Last December when I conducted the Flowerona Survey, lots of readers commented that they’d like to see step by step guides on how to arrange flowers.
So, I’m thrilled to present you with my first one which was created by the very talented florist Philippa Craddock.
Above is her finished design and below you’ll find her step by step guide with images to help you create this fabulous table arrangement.
Over to Philippa…
Here are my easy to follow steps of how to create a beautiful floral design using an easily accessible container.
An old presentation box seems the perfect choice, simply filled with foliage and an abundance of relaxed white flowers, for an informal arrangement.
It would be perfect for your kitchen table or as a gift for a close friend.
Step 1
You’ll need a small rigid box, cellophane, scissors and florist foam.
Step 2
For the foliage and flowers, I used eucalyptus cinerea and populus, skimmia, Avalanche roses, Akito roses, lisianthus, phlox, narcissi, hypericum, lilac and alchemilla mollis…a fabulous mixture of blousy, slender and delicate blooms.
Step 3
Soak the florist foam thoroughly, popping it into a sink full of water.
Be patient and don’t be tempted to push the foam down to quicken things along, otherwise you’ll be left with dry pockets in the middle.
Once soaked, it will be heavy and easy to cut.
Step 4
Line the box with a large single piece of cellophane and cut the foam to shape, fitting it snugly into the box.
Be careful not to squash or press down on the foam though.
Step 5
Prepare the foliage by stripping any leaves from the base of each stem.
Add the larger leaved eucalyptus cinerea first to form the basic shape, followed by the skimmia and eucalyptus populus.
Make sure each stem is inserted at least 5cm into the foam.
Angle the stems so that they don’t cross over each other and space them apart so as not to overcrowd any one spot of foam.
Step 6
Add the flowers, starting with the lilac and roses to give the fullness, followed by the phlox, hypericum, narcissi and alchemilla mollis to add the fabulous background texture.
And finally add the lisianthus to give a relaxed and less formal finish.
Finally, check your design from every angle to make sure that all the foam is completely hidden.
Thank you so much to Philippa for her beautiful images and easy to follow instructions.
Isn’t her finished design just absolutely stunning? I love her choice of simple white blooms, complemented by the foliage in different colours and textures.
Philippa Craddock Flower School
Next week, I’ll be visiting Philippa’s Flower School which is based in her bright studio in the heart of the Sussex countryside…and I’m so looking forward to it!
Philippa has a whole range of other courses scheduled for this year including ‘Entertaining at Home’, ‘The Perfect Hand Tied Bunch’ and ‘Simple Bridal Flowers’.
The courses have been designed for absolute beginners, enthusiastic amateurs and even florists looking to catch up on new trends in floristry.
If you’d like to read more about Philippa, I interviewed her on Flowerona last year. She’s also on Twitter, Facebook, has a blog.
(Images : Philippa Craddock Flowers)
by flowerona.com