Floral Wedding Arch

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Floral Stems:
• Dusty Miller Green, 4
• Eucalyptus Spray, Grey/Green, 4
• Rose Bush, Cream, 2
• Rose Bush, Pink/Green, 2
• Peony Bush, Pink, 20", 2
• Peony Bush, White, 20", 2
• Peony/Rose/Hydrangea Mixed Bush, 1
• Panacea, Naturally Wired, heavy gauge floral wire, 40', 1
• Floral Wire, 26 gauge, 1
• Wire Cutters, 1
• Hot Glue Gun/Glue Gun Sticks
• Multi-Temp Glue Gun, 1
• Flat surface, 3'x 4'6"
• Protective cover for flat surface, vinyl tablecloth

DIRECTIONS:

1. Finished size of floral approximately 4' wide x 5'6" high. Wire base 3' wide x 4'6" high (this is attached directly to an arch).
2. Cut heavy gauge wire: four at 2'1" long, one at 9'7" long. Bend over the cut ends 1/2" to remove poking hazard. Fold the 2' pieces in half and set aside. These pieces will be added, after floral, to attach the arrangement to an arch. Bend the ends of the 9'6" wire at 90 degree angle 1' from either end. These will be used to attach the ends of the arrangement to an arch. Straighten the length of wire. For the corner of the floral arch, bend the length of the wire at a 90 degree angle 3' in from one of the bent ends. This is the wire base for the floral arch.
3. Lay wire on flat surface with 4'6" length on left.
4. Cut and lay out the greenery: Cut Dusty Miller 4 1/2" below the lowest leaves. Cut the Eucalyptus into two stems each, 2 and 3 branch sections. Lay one cut of Dusty Miller 6" past the 1' bent ends of wire base, leaves pointing toward the bends. Lay the remaining cut stems on the wire base working toward the corner bend. Overlap the leaves over the stems by approximately 2". Bend the branches away from the wire base. Spiral floral wire around the stems to attach to the wire base. Repeat this process for the Eucalyptus stems layering over the Dusty Miller.
5. Cut all floral stems into individual stems, longest stems possible. Start with the smallest flowers. Remove any leaves that are close to the cut ends. Set aside, reserve for later. Leaves that slide up a stem, push up toward the flowers/berries. Lay the flowers on top of the layered greenery as they are cut into individual stems. Lay the smaller flower heads toward the ends of the wire base and the larger toward the corner. Tighten the cluster of the spray as the flowers are laid closer to the corner.
6. Gently lift each stem and gather with adjacent stems to spiral floral wire around the loose stems and the wire base. Take time to assure that no leaves are caught in the wiring. Vary the distances that the flower heads lay from the wire base for a more naturalized arrangement.
7. When all stems are wired use the cut off leaves to cover the exposed wire around the wire base. Apply a line of glue along the center line of a leaf and apply to the wire. Overlap leaves for random placement. Alternate with glue into the wired stems to help secure.
8. Fluff and intertwine floral and greenery.
9. Flip over to expose back. Use additional cut leaves to cover and further secure back of wire base.
10. Place the fold of the 2' sections of heavy wire around the wire base and twist tie. One at the corner, one centered on the 3' length and two equidistant on the 4'6" length. These and the 1' bent ends of the wire base are the means to attach to an arch.
11. Twist tie the wires to an arch. Fluff the floral.

CRAFT HACK TIPS & TRICKS:

• Know the width of the frame of the arch that will support this floral arrangement. Adjustments to the heavy wire lengths may be necessary.