04/09/09

DIY: Bird and Flower Garland

DIY Wedding

ACF1387

We love garlands here on Once Wed so when Laurie threw out the idea of creating a fresh flower garland I immediately jumped on board with the project. Not only does the garland above look beautiful hanging on an entryway, but it could also act as an affordable but fun way to display escort cards or favors. Not a big fan of birds? You could substitue them for cut out hearts or choose to use just the garland by itself. Did I mention it’s also super easy to make? Thanks, Laurie!

ACF1388ACF1389

What You’ll Need:
One Bunch "Million Star" Gypsophilia (AKA Baby’s Breath) Generally, a bunch is 10 – 12 stems, with multiple laterals on each stem)
One Spool Fabric Coated Wire
Decorative Paper (3 or so coordinating sheets)
String
A Sheet of Card Stock
 
Floral Snips
Scissors
Small Hole Punch
Pencil
Computer and Printer
 
 
Resources: Gypsophelia is a very common flower
and available through any floral wholesale house, flower shop, or
grocery store florist.  There are many on-line resources as well.   
Fabric coated wire is available in the floral section of your craft
store. 
 
Before you get started on the
garland,  unwrap your bunch of Gypsophelia, trim the stems and place
in warm water.    Allow the flowers to drink for a couple of hours
before proceeding.
 
1.  Take your floral clippers, and trim all of the flower tufts
off the end of the sprays, leaving just a little stem.  (see figure 1)
 
2.  Cut a 7 foot length of fabric coated wire.    Twist the end of the wire to make a little loop at the end.  
 
3.  Take a tuft of Baby’s Breath, and lay it on your support wire,
just past the loop.   Pick up your wire spool, and wrap the wire around
the flower stem and support wire.   (see figure 2)
 
4.  Add another tuft, this time to the back side of the wire, and wrap again. 
 
5.  Keep adding the flower tufts, alternating front and back, and work your way down the wire. (see figure 3)
 
6.  When you reach the end of the wire, cut the spool away  and
wrap the wire around the garland end several times to secure.  Make a
loop on the end with your support wire.  Trim your flower stems to make
the end of the garland tidy.  (see figure 4)    
 
To keep your garland fresh, coil it up, mist it lightly with
water, and place it inside a plastic garbage bag.  Put it in your
refrigerator, or in the coolest spot available.   It should stay
fresh for 24-48 hours depending where you keep it.
 
7.  Print out the bird template(see below) on a
sheet of  card stock.   Cut out the birds, and trace them onto your
decorative paper. ( I used 10 pairs for a six foot garland)
 
8.   Cut all of your birds out, and punch a small hole in the middle of each bird’s back.  (see figure 5)
 
9.  Cut a length of string about 14 inches long, and tie a bird to each end. (see figure 6)
 
10.  Hang your garland from the wire loop ends and hang your birds over the garland, spacing them evenly apart. (see figure 7)
 
What it Cost:  (to make one six foot garland)
1 bunch of Baby’s  Breath = $8.50 (from a wholesale florist)
3 Sheets of Paper = $1.80
Spool of Fabric Coated Wire = $2
String = $1.50

bird

Alana writes

04/09/09 at 10:22 am

This is the most precious thing I have ever seen.

sarah writes

04/09/09 at 10:28 am

This is so, so wonderful!

Amber writes

04/09/09 at 10:38 am

well that does it. I’m done! This is what was missing, its lovely, enchanting, whimsical! draped in the birch trees, at the inn’s front door, vases of baby’s breath on the misc. tables, in the flower girl’s hair! THANK YOU!

Mo writes

04/09/09 at 11:27 am

Omigoodness—this is lovely, thank you SO much for posting this!

04/09/09 at 12:27 pm

aww love this idea! soo adorable :)

AmberLee writes

04/09/09 at 2:05 pm

simple and wow all in one. this is so perfect.

Marty J. writes

04/09/09 at 2:41 pm

Hope you don’t mind…I linked this post to my own blog. Don’t worry. Nobody reads it : O )

http://shesnotthemarryingkind.blogspot.com/

Pamela writes

04/09/09 at 3:31 pm

So cute! Love baby’s breath. Cheap and pretty.

Amanda writes

04/09/09 at 4:21 pm

Aw! This is so cute! :) I want one.

mimi writes

04/10/09 at 12:05 am

hmmm. maybe this technique could hide ugly curtain rods at front of ceremony room.

mint writes

04/10/09 at 10:00 am

thrifty and adorable!

coco+kelley writes

04/10/09 at 12:44 pm

awww – it’s VERY sweet and soft. i don’t know that i’d use this for a wedding, but how perfect for easter, or a baby shower?!

sylvie writes

04/10/09 at 6:32 pm

i love this idea, thanks for the template..i will use these love birds to hang off my tulle pouf garland at my aug. 21 st wedding.

04/12/09 at 8:19 pm

We are absolutely loving these birds!

Melissa writes

04/13/09 at 11:34 am

I love this! It could be done so easily with any shape, too! Will definitely be linking this one to my blog… don’t worry, no one reads mine either! =P

geek+nerd writes

04/15/09 at 8:08 am

This is so beautiful – thank you for posting!

04/15/09 at 9:08 am

great for a spring themed event. too cute!!!

Megan writes

04/17/09 at 10:33 pm

This is genius. It would also be adorable with origami cranes.

05/01/09 at 6:02 pm

very sweet!

Stephanie writes

05/07/09 at 12:43 pm

How long did you make the garland? It will be the perfect decoration for my friend’s bachelorette party, her maiden name is Bird!

Diane writes

08/06/09 at 5:00 pm

I love the bird, but for some reason I am unable to get the bird template from the post. Could you please send the template to me? I would greatly appreciate.

Sarah Dean writes

10/29/09 at 3:54 pm

I can’t get the bird template link to work. Could you please email it to me? I’m throwing my sister’s baby shower in 2 weeks and would love to use that template. Many thanks!

Jaclyn K. writes

03/03/10 at 11:37 pm

I cannot access the bird template. Is there anyway it can be emailed to me or re-posted? I was looking for a place card for my wedding and I think I’m going to use the birds and perch them on the wine glasses at the table. Thank you!

Leave a Comment

Name (required)
Email (won't be published) (required)
Website

Once Wed reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity, personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post. The couples who share their weddings on Once Wed are real people, so please remember to be nice.

Alix Klingenberg Photography
Travelers Joy
Claire Pettibone Butterflies
Chic Wedding Invitations
Lisa Jewelry
Karishma Hotels
Wedding JoJo
Bluedoor Photography
Lucky Luxe
Snap Photography
Corbin Gurkin Photography
Lilia Photography
The Dessy Group
One Plus One Images
Brooke Schwab Photography
W Scott Chester Photography
Lorraine Daley Wedding Photography
Eco Beautiful Weddings
Lo Boheme
Stacey Ilyse Photography
Project Wedding
Hello Lucky
Elephantine Jewelry
Wiley Valentine
Dream Bridal
Davina Plus Daniel Photography
iWedding Deluxe for Ipod Iphone
Kate Botwinski Photography
Raya Carlisle
Nonpareil Magazine
Pacific Weddings
Poppies and Posies
Dana Grant Photography
What Shanni Saw
Kiss and Tell Cards
Veiled Remarks
Wedding Window
Jagger Photography
Rock Paper Scissors Events
Bando For The Bride
Eileen Garcia Photography
Privacy Policy • © 2009 Once Wed, all rights reserved. • RSS