Wreath tutorial 2 - Re-using a display and The rule of 3

             Recently I was fortunate enough to arrange flowers for my Sister in laws Wedding and she was kind enough to let me bring some home. The display came from the ceremony table, made up from artificial flowers, berries, greenery, pine cones and pheasant feathers. The display was a little too large and formal for me to just have around the house so I decided to take it to pieces and re use the flowers.

             We have just moved so, there are boxes of Christmas decorations hanging around and by chance, this wreath was sitting on top of one open box. I bought it last year for no more than a couple of pounds but hadn't found anything to do with it. Until now that is.......

For this display I used:

• 3 Burgundy Roses
• 3 Hydrangea flowers ( I took a full hydrangea head and dismantled it)
• 3 Pine Cones
• 3 Pheasant feathers
• 3 Eucalyptus sprigs
• a metre or 2 of ivy
• An artificial wreath
• Floristry wire

You can use whatever flowers you have to hand though or take a trip to wilko's or the Range for good quality, affordable artificial flowers.

Now, here is where you may have noticed there is a lot of threes in that list, this is the rule of 3. For whatever reason, us humans LOVE THREES! For me, someone who doesn't generally love an odd number this feels a bit wrong but when it comes to flowers, picture frames, displays; odd numbers are key. For most displays, I would use the rule of three but for larger displays go for 5s or even 7s or mix it up with 3 larger flowers and 7 tiny ones etc. Go wild and have fun.

I started by trying out different combinations, I tried out white roses but later decided that the contrast  of textures between the burgundy roses and the cream Hydrangea flowers was softer and less formal. I placed the flowers equidistant from each other around the wreath. 

When I was happy, I removed them and wound round the ivy. Remember in all displays, start with the greenery. I used dark and light ivy but you can use whatever you like just make sure it is evenly distributed. 

Too much white, bye bye white roses.

To secure, wind some floristry wire around the wreath fairly tightly. Remember this display will be hung up so, the elements need to be secure.

Then start to add your flowers, again secure tightly with wire. Then when I was happy with the general look, I added the eucalyptus and pine cones, which were wired on to the wreath. With cones I find it easiest to wrap the wire around  and around the bottom of the cone, tucking the wire into the little crevices to secure. Finally, I tucked in the pheasant feathers and wrapped a final round of wire around the wreath to secure. Pick it up carefully to ensure nothing is going to fall off and re secure if anything is loose and you are done.

Ooooh so pretty!

I am so pleased with the result, it is really simple but so so pretty. This can be displayed inside or outside and as it is artificial, it can be unassembled, resembled and used over and over again. 

This display looks rather christmassy because of the colours but this method can be used for any colours to create a display at any time of the year.

I hope you like it as much as I do and look what I did with some of the leftovers.......

I hope you liked this blog post, Please comment if you have any requests for things you'd like me to show you. Subscribe for the latest tutorials and news from Approved and share with your friends. 

More wreath tutorials are on the way so watch this space .......