How to Make a Tulip Centerpiece
- 1). Choose the flowers you want to use in your centerpiece. Only your taste and creativity limits you in selecting the flowers. Use tulips alone or add roses, lilies, or any other flower desired. Keep colors in mind, using contrasting or coordinating colors among the flowers. Any blend that looks good to you is perfect.
- 2). Select greenery or other additions, as desired. Magnolia branches, fern fronds or just the leaves on the flowers complement tulip centerpieces, or display the flowers alone, without the leaves. Beaded wire, lace and dried additions are also available in a general store or florist shop. Feel free to experiment, or become more adventurous over time.
- 3). Condition your flowers before using them. Grab the flowers gently, working in small groups, and line the buds up evenly. Cut the stems flush, at a slight angle, using a sharp knife or pair of scissors. Place the flowers, stem down, in a bucket or container of cold water and keep overnight in a cool, dark place. Avoid contact with food or drafts.
- 4). Find a vase or bowl to hold your centerpiece. The more flowers you want to use for your centerpiece, the larger the rim of the vase or bowl should be. A bud vase, for instance, might hold a couple flowers, while a large vase may hold dozens. Experiment with several containers to get a feel for which one will work best with your flowers. Choices might include old flower vases, a silver coffee urn, a mug or glass, a narrow-rimmed fish bowl or a large candle vase.
- 5). Decorate the flower container if you wish. An elaborate or complicated vase or bowl looks good as it is, but more simple containers look good dressed up. Use your imagination to wrap ribbon, lace or fabric around the container. Glue in place with hot glue or a piece of twine, ribbon or such to secure. Consider scattering several glass beads, marbles or similar decorations inside the vase.
- 6). Fill the vase or bowl with cold water. Stop about an inch shy of the container rim. Avoid adding flower food or preservatives. Tulips actually continue growing, while in the water -- and to keep them fresh, you can simply cut the ends and provide fresh, cold water.
- 7). Clean the tulips if you do not want any greenery in the vase or bowl, or leave as is. Retrim the flower tips slightly as you work, cutting the stalks to the length you need for your container. Rinse the flower stems slightly in cold, running water as you complete each one.
- 8). Gather the flowers in your hand, picking up first one bloom, then selecting another to situate beside it. Continue selecting flowers, alternating between types and adding greenery as desired, rotating the flowers in your hand as you work to continuously round out the weight and look.
- 9). Hold the final arrangement out in front of you, adjusting the blooms as desired. Lower the stems into the bowl or vase when you are satisfied with the look. Spread the flowers or make the final touch-ups as preferred to your new centerpiece.
Source...