How To Set A Beautiful Thanksgiving Table With Flowers

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The Holiday Season is almost here!  While this is always a very busy time for us, so there will still not be weekly blogs, I did want to post some holiday planning tips before it got too busy, so your tables can be beautiful and enjoyed by everyone!

Everyone knows the basics for a Thanksgiving Dinner table: turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing and sweet potato pie, maybe spiced hot apple cider or a family recipe for roasted green beans or grandma's special macaroni and cheese!  But what about a beautiful, colorful centerpiece as a final, finishing touch to go with all of your hard work preparing such a wonderful feast?  Or if you are a guest, what about a table-ready design for your host or hostess instead of just store-bought plastic-wrapped flowers or a bottle of wine? (Tip: We actually make designs incorporating bottles of wine so you can have the best of both worlds!).

Centerpieces are always beautiful additions to any table, and simple or elegant flowers can be a beautiful touch to complement a beautifully prepared meal.  They are easy to make but with everything going on for the holidays, why not get a piece ready for the table, or have something custom-made for you? 

Grocery store flowers can be beautiful, but the stems need to be cut and the flowers need to be gotten into a vase.  Also, they are so tall they can end up interrupting conversation and being a distraction on the table, instead of adding to the beautiful setting everyone should be enjoying, not being annoyed by! 

Florists are specially trained to know what flowers will look the best in different designs, and can help to work out a custom piece to fit your table, and can even match the existing decor in your house (or in the house of the person you are visiting for Thanksgiving).  Not sure of the color scheme or the design of the room you are going to?  A good designer can work with you to put together a beautifully neutral Fall-themed piece that can be incorporated into any Thanksgiving table.

And, I really do make custom designs of flowers and wine, so your host's table can be set, and the guests can enjoy a glass while the turkey finishes roasting to a golden perfection!  No matter what, a Thanksgiving table holds a little extra special magic when there are beautiful flowers accenting the meal!

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Designs by Bridget, bringing European Certification and 20 years experience to Pinellas County, Florida, where she lives with her husband (Air Force, Ret.) and two children.  When she is not in her shop, you will find her enjoying a cup of Roiboos tea with her family and several cats and dogs (including one named Daisy).  While the holiday greens and decorations of December are her favorite, she looks forward to bringing you sunshine and smiles through flowers all year round!

How To Choose Which Flowers To Send

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Flowers are a popular gift - for a birthday, for a congratulations, for sympathy, to cheer up someone who isn't feeling well, to tell someone we love them, to thank them or any other number of reasons!

There are tons of options and lots of flowers can even mean different things, here are some simple tips for choosing the best type flower arrangement!

For birthdays, "thank you"s, congratulations or to cheer someone up. these are typically more bold, bright colors, often times with bows, in fun vases.  You can often ask your florist to add in things like a small gift or a balloon.  Most florists keep lots of optional floral containers in stock for all sorts of celebrations!  You can ask them to use flowers like bright gerber daises or yellow and pink roses, snap dragons or birds of paradise to send to someone you care about as an arrangement.  And some can make a cake shaped out of flowers!

For sympathy, these are usually softer colors, white roses, a peace lily plant, or orchids.  There are specific flowers you can send for various meanings for a funeral.  And as well, most florists can make a shape such as a heart or a cross or a star our of flowers to send at a time of loss.

Just remember that you know the person receiving the flowers better than your florist does!  Some people loves red roses, others prefer something more simple, like daises, or more rustic like tea roses and amaranths. A cake shaped of white roses might make one person's day while a bouquet of bright yellow tulips might be exactly what someone sick in bed all week needs for a smile.  And your florist can always let you know what is popular, if you need some direction.

Some people prefer cut flowers in a vase, others like to receive wrapped flowers and place them in their own vase at home, and some people prefer potted plants they can enjoy all year.

You can always flip through a website for ideas or set a budget, give some basic notes and let the designer make you something wonderful, or call your local florist and ask where to start!

No matter what, more flowers shared among people will always create more happiness in the world! 

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Designs by Bridget, bringing European Certification and 20 years experience to Pinellas County, Florida, where she lives with her husband (Air Force, Ret.) and two children.  When she is not in her shop, you will find her enjoying a cup of Roiboos tea with her family and several cats and dogs (including one named Daisy).  While the holiday greens and decorations of December are her favorite, she looks forward to bringing you sunshine and smiles through flowers all year round!

How To Make a Flower Wreath In 6 Easy Steps

It is summer time and one of the best ways to enjoy it is with flowers!

This week, here is how to make a simple, DIY flower wreath for your home or for a gift.

1. Gather Supplies

You will need:

Clean counter or table space to work

Hot glue gun

Hot glue

Flowers (these are fabric flowers.  You can use real flowers but the steps and materials are a little different if you want it to last)

1 wreath (this one was bought pre-made out of woven branches)

Ribbon or trim (this is beige colored synthetic raffia)

Ensure all the materials are to hand and plug in your hot glue so that it is ready when you need it.

2. Prepare Your Flowers

For this wreath, pull the flower tops off the plastic stems so that you have all your pieces in a pile ready to go!

3. Work Out Your Design

While sometimes once you get going you decide to go in a different direction, it is good to at least work out the basic of what you would like to do before you glue things down!  Try different patterns and arrangements to see the best way to have your flowers once you are ready to glue!

4. Glue On Your Flowers

Put a little bit of hot glue on the end of the flower piece and tuck it into the wreath.  Then move on to the next piece and glue that one down.  

You might need to glue a little into the wreath, or glue down a petal or leaf to get it to stay exactly how you would like.  

5. Secure The Flowers With Extra Glue

Make sure the glue has dried enough to hold the flowers, and carefully turn your wreath over to secure the pieces with extra glue from the back.

6. Finish Off Your Wreath 

Once you are all set with your flowers, you can add on a bow or other ornamental piece.  Here I used a raffia bow and wove the end pieces around the branches, and secured it with hot glue.

Enjoy!

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Designs by Bridget, bringing European Certification and 20 years experience to Pinellas County, Florida, where she lives with her husband (Air Force, Ret.) and two children.  When she is not in her shop, you will find her enjoying a cup of Roiboos tea with her family and several cats and dogs (including one named Daisy).  While the holiday greens and decorations of December are her favorite, she looks forward to bringing you sunshine and smiles through flowers all year round!

Cute Animals Help With Party Planning

Planning a party doesn't have to be stressful! Here's a little cuteness to help you through at least the flower-planning part.

Planning a party starts off exciting, but sometimes can get a bit...

...but flowers are lovely! And this is supposed to be fun!

Come back! I said this was going to be fun!

No, not like this!

Flower planning should not be stressful!

A good florist can help you through. :)

And flower planning can be fun and relaxing so that you can enjoy your party!

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Designs by Bridget, bringing European Certification and 20 years experience to Pinellas County, Florida, where she lives with her husband (Air Force, Ret.) and two children.  When she is not in her shop, you will find her enjoying a cup of Roiboos tea with her family and several cats and dogs (including one named Daisy).  While the holiday greens and decorations of December are her favorite, she looks forward to bringing you sunshine and smiles through flowers all year round!

Upcycled Wedding Design Floral Ideas

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We all love to do our part to recycle and help save the environment.  Here are some fantastic ideas to incorporate sentimental upcycling into your wedding day to help reduce waste, cut down on your carbon footprint, and include personal touches that make your day even more special!

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1. Instead of a ribbon-wrapped bouquet, use strips of cloth from a piece of meaningful clothing.

We all have that one shirt we held on to from a departed loved one, or a dress that we were wearing the day we met that is now threadbare or otherwise never going to be worn again, or a special blanket or even a pair of socks with sentimental value.  You can ask your florist to cut the fabric into strips to use for ribbon and can even ask for flowers to be designed around the color palate of the fabric!

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2. Instead of ribbon for centerpiece accents, use either more upcycled fabric from the same piece, or use other articles of clothing or significant fabric to accent your reception tables and ceremony decorations.  You can also work with your wedding designer to use pieces as placemats or table runners in place of using new fabric for these things.

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3. For his boutonniere, instead of a fresh flower that will be crushed by the end of the day from countless hugging, look into making a fabric boutonniere from upcycled clothing of sentimental value.  A beautiful piece could be put together from an old blouse of a grandmother or mother or child.

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4.To make your bouquet extra-special, use old pieces of jewelry either from the time you were dating, or from a relative.  The pieces can be real or or even old costume jewelry.  And as many pieces are flower design based or floral influenced, you can even bring them in while determining the design for your day with your florist - a good florist will work with your vision to create the day of your dreams and can use pieces like this to come up with the perfect fresh flowers to use for your perfect day!

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5. While this isn't directly related to your flowers, it can still help to take one thing off your mind for your big day: that last detail of "something blue!"  Again, you can use an old piece of jewelry or fabric from a sentimental clothing item or blanket - and turn it into an accent on your garter, or a piece for your hair.  And again, your florist should be more than happy to incorporate a small item or token as a charm on your bouquet as a more subtle touch of blue!

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Designs by Bridget, bringing European Certification and 20 years experience to Pinellas County, Florida, where she lives with her husband (Air Force, Ret.) and two children.  When she is not in her shop, you will find her enjoying a cup of Roiboos tea with her family and several cats and dogs (including one named Daisy).  While the holiday greens and decorations of December are her favorite, she looks forward to bringing you sunshine and smiles through flowers all year round!

Five Ways To Make Mother's Day Extra-Special For Mom

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With Mother's Day right around the corner, here are some last-minute tips to make the day extra special!

1. Don't Waste Your Money On Big Company Flower Purchases

These 5 tips from Fox News are probably the best advice I could give before you order.   And, with a 5-star Google and Facebook rating and wonderful hand-written Thank You notes from our customers, a selection of plants and Designer Specials, plus an awesome 15% off coupon, we are happy to take your order and make sure you get your money's worth!

2. Give Her Memories Along With Flowers

Do you live close enough to see Mom on Mother's Day?  Start her day off with a special delivery of her favorite flowers then take her out for her favorite lunch, but make it special!  For all those years she spent making sure you ate lunch, why not a picnic?  Or check out local deals and take her out to lunch or dinner!

3. Show Her You Were Listening

For the next few days before Mother's Day, take photos of yourself doing all things that she taught you!  Then on Friday or Saturday head to your local CVS or Walgreens or whatever the best local place is for same-day pickup an great deals on prints.  Then give her a stack of photographs tied with a ribbon for her to look at during the year and see what a great job she did raising you!

4. Send a Small Gift With Your Flowers

If your mom lives near Clearwater Beach or surrounding areas (St Pete, Dunedin, Largo, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Tarpon Springs, etc), we can deliver to her and add on an awesome small gift with the flowers, so you only have to go shopping once!  And if Mom doesn't live where we deliver, check out your local Flower Shop - many locally owned and run shops also offer things like balloons and small gifts to send along with a floral piece!

5. Make Her a Present to Give Her Along With Flowers

Not super crafty? There are lots of simple craft projects on Pinterest or just write her a hand-written letter on nice paper saying what she means to you.  

What is most important on Mother's Day is reminding Mom what she means to us and that we thank her for all she has put up with being a part of our lives!

<3 

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Designs by Bridget, bringing European Certification and 20 years experience to Pinellas County, Florida, where she lives with her husband (Air Force, Ret.) and two children.  When she is not in her shop, you will find her enjoying a cup of Roiboos tea with her family and several cats and dogs (including one named Daisy).  While the holiday greens and decorations of December are her favorite, she looks forward to bringing you sunshine and smiles through flowers all year round!

April Showers Bring May Flowers...

With adorable animals...

Because nothing say spring like a bunny...eating a flower...

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And a rose with any other puppy just isn't as sweet...

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Because we all want to stop and smell the flowers

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...Or eat them...

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spring calls for time to take a little pause...

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or paws...

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And of course, 

no Spring is complete without the original Flower!

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I hope you are having a wonderful Spring!

<3

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Designs by Bridget, bringing European Certification and 20 years experience to Pinellas County, Florida, where she lives with her husband (Air Force, Ret.) and two children.  When she is not in her shop, you will find her enjoying a cup of Roiboos tea with her family and several cats and dogs (including one named Daisy).  While the holiday greens and decorations of December are her favorite, she looks forward to bringing you sunshine and smiles through flowers all year round!

How To Make A Flower Basket!

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Last week, I gave all the items you need to get started on a flower DIY project.

The thing was, when I looked up making a DIY Flower Basket, I was really surprised at how many times I ended up getting articles on making a "Flower Girl Basket" (not the same thing!).

So this week I am laying out how to make an arrangement of flowers in a basket - a Flower Basket!

These are fantastic to make for the Holidays, but also great for the Springtime as well!

First - make sure you have all of your supplies!  You will need:

- time (set aside at least an hour for set up and clean up as well)

- a clean counter or table-top to work that is out of direct sunlight and cool (so the flowers don't wilt)

- flowers

- greenery

- a design

- a basket

- a bucket or sink to hold the flowers in water while you make the bouquet (also out of the sun and cool, so the flowers don't wilt)

- oasis (floral foam) and/or a plastic lining to line the basket as needed

- water

- scissors or gardening shears

- floral tape (green or clear, depending on the color of your basket and if it will be visible per your design)

- floral wire

- towels (paper or cloth to clean up spills)

- trash bin or trash bags

- ribbon (as needed for your design)

- hot glue and/or straight pins (for securing the ribbon to the basket as needed for your design)

For a design, you can refer back to here and here for the basics on how to arrange the flowers but the most basic points are to make sure to spread out the colors and ensure that the "face" of the flower is facing outwards.

The biggest things to keep in mind when making a Flower Basket are:

- Make sure to line the basket with a plastic or a bowl of some kind to hold the water

- If you are going to put a bow around the basket or the handle, so that it sits under the flowers, you might want to put it on first!  Also if you are going to weave ribbon through the basket at all, do this before putting anything inside, and be sure to hot glue or pin down any edges!

- Use a floral foam cut smaller than the inside of the basket so you have room to put pieces coming out of the sides

- Use lots of greenery or larger flowers (like hydrangea) along the edges to fill up where the floral foam is so that you can not see it when you are done

- If the basket has a handle, remember to fill flowers into the middle anyway so they go up to and around the handle, and don't dip under it (unless your design has them dip!)

The rest is just make the piece as you would any piece!

Comment with any questions or any tips I might have missed!  And feel free to tag @flowersbybridgt on any twitter posts or Flower Design By Bridget on any FB posts so I can see your handy work!

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Designs by Bridget, bringing European Certification and 20 years experience to Pinellas County, Florida, where she lives with her husband (Air Force, Ret.) and two children.  When she is not in her shop, you will find her enjoying a cup of Roiboos tea with her family and several cats and dogs (including one named Daisy).  While the holiday greens and decorations of December are her favorite, she looks forward to bringing you sunshine and smiles through flowers all year round!

DIY Flower Supply Checklist

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There are tons of great DIY Flower Tips out there!  But not all of them lay out the tools clearly!  This week's blog is to help you with the supplies you need to get start on your own DIY project!

Remember, for all of these, you need to make sure you have set aside some time!  One of the things you are paying for when you hire someone is their time in doing the work - so before you get started on a DIY project, make sure you have carved out enough time to complete it!

That said, here are some basic items you will need for various DIY flower projects (along with some links to get you started)!  Much of these are very similar, but each item is listed for the various projects as needed so you can skip to the checklist that applies to you!

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1. A Centerpiece 

You will need:
- a clean counter or table-top to work that is out of direct sunlight and cool (so the flowers don't wilt)
- flowers
- greenery
- a design
- a bucket or sink to hold the flowers in water while you make the bouquet (also out of the sun and cool, so the flowers don't wilt)
- oasis (floral foam) and/or a plastic lining to line the container if it is not waterproof
- water
- scissors or gardening shears
- floral tape (green or clear, depending on if your final container is glass or not)
- floral wire
- towels (paper or cloth to clean up spills)
- trash bin or trash bags

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2.  A Bouquet 
You will need:
- a clean counter or table-top to work that is out of direct sunlight and cool (so the flowers don't wilt)
- flowers
- greenery
- a design
- a bucket or sink to hold the flowers in water while you make the bouquet (also out of the sun and cool, so the flowers don't wilt)
- (note: a friend to hold the bouquet while you make it is very helpful!  If you are working alone, you can always set it in a clear glass vase to get an idea as to how it looks from all sides)
- scissors or gardening shears
- water
- floral tape
- floral wire
- towels (paper or cloth to clean up spills)
- trash bin or trash bags
- ribbon
- hot glue and/or straight pins (for securing the ribbon around the bouquet)

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3. A Flower Basket

You will need:
- a clean counter or table-top to work that is out of direct sunlight and cool (so the flowers don't wilt)
- flowers
- greenery
- a design
- a basket
- a bucket or sink to hold the flowers in water while you make the bouquet (also out of the sun and cool, so the flowers don't wilt)
- oasis (floral foam) and/or a plastic lining to line the basket as needed
- water
- scissors or gardening shears
- floral tape (green or clear, depending on the color of your basket and if it will be visible per your design)
- floral wire
- towels (paper or cloth to clean up spills)
- trash bin or trash bags
- ribbon (as needed for your design)
- hot glue and/or straight pins (for securing the ribbon to the basket as needed for your design)

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4. A Potted Dish Garden 
You will need:
- a clean counter or table-top to work that is out of direct sunlight and cool (so the flowers and plants don't wilt)
- potted flowers
- potted plants
- potting soil
- a design
- stones or other decorative items as per your design
- a basket or dish to use as the potted garden
- a plastic lining to line the basket or dish as needed
- water
- scissors or gardening shears
- floral tape
- floral wire
- towels (paper or cloth to clean up spills)
- trash bin or trash bags
- ribbon (as needed for your design)
- hot glue and/or straight pins (for securing the ribbon to the basket or dish as needed for your design)

Before starting a DIY project, make sure to check these lists so you can be sure to enjoy creating a beautiful floral piece without being caught up to your elbows in flowers only to find you are missing something!  Don't forget to follow here for more DIY tips as well!

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Designs by Bridget, bringing European Certification and 20 years experience to Pinellas County, Florida, where she lives with her husband (Air Force, Ret.) and two children.  When she is not in her shop, you will find her enjoying a cup of Roiboos tea with her family and several cats and dogs (including one named Daisy).  While the holiday greens and decorations of December are her favorite, she looks forward to bringing you sunshine and smiles through flowers all year round!

5 Things To Do With Flowers Now That Spring Is Here

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With Spring officially here, the birds are singing and the flowers are blooming!  While it's the perfect time to start keeping fresh flowers in your home, here are 5 other things to do with flowers now that the days are longer and the sun is warm and bright!

1. Start a flower garden

Now is the perfect time to till that soil and get those seedlings started.  Better Homes and Gardens has some great tips for getting a flower garden going, so what better time to select that part of the yard you have always been neglecting and fill it with some colorful flowers?  (Plus it is a great way to support bees!).  Don't live in a home with a yard?  A DIY window planter is a perfect way to wake up to fresh blooming flowers all summer long!

2. Go for a nature walk

We don't always notice, but most plants actually flower before they become green and leafy for summer.  That tree pollen has to come from somewhere!  So spend an afternoon on a nature walk and take the time to enjoy the tiny flowers blooming on the edges of the branches, in bushes and on the ground.  This is also a great way to go butterfly sighting, or watch the busy bees do their work!

3. Make a flower salad

Martha Stewart never fails with this amazing flower salad recipe.  While there are tons of edible flower recipes out there, see if you can come up with your own ways to include these edible beauties into your favorite recipes. 

4. Enjoy some floral ice pops

That's right - ice pops made with edible flowers and herbs.  Mix it up with some lavender mint or maybe add a splash of lemon to some rosemary and rose petals for a colorful and refreshing sugar-free treat when the sun starts to heat up!  

5. Embrace essential oils

Did you know that lavender oil is a natural way to combat headaches and even anxiety?  So while you're out there soaking up nature's sunshine, cool off with some lavender lemonade, or try a few drops in a relaxing bath at the end of a long day, or mix a teeny, tiny touch into a cup of earl grey tea in the morning.  Want to start off cool?  Pour the tea over a cup of ice after it has been sweetened (keep a metal spoon in the cup with ice so it doesn't crack when the hot tea is poured in) and enjoy a flowery sweet tea with your breakfast!

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Designs by Bridget, bringing European Certification and 20 years experience to Pinellas County, Florida, where she lives with her husband (Air Force, Ret.) and two children.  When she is not in her shop, you will find her enjoying a cup of Roiboos tea with her family and several cats and dogs (including one named Daisy).  While the holiday greens and decorations of December are her favorite, she looks forward to bringing you sunshine and smiles through flowers all year round!

DIY Flower Design

While it is always nice to have a professionally done arrangement of flowers, sometimes it is fun to do it yourself!

Follow these five tips for fantastic flowers made by you:

1. Pick your colors 

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When picking colors for a centerpiece, follow these tips.  It is really nice to pick complementary colors within the design, with a few pops of an accent color.

2. Pick your flowers

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You can always get plain flowers from a florist by the stem, or at your local grocery store.  

Find ones that fit within the color spectrum you selected in Step 1.

3. Find the flower's "face"

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Each flower has a direction it grew in, usually where the sun was the most during it's growth.  That is the "face" of the flower.

If your design is going to face a specific direction, you want to make sure the faces of the flowers are facing in the direction of your design.  If this is a circle, you would ensure they all face outward.  If this is a piece that will go against a wall or perhaps sit on the corner of a desk, you want to make sure the flowers all face towards the person that will be looking at them.

4. Spread out the colors  

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Make sure the colors you select are spread out throughout the design, with carefully clustered similar flowers that still spread out the colors throughout the arrangement.  You want to make sure it doesn't look polka-dotted, and yet at the same time, there is a nice variety of flowers throughout your piece.

Give your design one final look-over, filling in any holes as needed with leaves or additional blooms.

5. Finishing touches  

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For a final touch, add a small bow or piece of ribbon around the bottom of your design, either in a complementary color, or as an accent piece. 

Let me know in the comments if you have any questions, or want to share any additional tips for DIY floral design!

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Designs by Bridget, bringing European Certification and 20 years experience to Pinellas County, Florida, where she lives with her husband (Air Force, Ret.) and two children.  When she is not in her shop, you will find her enjoying a cup of Roiboos tea with her family and several cats and dogs (including one named Daisy).  While the holiday greens and decorations of December are her favorite, she looks forward to bringing you sunshine and smiles through flowers all year round!