FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS
General Floral Design Rules
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Proper dimensions for floral designs are 1 1/2 to 2 times the greatest
dimension of the container (height or width, whichever is greater)
Buds and smaller flowers should be at the top and outer edge of the
arrangement. Larger flowers should be placed lower and more toward the
center.
Lighter colors should be placed towards the top and darker colors toward
the base.
When using 12 flowers or less, use an uneven number of flowers to achieve
visual balance (not including filler material).
The ultimate size of an arrangement is limited by the size of stems, flowers,
and surroundings.
Never let the mechanical aids of the arrangement show (wires, tape, foam,
or any other supports).
Begin an arrangement with the shape in mind. Place outer perimeter
flowers to establish shape. Fill in center.
FLOWER WRAP
BUD VASE
EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE
ROUND CENTERPIECE
LINE (HEAVEN, MAN, EARTH)
Flower wrap
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Flower Wrap
Place a 18” square piece of cellophane or waxed tissue paper on
the design bench. Place leather leaf diagonally on tissue paper.
Place carnation on top of leather leaf. Add baby’s breath. Roll
tissue paper with flowers inside. Finish off with bow.
Equipment:
Flower wrap
1 stem leather leaf
1 carnation
1 sheet of cellophane or waxed tissue
#3 ribbon (bow)
#24 wire (bow)
EXAMPLES
Flower wrap
Bud vase
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Bud Vase
Fill bud vase with water and preservative. Cut leather leaf stems to fit in
budvase up to first leaves. Cut carnations—tall, medium, low. Place in
budvase. Add baby’s breath. Add bow at top of vase, bottom of flowers.
Equipment:
Bud vase
2 stems leather leaf
3 roses or carnations
1 stem baby’s breath
Bud vase
Fresh flower preservative
#3 ribbon (bow)
#24 wire (bow)
EXAMPLES
Bud vases
Equilateral triangle arrangement
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Equilateral triangle arrangement (one sided)
Soak floral foam. Place 1/3 brick of foam in gripper. Cover foam
with greenery. Place outer perimeter flowers in triangle shape.
Add in rest of flowers to fill inside triangle. Add statice to fill in
holes.
Equipment:
Equilateral triangle arrangement
Wet floral foam
1/3 brick gripper
Sharp floral knife
2 stems chrysanthemums
3 stems of leather leaf
1-2 stems of statice
EXAMPLES
Triangle arrangements
Round centerpiece
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Round centerpiece
Soak floral foam. Place 1/3 brick foam in gripper. Cover foam
with greenery. Place 5 outer perimeter flowers in circle shape.
Place 5 more flowers in between first 5 but at an angle. Place one
flower in center. Fill in with statice.
Equipment:
Round centerpiece
Wet floral foam
1/3 brick gripper
Sharp floral knife
3 stems chrysanthemums
5 stems of leather leaf
2 stems of statice
EXAMPLES
centerpieces
Line (Heaven, man, earth)
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Line Design
Soak floral foam. Place 1/3 brick foam in gripper. Place flowers in
Heaven, man, earth positions. Place a few pieces of leather leaf. Cover
foam with wet sheet moss. Use greening pins to hold sheet moss in place.
Equipment:
Line design
Wet floral foam
1/3 brick gripper
Sharp floral knife
3 iris
1 leather leaf
Sheet moss
Greening pins
EXAMPLES
Line designs
Shoka arrangement
Heaven man earth
Heaven, Man, Earth
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Kakeizu for the arrangement shown on the left
(copyright Sogetsukai Foundation). The photo shows
the frontal view as in the illustration.
DESIGN IDEAS
FALL ARRANGEMENTS
CORSAGES &
BOUTONNIERES
PLANTS
FLORAL ADD-ONS
BALLOONS
SPECIALTY