd angles to create very unique centerpieces.

Another unique centerpiece idea is to have puzzles made up from pictures of the couple. The pieces of the puzzle can be left scattered on the table. This unique centerpiece idea encourages the people sitting at the table to work together to try to put the puzzle together. This is especially useful if many of the guests do not know each other because it is a great ice breaker.

An eclectic assortment of Champaign flutes also makes a truly unique centerpiece. You can purchase an assortment of flutes of various shapes and sizes from a thrift store and clean them up to use them as centerpieces. The flutes can be arranged in an attractive but random pattern to create a unique centerpiece for any occasion.

The choice of the centerpieces is one of the only opportunities that a couple has to express their individuality and ensure that their wedding reception really stands out. While some unique centerpiece ideas may require more of an effort than the traditional centerpiece of flowers, a unique centerpiece is more likely to be remembered than a boring one.

By: Sarah Williams

Artificial Flowers A Great Alternative

Because flowers are so beautiful, most people do not think about the fact that they are really expensive or that they last so temporarily when cut. The good news is that there is an incredible alternative to using so much money on something that will only last a few days: artificial flowers. There are so many uses of flowers that you might be surprised to find out how much all of your flowers are actually costing.

Flowers. You see them growing in gardens or adorning elegant tables as the centerpiece or the dresses of young girls at the prom. They are given as tokens of love and affection to celebrate birthdays, Valentine's day, engagements, anniversaries, and other special days between lovers. They provide decoration at a variety of popular events like bridal showers, weddings, banquets and graduation ceremonies. For each of these important occasions, consider replacing real flowers with artificial flowers. You will not be sorry you did.

Artificial flowers are great. They look just like real flowers, so you will not have to worry about sacrificing one of the main reasons people love flowers: their beauty. Your friends and guests may not even know that you have used artificial flowers because their quality is constantly increasing. Whether you are planning a special party or looking for the perfect flowers to include in your bridal bouquet, you can be sure that the artificial flowers you choose will have all of the beauty you desire.

Often when planning for a large event, expense is something that must be taken into consideration. If you are looking for ways to save money, one of the first things to consider is the use of artificial flowers. The longer you have to look for the perfect flowers, the better deals you may be able to find. Artificial flowers can be found on sale at a variety of craft stores many times throughout the year. Almost any variety of flowers that you are looking to use are now made artifically, so don't worry that you will have to settle for kinds of flowers that you do not really like.

Perhaps the best benefit of using artificial flowers rather than real flowers is their longevity. There is nothing worse than picking the perfect bouquet for your centerpiece only to have it be dried out and wilted by the next day. And who really likes to give a gift that will last only a few hours or at most a couple of days? (Or, better yet, who likes receiving this kind of temporary gift?) With artifical flowers you can give a give that almost everyone enjoys, or you can decorate for your event or holiday and be sure that your hard work will last long after your guests go home. After the party is done you can give away the bouquets of beautiful artificial flowers as favors or parting gifts for to your family and friends.

Everyone agrees that flowers are beautiful, and most everyone agrees that they make a great gift or a perfect decoration. Spread the word and soon everyone can also agree that artificial flowers are a perfect alternative no matter the occasion.

By: Rachael Cleipher

Saving Money With Creative And Inexpensive Wedding Gifts

These days, more and more couples getting married already own homes and have significant amounts of personal and household belongings. While many still have registries, often these registries contain mostly higher end items, like crystal or china, or duplicates of things couples already own. Sometimes you want to give the couple a more personal gift than another $45 crystal goblet, something you know theyll use and appreciate. Here are some ideas for creative and inexpensive wedding gifts you can give without breaking the bank.

Gift baskets

Often young couples, even ones who already have a lot of dishes and pots and pans, are strapped for cash. One nice wedding gift to give people is a gift basket filled with consumable items that you know theyll use. Be creative: a large pasta pot filled with pasta, olive oil, a good quality cookbook and dish towels or a laundry basket filled with linens, detergent, and cleaning supplies will be both attractive and practical gifts for a young couple just starting out. These items can be purchased during deep discount sales so that you are able to pack your baskets full of stuff for very little money.

Think holiday

Most couples get a huge amount of stuff to fill their houses with, but very rarely do they get anything that has to do with holidays especially if they get married in the spring or summer. We often forget how much money we spend assembling our holiday decorations the first time. A set of nice Christmas ornaments, a centerpiece, or other holiday goods can make a lovely and practical wedding gift that will be used and remembered for years to come. Plus, if you plan ahead, you can buy these things after Christmas and get them very inexpensively.

Works of art

Some of the nicest wedding gifts I got were homemade works of art. One of my friends gave me a framed painting she had done just for me. My mom and one of her friends gave me handmade quilts. A work of art like this serves as home d?cor but more importantly it is a constant reminder of how much you love the couple. Wedding gifts like this are priceless.

Events instead of stuff

Once the honeymoons over, the couple will still want to have fun and go on dates once in a while, so gift certificates to restaurants, tickets to concerts or shows, or memberships in museums they care about make excellent gifts. They dont take up space or gather dust, and they will be much more memorable than another place setting or a wooden spoon.

Money

This is probably the most traditional of all wedding gifts, but there are some more modern spins on it now. Some couples are asking for charitable donations in lieu of wedding gifts, and some are setting up honeymoon registries so that guests can help them pay for a vacation. These are not inexpensive gifts for you, but if this is what the couple wants its probably the best thing. Many couples just dont have storage or need of more stuff. If a couple prefers money, give them what you can. Dont feel like you have an obligation to give a certain amount of money, whatever the cost of the dinner. Youre not paying for your meal, youre giving the couple a gift from your heart.

By: Melissa Hogan

Christmas Flower Arrangements

You can dress up your home this Christmas with a flower arrangement so spectacular youll wonder how you did it on your own. Traditional arrangements come in a happy mix of green, red, and white fresh Christmas flowerspoinsettiasand include Christmas cactus, holly with green leaves and red berries, but you can bring about the same effect with silk flowers.

Your silk flower arrangement for Christmas will add an extra touch of beauty to your decorations for the festive season, besides being economical and long lasting. They are also very easy to do and can be done much before the season begins.

To make a beautiful Christmas silk flower arrangement, you will need a container, floral adhesive, and pair of pliers to bend wires, wire cutters, flora tape, foam and tape.

You will need to choose a container for Christmas silk flower arrangement that is neither too wide nor too narrow but certainly lightweight. Make a large silk floral arrangement in an urn-shaped container.

Now, select flowers of different textures to lend variety to your flower arrangement. Their colors should also match those of your room and give it a festive look. Before you buy silk poinsettias, holly or red berries, look at their edges. If they are frayed or damaged, reject them for those that look fresh and natural.

Next, begin arranging your flowers. Open each flower carefully so that it is wide open and reveals its actual shape. Stick the stems of the flowers into the foam. Lengthen the stems by attaching a piece of floral wire at the end of the stem with floral tape.

Continue to make your Christmas silk flower arrangement with varying sizes of stems. This will lend a good shape to your arrangement and add to the beauty of the arrangement.

By Ken Marlborough

Cleaning Silk Bouquets In 3 Simple Steps

A Silk bouquet can last a lot longer than a bouquet made of real flowers, but it will still droop, and get dusty, over time. Fortunately a little bit of preventive care can go a long way towards keeping your bouquet looking like new.

It doesn't take long either. 5 minutes spent caring for your bouquet every 3-6 months will keep your bouquet looking as good as it did they day you bought it.

Read on to discover the 3 simple steps to keeping your silk bouquet in pristine condition. You'll also discover the one thing you should NEVER do to clean your bouquet. Make this mistake, and you might ruin your bouquet forever!

Step 1: Rice Cleaning

Place your bouquet in a plastic shopping bag, along with half a cup of white rice. Twist the bag closed, and then shake the bag for about 60 seconds.

The rice in the plastic bag will get statically charged, and the dust will be attracted to the rice. In the past, people used salt instead of rice, but salt was found to be too hard, and would scratch the flowers. White rice is softer, so it won't damage the flowers at all.

Step 2: Fluffing

Once you have cleaned your silk flowers, hold the bouquet by the handle and then turn it upside down and give it two or three good hard shakes, dropping the rice back into the bag. This should loosen any rice caught in the flowers and also clear away any left over dust. It will also fluff the flowers, and give them back their original shape.

Step 3: Plumping And Teasing

After fluffing the bouquet, it is time to make sure all the flowers are in the right position. Using the back of your hand, go around the back of the bouquet and lightly push the flowers back into position, to plump up the bouquet. Once you are happy with the general shape, then tease the flowers into the correct position by lightly pulling and pushing on the individual flowers and petals until they are correctly placed.

That's it! Simple, wasn't it? Now, you may have read that you can lightly spray your bouquet with soapy water to get it clean. Regardless of what you may have read, don't ever do this! Never spray your bouquet with water because the wet dust will run and stain your flowers. And stained flowers do NOT look right!

If you follow these simple steps every 3-6 months, your bouquet will stay beautiful, and will be around long enough for future generations to enjoy.

By: Peta D'Silva

Choosing The Perfect Flower Arrangement To Send To A Loved One

Creating Dried Flower Floral Arrangements

Gather round all you ladies & yes, gents, too. The fun & enjoyment of working with dried flowers awaits you. 1st. off we will begin by creating gorgeous floral arrangements using natural products to bring vibrant color to home accessories. Imagine this if you will, the combination of colored exotics like the mango Ting Ting flowers mixed with the longer twisted Ting Ting in mango, keeping the twisted Ting as the highest point in the arrangement. Use Brown, Bordeaux or Mango Flax grass as filler. Add several (5) 24 long stem natural Pro Tea flowers. Place these in a fairly tall marble looking vase, or a terra cotta pot. Bring one of the Pro Tea flowers & a few of the Ting Tings down in front of the vase or pot. Play with the arrangement till you get just the look you want & for a job well done.

After all that work we need to relax. To help bring a restful, refreshing feel to our habitat, bring on the domestically grown English lavender mixed with the white Larkspur & the preserved dark green Lasiantha, arranged in a metal Americana pitcher, for an aromatic potpourri treat. Sit near an open window or air vent.

While were on this smell good potpourri kick, gather-up the flavorful cinnamon sticks & lavender buds. We can crush them up or make a bundle of the sticks, tied with a ribbon on a bed of lavender buds in a wicker basket, adding a few lavender blooms for a complete smell good temptation. If lavender is not your choice, select several stems of polished preserved Eucalyptus in array of vibrant color of blue, camel, green, olive, orange, purple or red. Tie with ribbon & place on a shelf or windowsill.

Since many of us love to craft, I have an idea. Take several strands of the natural raffia (length of choice); make a knot at the top end. Attach at random by gluing or tying, natural dried fruits such as apple slices, grapefruit slices, & orange slices, including cinnamon sticks tied on with small raffia bows at each one of the fruit slices. Brew up a cup of tea or apple cider, pop-in a cinnamon stick, stir gently, wake up the taste buds, as well as the sinuses. Another simpler option would be to gather-up the yummy fruit slices, including the whole split orange, place in a crystal bowl. Stir often & enjoy.

With all these aromatic natural products available for wholesale purchases at www.schustersoftexas.com there is no excuse for not having good smelling homes.

With the use of the honeysuckle garland shaped into an arched bundle as the base, attach preserved foliage of burgundy Peppermint & burgundy Cedar with raffia ties. Add a few natural sun Palms @ random along with burgundy parchment Hydrangeas, pinching off a few blooms to place at strategic points on the sun Palms. Now you have a vibrant

colored swag, HANG ANYWHERE, HANG EVERYWHERE.

Anna Lee Schuster is a floral designer and her how-to articles on dried flower craft ideas have been published in several magazines and newspapers. Get more information regarding dried flowers Larkspur Ting Ting's Pro Tea craft ideas.

By Roy R Reyer

How To Choose The Perfect Place For Your Flower Shop Business

A flower shop is the perfect place for flower and flower arrangement marketing and those who work here florists, flower artisans or flower designers can offer you qualified and useful pieces about flowers and carrying them.

To choose the best place for your expectant flower shop business, we give some advices for you to follow, if want to.

Flower Shop

The most important for a flower shop business to be a profitable one is the place as a position, like we said before, (it has to be a main road or a free trade zone, however a place in front of which are passing a lot of people, who can visit and admire your flower shop and maybe buy a flower, or a bouquet or a flower arrangement) and as a functional space, because the florist need the appropriate conditions to make high quality things.

A functional flower shop space has to be well proportioned, a corporate from doorway, shop window, selling space, working space, storehouse, social rooms. Our opinion is that you have not to dispense with one of those spaces. When you visit a possible space, you need to mind and distribute it in accordance with material conditions.

The doorway and the shop window are the strongest points for a business, especially for a flower shop. The doorway includes the exterior wall, the doors and the outdoor advertising elements. People has to admire and hold back the doorway, it has to inspire them hospitability and quality. Thus a looker can become a visitor and maybe a client. On the sign board you have to write FLOWER SHOP and the name of course, that has to be short, in evidence, noticeable and easy to hold back.

Put the coming door behind the shop window, so this one can take the entire image.

The shop window is a must, letting the light to come in and its arrangement is very important for the visitors to enjoy and want the same decoration at their places too. A beautiful shop window reflects the neatness, subtlety, imagination, professionalism of the florist.

Tricks and advices for you to create the decorations for the shop window:

The looker must have a general vision on the shop window

Put the flowers you want to sell quickly under the clients eyes, on the same level.

The shop window has to be a small exhibition of numerous types of flower that there are inside.

The flower arrangements have to be fresh that you can sell if someone wants.

Dont associate the natural with artificial flowers. That is a not to do!.

Dont you prefer the artificial flower for its resistance, decorate the shop window only with natural flowers. Consider that its an investment for your flower shop to be noted. As we said before, the flower shop business needs time and money to be on top.

Create a point of much interest, with color contrast (a yellow flower, like freesia or daffodil in center of a lot of violet, represented by iris) or best color combination (a joyful flower arrangement made by yellow, green, orange roses).

Choose a theme of decoration than find and use the elements that compose it (freshness can suggest even a fruits and flowers combination arrangement; the spring will be recomposed with lilac, peony, daffodil; for autumn, choose to present a dry flowers, leafs and nuts arrangement).

Put your imagination to the proof to create the most sophisticated flower arrangement for the shop window. That is a step for you to select yours clients.

Illuminate it. For the flowers to maintain the natural colors, is important the light to be warm. You have to avoid the white and cold nuances of the light.

Aura Surcel is a Romanian floral designer with many ideas of natural decorations, freelance writer of nature, flowers and plants, traditional treatments and of the flower shop business. She also loves nature, flowers and to make floral arrangements.

For more information, visit http://www.flowersgrowing.com

By Aura Surcel

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Monday, December 8, 2008

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Friday, November 21, 2008

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Friday, October 31, 2008

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Interested website

About

Archives

Our Blogger Templates