Enjoy Flowers WITHOUT Breaking The Bank

Are you ready for a little DIY tutorial?  Okay, let's think fall today. I've got the air condition going full blast and I'm choosing to ignore the 94 degree temperatures outside.  With fall in mind I headed to the grocery store and picked out the most autumn colored flowers I could find.

Neil's mothers birthday was this past week and I thought the roses in her honor, looked beautiful with her 1937 graduation portrait.

This is an easy arrangement.  As easy as 1, 2, 3.  Hey I did it - just sayin'.  Let's look at the easy steps:

Step #1 - Soak a brick of oasis in water.  It only takes a few minutes to soak up the water.  Put the wet oasis in your container.  I chose an old ceramic butter crock.  Cut to desired height with a knife.

*Tip - Next time I would estimate the height of the oasis before soaking so I didn't waste so much.  Also instead of cutting the oasis the same height as the container I would leave it a little taller.

Winn Dixie had their roses on sale for $6.99 a dozen.  Great price right?  Well I did even better.  They had two roses for $1.00 each, so I gather up six packages.  That's right, one dozen roses for $6.00!  Everything else I had at home.

I start by holding my rose up next to the container to get a measurement.  Strip all leaves and thorns with a knife or scissors and cut to length.
*Tips - Cut your stem at diagonal, then cut a vertical notch apprx 1" up the stem.

Step #2 - Remove the outer petals that might look a little shabby.  Don't worry about being too gentle.  You can make your roses look much fuller by just opening them up with your fingers, pulling the petals outward for a more open look.

Step #3 - Starting in the center insert your first rose and simply circle around it with your others. To fill in any empty spots, I used some pittosporum (shrub) cuttings and some red berries from the yard.

So there you go.  Pretty much idiot proof, when you use only one type of flower.  This is my first arrangement and you can see how simple it was.  So for $6.00 and the cost of some oasis, you can have a designer floral arrangement worthy of Martha Stewart.

I want to tell you how this all came about.  Unexpected kindness is the nicest kind of blessing and just last week I was the recipient.  I really don't know if the givers knows just how special she made me feel and how much that gift meant.

My friend Wanda was the giver.  Out of the blue she just told me that she had a Winn-Dixie gift card she had won but couldn't use, since there wasn't a WD in her town, and she wanted me to have it.  We've never met in person, but I found out a long time ago that blog friends can be the closest of friends. Always wanting to be there for each other and my readers are the best.

Wanda's one act of kindness gave me joy in so many ways.

1. I can't describe how much it touched my heart to know she though of me to be her recipient.
2. I was able to treat myself with something special.
3. It provided even more joy resulting from the satisfaction of creating an arrangement even I could be proud of.

Thank you again Wanda.  Maybe I'll just save the rest of the gift card and do the same thing for a few more weeks. Aaaahhhh.

 Hugs Y'all...

Pay It Forward Game

I just found this and though it would be fun to play along. I found this Pay It Forward Game on Craft Crazy blog. If you haven't checked out Beth's blog before now is a good time.

Here’s how it works. I am making a commitment to make a special handmade item for five people. In order to qualify, you must post about this game on your blog and commit to make items for five of your readers in return. To sign up, just comment on this post and leave the URL of the post where you blogged about the Pay It Forward Game.
Here are the rules of the game:
1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. Whatcha get is whatcha get.2. What I create will be just for you, with love.3. It’ll be done this year (2009).4. I will not give you any clue what it’s going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber.5. I reserve the right to do something strange or weird.6. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to your blog post.7. Send your mailing address – after I contact you. I am willing to ship anywhere worldwide.
I will make an effort to do something that you like based on what I see on your blog, BUT there are no guarantees. Like Beth my blog is new so it might take awhile to get five people to sign up. If you come across this post a year from now and I still don’t have five signed up in the comments, I will still honor the commitment, so don’t hesitate to sign up. This is a great way to meet others and to give at the same time. I love random acts of kindness, what about you?