DIY If you cannot afford to use fresh flowers for home decor, how about artificial flower arrangements? Vinaya Govind gives you tips on how to go about doing it.
Artificial flowers for home decor, both indoor and outdoor, has become popular because of the problems that come from using fresh flowers, which include replacement from time to time and constant care. Moreover, availability of certain flowers is limited to some regions and seasons.
Artificial flower arrangement, available in various colours, styles and patterns, can give a pleasant look wherever they are placed. They give greater flexibility and versatility of use besides providing a look of vibrancy. What's more, they require minimum maintenance, just occasional dusting for that striking look.
For those who would like to pepper their office or home decor with a great amount of flower arrangements or bouquets, flowers made of cloth, silk, satin and organza are the best choices. They look real and subtle. These floral arrangements can be modified and remixed in different ways to make a beautiful garden as well to suit any occasion.
There are artificial flowers made of soap, paper, and wax, rice paper in chine, clay and stained horn from china. Nylon and polyester fabrics are widely used for decorations at weddings as they are affordable and look stunning. Artificial flowers from Thailand, South America and flowers made with painted linen are available in the market. For those who are versatile in flower decorations, there are standalone flower arrangements of myriad colours, wreaths, bushes and vines too, which can be reused several times.
With a little imagination and creativity, you can make artificial flowers with materials that do not cost much.
Here are a few ideas:
If you can find a few dry twigs around your place, assemble them in a vase. Fix pop corn on the twig endings and they will look stunningly beautiful if you place it near a lamp.
Do not discard onion peel. These can be cut in the shape of petals and glued to a twig as well in the shape of a flower.
Serviettes (table napkins) of various colours can be used to make artificial flowers. Strips of white polythene covers can be sewed up together to make a garland.
Here is how you can make paper roses:
You will need: Kite paper or crepe paper (red and green) - one sheet each, glue - one tube, broomsticks or thin wire - a few, a knitting needle or a used refill and a pair of scissors.
First, cut the crepe paper into thin strips (measuring about six cm). Fold them in such a way that they form squares. Now, using a pencil, draw out petals on these squares. Use a pair of scissors and cut out the petals. Use a knitting needle / used refill to roll the upper portion of the petals till about half way through and press the edges of the paper, so that wrinkles form on the paper. Remove the petals and separate them. Roll up the other end of the petal using your thumb and pointer.
Repeat with all the paper petals. Hold the broomstick upright and roll a thin layer of green paper around it using glue. On the tip, stick two petals first and then stick petals around to form a rose. If you are deft in stringing petals you could use tailoring thread too to hold the petals in place.
Cut out leaves with green paper as you did for the petals and stick them around the broom stick. Place these roses along with artificial vines or bushes or use them as standalone arrangement.
You could use thicker varieties of paper like felt paper or hand-made paper to make bigger flowers like daisies, dahlias or tulips. The size and shape of the petals is what you need to change. You can make flowers with sheets of sponge (used as packing material), onion peel or serviettes the same way.
Artificial flowers for home decor, both indoor and outdoor, has become popular because of the problems that come from using fresh flowers, which include replacement from time to time and constant care. Moreover, availability of certain flowers is limited to some regions and seasons.
Artificial flower arrangement, available in various colours, styles and patterns, can give a pleasant look wherever they are placed. They give greater flexibility and versatility of use besides providing a look of vibrancy. What's more, they require minimum maintenance, just occasional dusting for that striking look.
For those who would like to pepper their office or home decor with a great amount of flower arrangements or bouquets, flowers made of cloth, silk, satin and organza are the best choices. They look real and subtle. These floral arrangements can be modified and remixed in different ways to make a beautiful garden as well to suit any occasion.
There are artificial flowers made of soap, paper, and wax, rice paper in chine, clay and stained horn from china. Nylon and polyester fabrics are widely used for decorations at weddings as they are affordable and look stunning. Artificial flowers from Thailand, South America and flowers made with painted linen are available in the market. For those who are versatile in flower decorations, there are standalone flower arrangements of myriad colours, wreaths, bushes and vines too, which can be reused several times.
With a little imagination and creativity, you can make artificial flowers with materials that do not cost much.
Here are a few ideas:
If you can find a few dry twigs around your place, assemble them in a vase. Fix pop corn on the twig endings and they will look stunningly beautiful if you place it near a lamp.
Do not discard onion peel. These can be cut in the shape of petals and glued to a twig as well in the shape of a flower.
Serviettes (table napkins) of various colours can be used to make artificial flowers. Strips of white polythene covers can be sewed up together to make a garland.
Here is how you can make paper roses:
You will need: Kite paper or crepe paper (red and green) - one sheet each, glue - one tube, broomsticks or thin wire - a few, a knitting needle or a used refill and a pair of scissors.
First, cut the crepe paper into thin strips (measuring about six cm). Fold them in such a way that they form squares. Now, using a pencil, draw out petals on these squares. Use a pair of scissors and cut out the petals. Use a knitting needle / used refill to roll the upper portion of the petals till about half way through and press the edges of the paper, so that wrinkles form on the paper. Remove the petals and separate them. Roll up the other end of the petal using your thumb and pointer.
Repeat with all the paper petals. Hold the broomstick upright and roll a thin layer of green paper around it using glue. On the tip, stick two petals first and then stick petals around to form a rose. If you are deft in stringing petals you could use tailoring thread too to hold the petals in place.
Cut out leaves with green paper as you did for the petals and stick them around the broom stick. Place these roses along with artificial vines or bushes or use them as standalone arrangement.
You could use thicker varieties of paper like felt paper or hand-made paper to make bigger flowers like daisies, dahlias or tulips. The size and shape of the petals is what you need to change. You can make flowers with sheets of sponge (used as packing material), onion peel or serviettes the same way.