Stuck for an idea for a baby shower or new baby gift? Want something stunning but that you may make yourself? Try following my instructions on how to make a baby costume bouquet. The finished item looks like a finelooking bouquet of flowers but is in fact made up from baby clothing. This in truth is a 2-in-1 gift – flowers for mum and costume for baby!

You are going to need:

• Selection of new baby costume – items that work well are little bodysuits, hats, bibs & socks. Check out ranges from supermarkets for some actually trendy pieces that won’t break the bank
• Artificial Flowers (full size & miniature) and Foliage – you may find these in craft type shops such as Hobbycraft or even in shops such as Wilkinsons. I find that foam roses are the most realistic but you could choose whatsoever you wanted.
• Rubber bands – these are to secure each costume item once rolled
• Florist tape – to wrap around the costume ‘buds’ and to support secure the whole bouquet together
• Tissue paper
• Vase – get down to Ikea for in truth cheap glass vases or again try your local Wilkinsons or Supermarket range. I also like the cardboard ‘living’ vases which come flat packed though it may be harder to source these on an person basis.

Making the bouquet:

• Firstly take each item of baby costume in turn and roll them up. The more prominent items will need folding in half and perhaps in half again before rolling up the length of the item. Secure each roll with an elastic band. This will give you your flower ‘buds’.

• Take an artificial flower stem (cut it off the main stem if you have purchased flowers all attached to a main stem) and insert it beneath the rubber band of one of the flower buds so that the flower comes to rest at the same height as the top of the flower bud roll. If you have also purchased any mini flowers you may pop one of these beneath the rubber band likewise somewhat further away than the full size flower. If you likewise have artificial leaves you may secure one of two of them beneath the rubber band likewise so that in regards to two thirds of the leaf protrudes above the rest of the flower buds. Do this for each of the items of costume you have.

• Now you will need to wrap each costume bud with the florist tape. Start a cm or two under the top of the bud and wrap the tape over the top of the elastic band and then all the way down to the bottom of the costume item. You ought to find that you still have a lot of of the stem from the full size artificial flower protruding from the bottom.

• Once they are all wrapped you will need to arrange them all together. Play around with the best combining of flower placement. You may twist together the protruding stems from the artificial flowers at the bottom to make more secure and also use another elastic band around the whole bouquet when it comes to a cm or two beneath the top of the bouquet to keep it nice and tight. You may then wrap more florist tape around the elastic band to cover it and bind the bouquet together.

• Now you need to wrap with the tissue paper. Coordinating & contrasting colours always look nice, so for example if you are making a bouquet for a girl you could use pinks, purple & white tissue paper. Co-ordinate with the colours of the artificial flowers & costume that you have chosen. I like to commence by folding a sheet of tissue paper in half, then take the bottom left hand corner and fetch it over to in regards to 10cm above the top of the sheet, in the middle. This gives a kind of point jutting out. Take the bouquet and lay it down towards the left hand side of the folded tissue paper sheet so that it lies with regards to 5 cm or so beneath the jutting out point. Then wrap the sheet around the bouquet and fix with a piece of sellotape. Do this with each sheet of tissue paper in turn.

• Now you are ready to pop the bouquet into the vase that you’ve chosen.

These baby bouquets make a in truth stunning centrepiece to a baby shower party and then mum may be grateful for it’s beauty for a while before the baby arrives and she has to take it isolated to get the costume out for the baby!

Aladine Flowers And Leaves Themed Rubber 2 Pic

Aladine Flowers And Leaves Themed Rubber 2 Image

Aladine Flowers And Leaves Themed Rubber 2 Photo

Aladine Flowers And Leaves Themed Rubber 2 Image

Aladine Flowers And Leaves Themed Rubber 2 Photo

Aladine Flowers And Leaves Themed Rubber 2 Picture