Many people automatically reach for a vase when they start to arrange flowers. They work well, are readily available and are considered to be the proper receptacle for a bouquet. However, using other containers to create lovely flower bouquets can be a fun and creative option. Instead of arranging that fresh bouquet in a traditional vase, why not reach for a football helmet?
Tips for Flower Arranging Success
Of course, not all containers make great vases. A container that works well is fairly sturdy and needs to be designed in a way that allows the flower arrangement to be easily viewed by the recipient. To make sure a container will work as a vase, the flower arranger should:
- Make sure the container is waterproof. If the container is not waterproof, but it would make a wonderful bouquet container, all is not lost. A jar can be placed in the container to hold the actual bouquet or the container can be lined with plastic and then filled with damp floral foam.
- Take a look at the container's shape. There should be some support for flower stems if the arrangement will be high. Low arrangements will need a container that has an opening that is wide enough to allow the flower arranger to create a full, graceful effect.
- Consider how the container's texture and colors contrast with the flowers that will be used in the arrangement.
Non-traditional Flower Arrangements Make Great Gifts
Using unique containers for floral arrangements is a great way to make a bouquet into more than just another ordinary birthday or hostess gift. There are any number of great ideas for presenting an arrangement in a container that is just as much a part of the gift as the flowers are.
- To wow a special chef, arrange a low bouquet of edible flowers in a top-of-the-line piece of cookware.
- To make a crafter smile, tuck an arrangement into a craft organizer.
- To give flowers to a man without making him feel too uncomfortable about being on the receiving end of a bouquet, put a simple arrangement, such as a combination of several beautiful hosta leaves and one or two flower blossoms, in a small fishing tackle box.
- A decanter filled with flowers will appeal to a wine lover and a cocktail shaker with a few elegant Calla lilies in it will please a die hard James Bond fan.
- A teapot overflowing with big English roses will delight a black tea aficionado, while a single perfect peony in an Asian tea pot will please a green tea drinker.
Remember to think outside the vase the next time someone needs a bouquet and they'll be delighted to receive an arrangement that keeps on giving long after the flowers have lost their bloom.
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