Wreath (Oak Leaves)

Hello there and leafy greetings to another floral Friday.

I have been looking forward to this blog-make for ages. October is my favourite month as I love pumpkins, the colour orange, pot pourri and candles. And crows! And acorns!

Lella Loves... Wreaths

This is my door wreath for October and I made it using silk leaf garlands and prim decorations which I bought online.

Lella Loves... Wreaths

If you would like to create something similar for your home, you will need:

Large twiggy wreath

3 leaf garlands or 12 similar stems of your choice

Snips or scissors

Prim decorations such as crows, hearts, stars or pumpkins

Cable ties

Wreath hanger

*Tip: Prim is a term for primitive, handmade decorations but they can be found in either resin or wood. You should use anything you like to decorate your wreath such as rusty bells, acorns or berries. Let your creativity flow!

Lella Loves... Wreaths

Firstly, take your wreath and decide which side you are using. Look at it from all angles and make sure it is neither top-heavy or too skinny on one side.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

Take your leaf garland and, using tiny cable ties, attach one end to a very wide twig on the back of the wreath.

Lella Loves... Craft Tools

Snip off the excess tie with snips.

Lella Loves... Wreaths

Wind the leaf garland in and out of the twiggy wreath, making sure your spaces are even and the leaves are not bunching.

Lella Loves... Wreaths

Once you have finished your first garland, step back and see how your wreath is looking. If you are happy with it, take several cable ties and fix the garland to the wreath on the back side.

Leave the cable ties uncut as their tails will help you to remember which is the back of the display.

Lella Loves... Wreaths

Take your second garland and continue wrapping the leaves over the wreath.

Lella Loves... Wreaths

During the process, check the side where the cable ties are to help you remember which side is the front.

Lella Loves... Wreaths

You are nearly finished when you have covered the wreath entirely. Nearly finished but not quite.

Check over the wreath and look for leaves which have been squashed by the garland or trapped under the twigs.

Lella Loves... Wreaths

Flick them free as the more leaves, the better the overall look. When you are happy with the wreath, fix all the garlands in place with more cable ties. Snip off the tails once you have finished.

Lella Loves... Wreaths

One of the prettiest things you can do is to add decorations to your wreath. Look for wooden hearts and stars in Hobby Craft or try a cake supply store for small gingerbread cutters.

If you like my particular look, search eBay.com for little crows and stars to add extra texture to your wreath.

Lella Loves... Wreaths

I bought the crow and stars decorations online but if you are handy with modelling clay, you could have a go at making your own using Fimo. 

Simply buy the Fimo ready-dyed and sculpt your preferred shapes. Add a wire loop and bake in the oven.

Lella Loves... Pumpkins

I also bought a few metal pumpkins but there is an unspoken rule of knowing when to stop. However, I am obsessed with pumpkins and I am sure these friendly fellows will find a spot somewhere in Lella Towers.

Lella Loves... Wreaths

And here is my finished wreath. I love it :) I really do.

This is most definitely one of my favourites and would really encourage you to have a go and make your own. The sense of satisfaction is amazing and it will give you that creative outlet you might be looking for.

I want to show that wreaths are not just for Christmas nor should they be considered funeral sentiments.

Wreaths are circles: they represent the circle of life. We speak of family and friends in terms of circles. Our most trusted friends are part of our inner circle. Wedding bands represent the promises and the circle of trust within a marriage.

Enjoy wreaths for their beauty and have fun making your own.

Please feel free to leave me a message as I enjoy reading your comments.

Best wishes and have a lovely day.

Lella Loves... Crows

Caww Caww...

Lella xx

http://lellalovescreativity.blogspot.com

Silk Flowers (Cream Anemones)

Hello there and welcome to another floral Friday. Silk flowers are a passion and every Friday I love to share one of my arrangements with you.

If you like anemones, you should like today's display.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

Here is an old garden tub which has anemones, hypericum and ivy in the display. I assure you, everything you see is an everlasting floral.

If you wanted to create this in your home, you will need:

40 Anemones

6 Ivy

3 Hypericum berries

Terracotta pot

Piece of tissue

Lella Loves... Old Pots

This pot was in my garden and I love the algae so I only cleaned the inside of the pot. You should use any tub or vase which suits your home.

*Tip: To achieve this look in a few months, not years, simply purchase a new terracotta pot, slather it with natural yoghurt and then place it under a large tree or behind a bush in your garden.

The covered pot needs to sit for 3 or 4 months in a damp corner but not where the yoghurt might get washed off in a downpour.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

You will need at least 40 anemones. They are very reasonably priced. These were purchased in The Range and were no more than 75p each. Dunelm has similar flowers in white and pink.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

Choose some everlasting berries for your arrangement as they give extra texture to the display. Really good examples, such as these hypericum heads, will cost about £4 a stem but they can be used for years so buy the best you can find.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

Floral supplies such as this ivy are a must as they give your arrangement much needed greenery. No matter which flowers you choose, there should be a happy balance of both petal and leaf. All flowers are beautiful so enjoy arranging them.

Similar ivy stems can be bought in Dunelm for 59p. A real bargain in my opinion!

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

Cover the hole with a folded piece of tissue.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

To get started, lay the first ring of stems around the edge of your pot.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

Build up the anemones until you have a full tub.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

Once the anemones are in place, add your ivy. Try to place the taller stems more toward the centre and pop the shorter stems around the rim.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

When you are happy with your ivy placement, add the berries. Hypericum heads give good value for money as they are quite large and offer a lot of colour for the cost.

Your display should look something like this. I think it is lovely, and this very arrangement sits in my kitchen.

I hope you enjoyed today's post and feel free to leave a comment.

If you wanted to commission an arrangement, please contact me. Wealthy patrons are happily catered for.

Cheerio and have a great day.

Lella  xx

http://lellalovescreativity.blogspot.com

Silk Flowers (Cherry Blossom)

Hello there, and welcome to another floral Friday. Today I am going to show you how to create a very large display of cherry blossom. Each branch is 3ft in height and I have combined it with various greenery including willow. The whole display is finished off with a fairy ring of grasses.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

If you wanted to recreate this display, you will need:

Terracotta Long Tom pot
Bag of gravel
Newspaper
11 branches of cherry blossom
11 branches of pussy willow
11 branches of winter stems
22 stems of grass

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

These cherry blossom stems were bought from Dunelm. Most Dunelm stores stock them in the red option, white and baby pink.

If you fancied orange, blue or purple blossom, try Wilkinsons as they have a wide range of floral supplies in all the jewel tones.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

I bought these twiggy winter stems from Hobby Craft but it was a few years back. If you have a neighbour with real fruit trees, ask them if you could have a few stems next time they prune their trees.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

Pussy willow stems can be found in various garden centres such as Notcutts or Wyvale.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

The grasses are a super bargain: they are 59p a stem from Dunelm. There are several colour variations so choose the greenery which will enhance your blossom choice.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

To start, block the flower pot's hole with several sheets of newspaper and half-fill with shingle.

Place all the cherry blossom stems in the centre, and let them face in all directions. Every stem has a natural lean: don't try to fight it. You then arrange the willow and the winter twigs in a ring around the top of the Long Tom - the base of the cherry blossom. The stems of the greenery will support the much taller stems of the blossom.

Finally, infill with all your lovely grass.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

Have fun arranging this in your home. If you choose a different coloured blossom, do let me know as I love to hear how you make the blog-makes your own.

Three cheers for silk flowers...  Hip. Hip.. Hooray...!

Lella  xx

http://lellalovescreativity.blogspot.com

Silk Flowers (Olive Branches)

It's Friday again so it is time for plants and flowers.

Today is a one-tub, one-type-of-leaf arrangement. It is a large metal planter, weighted down with black river pebbles and filled with everlasting olive branches. The impact comes from using one design of plant.

Lella Loves... Everlasting Olive Branches

To make this very easy display, I bought a metal planter from Sainsbury's gardening range in matt black as my greenery has fake green and black olives.

All I did was fill the planter half way with black river pebbles and then carefully 'plant' the olive branches, using the pebbles as wedges.

Lella Loves... Everlasting Olive Branches

That is it!

Find a place for your display and then enjoy it. Mine sits in a quiet corner where I like to read and do my crafts.

To create a similar look, you will need:

Metal planter £9.99

11 fake multi-stemmed olive branches £2.99 each

12 bags of black river pebbles 99p each 

Or, bag of gravel £3.99

Lella Loves... Everlasting Olive Branches

Do let me know how you get on. Feel free to leave me a comment.

Remember, you can use any greenery if you like this look. You don't have to use olives. Try cotton bolls, pussy willow or wild grasses: they would look just as good.

Lella Loves... Everlasting Olive Branches

The trick to this look is to stick with just one design of foliage. However, having said that, when I found this crystal-beaded dragonfly garden stick, I thought it would give a delightful surprise to anyone having a closer look.

Have a lovely day :)

Lella  xx

http://lellalovescreativity.blogspot.com

Silk Flowers (Hydrangeas)

Hello there and welcome to Floral Friday: always flowers, every Friday!

Today I am going to show you how easy it is to make this fabulous display using silk burgundy hydrangeas and some everlasting twigs. I like to use old containers in stark contrast to new flowers so I keep mine in an old French enamel water bucket.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

If you wanted to have this arrangement in your home, you will need:

9 large burgundy hydrangeas
11 everlasting twigs or similar greenery
Old enamelware container - bucket or a bread bin
Gravel (or any similar aggregate)

Wire snips

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

To get started, take your hydrangeas and trim them so the flower head just sits proud of your chosen container.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

Take your everlasting branches and if you bought pliable stems, wrap them around three fingers to make a corkscrew twist.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

When you trim your twig stems, make sure you leave enough room for the hydrangeas to nestle in the space.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

This is how your faux stems should sit together after you have curled the twigs and trimmed the hydrangeas. If you could not find everlasting twigs or toning greenery with pliable stems, don't worry.

Lella Loves... Old Enamelware

If you have a rusty old bucket sitting in the garden, give it a gentle soapy wash and let it dry. Don't worry about rust as it adds to the charm of the container. Remove a damaged handle if it has one as you don't need it.

Lella Loves... Old Enamelware

Be careful if you are using enamel items as enamel chips are, in fact, glass and you can cut yourself or get a shard splinter.  Ouch!

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

Take your container and fill it with several large handfuls of gravel. In my display bucket, I used about 4 kilos of marbles. (I have been hoarding for years as I gather them for my indoor arrangements.)

Marbles are very useful for holding stems in place when using containers which are not glass. You could use river pebbles, shingle or granite chips. Use whichever aggregate you can purchase cheaply.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

Start off by placing six hydrangeas around the edge of your container. When you are happy, start to infill with the twiggy stems. Place a stem in between each flower and then fill the middle section with the remaining branches. Pop the last three hydrangeas in the centre and feed their stems through the twigs.

I do hope you will try this display as there is something rather charming about a bucket full of hydrangeas.

Have fun buying your flowers and if the bucket inspired you, look for a similar item at a reclaim yard. I have used a bread bin before.

We all have an neighbour or two who needs a helping hand with the weeding so why not offer to help someone in exchange for something tatty (but shabby chic to you) out of their shed. You might just come across my most-wanted: a sky blue wooden pony cart.

Have a great day.  :)

Lella  xx

http://lellalovescreativity.blogspot.com

Silk Flowers (Small and Pretty)

Hello there and welcome to another Floral Friday :) Every week I aim to share with you the delights of using silk flowers around your home. 

Last Friday, Foxgloves were the display of the day and to balance out their expense, today I am showing you a few options if you want to spend less than £5 or £6.

The first display uses a single rose and a recycled glass herb container. The cork lid was wedged inside but that didn't bother me as I handed over my 50p.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

Lella Loves... Containers

I brought it home, prized out the lid and soaked off the shop's price ticket which was still on the base. Using just one, very large, very blousy, dusky pink rose, I trimmed it to about 4 inches. The greenish hue of the recycled glass harmonises with the greenery on the rose. 

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

The single rose was £4.99 and I used my own rule of the single stem's flower head must be larger than the circumference of the container. This would make a pretty gift.

*******

My next arrangement is one of my favourites to date as it cost me less than £3 and it is a little cutie. It was one of those occasions where I saw the bowl and knew which flowers would suit. Having previously bought a selection of mixed anemones, I had only used the pink and purple flowers so the white were ready and waiting!

I took three white anemones and trimmed the stems to two inches. 

(NB: The white anemone pictured here is to show you the price ticket. When you see the display, my white anemones have black stamens. Same flower, same price, different store.)

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

This delightful little bowl was one of three different bowls I bought at an evening table-top sale for about £1 (for all three bowls).

The flowers on the outside mirror the anemones. What a fabulous find. Just darling!

Lella Loves... Pretty Bowls

It is no bigger than a satsuma and when I saw it, I knew straightaway what I was going to do with it. The anemones are perfect.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

This little display could sit happily in a bathroom or by your telephone. I love it, and all for less than £3.

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The last idea is still on a budget and uses an Edwardian lemonade glass, a pre-tied bunch of flowers and some snips.

Beautiful vintage glassware can be found at almost any collectables market. Be choosey [when buying your glassware] but don't be too picky if you are buying with flower arranging in mind.

Lella Loves... Vintage Glassware

This glass cost me 25p because there are a few 'nibbles' on in the rim. The tiny chips don't bother me as I am not intending on using it to drink from. 

I love the fact that this glass might well have been made before my lovely grandma was born.

Here is the pre-tied bunch of flowers which I deconstructed. They are a bargain at £2.99 from Dunelm.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

Taking each stem, bend it back and snip at the join. I cut them all free of the main stem as I wanted to use different flowers for different displays.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

The pink hydrangea is about 50 pennies worth of the pre-tied bunch once you have separated all of the flowers.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

In total, this little display cost approximately £5. The glass was 25p, the pink hydrangea was about 50p and the white flower is an everlasting Dill (herb) flower head which was about £4.

If you have seen anything you like today, feel free to leave a comment. The flowers came from either Dunelm or Home Interiors : http://www.homestansted.co.uk/ 

Keep an eye in your local paper for jumble sales and other charity bring and buy events. I do hope you find yourself in amongst the flowers this weekend.

Love, Light and all things floral.

Lella  xx

http://lellalovescreativity.blogspot.com