Christmas Floral Tips

by Cindi Sutter, Founder of The Spirited Table® 

The best laid plans usually happen when I plan ahead. Tips for next year...

It's Christmas Eve and I didn't find the "Christmas" flowers I wanted for tomorrow's tabletop; but I did find the right color green spider mums. So before I am too sad or mad at myself, I decide to scavenge.

Buy what I refer to as floral savers, ahead of time. You know the items you can use in a very uniquely diverse fashion, depending on the season. I personally love feathers. I grab them whenever I see them in different shapes, sizes and colors. And I bet you have red balls of some sort around your house at Christmas. All you need to buy ahead of time are the "mechanics" to put the flowers, feathers and red balls inside of. 

This is the outcome....but let's start with the mechanics below.  

They can be purchased at your local florist or wholesaler. 

This is the top of the floral holder. To the right is the candle holder you place inside the floral foam that goes into the floral holder. 

This is the bottom of the floral holder. The rubber piece fits nicely inside most standard candle sticks. 

Ok, now some of your are asking what goes inside of this holder. I used red floral foam or "Oasis" is the brand name. I cut a piece a bit wider than the inside circle and about 3-4 inches tall, soaked it in water and then pushed it into the holder. Next, put the candle holder in the middle of the Oasis. I used the floral holder in the center position of the candelabra, with single candles on each side. 

(The first one I did, I forgot to put the candle holder in, so it was a bit hard to do with the flowers in it, but it worked.)

The next step - put fresh greens that hang over the edge, as well as the white flocked bark, and the feathers. You can use anything you prefer, this is just what I had. Some pieces were new and some were from former arrangements. 

Next I used red balls that were on a wire, so it is easier to assemble. If you don't have them on a wire, you could hot glue the balls on. The next step is to secure the spider mums in the oasis and then put the tiny red balls around the base of the candle holder. Put the candles in last. Sometimes it takes a few attempts to be sure the candles are straight; especially in my case as these are very old candlesticks and the arms have been dropped a few times, so they aren't exactly straight. 

If you haven't done this type of thing before, do a test run with weeds or flowers from your garden. Have fun with it and think outside the box.