Making your own centerpieces - topiaries...?

[neebelung]

Question for you crafty girls.... how difficult is it to make one's own centerpieces? Specifically, I've got a vision of topiaries as centerpieces, with battery op LED lights (I saw a lot of these -- small strands, tiny lights -- out at Christmas for wreaths) and some flowers tucked in them for color, maybe with some dangling crystals or something to catch light (then since topiaries are tall, I can do small votives around the base of it, and not worry about it catching on fire)....

I'm thinking this might end up super expensive if I have a florist do it, so I'm thinking it might be something I could tackle myself (with the help of my MoH)... am I being too lofy in my expectations of my own time/abilities, or is this doable? Has anyone attempted something like this?

I've mapped it out, and there'll be 7 large round tables, 2 smaller tables, then maybe some smaller similar arrangements for the cake area and bar area.

[Danielle9608]

would you be doing this with silk or real flowers?

[neebelung]

*shrug* Good question... I hadn't fully thought this through (obviously). I'm thinking the topiaries would be silk, and I could get the lights and stuff on them ahead of time, then maybe the day before I could add in sprigs of real flowers? I dunno... lookin for ideas and feedback, cus I've got the idea in my head, but don't know how to bring it to life!

[Danielle9608]

There was a member here: Daisybride who made Topiaries from silk flowers. She said it was pretty easy see link below. This might give you some direction.

http://forums.onewed.com/showthread.php?t=10144

[Kfancii]

They wouldn't be tough to make at all in silk. You can either do what DaisyBride did and make your own forms using a plain styro ball or your craft stores have topiary forms already done - you can get singles or doubles. (Also, the preformed topiaries are made of a green foam instead of white, so that might be easier to cover)

If I were making them, I would choose to use silk over fresh because I think you will be able to get a better value on your flowers if you watch the 50% off sales that Michael's and Hobby Lobby have. To attach the flowers to the styro and give the topiary a bit more "bling" you could use pearl head corsage pins to attach the flowers to the form. (I would also put a dab of hot glue on the back of the flower before sticking it into the foam with the pin for extra security)

Check out http://www.save-on-crafts.com/batopligbr10.html for battery operated lights at a good price. I ordered 25 sets of the white corded ones for our work Holiday party and used them in snow fluff with acrylic reindeer and they were really pretty. One caution for you is they eat batteries and the battery box is pretty big, so you will have to cover it some way in the bottom of you pot. (You could use green moss though and it should work well for you and maybe add a ribbon to the arrangement).

[neebelung]

OHHH! thanks for the ideas ladies!!!!! SWEET!! This gives me something to go on... I'm just thinking this would compliment the garden atmosphere well, and if I do these myself, then the only (real) flowers I'll need to order are my bouquet, my MoH's bouqet, and boutennieres. :D

[Kfancii]

One more thought - to attach the lights to the forms, I would use greening pins (check your craft store floral wire aisle for these - they are a wire pin with 2 "legs" and an S shape at the bend if that makes sense)

http://www.save-on-crafts.com/greeningpins50.html

or you could just use a heavier gauge green floral wire #22 or #20 and cut it to make little U shaped pins to press in over the light wires to secure them into place.

The lights that I posted have 10 lights on each strand and enough extra cord that you could put all 10 lights on the topiary ball and the battery box in the pot.

Here are the pearl head pins I was mentioning in the other post:
http://www.save-on-crafts.com/corpinpearto.html


Oh!!! Look what I just found!! http://www.save-on-crafts.com/poartotrsa18.html

You could start with these ivy covered ones and just add your flowers and lights! This would be even easier and the price is GREAT! $6.99 each!!

Can't wait to see what you come up with!

[neebelung]

Oh my gosh!!!!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!! Those are perfect!!!!!!!!!