Better Homes and Gardens (Australia)
step-by-steps EASY TO ARRANGING FAUX FLOWERS
RUSTIC BEAUTY Gather your supplies
• Floral foam brick, dry x 2
• Rectangular container, about 27W x 15D x 11cmh
• Grey eucalyptus spray (6238GY) x 2 • Green eucalyptus berry spray (5772) x 2 • Green leucadendron stem (6255GR) x 3 • Rust hybrid leucospermum stem (6095RU) x 3 • Green stonecrop stem (5818GR) x 3 • Cream/green skimmia spray (5448CRGR) x 2
You’ll also need
Secateurs; knife; scissors; heavy-duty wire cutters; faux moss (optional)
NOTE: Cut stems, as required, to suit height of arrangement as you go.
Here’s how
STEP 1 Arrange flowers and foliage by type and colour on your work surface.
STEP 2 If necessary, shave foam brick, shaping it to suit container. Pack foam brick into container, cutting second brick and using it to completely fill container. Aim for a snug fit that is almost level with the container. STEP 3 Insert grey eucalyptus stems into foam, arranging them close to edge of container. The shoots should fan outward all the way around
at front and spill slightly over the container.
STEP 4 Insert 2 green eucalyptus berry stems into foam at centre back and at left of centre back, about 1.5cm in from container edge and the other about 3cm in from edge. Angle these stems so at their tallest they point to the left and right of container.
STEP 5 Insert 1 leucadendron stem directly into foam halfway between front edge of container and foam centre. Angling the flower heads slightly outward and toward the front corners, insert 2 more, 1 to the left of centre and 1 to the right.
STEP 6 Insert rust
leucospermum stems into foam as a group just right of centre, arranging them toward the right of the container at different heights and so the heads point in slightly different directions. Varying the heights achieves a natural looking arrangement.
STEP 7 Fill holes in the arrangement with stonecrop, starting with left-hand side of container, before moving to the centre, then the right-hand side tucking these stems back behind the leucospermum.
STEP 8 Fill visible gaps with skimmia. Make sure foam isn’t visible. If it is, cover foam in a little faux moss.