Sprucing Up a Boring Christmas Wreath

Do you love the smell of fresh Christmas wreaths, but think the ones at most tree locations are kind of boring?  Often times the ones sold at tree farms or lots or stores like Home Depot only have a cheap red bow slapped on the front, if that!  Dressing up a wreath is very easy and can be done very inexpensively.  All you need is a little bit of thin green wire, some hot glue, and some "bling" of your choice.  I usually get most of this kind of stuff at Michaels Craft Store.  I went there last week (on 12/11) and there Christmas materials are already marked down to 70% off, so you can get supplies super cheap!

These pictures are all fresh wreaths that I made from scratch... but they start out just as boring as plain wreaths at the store- adding the decorations is the most fun part!

When adding Christmas tree balls, I find it best to wire them together and them wire them to the wreath. If they need a little extra support to keep them in the position you want, dab a little hot glue on them in an inconspicuous place. I always use hot glue with pine cones-- be generous- they need to be secure, but if you keep the glue on the back, no one will see it.  This won't hurt or discolor the evergreens around it.  For a bow, you can buy a pre-tied one or make it yourself. It works best to wire it around the full thickness of the wreath- but be sure to tuck the ends of the wire back into the greens so it doesn't scratch your door or wall.

Keep in mind, if you put decorations at the top center of your wreath, remember to leave enough room for a door hook to come up underneath it without breaking or squishing your decorations.  Otherwise, you'll have to hang it crooked.

Happy decorating, and Merry Christmas!

Keeping vased flowers fresh

Have you ever noticed that your vased flowers start to stink after a few days, and when they do, they start to wilt really fast?

Cut stems in tap water form bacteria.  That's what creates the slime and discoloration on the stems and that is where the stench comes from. Changing the water regularly can help, but if the bacteria has started, unless you thoroughly scrub the stems, the slimy stems are just going to make the fresh water a breeding ground too.

Here are some very easy and cheap things you can do to keep your cut flowers fresh longer:

1) Cut the stems on a diagonal about 2 inches from the bottom right before you put them in the vase (it is not necessary to do this under running water- as long as you put them in water pretty quickly).  Cutting on a diagonal helps prevent the stems from being pressed flat against the bottom of the vase- which would make it hard for the stem to suck up water.

2) add some flower food (usually a small packet comes with cut flowers), or a 1/4-1/2 tsp of white granulated sugar.  This will help the flowers open and stay bloomed longer.

3) add a small amount of chlorine BLEACH.  For small vases, I use about 1/4 tsp, for larger vases, 1/2 tsp is plenty.  This tiny amount of bleach won't hurt the flowers, but it WILL slow the growth of bacteria, which will keep the water and the stems fresh for a longer period of time.

4) Every 3 or 4 days, change out the water and add the bleach again.

Doing these steps will help your flowers last longer.  Remember, if you buy flowers from a grocer or other non-florist/non-floral designer, it is likely that the flowers have been cut for several days already.  You can still extend their "shelf life", but it is likely to be shorter than if you bought the flowers from florists or floral designers that can get them straight from suppliers and farms.

Cheers!

Welcome!

Welcome to the blog for All In The Details Floral Design.  I am Kira Barker, owner and designer for All In The Details Floral Design, based in Cheverly, MD.

On this blog, you'll find lots of ideas about flowers including (but not limited to) the following: 

* Ideas for various flower arrangements, with a special focus on wedding flowers.

* Tips for keeping your fresh flowers alive and beautiful for longer

* Ideas for what do with the flowers *after* the event is over

* Promotions, special offers, and sneak peaks for All In the Details Floral Designs

*etc.

For more information, to place orders, or to schedule a free consultation, please contact me!

Phone: 301-772-1487 (9 am - 6 pm, Monday-Saturday)

email: info@allinthedetailsflowers.com

website: allinthedetailsflowers.com

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