Mini Patriotic Bouquets
Red, White and Oh So Cute! These mini patriotic bouquets are a perfect companion to your patriotic decor. They make up so quick you can make several in no time. Find the easy-to-follow instructions below, with lots of photos included.
INSPIRATION
While I was picking out flowers for my Canned Springtime Bouquets, I saw several different patriotic flower bushes and knew I would later want to make some patriotic bouquets, so I grabbed some of those flowers too, and I’m glad I did. These patriotic bouquets turned out great, the supplies were inexpensive and the time I spent making them was minimal. It’s the first part of June. Is it too early for me to put out my Fourth of July decor and tuck these little bouquets just about everywhere in my house?
PROJECT MATERIALS for Mini Patriotic Bouquets
CRAFTING TOOLS
Dinner Knife
Glue Gun
Scissors
Wire Cutters
FOOD CAN - emptied, label removed, washed & dried
I used a 15 oz can
NOTE: my electric can opener makes a smooth, clean cut (right photo). If your can opener makes more of a jagged cut you may want to choose a can that has a pop top lid.
If you have trouble removing your label and any glue residue from your can I recommend GOO GONE. This product removes stuck-on glue just like that!
FLORAL FOAM - 2 square blocks
I bought my floral foam at Dollar Tree. I like this type of foam because it kind of squishes and can be manipulated easily to fit what I’m working with.
I used 2 of the 4 foam blocks for this project.
Each block measures 1.5″ x 2.6″ x 3.3″
RIBBON - 1 1/2" wide
You can use any ribbon you like. I found my ribbon at WalMart. Here is the link to find the exact ribbon I used –
FLOWER BUSHES - 2 to 4 depending on flower size
I bought my flowers at our local Dollar Tree. If you have a Walmart, they also have nice floral bushes at reasonable prices.
CENTER ACCENT PIECE - 1 to 2 depending on size
My rose bud bush came with two stars so I used those for my center accent piece. I included photos of other options for your center accent piece that will also work really well.
MY FLOWER CHOICES
For my can size (15 oz.) I bought 2 patriotic bushes; one with 6 large flowers and one with 3 rose buds/2 stars.
NOTE: I chose a bush with 6 large flowers which I will use all around the outside of the can. If you choose smaller size flowers such as rose buds for the outside layer you will want to buy 1 or 2 extra bushes of that flower because it will take more than six flowers to go all the way around without gaps in between.
INSTRUCTIONS - Mini Patriotic Bouquets
Remove the can label and any glue residue, then wash and dry out your can. (It’s easier to remove the label when it’s dry, not wet).
With your wire cutters cut each flower from the bush, cutting the stem as long as you can.
Remove all the leaves from the stems.
Use your can to measure how long the stems should be and cut each flower that length.
Add Your Heading Text Here
You will want to keep the excess pieces of stem that were cut (see right side of photo), keeping the longest pieces. These will be used later for this project.
All my flowers are cut, leaves are separated and I wound up with 7 pieces of excess stem to be used later.
Take one foam block and along the long edges use your finger to push in the corners and all along the side. Repeat on the other long side.
Flip the foam block over and push in the corners and along both long sides.
The foam block should fit snuggly down into the can. You may need to push in the corners and long edges a little bit more until the foam fits in the can.
Using a second foam block, take a dinner knife and cut a 1/4″ wide piece of foam. I used a slow sawing motion to work my knife all the way down the block. Cut one more 1/4″ wide piece.
Push one piece of cut foam down the side of the original foam block to fill in the can and push the other cut foam down the other side.
Begin by inserting your outside flowers, one by one, into the foam close to the edge of the can, pushing each flower all the way down and bending each flower slightly forward.
Your outside flowers should be side-by-side without gaps between each flower.
I used my 3 rose buds to fill the center. I made this layer of roses slightly higher than the outside flower layer.
Because my rose bud bush came with 2 stars, I used those for my center accent piece. The white star I inserted just above the middle rose bud layer and the blue star I inserted just above the white star.
If you are using something other than stars for your center accent piece, insert that item in the very center of your bouquet, just above the middle layer of flowers.
You will place a set of leaves between each bottom layer of flowers. I used 6 sets of leaves and 6 pieces of the excess stem that I cut and saved earlier.
Push the piece of stem through a set of leaves, just enough to hold the leaves. For extra security you can put a little bit of glue from your glue gun on the tip of the stem and then push it through the leaves.
Repeat with the remaining stems and leaves.
Push your first set of leaves down into the foam between two flowers.
Move over and place the second set of leaves down between the next two flowers.
Repeat around placing a set of leaves between each flower on the bottom row.
Take the end of our ribbon and fold in the corners. Glue this folded end to the can, gluing just the tip and not the rest of the ribbon.
NOTE: I like my ribbon/bow off to the side slightly, so I glued my end just to the right of the center of my bouquet.
Bring the ribbon around, pulling taut, overlapping the glued end just a bit, cut the ribbon there, fold in the corners and glue this end over the first glued end, again, gluing just the tip only.
With the same ribbon make a nice bow, trim the ends so they are even, then glue the bow on top of where the two ends overlap.
finished bouquet
Happy Creating!
This Patriotic Fabric Rag Garland will look great across your porch, mantel or anywhere else you might hang a swag. Find the fee pattern here
This simple DIY Patriotic Bandana Wreath makes up quick and looks so patriotic you will be proud to hang it on your door. Find the free pattern here
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***I put a lot of labor, love and time into the design of my patterns and create them for personal use only. Please do not sell my patterns and claim them as your own. Feel free to make and sell items you’ve made from my patterns, but if you do I ask that you link directly back to my post or blog and provide the link. You may also share my patterns on social media as long as you, again, link directly back to my post or blog and provide the link. Please do not copy and paste my patterns and claim them as your own. If selling items made from my patterns I ask that you use your own photos and do not re-publish any photos related to my patterns as your own. Thank you for your understanding.***
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