“Honey, I Got You Flowers!” Making the Most Out of a Grocery Store Bouquet

When that special someone hands you a fistful of stems wrapped in polka-dotted cellophane, thank them sweetly and let this thrifty floral makeover begin.

A little bit of this, a little bit of that, and a festival of color – that aptly describes the average grocery store bouquet. For years, I knew nothing better than to drop the stems into a vase, add water, and be done with it. Eventually I noted a friend’s method of breaking a bouquet apart to make multiple smaller arrangements that looked a little less helter-skelter. Utilizing recycled cans and a scrap of decorative paper, you can create a centerpiece – or two or three – that will really make a statement.

Monochromatic and analogous color groupings create a sense of serenity.

Too broad an array of color in an arrangement can create discord. To build a harmonious arrangement that evokes a sense of serenity and calm, a good rule is to stick with a monochromatic or analogous color scheme. Going back to Art 101, a monochromatic color palette uses a single hue – varying tints of violet, for example. An analogous palette would include colors that fall next to each other on the color wheel, such as yellow and orange-yellow.

What You’ll Need

Gather a couple of clean empty cans, a pair of scissors, cellophane tape (such as Scotch®), and a few sheets of decorative scrapbooking paper or heavy-duty gift wrap. Florist wire (sold at most craft stores) comes in handy for wrapping groups of leggy stems, but it’s not necessary.

Make a Vase

Using strips of tape, create a grid over the top of the can to support stems. Cut a piece of scrapbooking paper to size, wrap it around the can, and secure with tape. Fill with water and add flower food.

Put It Together

Gently pull the bouquet apart and group flowers by color. Decide on color schemes for each arrangement – monochromatic or analogous. Trim stems, aiming for lengths of 1-1½ times the height of the vase. Place stems randomly in the can – the tallest and largest blossoms in the center – to create a balanced arrangement.

Tip #1:

Tidy Stems

Remove leaves that will fall below the water line. This helps prevent foliage rot.

Tip #2:

Feed the Flowers

Use flower food packets or make some by combining 1 tablespoon each sugar and vinegar per 2 cups water.

Tip #3:

Change the Water

If water grows cloudy or foul smelling, change it and add flower food.

Tip #4:

Add Greenery

Greenery adds another level of serenity. Add randomly to the vase, then fill in with flowers.

Written by Alexa Croft