DIY Tutorials

Go on, have a go, it's so much fun!


Here at Campbell's HQ we just love, love, love sharing all our experience and flowery know-how with anyone wanting to indulge in a spot of DIY, so we've put together this new and special area of the blog  so that you can find lots of gorgeous tutorials we've already featured on the blog - in one quick and handy place.  What could be simpler?

To make it even easier for you, we've added a handy new feature in the shape of a difficulty level so you can choose the designs you feel most comfortable with - building up to the slightly trickier designs when you feel ready to.  If you're a YouTube fan, then pop over where you can have a go at my simple DIY videos.  Or, what about coming along to one of our latest Sheffield workshops, and join our lovely regulars at Campbell's Flower School?

As always, we're always looking for ways to spread the Campbell's love of working with beautiful flowers, so do get in touch with any suggestions, ideas or just let us know how you got on making one of our designs - we'll be sure to get back to you.

Tx



How to Make

A Vintage Wrist Corsage (with no wiring!)

Difficulty Level:                                                                                            Beginner



We were really pleased to be featured on Plans and Presents blog recently with this very simple tutorial, here it is again for anyone who might have missed it ...




It’s still a bit chilly here at Campbell’s HQ, so while we’re dreaming of brighter, sunnier Spring days our thoughts have turned to weddings and special occasions.  So here’s a really simple tutorial for a pretty, vintage-inspired wrist corsage in our signature romantic style which is heavenly scented and would be perfect for an early wedding.  As with all DIY projects, we’d really recommend you having a practice run before any important event – just in case.

Here’s what you’ll need:-

-         a stem of lisianthus
-         two stems of ranunculus
-         a stem of gypsophila
-         a stem of thlaspi (green bell)
-         a stem of freesia
-         scissors
-         string or twine for tieing
-         a length of ribbon (about half a metre)







First remove the leaves from the ranunculus and if they’re a bit long cut the stems to make them easier to handle.  Then put them next to each other at a slight angle so one is a little higher than the other.



Next place the freesia to the left of the design and then clean a few little strands of the green bell, making sure all the bottoms of the stems are clean of the little leaves – this makes it easier to tie and the stems at the end and creates a neat finish.



 Place the green bell at the back of the design and then a couple of the pretty buds from the lisianthus next to these.


Next take a little sprig of gypsophila and place this at the very front of the design


 Tie off the design and then firmly tie your ribbon, making sure to conceal the binding point


Then trim off the stems to a nice neat angle.



That’s it! Your design should look something like this …

You’ll need a friend to tie the finished design onto your wrist, you can’t do it yourself!  They’ll need to wrap it round your wrist, bringing the ribbon trails back up to the design and tie into a bow.  Make sure the design faces outwards, away from your body that way it looks pretty for you and everyone else looking at you … and they will look!

If you get stuck at all, pop over to our YouTube Channel where you’ll find a few short videos which should help, or get in touch and we’ll do everything we can to help with any questions you might have.  Because we love sharing so much, we’ve a whole host of  DIYtutorials on our blog or pop over to our website for lots of lovely flowery inspiration.

Tracey x

Twitter:  @campbellsflwrs




How to Make:

A Versatile Summer Posy - Flower School DIY

Difficulty Level:                                                                                             Beginner


This is a really economical design and I've given you a guide of flowers you could use but  I’ve made mine out of a few broken stems and bits and pieces which I had left over from a recent wedding.   Here’s how:-



Here’s what you will need:-

1/3 of a brick of green oasis
Scissors
A sharp knife
A small container




Flower Material

1-2 stems of eucalyptus (or foliage of your choice)
2-3 stems of white astrantia
1 stem of flowering mint
1 stem of thistle
2-3 stems of purple lisianthus




Method

*Soak your oasis and place into your container, making sure that it is raised by at least 1 cm above the top of your container.



*Cut some sprigs of eucalyptus of about 10 cms in length, making sure you remove the lower leaves so that you have about 1½ cms of clean stem to push into your oasis



*Angling the eucalyptus downwards, push the stems into the foam about 1-2 cms apart turning the container until you have completed a circle and created an outline of foliage.



*Next cut more eucalyptus and also some astrantia about 1 cm shorter than before and push these stems into the foam at a 45 degree angle working up to the centre where the stems should be upright.



*Now you can fill in the design using the larger material such as the thistle and lisianthus.  To create a good balance in the design, you should always place buds to the outer edges of the design and place larger blooms towards the centre.






Once you’ve picked up how to make the basic shape, you can use whatever flowers are in season and co-ordinate your container to suit your theme – this a lovely design and is absolutely perfect for beginners.

Being an ex floristry tutor, I’m really passionate about teaching anyone who has an interest in flowers how to make a whole range of lovely designs, so if you need any help with flower choice, don’t hesitate to get in touch, otherwise, enjoy!

Tracey x

If you need to reach us you can find us on:










How To Make:

A Vintage Hydrangea Welcome Ring - Flower School DIY 

Difficulty Level:Beginner/Intermediate


This pretty, seasonal welcome wreath is so simple to make, but just perfect during August/September when Hydrangea is in abundance.  It’s inexpensive, would make a lovely vintage gift for a friend’s wedding or party and is absolutely bang on trend at the moment!

You will need to cut the hydrangea the day before you use it and put it in water to have a good drink.  This known as 'conditioning' and makes sure your flowers last as long as possible in foam.



Here’s what you will need:-

1 x 10” wet oasis wreath ring (available from florists)
Ribbon or raffia
Scissors
A sharp knife
10-12 good sized hydrangea heads


Method

*Bevel the edges of your wreath ring by removing the edge of the oasis with a knife and gently rubbing the excess off. This helps create a nice domed effect for your final design.



*Next soak your oasis ring by placing it upside-down in the sink.  Leave it for a few minutes to really take up the water.



*Cut short sprigs of flower material and, starting at the bottom of the wreath ring, push them into the foam at an angle pointing downwards.



*Continue all the way round the wreath ring until this section is done and no foam is showing. 



*Don’t forget something to hang it with – I’ve used raffia, but you could use ribbon or string depending on the ‘look’ you want to achieve.  Make sure that whatever you use is nice and secure.




*Next, cut slightly shorter sprigs than you used for the outer edge and push these vertically into the foam to complete the next section. Keep checking that no foam is showing and add extra hydrangea sprigs if needed.


*Your design should look a little bit like this by now ...



*Finally, cut even shorter sprigs of hydrangea to complete the inner edge of the wreath ring, taking care to push them well into the foam so that the hole in the centre doesn’t fill in.



And there you have it. One very pretty, welcome wreath which could be made from all the same colours if you’ve got access to lots of the same hydrangea.



I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial.  I absolutely love it when you get in touch, or have any questions, so please do leave me a comment and I will be sure to get back to you as soon as I can.

Tracey x


If you need to reach us you can find us on:






How To Make:

A Wedding Candlestick Table Centre - Flower School DIY



Difficulty Level:Beginner/Intermediate



You might have seen this tutorial recently as it featured on  Alison Tinlin's blog of Plans & Presents - wedding planner extraordinaire and all round lovely lady.  Anyway, if you didn't catch it, here's another chance to:-




Making these dramatic table centres couldn’t be simpler with my step-by-step guide, which will create high impact on your guest’s tables.

You will need:-

A candlestick and candle!
1 x 10” foam wreath ring
½ a block of oasis foam
Scissors
Floristry wire


Flower and Foliage Material

½ a carrier bag of sencecio
½ a carrier bag of hebe
4-5 stems of eucalyptus cincerea

3 x Sweet Avalanche Roses
5 x Avalanche Roses
7 x Rose ‘Video!’
3 x stems of Eustoma (lisianthus) piccolo pink
3 x stems of Eustoma (lisanthus) piccolo yellow (cream)





Assemble all your materials on the workbench.  Place your candlestick on top of your half brick of oasis, using this as a guide cut your oasis to fit, so the candlestick will stand on top of it securely.


It should look like this!


And stand securely like this! This will ensure that the final design is raised up to the right height and not lost beneath all the foliage.

Next bevel the edge of your wreath ring


Do the same with the inner edge of the wreath ring and then smooth everything off by gently rubbing the oasis foam.  It comes off quite easily, so it’s best to do over a bin.  Also beware of getting the dusty particles near your eyes. Then thoroughly soak the wreath ring by placing it upside-down in a sink of water.



Next assemble all your foliage, its really good to use a number of different foliages with opposite textures for good visual interest – ie furry senecio, next to the hebe and smooth eucalyptus.  I've chosen all silvery blue foliages, but dark greens such as ivy would look just as good.

Making sure that all your stems are clean and free from stray leaves, and starting at the base of the wreath ring, push the foliage into the wreath ring at an angle so that the foliage points downwards – this will make sure that the base of the wreath ring is completely concealed.



Keep working round the design in groups of threes.  Don’t worry too much about filling the centre of the wreath ring as the beauty of the design is that the centre is concealed by the candlestick!
Continue until the wreath ring is covered with foliage




Place your focal flowers (biggest/most dominant flowers) into the foam at an equal distance apart – I’ve used Sweet Avalanche because they’re huge and just gorgeous and create great impact!



Continue working through the design by adding the other flower materials – in my case pink and cream lisianthus and Avalanche and Video! Roses.  It’s place them at angles, with some pointing up, some straight and some downwards – this creates a nice random look throughout the wreath.



Your design should look a bit like this.



And that's it!  Hope you enjoy making this design, let me know how you get on.  It's always lovely to hear your DIY stories and a pic or two wouldn't go amiss either!


Tracey x


If you need to reach us you can find us on:











How to Make:

A Vintage Wrist Corsage - Flower School DIY

Difficulty Level:Beginner/Intermediate



As you know, I love sharing my floristry experience with anyone who wants to 'have a go' and so today I'm bringing you a little video as part of my Flower School 'How to ...' series.  This one is a lovely 'Sweet Avalanche', vintage-inspired, wrist corsage which I'm finding are increasingly popular amongst Brides.  In fact one of my Brides this year has ordered a wrist corsage to throw, rather than jettison her stunning waterfall bouquet at her maids and sundry guests.  Much safer!



 The materials you will need are:

'Sweet Avalanche' rose                                                                   .22, .46 & .71 wires
Bouvardia                                                                                           scissors, tape
Eucalyptus gunni                                                                            and ribbon



Here's the link to my YouTube Channel Campbell's Flowers which should take you straight to where all the action is.

Hope you enjoy making your corsage and any proud pics of your work would be fab to see!

'til then, enjoy


Tracey


If you need to reach us you can find us on:







How to Make:

Wired Circlet Tutorial - Flower School DIY

Difficulty Level                                                                                                  Intermediate/Advanced


In this design we move on from the wired buttonhole featured on our YouTube Channel and use very similar techniques to make a wired circlet headdress suitable for a Bride or Bridesmaid.




The materials I have used are:

.21 silver floristry wires
.46 green floristry wires
.71 green floristry wires
.90 uncoated floristry wires
Parafilm tape
Scissors

Flower & Foliages

5 x 'Video!' roses
wax flower
hebe
eucalyptus cinerea





 Lay all your material out on the bench ready


Taking a .90 uncoated wire, tape with gutter tape by stretching the tape and twisting the wire at the same time.  This is the same technique used for the wired buttonhole - the tutorial is still on the blog if you need to refresh your memory, or I have uploaded a number of short videos onto YouTube which show how to wire and tape floristry material. http://www.youtube.com/user/CampbellsFlowers/feed



The beauty of using Parafilm is that, not only does it produce a better, finer result, but it sticks to itself, which makes putting everything together much easier.  Stick two wires together and repeat this twice more so you have three sets of wires in total.

Then join these together with tape, making sure that all wires are completely covered so that nothing can stick into the wearer!

Cut off the rose stem at an acute angle and insert a .71 green wire into the rose.  The push a .21 silver wire into the calyx and bring both wires down to meet the green wire.


Next, tape the rose.  Again, if you need any of these techniques clarifying - see my Campbell's Flowers YouTube Channel.


Now wire and tape some sprigs of your flower and foliage material.  I used 8x hebe, 8 x eucalyptus, 7x wax flower and 5 x roses.  This is just a rough, guide - use what you think looks good


Next, attach the wired material to the circlet frame using more tape.  You might find it easier to use strips of tape cut from the roll, as this is sometimes simpler to handle.  
Cut off excess wires and tape over all the ends to make sure nothing sharp is left in the design.


Your final design should look a bit like this.

I hope you've enjoyed making this design - please let me know how you got on and whether you think this was easier, or more difficult than you thought it would be.

I'm will endeavour to answer any questions left in the comments box as soon as possible, alternatively, let me know if you would like me to contact you to arrange one-to-one tutorials, or group workshops for you and your friends ... or even your hens!

Tracey x


If you need to reach us you can find us on:




3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing I love your work and your bog x

Campbells Flowers said...

Hello there, thanks so much for your kind words. We love to hear that what we do is helpful - thanks for leaving a comment. Tx

Anonymous said...

Brilliant! I am a novice and will find this so useful. Many thanks