Pick a Petal

This dainty bouquet is a snap to assemble yourself. With just a dozen ultra-fresh fresh Ecuadorian roses this bouquet is designed to make a big impact even on a small budget.

How To Make a Demi-Clutch Floral Bouquet

Materials

To create this arrangement, you'll need the following items:

• 12 of our fresh Ecuadorian roses.
• Sharp utility scissors.
• Green florists tape, available at craft supply stores.
• 2 to 3 yards of 1 to 3 inch wide ribbon.
• A one quart plastic container, 4 to 5 inches in diameter.
• Spray bottle filled with clean water.
• A tall kitchen garbage bag.

Preparation

• Order your roses up to two months before your event.
• Gather your supplies and get your workspace ready.
• The day your roses are delivered, prepare them according to our instructions. Remove all foliage and snip the tips of the thorns if your roses have them.
• If you are doing more than one or two arrangements, enlist the help of a few friends and relatives. They'll make the project go faster and keep the focus on fun.
• If you are planning a morning or early afternoon wedding, make your bouquet the night before. For a late afternoon or evening wedding, plan to assemble it early that morning.

Instructions

1. Start by selecting three roses that will become the center of your arrangement. Hold them in your left hand about 6 inches down from the heads in the shape of a triangle, as if you are holding your bouquet. Place them at slightly different heights - about a quarter of an inch difference is good - to give your arrangement more dimension.
2. Add three additional roses between each of the roses already in your hand. Again, vary the heights ever-so-slightly. You should now be holding six stems in your hand in a triangular shape.
3. Now place two roses on each side of the triangle to form a small dome. If you notice any roses that seem out of place, just loosen your grip a bit and make the adjustment.
4. Starting about 8 inches down from the flowers, wrap the bunch of stems firmly with green florist tape. The pros can do this on their own, but we recommend an extra set of hands to assist you at home. As you wrap the tape up the stems pulling them closer together, the bouquet will become rounder. When you have created the dome shape you want, stop taping.
5. Starting about 6 inches below the flowers (12 if you want your bouquet to have a bow), carefully wrap the ribbon down 6 to 8 more inches and then back up again, making sure to cover all the green florist tape. Tie the ends in a square knot to secure.
6. Using the utility scissors, cut the stems about an inch below the ribbon.
7. Put three quarters of an inch of water in the one quart plastic container and place the bouquet in the container. Lightly spray the flowers with water, being careful to keep the ribbon dry.
8. If you have space, place the arrangement in the refrigerator covered loosely with a plastic bag. If there's no room in the fridge, don't worry; your flowers will be absolutely fine if you keep them stored in your workspace.

Success Tips

• Blow a puff or two of air - as if you were blowing out a candle - down into the center of each rose just before adding it to the arrangement. This helps the petals open out a bit more and gives you a fuller look.
• While you are making your arrangement, check its shape in a mirror to see how it will look to others.
• Wash your hands before handling the ribbon.
• Take a deep breath and relax! You can do this!