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

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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

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Wedding Ring Inscriptions. The Ultimate Unique Wedding Band

Wedding ring inscriptions are a great way to covert the simplest wedding band into a unique wedding band. Gone are the days of just having your wedding anniversary scratched on the inside of your ring. Is there a song title, saying, or even a scripture that you both love?

Some couples decide to have a part of their wedding vows engraved on their wedding rings. Another popular idea is to incorporate something from the wedding theme (if you had one). The name of the resort or town where you are honeymooning perhaps? Your pet names for each other, or even the name of the restaurant for your first date.

The engraved wedding band is not just limited to words on the inner side of the band. Some couples are electing to have longer inscriptions on the edge of their band or on the outer side (this would have to be re engraved as the ring wore down). Some specialized jewelers are even engraving inscriptions on diamonds. These are not usually obvious to the naked eye, and are more costly, but do allow for identification of your stone if it is ever stolen.

Check on the time frame for the engraving to be done. This can vary from one day to a month. Prices can fluctuate between $1 per letter to almost $10 depending on whether the engraving is done by hand or machine, and the degree of embellishment you require. It is also probably a great idea if you are able to see any of the jeweler's other engraving handiwork. If your jeweler seems hesitant, or disinterested find another who does specialize in wedding band engraving.

Your own inscriptions will be on your wedding rings forever. If the words are on the inside, none else will generally be reading them, allowing for a little more privacy. However, if you opt for an external wedding ring inscription, you will need to remember that others will be able to read it as well. Your pet nicknames may not look like quite such a great idea in another 20 or 30 years.

Many couple are electing to have inscriptions in French, Italian, Spanish, Latin, or Hebrew. What about some of these?

*English:
Always
Forever
Love is eternal
Today, tomorrow, forever
Never to part
From this moment on
God unite both in love
Bless this ring, bless our life

*French:
Je T'aime: I Love You
Par Grant Amour: For My Greatest Love
Mon Coeur Est a Vous: You Have My Heart
Par Grant Amour: For My Greatest Love
Mon Amour: My Love
Pour toujours et toujours: Forever and always

*Spanish:
Con tutto l'mio amore: I am yours always

*Italian:
Il Mio Cuore e il Tuo Per Sempre: My Heart is Yours Forever
Con tutto l'mio amore: With all my heart
Amore Mio: My Love

*Hebrew:
Ani L'dodi V'dodi Li: I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine
Mizpah: God watch between us when we are absent from one another

* Latin:
Amor Vincit Omnia: Love Conquers All
Semper Amemus: Let Us Love Always
Deus Nos Iunxit: God Joined Us
Pari Passu: With Equal Step
Semper Fidelis: Always Faithful

Many of these quotes actually translate into beautiful inscriptions in English.

Wedding ring inscriptions can be fun, romantic, sentimental, or incredibly personal. Words of love to be permanently remembered. Much like your wedding vows.

By: Andy Moquin

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Real vs. Artificial Christmas Trees

Putting up and decorating your Christmas tree is a holiday tradition which has been in effect for hundreds of years and will probably be in effect until the end of time. Choosing whether you want a real Christmas tree or an artificial Christmas tree is a dilemma which many of us face every year. There are many benefits to both forms of trees but there are many disadvantages as well.

Here are a few things to consider when deciding which form of Christmas tree would be best suited for you and your family:

Artificial Christmas Trees

Artificial trees eliminate the hassle of having to find time to go and specially choose a Christmas tree from the lot.

Another great thing about artificial trees is they do not need to be watered and the needles will not fall off and create a mess in your house.

The money you will save by purchasing an artificial Christmas tree can be spent on more presents for your children or possibly other forms of decorations.

Artificial Christmas trees can be put up earlier and stay up longer than real Christmas trees.

This type of tree is less of a fire hazard because the needles are not real.

Real Christmas Trees

Real Christmas trees look more attractive and have a fragrance like pine needles. Some families live for the smell of their tree at Christmas time.

It is tradition for a number of families to go cut the tree. Its a family outing where you go and specifically choose the one you want every year.

Real Christmas trees pose a fire hazard when the branches become dry and hot from the Christmas lights.

Real Christmas trees have to be maintained and well-kept. This includes watering and removing the dead needles which have fallen under the tree.

Ultimately the decision is yours and you will choose the kind of tree that best suits your family and your preferences. If you want a tree which requires very little maintenance then maybe an artificial one would be better suited for you.

Your Christmas will be wonderful regardless of the type of tree you choose because this holiday is about loving, giving and being thankful for what you have.

By: Catherine Spelling

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Where Can I Get Special And Unique Wedding Gifts For My Wedding

Some people only get married once in a lifetime (and hope that that will be the only wedding they will ever have) so they want their wedding gifts to be equally special. That is why the wedding gifts industry keeps trying to come up with unique ideas for ideal wedding gifts that would make that wedding special enough for all attending to remember.

Wedding gifts could be as simple as a set of bowls and plates featuring emblazoned pictures of the happy couple with a special message, or as lavish as trips on cruise ships for couples in the wedding party. It all depends on the budget of the bride and groom set aside specifically for wedding gifts, and the capacity of the wedding gifts provider to meet the specifications of the couple.

Some choices of wedding gifts could be custom-made wedding keepsake containers, display bowls meant to be set on living room or dining room tables, memory books, photo albums, replicas of the wedding cake slicer and serving utensils, gourmet baskets filled with goodies, miniature bar cabinets, keepsake clocks, pillowcases, graceful candlesticks, comfortable bathrobes, bottles of fine wine, wine coolers, classy bookends, throw pillows, cute blankets, customized bath towels, photo frames of varying sizes, a certificate entitling the bearer to hire a chef for a day, a certificate giving free trial membership to a Wine of the Month club, unusual coffee table or party games, Oriental culinary sets (like Japanese tea ceremony sets), wine or ice buckets, specially-designed wine racks, commemorative wine stoppers, cookbooks for the budding chefs in the wedding party, and even monogrammed wine glasses.

Some bride and groom couples set about hunting for wedding gifts by having a specific wedding gift in mind then looking for suppliers. Other couples look around though for what is available around them before settling for one type of wedding gift. It really depends on you and your partner which style of search process works best for you. One good way of narrowing down your short list of choices for wedding gifts is to examine the members of your wedding party and what types of wedding gifts they most likely would like to receive. Some couples might choose wedding gifts they would like to receive themselves (which isnt bad in itself, unless their potential recipients have very different tastes from the wedding couple, in which case the actual wedding gifts would probably be politely received but not with much enthusiasm.) You and your partner need to discuss this problem between yourselves because the mood of the occasion might be ruined when you do not get the response you thought you would get when the recipients finds out what wedding gifts are being given out.

As wedding gifts providers try to get more business from couples, they now try to come up with more unique options as wedding gifts that you can choose from. One new category you might encounter are the Experiential wedding gifts category. This means offering wedding gifts that allow the recipients to try something daring and new to their field of experience. For instance, who do you know who has never been on a hot air balloon even once in their life? Probably a lot of people right? Well, then maybe they would like the chance to do that then, as your special wedding gift to them. And who wouldnt love the chance to go to a spa for a relaxing weekend? There are now certificates that allow your recipient to indulge in this highly valuable service as part of the Experiential wedding gifts category. Such wedding gifts may not be tangible things but will leave a mark on the memory of your wedding party for the long term anyway.

By: Ron C Edwards

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Ideas For Wedding Flower Arrangements

Flowers are universally loved by everyone. Is there anyone who doesn't like flowers? Men woo their women with a bouquet of lovely flowers and it is indeed a quintessential element of a romantic atmosphere. Flowers have an uncanny knack of transmuting their fragrance to their surroundings and cheering up the entire ambiance. Different colors of flowers signify different emotions and meanings.

Traditionally, white flowers have been the preferred choice for wedding floral arrangements as they match with the bridal ensemble in most weddings and they contain all the colors of the spectrum. Hence, white is said to have all the qualities of all the colors combined. In recent times, however, people have been getting more adventurous and willing to experiment with other colors.

To give you an idea of the color connotations, red flowers symbolize family ties; blue symbolizes serenity and calm, while orange is the color of lust! The color green serves as a balancing color for a floral arrangement, as it is in the center of the gamut of colorful flowers. Your wedding day is one of the most romantic days of your life and beautiful floral arrangements will illuminate and complement the occasion. Flowers are known to symbolize life, growth, and rebirth exemplified by the lifecycle of the flower itself.

Ikebana The Art of Flower Arrangements

The Japanese consider flower arrangements as an art - 'Ikebana'. Indeed, floral arrangement requires a keen sense of aesthetics, color co-ordination, and good planning. Depending on the style of your wedding as well as the budget for your wedding, you could employ a professional floral designer. These professionals add character to the flowers and create a brilliant masterpiece by combining flowers of different shapes, sizes, and fragrances to add a touch of class and elegance.

If you prefer a hands-on, cost-effective approach and would like to have a personal touch to your wedding, following are few tips to guide you through the process - with panache, style, and elegance.

List and Finalize Your Floral Requirements for the Wedding

The first detail to be confirmed is the selection of flowers that you will need. To have a list ready can help you focus your discussions and stick to your budget. At this point, keep in mind that you will probably require a different set of flowers for each occasion such as the wedding ceremony or the wedding reception.

Floral Bouquet Ideas

We are sure you would love to celebrate your wedding in your own distinctive style. To begin with, start inquiring in and around your locality for good creative florists. Search for information on the Internet and start collecting different ideas and themes for the wedding.

Speak to your local florist as he or she can have good ideas to offer, considering his or her experience and expertise with previous weddings. Give ample time for the florist to plan for your wedding in advance, as the flowers could be seasonal. If that is the case, he or she would require some time to arrange for the particular variety of flowers you require for the wedding. Ideally, initiate discussions with your florist few months in advance. Your florist can offer suggestions, alternatives, and provide you with examples of his or her previous work.

Ask questions. It is your wedding and to make it perfect, you have to share ideas and research before you clinch the deal with the florist. Make it a point to look at the florist's work samples and how he or she has worked on other weddings. This could also help you gauge how receptive and flexible the florist is to your suggestions and ideas.

Get Inspired!

You can draw inspiration from your surroundings such as other weddings you have attended, magazines, floral shops, and high-end luxury hotels with elaborate floral decorations, amongst others. Always keep an eye out for well-coordinated d?cors and good color combinations so that you can incorporate some of those ideas to your wedding.

Pay Attention to Details

Floral arrangements require considerable time and effort. Being organized is the key.

Collate all your floral ideas such as photos and illustrations and ensure they are accessible when the need arises.

Flowers are perishable and need to be preserved in water and a cool environment so that they do not wither before or during the wedding.

Dedicate a work area for the wedding flowers. You will require a deep sink to soak the flowers, several large tables, trash bags to dispose of the waste, a large garbage can, and a clean space nearby to set the finished bouquets and arrangements.

Provide ample time for the 'floral' activity. Do not hurry up at the last minute. Instead, plan ahead so that you are happy with the end result. Do not try to do everything by yourself and get hassled. Ask your family or close friends to help, and share your ideas with them. This will accelerate the process.

By: John Stronack

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Making Flower Arrangements

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DIY Flower Arrangements

DIY flower arrangements can be presented as gifts for weddings, Valentines Day, or any other special occasion. DIY flower arrangements are well suited for simple house decorations. These add color and elegance to any home. DIY flower arrangements save you a lot of money while at the same time offering an opportunity to have enjoyment and fun.

Some of the essential materials that are needed for DIY flower arrangements are flowers, floral tape, stem cutter, and stem stripper. The first step for creating DIY centerpieces is the preparation of flowers. Assembling of flowers comes next. Securing and measuring the centerpieces are the other steps. You can also add filler flowers and extra greenery according to your desire. Small flowers and candles will add beauty to DIY flower arrangement.

You can make DIY flower arrangements from dried flowers, paper flowers, and silk flowers as well. If you are purchasing flowers from local florists or from grocery stores, always select fresh flowers. Also check petals, stems, and leaves. For creating DIY rose bouquets, select the rose colors to coordinate with your interior d?cor.

A large selection of fresh flowers with bulk pricing for DIY flower arrangements are offered through online stores. A wide selection of exclusive designs is offered in kit form in many flower shops. Included in the kit are flowers, foliage, vases, and other accessories needed to design DIY floral arrangement.

With the advent of the Internet, it is no longer necessary to spend loads of money for flower arranging courses or floral design books. Plenty of tips and techniques are provided through websites. These websites offer all needed advice on making DIY flower arrangements. You are able to view pictures of popular bridal bouquet styles, wedding flowers, flower arrangement styles, floral design basics, and more.

By Josh Riverside

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Thanksgiving Flower Arrangements

While your own personality will ultimately determine what will go into your Thanksgiving flower arrangement, we've pulled together some ideas from getting started to applying the finishing touches.

Thanksgiving is a traditional autumn holiday with a rustic, earthy theme and your flower arrangement can easily incorporate this by the colours and materials you choose. Autumn is the season of deep, warm colours reminding us of ripe fruits and vegetables, and of the leaves turning on the trees before falling. For your main items choose flowers and accessories in a variety of reds, oranges, yellows, coppers and browns. A touch of green or blue is a great complement and will bring out the warm colours beautifully!

Great seasonal flowers are chrysanthemums, asters, pansies and even sunflowers. Mums and asters can be used in medium to large arrangements, possibly with a handful of small roses and stalks of wheat or barley as accents. If you have a garden, take a stroll through it to see what is still thriving - it could end up being the main attraction in your arrangement!

If you want a handful of smaller arrangements, pansies in old mason jars can add a bit of freshness throughout your home, whether they are placed in washrooms to greet guests, or scattered among buffet dishes on the dining room table. To dress them up, simply tie some ribbon around the jar, preferably ribbon with wire edges that can be shaped to your liking.

Once you've determined which flowers you want to use, you can figure out what container you're going to arrange them in. Possibilities include vases of varying sizes, mason jars, water pitchers, metal watering cans, and terra cotta pots (with a smaller vase or glass inside to hold the flowers and water).

Once your arrangement is created, don't forget to tie all of your colours together with some richly coloured ribbon, raffia, or decorative stones.

Have fun creating your flower arrangement! There are no right or wrong ways as long as you let your creativity show. You'll know when the arrangement feels and looks right so follow your instinct and have a great Thanksgiving!

By Stephanie Smith

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Flowers for All Occasions

Artificial flowers are imitations of real flowers. They have been available for many years. Many people prefer these flowers for maintenance reasons. You dont have to water them, and they can often look just as nice as real flowers.

A variety of materials have been used to manufacture artificial flowers, and this has changed over time. The most recent materials used for these types of flowers are carved or foam soap, nylon netting, ground clay, and mass produced plastic mouldings.

Lets take a look at some of the different types of artificial flowers:


Cloth and paper flowers

These are made by cutting up various fabrics and materials and made in to shapes that can be used to form the leaves and petals etc. Die is used for the veins of the leaves. The petals and other parts of the flowers are then assembled. Finally, a stork is used to mount the flower on. A suitable coloured material is used to set the whole artificial flower off.

Clay flowers


The clay is dried to form a powder, water is then added and a specific colouring to set the flower off. A paste is then used as modelling paste to set the desired shape. Normally a skilled crafts man will model the shape in to form.

Plastic flowers

Mass production is used which moulds each artificial flower. This how you can get identical artificial flowers mass produced in high volumes. Businesses normally take this route to sell as many flowers as they can in high volumes.

Our website offers articles on different types of flowers, specifically artificial flowers. Be sure to check us out for all the information you will ever need relating to artificial flowers.

By John Gibb

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Unique Flower Arrangements

Fresh flowers are not the only flowers that you can use to make a beautiful flower arrangement. You can make a flower arrangement out of dried flowers, too. Contrary to most people's opinion, dried flowers can still be used for so many purposes like in making flower arrangements.

There are many ways to dry fresh flowers. You can freeze-dry them, air-dry them by hanging them upside down, use silica gel, or place them in the microwave - just be sure to follow instructions on how to do these things carefully.

When arranging dried flowers, place a vase on a lazy Susan with the base of the vase stuck with floral clay and a piece of foam fixed into the vase. Using lepidium, lavender and a straw, provide an over-all shape to your arrangement. Then, fill center up with flax, foliage, galax leaves,

or maidenhair fern. Position your flowers in descending order of size where large flowers such as hydrangea are the ones placed first, then moving on to the medium-sized ones. Do not forget to space them evenly. For a better effect, add delphinium, larkspur, or dried flax.

When making a bouquet of dried flowers, it helps to imagine a triangular floral arrangement with a flat back. Make an arrangement that is 1 1/2 times bigger than the size of the vase. Begin by placing twigs, ferns, spike flowers, and long seed heads. To show depth, longer pieces such as larkspur should be used at the back of the arrangement.

To finish it up, add filling material such as statice, tansy, or hortensia, extending at least half the height of the twigs and ferns. For greater appeal, the most attractive flowers with the main colors of the arrangement should be located at the center.

Make sure that the arrangement is balanced well--not too heavy on one side. And to maintain the arrangement's basic shape, keep filling it up with flowers and heighten its effect with seed heads and grasses.

By Ken Marlborough

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How to Keep Your Silk Flower Arrangement Looking Fresh and Vibrant 5 Tips

When you created or purchased your silk flower arrangements, you were probably motivated by the fact that you could enjoy countless days and months of beautiful colors in your home or office. Silk flower wedding arrangements and bouquets are also growing in popularity for their longevity. Unlike cut flowers, your silk flower arrangement can last a long time. A long time to collect dust on your once pristine treasure.

1. Shaking - to remove dust from artificial silk flowers and sprays simply shake the flowers gently. One of the reasons that we take extra care in hot gluing our arrangements in place is to make them easier to clean and handle. Remember; be extra gentle if your silk flower arrangement is not anchored well.



2. Feather Duster a trusty feather duster can also be a great tool to clean your silk flower arrangement. We have not experienced a major difference whether you use real feathers or synthetic feathers. Again, take your time and be gentle.

3. Blow Dryer get out that trusty hair dryer. Make sure you have the dryer set to low cool before taking aim at your silk flower arrangement. Start from the interior of your arrangement and work your way toward the outside elements of your arrangements.

4. Detergent. Dipping the flowers of your silk flower arrangements into a weak solution of liquid detergent and water or spraying with a commercially available product can aide in the reduced build up of dust.

5. Salt yes, you read correctly salt! If dust is lodged in an artificial flower, simply put the flower in a bag with a little bit of salt. Shake the bag lightly, and the dust should be completely dislodged

Gale Regelin has been designing custom home d?cor 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

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Unique Wedding Favors Everyone Can Appreciate

Include a touch of gratitude in your wedding plans with unique wedding favors. Whether at the rehearsal dinner or wedding reception, wedding favors can add a nice touch to the celebration. And best of all, these keepsakes show your appreciation to those who are closest to you. The old adage Its the thought that counts couldnt be truer. Whether selecting gifts for the bridesmaids, the groomsmen, or for anyone you wish to honor, its the thought that counts: Not the expense. There are ideal wedding favors to meet every budget big and small.

The bride can select from a variety of wedding favors that her ladies will cherish for years to come. In fact, shopping for the bridal party can be a lot of fun by capturing their personalities.

From compact mirrors and antique jewelry boxes to pink leather hip flasks, or a silver plated tea set for the flower girl, there truly is something for everyone. The idea here is to personalize the gift with each recipient in mind.

Keep the groom involved. There are several traditional favorites as well as from some new and unique ones. Traditional wedding favorites include monogrammed hip flasks and barware, cuff links to match their tuxedos, and sterling silver knives and cigar accessories. Some unique ideas that might capture their particular personality include deluxe poker sets and personalized baseball bats and engraved luggage tags. The ring bearer might like the grown-up gifts, but he might also appreciate the silver plated planes, trains, and motorcycle piggy banks designed just for kids.

For parents, grandparents, the host and anyone else youd like to recognize at the rehearsal dinner, any keepsake is appropriate. The main focus should be on personalizing the keepsake in two ways. First, engrave the recipient's monogram or wedding date onto the gift. Second, select gifts that match the recipients personality.

First, there is a wedding rehearsal where the presiding officer instructs the wedding party on wedding-day etiquette. After the rehearsal, usually held in the evening on a weekday, everyone gathers at a restaurant, a home, or anywhere theyd like to meet for the rehearsal dinner. The bride and grooms wedding party, close family, out-of-town-guests, and friends all attend. This is the perfect time to hand out gifts.

Its customary for all the ladies in the bridal party to receive a gift. Its also an opportunity for the bride to give them luxury items and trinkets. The bride needs to set the matron-of-honor apart by giving her a unique wedding favor. The bridesmaids traditionally receive identical gifts. And the flower girl, often needing a little encouragement herself, should get something especially chosen just for her.

The groom thanks his party in a similar way. The best man deserves something extra for all his hard work. The groomsmen can receive identical gifts, but this is not mandatory. And the ring bearer, less mature in years from the rest of the men, might like something chosen just for him.

The bride and groom may wish to extend their gratitude to the host of the rehearsal dinner and other close family members. The rehearsal dinner is ideal time to do so. And there are several unique wedding favors that will serve this purpose well.

Wedding favors at the reception can carry a particular theme throughout the party. If your reception will take place around the holidays, decorated wine bags or place settings can be a stunning visual. A heart theme around Valentines Day might be animated with red, pink, and white candles, hearts, and flowers.

Beach themes can add a lot of fun to the party. With picture frames that look like wooden beach chairs or with sailboat candles at each place setting, the vibrant colors of a beach theme can really liven up the reception in a memorable way.

Wedding themes help focus the planning process. And with the vast array of unique wedding favors available, the couple can reflect their own personality in the theme and favors they choose.

By: Debbie Jones

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Silk Funeral Flowers

Consoling a bereaved family can sometimes be daunting; you might even feel helpless at realizing youre not doing the right thing to comfort them. Good thing, there are flowers to help you out! Flowers are considered an excellent way to console one during their loss. You can send a set of funeral flowers to the bereaved family to show them your commiseration and support.

There are various funeral flower choices that are available. You may have selections of fresh flowers like roses, chrysanthemums, lilies, and carnations. These are the most common choices for funeral flowers. On the other hand, if you want a flower that can withstand a week or two of funeral services without withering;

you may get silk funeral flowers instead. Silk funeral flowers can be made to look like real ones with the right arrangements; hence, they are widely used as an alternative for fresh arrangements.

Most flower shops and now offer choices of silk funeral flowers. You can choose from a variety of arrangements; wreaths, casket sprays, or floral stands. You can also have a silk funeral flower in different custom shapes like crosses, hearts, logos, angels, etc. Some silk funeral flowers may also be arranged according to the deceaseds profession or organization.

Flower shops and arrangers will let you choose what specific silk funeral flower you like to send; youre free to choose the color, the kind of arrangements, the numbers of flowers, ribbons, and the size of the arrangement. You may also decide whether you like your silk funeral flowers arranged in a large vase or in a basket.

You may also arrange the silk flowers yourself if you have the right knowledge and a little craft in floral arrangements. There are web sites that offer information on silk funeral flower arrangements; these include information on choosing the right color, materials as well as how youll do the arrangements. Magazines about floral arrangements will also give you plenty of information about this. If you want otherwise, like most people opt for, you may contact the nearest flower shops in your area that offer silk funeral flower arrangements.

Funeral Flowers provides detailed information on Funeral Flowers, Funeral Flower Arrangements, Buy Funeral Flowers, Silk Funeral Flowers and more. Funeral Flowers is affiliated with Cheap Sympathy Flowers.

By Alison Cole

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Helpful Ideas For Designing A Flower Garden

There is one thing that all flower gardens have in common - gorgeous flowering plants. What sets one flower garden apart from another is the structure and design surrounding the flowers. The most attractive flower gardens have been planned carefully and designed precisely. In order to plan and design a beautiful flower garden, you must plan in advance and choose plants that will compliment one another.

Before finalizing your flower garden plans it is a good idea to visit your local nursery to get an idea of which flowers appeal to you and what types and colors of flowers will compliment each other nicely.

Try to choose plants that flower at varying times of the year and that offer a wide variety of colors. Different textures and greenery will give you the best results. Also, choose a mixture of annuals and perennials. Annuals are flowers that must be planted each year and perennials are flowers that return year after year with no need to replant.

It is always helpful to make a rough drawing of the outline of your flower garden and begin adding various elements from there. You will have to decide upon the border of your flower garden and the shape of the bed. A border is the area around the outside of your garden and the bed is the area inside the border. You can choose plants, stones, or edging for the border and then fill the bed with a variety of flowering plants.

In choosing the types of flowers you will grow in your garden, spend a little time researching the best types of flowers for your area. Some flowers will do well in any part of the country while others will only produce flowers in certain climates. Choosing plants that are native to your particular area is always a good idea, especially for beginners. Native plants are ones that grow naturally in your region and will require the least amount of care and maintenance.

By: Jennifer Houck

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Tips For Making Your Wedding Bouquets Last

Because a lot of the wedding preparations start in the morning and go well into the afternoon, the flowers will need to be delivered well before the ceremony. If its a warm day, you might find you and your bridesmaids with wilted, dropping flowers. But dont worry; there are ways to avoid this as well.

Keeping it cool

Most of the bouquets and other floral arrangements will come in either vases or small plastic bags of water. These are designed to keep them moist and pert until the start of the wedding. And while keeping them in these packages will help the most for keeping your flowers from wilting, there are other ways to spruce them up.

If you should get flowers that arent as perky, then you can run the ends of the bouquets under cold water as you cut the ends at an angle.

This will help to create new channels for the water to flow through. Place the bouquets back into their original water and they should become straighter and livelier within an hour or so.

What you may read in some books is that you can use ice cubes in the water to help you make the flowers look better, but this only freezes the routes of water to the flower, and can cause even more harm to a sagging bouquet.

If you decide to take outdoor pictures, they you can take the bouquets out of the water, dry them off with a paper towel and stand and pose. Once you are back inside, you will want to put the flowers back into the water once more, to make sure that they get the most amount of water they can before the ceremony.

After the fact

If youre looking to preserve your bouquet, here are a few tips. Although many florists can help you with preserving the brides bouquet, you can also do it yourself. One route is to hang the bouquet upside down as soon as you can after the wedding. This helps the flowers to keep their original shape as they air dry. The air drying process will take a while, so dont worry if youre still waiting on them to dry a month later.

Another way to preserve bouquets is to spray them with hair spray immediately following the wedding and hang them upside down. This creates a sort of layer of protection around the petals and can shield the flowers from losing their original shape.

By: Amy K. Spade

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Why You Must Consider An Artificial Christmas Tree

Artificial trees are a great and a very welcome addition to households these days and in particular, the Artificial Christmas trees that are pre lit have many advantages over natural trees.

Artificial Christmas trees of all styles and sizes including frosted, flocked, and white trees, ultra realistic PE trees, giant trees, coloured trees, and upside down Christmas trees. They were first introduced in the US in the year 1913 and over the years Artificial Christmas trees have been greatly improved in the past one-decade that it is hampering the business of natural Christmas tree sellers.

The Advantages

Artificial Christmas trees have many advantages over their live counterparts with just a few of these reasons being that the trees come in a huge variety of sizes and styles,

from compact miniature tabletop trees to grand large trees, so there will always be something to fit rooms of any scope. Another great bonus is that Artificial Christmas trees can be set up much earlier and left up for longer.

Many years ago there was always somewhat of a stigma abut Artificial trees but they have now come a long way from the pure, sometimes terrible and sometimes charming, fakery of many years ago so it is conclusive that Artificial Christmas trees are a popular alternative to real trees, and subsequently have many advantages.

Artificial Christmas trees especially those that are pre lit have many advantages over natural trees. Artificial Christmas trees of all styles and sizes including frosted, flocked, and white trees, ultra realistic PE trees, giant trees, coloured trees, and upside down Christmas trees. Artificial Christmas Trees were introduced in the US in the year 1913. Artificial Christmas trees have been greatly improved in the past one-decade that it is hampering the business of natural Christmas tree sellers. Artificial Christmas trees have many advantages over their live counterparts. Artificial Christmas trees have come a long way from the pure, sometimes dreadful and sometimes charming, fakery of a few decades ago. Artificial Christmas trees are a popular alternative to real trees, and have many advantages. Artificial Christmas trees come in a huge variety of sizes and styles, from compact miniature tabletop trees to magnificent large trees, so there's something to fit rooms of any size. Artificial Christmas trees can be set up much earlier and left up longer.

Lights

Another great thing about Artificial Xmas tree is that it will allow anyone to put on the Christmas lights permanently so you do not have to light your Xmas tree, Christmas after Christmas. There are also a range of accessories that you can use such as wreaths, garland and vacation trees in planters and pots, Christmas tree hold all bags, revolving & replacement tree stands and garland lights.

Remember though, when we consider lighting, it is not uncommon for lights to be broken or missing in shipment and bulbs can be burned out from the previous year of use.

Artificial Christmas Trees are without doubt a worthy addition to your home at Christmas and you ought to think seriously before deciding not to purchase one. You will get years of continued use and save a fortune

By: Katie Rowan

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Looking For That Unique Wedding Favour

When it comes to the bride and groom selecting the right wedding favours for their guests, it can become quite daunting by the large range of favours available. There are so many variations of wedding favour on the market, that it may cause confusion. But at the same time the vast array can also help make that all important decision and there are plenty of possibilities to match the style and theme of your wedding day.

Many brides look for that unique wedding favour, but at the end of the day, you have to remember that there is no right or wrong way when selecting the type of favours for your guests, although a lot of brides choose their wedding favours that best illustrate their true personalities as individuals and couples.



Another consideration to take onboard when selecting the perfect gifts for your friends and family, is the colour and decor of the reception tables. What colour and theme will the reception room and tables exhibit? This can all play a big part in the decision making.

Your choice of wedding favour doesn't have to be limited to the table decor. Some brides prefer to opt for the favour that will last for many years after the big day has come and gone, so their guests can reflect back on that special day. These can be in the form of Photo Album Favours, Silver Bottle Openers, Frosted Heart Bottle Stoppers, Silver Plated Wedding Bells as well as personalised gifts such as Personalised Champagne Flutes, Personalised CD Covers containing their favourite wedding tunes and many, many more.

Personalised wedding favours are very much in demand. This enables the bride and groom to take advantage of some of the more common wedding favours available and personalise it with their names and wedding date, either as a customised label or engraved on the item itself.

The bride does not have to spend a huge amount of money on purchasing wedding favours. There are so many high quality favours available at low-cost prices and can be purchased from as low as dollar each. It's the careful thought that goes into choosing the right gifts that will be well received by your guests that is most important. That in itself is what makes wedding favours truly unique!

By: Emily Tanner

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Dried Flower Arrangements and Decorations

Dried flowers can be used as a typical and unique style of decoration. One can get the dried flowers from a florist or can dry the flowers oneself. There are many flowers which dry quickly and easily. Few of them are violets, roses, .daisies, zenias etc. The basic rule for drying is that the moisture in the flower should be removed without rotting it. There are various methods of drying which are as follows:

Hanging: in this method one needs to hang flowers in a well ventilated, dark spot, for about a week, by tying the flowers in a bundle and hanging them upside down.

Sand Drying: in this method one needs to fill the flower with sand by placing it in a box of sand, stem upside down for a week. The most important thing to be remembered is that the sand should not have any moisture. The advantage of this method is you can retain the cup shape of the flower.

Air tight containers: this method is very useful for bulky headed flowers. Just place the flowers in the container, close it and keep it for a week to ten days.

A desiccant: a substance such as calcium oxide or silica gel, which has a high affinity for water and is used as a drying agent can also be used to dry flowers.

There are various things that can be done to decorate with the help of dried flowers:-

You can decorate a photograph, invitation, child's artwork or selected piece of literature in a shadow box, a wedding invitation, highlight a poem, photos or pieces of literature.

A wreath fashioned from dried flowers is an attractive and durable decoration for a front door or mantel. It's a simple project too, requiring only a frame, dried flowers, and a hot glue gun. To begin making a wreath, attach a picture frame hanger to the reverse of your stretcher frames (preferably use, two 8-inch and two 9-inch frames for the purpose). Paint the frames, if you want to. Prepare the flowers by removing their stems. Starting from one corner and working your way around, lay down a strip of glue. Place the flowers on the hot glue and push down carefully. Continue placing flowers along the top side and finish by gluing flowers along the edge.

Apart from this there are some general rules which should be used for Dried Flower decoration which are as follows:

* If flowers feel soft like a sponge, do not use them for drying. This indicates that they are old or have been frozen. Flowers used for drying should be firm.
* Make a stem for the dried flowers with a wire and secure flowers with floral tape.
* Once all the flowers have been mounted on stems, start making arrangements. Check garage sales, etc. for unique vases and bowls in which to display the arrangements.
* Find inspiration for arrangements by touring flower gardens or by looking through gardening magazines.

Experiment, create and never be afraid. The end results can give your home the warmth of your gardens.

Thus dried flower arrangements not only help in improving the interiors of the house but also help you in being a calm and relaxed at home. Get some goods tips on how to motivate your self.

By Jennie Gandhi

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Flower Arrangements for all Occasions

Try to order a spray at least a couple days before the occasion, as it takes time to create a large floral arrangement. You can make the vase or container being used for your flower arrangement even more decorative by using gold or bronze spray paint which is available from most good DIY shops. Traditional arrangements of flowers are sometimes accompanied with fruit and gourmet baskets to add that extra touch of comfort. Ask your florist for details and availability of specific flowers; it is important to know which flowers are available to go into your floral arrangement. Deciding on a floral arrangement for a funeral is sometimes hard; simply because most of the time people give plants like the peace lily to express their sympathy.

To make a reception flower arrangement, first do some research on what flowers are usually used those types of arrangements. Dried flowers in a floral arrangement that are in various forms;

look much nicer than having a dried arrangement made up of all the same flower. To make a bouquet for the first time will probably take a quick trip to your local florist for the supplies and maybe a little advice. Diy flower arrangements will save you a lot of money, however just because they are cheaper does not mean they do not add beauty to a room. Deciding on the flowers needed for a wedding floral arrangements should be left up to the bride and the groom. You can put the flowers for your flower arrangement in a vase or some container that is decorative and holds water.

You will need to stick the stems of the floral arrangement flowers into floral foam, and if the stems are not long enough, they can be lengthened with wire. Ask your florist about which flower varieties do well in your climate; this way you will have an idea about how long the floral arrangement will stay alive. You can cluster smaller flowers loosely by arranging them close to each other or bundle them together in your flower arrangements. You can make a homemade floral arrangement to further accent your home or even to give as a gift to someone you really care about.

By Simon Weaver

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Spring Flower Gardening

Spring is the time when nature and your garden awakes and comes alive after the long winter. That first spring flower or that first green leave is the sign that winter in coming to an end and that a new growing season has arrived.

Spring and Flower gardening is almost synonymous. Spring is the time to interplant perennials, shrubs, roses and plant or transplant your annuals.

Its time to shape up your soil, loosen the mulch around your plants and prune your early blooming shrubs. Rake and remove leaves and debris from your garden. Without a good planting medium your flower garden will never be at its best.

Perennials will save you a lot of work in your flower garden. So keep perennials high on your list. These hardworking beauties eliminate yearly replanting and will still give you that spring and summer color that you are longing for. Its best to choose varieties that dont need a lot of staking or frequent division. Notorious sun lovers are daylilies, sedium, and speedwell. Plants like hosta, fern, sweet woodruff and columbine feel more at easy in the shadow.

Flower Bulbs add a splash of color to your spring garden. Sprinkle some crocuses, daffodils, and of course tulips between your flower beds. Flower bulbs are almost essential in a spring flower garden. If you havent planted them last spring make sure you do so coming fall.

An important part of spring gardening is getting on top of the weeds. Most weeds are fairly easy to control when you start taking them out from early spring on. At that time they still have a shallow root system and because they havent bloomed yet they havent reproduced either. Taking care of them in spring will pay off big in summer.

Spring, its really the growing season, and for a gardener its perhaps the most beautiful and promising time of the year.

By: Linfa Jenkinson

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Silk Flowers Last Forever

Nothing is better than getting a bouquet of flowers but silk flowers are the next best thing and last forever! You can find silk flowers and arrangements that have been created with the most amazing style and detail. Silk flower arrangements are the perfect solution when you want to bring some color to the rooms in your house, or add a certain degree of sophistication.

After you have selected the perfect silk flower arrangements the next thing you will need to decide is where you would like to place them. Make sure that they colors of the arrangement go with the colors in the room they are placed. Make sure that the room has an adequate amount of light. The best type of light to show off your silk flower arrangements is natural light so use that to your advantage whenever you can.

Of course size has a lot to do with your silk flowers as well. The size of your room, size of the table that they are being placed, as well as the size of the flower arrangement themselves. Artificial flowers have a huge advantage over fresh flowers because you are able to get the largest variety regardless of what season it is.

Consider bright colors for the summer and autumn hues for the fall seasons. Many of today's natural plants and flowers have a certain appearance during the different seasons. You are able to find silk flowers that look just like the real thing.

You will also need to find the right container or bowl for your silk flowers to be in. If you have a pre-made arrangement than they will generally come in their own container, but some don't. Go with a bowl or container that blends with your arrangement and room alike. Silk flowers are the perfect gift for anyone.

Written by Frasier Johnson. Find the latest information on silk flowers as well as silk flowers

By Frasier Johnson

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