![]() Then at about eight spots along the arch, wind a piece of 10-inch-long, 30-gauge wire to secure the layers. ![]() Squeeze the chicken wire around the arch, enclosing the moss and the arch. (I advise wearing gloves for this - I cut my fingers at this point.) Over the moss, stretch a 7-inch- wide, 4-foot-long strip of fine chicken wire mesh, carefully turning under the sharp edges. Spread handfuls of dry green moss thickly over the arch and down the sides and ends. Lay the arch on a table covered with an old sheet or newspapers. A chicken wire grid allows you to wire everything firmly, and in all directions, thus creating a three-dimensional effect.Īnother secret is to mix natural, dried plant material (which tends to be dull in color) with richly colored artificial flowers, fruits and foliage. One answer is chicken wire: Wrapped around a mossed foundation, it firmly anchors flowers, fruits and greens. SECRETS TO DRIED ARRANGEMENTSįor years, I've noticed that many dried or artificial floral wreaths seem flat and lifeless, no matter how expensive. The arch measured 30 inches across when dry. Then I soaked it in water for several hours to soften the branches.įinally, I nailed both ends of the arch to a board and let it dry out overnight to help retain its new shape. I cut through the wreath with pruning shears and spread it open as far as possible. My harvest arch started out as a 22-inch birch wreath purchased for $10.99 at the Cupertino outlet of Michael's, a national arts and crafts chain. Then it dawned on me: An arch is just a wreath spread open. There's nothing wrong with wreaths, but I wanted something more unusual. I couldn't find any arches at all, just wreaths. You might get lucky and find a preformed arch, made of wood, twigs, straw or wire, at a nursery or craft supply shop. ![]() The same basic mossing and wiring techniques apply to all of these decorations, regardless of shape or materials. If you flex your creative muscles now, by December you'll be making holiday wreaths, garlands and swags like a pro. Not only will making the arch save money and allow you to customize colors to your own decor, but it will provide valuable experience. Set aside four or five hours to complete this project. A similar arrangement at an upscale boutique could run as high as $185. Supplies for the harvest arch will cost $50 to $75, depending on how much dried plant material you buy and how much is available from your own garden. "For a harvest arrangement, that means selecting the things that mean 'harvest' to you, whether it is flowers, fruits or foliage." "When you work with dry materials, you can take the time to make the perfect finishing touch for a room," she says. Every year, she has me freshen it up for about $50, and it is still beautiful," says Janis Fraser, a San Mateo floral designer who specializes in custom dried arrangements. "I have a customer who bought a French country-style wreath four years ago for $250. Or you can refresh this type of arrangement from time to time, adding new flower stems - dry or silk - or ribbons. Since the arch is made from dried flowers and "permanent botanicals" (the new term for artificial and silk flowers), your arch will last until you take it apart and recycle its components to make something else.
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