How To: Make a corsage

Why justify the cost of buying a corsage from your local florist? Make an affordable corsage yourself that reflects your personal style.
You Will Need
* Flowers
* Leaves
* Scissors
* Wire cutters
* Floral wire
* Floral tape
* Baby's breath or other filler
* Colored elastic tape
* Ribbon
* Hat pin (optional)

Step 1
Cut the stems from the flowers and trim the leaves to a short length.

After cutting the stems, leave the flowers in room-temperature water for a few hours.

Step 2
Thread floral wire lengthwise into each stem shaft. Run the wire vertically up into the flower and wrap the stem with floral tape. The wire will facilitate shaping the stem during assembly.

Step 3
Bunch the wired flower stems together so they are pointing toward each other and hidden beneath the flowers. Fasten with floral tape.

Use an odd number of flowers, such as three or five, or one large bloom.

Step 4
Tape baby's breath or other filler into two bunches. Add one bunch to either side of the taped flowers and secure with floral tape.

Add smaller flowers if you want to embellish the corsage or make it fuller.

Step 5
Position the leaves into a bed beneath the flowers, framing the flowers with the greenery. Tape the leaf stems to the flower stems.

Step 6
Cut a length of elastic tape in a color that matches or blends well with the flowers. Measure the wearer's wrist and cut the elastic to the wrist measurement plus one inch.

You can also stick a hat pin into the back of the corsage if you want to attach it to a dress.

Step 7
Attach the elastic securely to the corsage using either floral tape or wire. Camouflage the stems by wrapping them with ribbon, while minimizing the visibility of the wrist elastic.

Fact: The orchid, a popular corsage flower, is the key ingredient in the frozen Turkish dessert salepi dondurma.