Instant Autumn Decor WreathTurn your existing decorations into seasonal decor. I purchased a bag of these fake leaves from Dollar Tree for just $1! I added the leaves around the wreath and instantly vibes of autumn/fall.
Lighted Flower VasesThese flower vases are filled with Marvels LED lights in your choice of size and color. Flowers are placed in the center of the vase with a second strand of LED lights wrapped around the flowers, so that you can either light the vase or just light the flowers or light both at the same time
Perfectly Placed Flowers in a VaseHow many times have you had flowers that you just can't arrange to stay the way you want? To fix this problem, all you need to do is take a plastic paper sleeve. Put it in the top of the vase around the flowers, pushing it down just out of view. Adjust your flowers however you want and they're going to stay.
Cemetery Decoration for ChristmasEvery year we make grave decorations for our loved ones who have passed away. Here is this year's decoration.
Weighted Flowers for Graveside DisplaysI needed to add flowers at the cemetery to the vases on each side of the monument. They needed to be weighted down so they wouldn't blow away. So I solved this problem by using some old keys and attached them with wire to the base of the flowers. Problem solved.
Making Your Own PotpourriDuring the summer months we get a lot of flowers at our work. I wait until they are dying and then I strip away the petals and spread them in a box lid and allow them to dry. I turn them every so often and when they are completely dry I put them into a gallon sized baggie.
Free and Natural PotpourriWhen I deadhead my herbs, I put the clippings in a nice bowl on a table, the bathroom counter, or anywhere. Then every time I walk past, I just toss them a few times with my fingertips. This releases the fragrance into the room even more and helps it to dry evenly.
Drying Flowers With Cat LitterAt this time of year, we have a lot of beautiful flowers blooming. A cheaper way of drying them is to use a cheap cat litter. Make sure you use the plain clay litter. Line a box with paper towels, put a layer of cat litter on the paper towels.
Keeping Cut Flowers Fresh LongerI have tried many things when it came to getting flowers on special occasions; even picking ones from my rose garden. Sugar and aspirin are the couple I did most often. With this I added a penny.
Drying Daffodil FlowersJust pick the flowers with the stems on and put them in a vase of water. Leave them in the vase and replenish the water as needed, until the daffodil flowers are completely dry. It takes about a week.
Making Your Cut Flowers Last LongerAnother tip for keeping flowers fresh and even for revival is to put some fizzy clear lemonade into the water. This will revive them fantastically.
Replacing Broken Stems on Cut FlowersYou can replace the stem of a flower that has broken off with a straw, the way florists sometimes do. This also works for the heads of artificial flowers. I just put a stem on a flower that I had scavenged off a wreath so I could put it in a ceramic vase the hubby gave me for my birthday.
Add Copper Penny To Cut TulipsI love spring tulips. Drop a copper penny in the water with tulips so they will stand erect and not open wide.
Straws for Flower ArrangingWith spring right around the corner, we will be cutting flowers and bringing them in for arranging. One thing that always presents a problem is the short stems on some of them.
"Sweet Sixteen" CorsagesCut 8 strips of 1/8 inch pink satin ribbon into varying lengths. Tie sugar cubes to each end, cutting off the ribbon ends that stick out. Tie the ribbons in the middle with a bow, first putting in a small safety pin so that the 16-year old can pin it to her garment.
Arrange Flowers in Plastic Bottle to Put Inside ContainerI like to arrange flowers in unusual containers, i.e. wooden boxes or ice coolers. To keep water from leaking or damaging the container, I use plastic bottles. I use a bread knife to cut off the top at the height needed.
Drying Flowers in a BookLay the open side toward the spine of a book, slightly press open the larger ones to assure they will lay flat. Then slowly close the book, watching to make sure you don't bend a petal. This book is full of all sorts of leaves and blossoms.
Wildflower Preserved In OilSmall wildflowers stored in mini glass corked bottles filled with oil. These were the last flowers in my yard this year. With the ground now snow covered, it's nice to have little reminders of sunny days around the house!
Reuse Discarded Silk FlowersWhen my kids were little, money was sparse, and we lived way out in the backwoods. There was little, if any, activities we could afford. We did discover one, however, that may sound a little morbid at first, but is actually wonderful.
Use Beach Rocks Inside VasesI keep my fresh flowers longer by putting them in stones I've collected at the beach. The jar is decorated with rub on decals. When the flowers die, I clean off the rocks, add shells and leave it.
Make Your Own PotpourriThink ahead for wonderful holiday gifts. Each spring and summer I used to go around to my friends' gardens and pick the flower petals up from the ground. Take the flowers or petals home and lay them out on newspaper on the floor and leave to dry.
Preserve Fresh Bouquets for PotpourriLast December our mother passed away and we received many beautiful fresh flower bouquets. After the service, my sister and I took all the flowers home, remarking how beautiful they were and what a shame they would die.
Coloring Silk FlowersHave you ever needed a certain color of artificial flower for a project and you couldn't find that color, like blue for example, anywhere? I've come up with a solution for flowers that don't need to be washed.
Stiffening Silk Flowers for ProjectsIf you are making a craft projects with silk flowers, you can stiffen them, and still keep their bright color, by using the strongest hair spray you can find.
Frugal Party VasesWe needed some cute vases for a baby shower, but funds were running low. so, I bought some Monetta Luxury cream wafer cookies, $1.00 a can at The Dollar tree. I removed the cookies and served them at the baby shower.
Pumpkins for Outdoor VaseWhen it's pumpkin time and you have flowers in your yard, why not use your pumpkin to display a bouquet of flowers on your porch or doorstep?
Rose Petal BeadsThese beads are made from the petals of the rose. It is a great way to save the beauties of the spring and summer.
Use Soda In Your Flower ArrangementsTo make fresh cut flowers last longer, use 1/2 water and 1/2 soda, such as Sprite or any clear color soda. Your flowers will last for weeks and weeks and they will remain beautiful.
Silk Flower BallTake a Styrofoam ball, pull heads off of silk flowers and glue and press into Styrofoam ball. Glue silk leaves from silk flowers throughout ball. Hot glue matching ribbon so you can hang.
Lilac SachetsIn the spring, I cut large bunches of lilacs. I hang them in a walk-in closet upside down for drying. While they dry, I stitch small pouches (from scrap cloth) and add ribbons for hanging.
Making Bouquets Sturdier in a VaseTo make bouquet sturdier in a vase use marbles. They look good in a clear vase, but will work in any type of vase.
Long Driveway PlanterThis is a very long driveway planter. It is made from long narrow shipping crates that held steel roller assemblies. I painted them and my husband moved them into place aligned and attached them to make one long planter.
Preserving RosesI have a girlfriend who saves all her rose bouquets from her husband from gift giving occasions. When the roses dry, she'll gently take the arrangement out to her garage, set it on some newspaper and thoroughly spray the floral arrangement with a good holding hair spray.
Daffodils in Flower ArrangementsDaffodils produce a toxin that kills other cut flowers, so keep them separate when making flower arrangements.
Using Dried Lily and Iris LeavesThe dry leaves left on irises and day lilies make great "ties" for holding things on autumn wreaths and they are so natural, they blend in too.
Nicely Cut FlowersTo cut fresh flower stems cleanly, use a pet nail clipper. Simply put the stem through the hole and snip. A perfect cut every time!
Dry Flowers with Kitty LitterTo dry your flowers, cut the flower so one inch of the stem is left on. Place face up into a coffee can full of kitty litter, pour more kitty litter to cover the flower (roses should only be half opened).
