How to Make Presents Pretty With Flowers, Plus More Floral DIYs
Florist Jodie McGregor shows us how to make a mantel display, a table centrepiece and presents with flower accessories
We visit the Sydney home of florist Jodie McGregor of Jodie McGregor Flowers for a tutorial on how to make two long floral decorations, one for a mantelpiece and one for a dining table, and how to make your presents look even more beautiful by adding a flower or two.
This is part two of a two-part series: see how to make a vase arrangement, a coffee table display and a wreath here.
This is part two of a two-part series: see how to make a vase arrangement, a coffee table display and a wreath here.
Cut
Snip stems to approximately 20 centimetres (so you’re looking at buying ones that are about 40-centimetre in length). There is no need to cut at an angle or to strip the foliage for an out-of-water display such as this.
Snip stems to approximately 20 centimetres (so you’re looking at buying ones that are about 40-centimetre in length). There is no need to cut at an angle or to strip the foliage for an out-of-water display such as this.
Create
Start by sorting all cut flowers and foliage into individual groups. For a mantlepiece about 1.2-metres long, put together about 15 clusters of flowers.
For ease, you could make them all the same, so start with a few stems of silver dollar, then flat pine, berzillia, South Australian daisy, paper daisies and gum nuts. Leave the banksia cones for now, we’ll just place them at the end.
Start by sorting all cut flowers and foliage into individual groups. For a mantlepiece about 1.2-metres long, put together about 15 clusters of flowers.
For ease, you could make them all the same, so start with a few stems of silver dollar, then flat pine, berzillia, South Australian daisy, paper daisies and gum nuts. Leave the banksia cones for now, we’ll just place them at the end.
Once together, tie with jute at the base; a simple knot is fine.
After completing the number required, hold one cluster and overlap with the next cluster, both facing the same way, and tie together. Continue this process until you have made the garland the right length to fit the space.
After completing the number required, hold one cluster and overlap with the next cluster, both facing the same way, and tie together. Continue this process until you have made the garland the right length to fit the space.
Tip: To help get the length right you could use a piece of string to guide you and work to this. Also, you could change the direction of the individual clusters in the middle, as this may make it easier. However, I’ve kept the same direction throughout and just massaged into the shape.
Once tied together, pick up and place in the desired location. Add the banksia cones at the front and you’re done.
Tip: This display will benefit from a misting with a water sprayer (like you use for ironing) once it’s in place, and then daily.
Dining Table Centrepiece
Flowers chosen
There’s so much activity on the Christmas table and space is at a premium, so it makes sense to create a long, narrow display. Additionally, I’ve chosen hardy plants as you could set them on the table days ahead if you like (time is also at a premium). If this isn’t an issue, a floral display with Christmas bush, holly, paper daisies and garden roses would be lovely.
Flowers chosen
- banksia cones and leaves
- gum nuts
- berzillia
- succulents
- scissors
There’s so much activity on the Christmas table and space is at a premium, so it makes sense to create a long, narrow display. Additionally, I’ve chosen hardy plants as you could set them on the table days ahead if you like (time is also at a premium). If this isn’t an issue, a floral display with Christmas bush, holly, paper daisies and garden roses would be lovely.
Cut
Everything is used as bought, or cut down quite short to sit flat, with the stems from the succulents cut down. No need to cut an an angle or shear off foliage.
Everything is used as bought, or cut down quite short to sit flat, with the stems from the succulents cut down. No need to cut an an angle or shear off foliage.
Create
This is an easy one; just lay all of your foliage out in a thin, straight line down the centre of the table.
This is an easy one; just lay all of your foliage out in a thin, straight line down the centre of the table.
Present Wrapping
Flowers chosen:
Anything not too big that lasts out of water. And ideally flowers that you find around the garden. You don’t want to be spending a fortune to present the present:
Flowers chosen:
- berzillia
- succulents
- South Australian daisy
- gum nuts
Anything not too big that lasts out of water. And ideally flowers that you find around the garden. You don’t want to be spending a fortune to present the present:
- paper daisies
- sea holly
- nut leucadendron
- billy buttons
Cut
It depends a little on the size of the gift, but ideally between 5 and 10 centimetres for attaching to the wrapping.
It depends a little on the size of the gift, but ideally between 5 and 10 centimetres for attaching to the wrapping.
Create
After attaching the ribbon tightly, it’s simply a matter of slipping the flowers underneath. When using succulents, these can be planted in the garden afterwards.
After attaching the ribbon tightly, it’s simply a matter of slipping the flowers underneath. When using succulents, these can be planted in the garden afterwards.
Tip: When using flowers, it makes sense to use plain wrapping paper. Bright colours are fine, but heavily patterned paper isn’t such a good idea. My favourites are black, white, silver, chocolate and craft.
Another option is to use newspaper from the birth day of the person whose present is being wrapped – it creates a fun game on Christmas morning handing out the gifts, working out whose is whose and looking back on some events from the year.
Using jute or rope on black paper looks smart. You can also use rat-tail ribbon, which is inexpensive and great for creating interesting designs using different knot combinations, thicknesses and lengths.
Tell us
Have you tried any of these beautiful floral DIYs? If so, we’d love to see them – just post a pic in the Comments below. And if you enjoyed this story, like it, bookmark it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
More
See more of Jodie McGregor’s beautiful home here
Another option is to use newspaper from the birth day of the person whose present is being wrapped – it creates a fun game on Christmas morning handing out the gifts, working out whose is whose and looking back on some events from the year.
Using jute or rope on black paper looks smart. You can also use rat-tail ribbon, which is inexpensive and great for creating interesting designs using different knot combinations, thicknesses and lengths.
Tell us
Have you tried any of these beautiful floral DIYs? If so, we’d love to see them – just post a pic in the Comments below. And if you enjoyed this story, like it, bookmark it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
More
See more of Jodie McGregor’s beautiful home here
Mantelpiece Display
Flowers chosen
- eucalyptus silver dollar
- flat pine
- berzillia
- gum nuts
- banksia cones
- paper daisy
- South Australian daisy
Materials- Jute (or twine/string)
- Some snips/florist’s cutters (ask your florist if you can buy a pair) or secateurs
Possible swapsIt’s important to use thick foliage and flowers that will last well out of water.
For the structural element:
- spruce
- ivy
- tetragona nuts
- dodder vine
For the floral: