We are in the home stretch with our non-floral centerpieces! They are almost complete, so I thought I'd take photos of the mock-ups to share with everyone!These were made using Martha Stewart's directions for tissue paper poms. I drew the inspiration from Vintage Glam's pomanders as well.
I loved the non-floral alternative. We've made them months in advance and they won't die. They also cost a fraction of what flowers would have set us back. Originally I thought of doing these exact designs, only with carnations. The idea of clipping 500 carnations two days before my wedding just didn't fly. So - plan B - tissue paper!
My awesome cousin provided us with the tissue paper from Bags & Bows (excellent quality, by the way - much nicer than you find in stores). The tall centerpieces sit on gloss pillar candle holders from Home Decorators Collection - these will go on our large round tables and sit on flocked damask linens. The smaller centerpieces are made with floral foam wreaths and an 8.5 inch glass cylinder filled with water and floating candle. These will sit on the many cocktail tables on top of black linens. Foam balls for the tall centerpieces were purchased at Save-on-Crafts, foam wreaths purchased at A.C. Moore, glass cylinders purchased at Michael's (on sale!), and floating candles purchased on eBay.
These have been a lot of hard work - FI and I sit in front of the television every night after work and make a million little paper flowers - but the results have been well worth it - I couldn't be happier with them!
**UPDATE**
Since this is by far, the most popular post ever on my blog, I thought I would post some photos of how these centerpieces looked at the wedding. All images by Lisa Rigby Photography.
**UPDATE**
Since this is by far, the most popular post ever on my blog, I thought I would post some photos of how these centerpieces looked at the wedding. All images by Lisa Rigby Photography.
hello, these are fab!! well done. how did u attach the paper to the ball?
ReplyDeleteCheers
Nic:)
Hi there! We attached the tissue paper flowers to the styrofoam using hot glue, held in place for a minute as it cooled.
ReplyDeleteOk I love this idea! I've been planning on making the same thing with carnations as well, but this maybe way mor cost effective!
ReplyDelete- What size foam ball did you use and how many flowers did you have to make for each ball?
-how many sheets of tissue paper and what dimensions of the paper did you use?...Trying to figure out how much paper I would have to buy...
Thanks!
We used 8 inch foam balls. Use styrofoam balls, not the floral foam (green) - the hot glue sticks to styrofoam better. We used about 70 flowers per ball, but we left the bottom open so it rests on the pillar, so it would probably take 75+ to fill the whole ball. As for amount of tissue, I couldn't even begin to estimate the number if sheets. We used 20x30 inch sheets and cut them down, my cousin got me one package/ream from Bags&Bows, you can order online. We only used about half the package for 4 pomanders and 16 wreaths.
ReplyDeletehow much did you cut the tissue paper down? cut it in half would you say?...I need to make more like 10 pomanders! I will be leaving the bottom open too...how tall were the pillars you used?
ReplyDeletesorry one more question...how many sheets of paper did you use for each flower? Did you use 8 like it says on Martha Stewart's website? There are 480 sheets of paper in one package of tissue paper on Bags&Bows, so I'm trying to figure out how you got that many flowers out of half the package. thanks
ReplyDeleteIf you click on the link above, for Martha Stewart's site, it should take you to the instructions. I can't remember how many cuts we made, I think 4 cuts horizontally and 6 vertically? Read the instructions - I think the pieces have to be cut down to 5x10. FYI, these are extremely time consuming. It took us several weeks, a few hours every night, to make 400 of these. But they're worth it!
ReplyDeleteYes, we followed Martha's instructions exactly, read them and they may answer all your questions. You buy the tissue in 20x30 size, but you cut them down to 5x10, so you actually get several small sheets out of one large sheet. Check out the Vintage Glam blog, she takes you through the process step by step.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! Yes, I know they will take a long time to make...but we have 6 months to get them done! And, like you said, the other option of cutting all those carnations the day before is not my idea of a stress free wedding! :) Plus I'm telling my fiance its a great way for him to be a 'part of the planning' :) He'll have to make his quota every night to get his dinner ;) Thanks again for your help!
ReplyDeletewhat the the dimensions of the pillar candle holders?
ReplyDeletealso how much did the styrofoam weigh with the flowers on it?
ReplyDeleteSorry - I don't have answers to your questions. I think the pillar holders were 20 inches or so high, but I'm not sure. I also have no clue how much everything weighed - sorry!
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful idea!! I just found this going through google and can't believe how your idea can help so many weddings/women! I too have looked into battle with the florists, then to the DIY carnation arrangements/cutting etc, now I also have 6 months till my wedding and only need twelve arrangements/ large balls but could create more if I have more time.
ReplyDeleteA big thank you for your creative genius and help you have brought to my wedding! :-)
Hi there,
ReplyDeleteI was wondering how you kept the flowers from being squished? I'm currently working on mine but I'm leaving them folded for now until it's closer to the wedding date. Any advice?
Hi! Ours had flat bottoms, so we got a large box with high sides and put them in the box. We just made sure that in transport, it was always on top of everything else. If yours don't have flat bottoms though, I'm not sure... maybe take a ribbon loop and long straight pin, and pin the ribbon into the foam ball (like a pomander) that way they could hang until you are ready to use them? Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! We have about 700 folded and have about 400 more to go! After this, I'll be done with tissue paper for a while.
ReplyDeleteI know it's 3 years after you posted these, but they are amazing! I am so mad that these pictures weren't around when I was trying to find DIY centerpieces for my wedding because I would have done this instead of what I used! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! I can see why this is a popular post. My comments keep getting eaten . . .
ReplyDelete@t - yeah, sometimes I think people don't post because it's such a challenge getting through the spam filter - but I can't figure out a way to allow posts AND get notified when they happen...
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing, so bummed I didn't find this sooner. Do you think 1 month is enough time to make 16 balls and 12 wreaths??
ReplyDeleteMaybe - these are really time consuming, but if you got some friends and set up a production line I think you could pull it off!!
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