Supplies:
Cube votive cups or vases (2 inch x 2 inch)
9 inches of ribbon per vase (two inches wide)
Clear double-faced tape
Fabric glue
One gladiola bloom per vase ( Each Gladiola stem yields anywhere from 8 –
12 blooms.)
Tools:
A good pair of ribbon cutting scissors
A pair of floral clippers or a floral knife
Resources:
Ribbon (Sakura (red and cream) and Chrysanthemum ( green and cream)
available at Midori ribbon dealers. http://www.midoriribbon.com
Gladiolas: Available at any floral shop or grocery store florist year
round or at your local farmers market during the summer months.
Cube Vases: Available in the floral section of larger craft stores and Target
Directions:
Begin by thoroughly washing and drying your vases.
Cut one length of ribbon, nine inches long, for each vase.
Lay the vase on it’s side and on the side facing up, run a piece of clear
double-stick tape along the right edge.
Stick the end of the ribbon ( right side up) over the taped edge and be
sure that your ribbon edges line up with the top and bottom of the vase.
Stretch the ribbon around two sides of the vase, run a line of glue on
the top of the ribbon at the point where it’s secured with the tape ( see
figure 1), and continue wrapping until you’ve gone all the way around the
vase. (see figure two) Hold the ribbon down on the glued point for a few
moments, place glued side down , then allow to dry completely.
When the glue is dry, very neatly trim the ribbon, using the edge of the
vase as a guide.
Fill the vase half way with water, cut one single bloom from the gladiola
stem and place in vase. ( see figure 3)
There are a multitude of ways to display these. You can group them
together in a grid, (see figure 4) place them randomly in the center of
the table, or each guest could have one at their place setting.
They could easily be combined with a larger ribbon wrapped bowl filled
with floating gladiola blooms to create a larger display. ( see figure 5)
Tips:
To keep the ribbon on your wrapped vases and bowls from getting soggy,
fill vases and bowls with water and add the blooms after you arrive at
your reception site.
Test your glue on a small ribbon swatch first. Some glues can discolor
the ribbon.
Don’t use sheer ribbons, only solids. Thicker ribbons work best.
To get more of your blooms to open up on a gladiola stem, break the tip
off just above the top buds on the stem.
Budget: ( for one centerpiece)
9 Cube vases @ $1.50 each = $13.50
1 Gladiola stem $3
3 Yards Midori ribbon @ $5 yard = $15
Total Cost = $31.50
Project created by Laurie Cinotto
