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Rittners School Of Floral Design
In Boston Presents....
Fun With Colored Foam-1
Isn't this an interesting approach?
I love the neat things that the various manufacturers and importers bring in to our industry. The various products and tools that are available to us as designers can bring a totally different look to our floral art.
And they are loads of fun to play with.
Good case in point, the various colored foams available courtesy of the Smithers Oasis Company. Oasis has always been on the cutting edge when it comes creating wonderful products for us to use in our designing.
The concept behiind colored foam is quite simple. Instead of hiding our foam mechanics with foliage or moss, why not let it work aesthetically as well as structurally? Let the foam itself become an actual part of the design to be viewed, instead of hiding it and having it work in the background.
With all kinds of bright and attractive colors, the creative possibilities are endless!
What You Will Need
Glass cylinder container
Colored foam
Bells of Ireland
Scotch Broom
Foam sphere
Miniature Carnations
We start with the glassware. There is no better way to show off the colored foam than by placing it into a clear glass container. In this particular case, notice that we have used yellow as our dominant color but also incorporated some blue and pink as well for variety and interest. Cut the foam into various shapes. Place as shown in layers. Add plenty of water. The foam itself gives a bright, sunny and optimistic feeling to whatever will follow in terms of flowers.
Next lets add some Bells of Ireland as shown in the photograph. Not only do we use the floral part of the bells. Several stems have also been used as well.
Add a few pieces of scotch broom for contrast and interest.
Normally we would think of adding foliage or moss to cover the mechanics, but with colored foam it is not necessary! Nonetheless we wanted to do something with the focal area of the design.
Miniature carnations are used in clustered technique to add an interesting touch to the top of the foam.
In addition, One half sphere of a foam ball is placed on several picks and inserted slightly to one side. Miniature carnations cover the front side. The back side is covered with moss (not seen in the pic). The front side has a biedermeir (concentric circles) pattern.
This is a great design for the young or young at heart.
I could see this one being used in a youngster's room.
It would work quite well for a kid's birthday party.
In fact it would be ideal for any large party or function where you need flowers for the buffet table and where you are looking for a very colorful, rather whimsical solution.
It is large, bright and showy. Best of all this one was quick and easy to make.
We hope that you really enjoyed this brief floral design lesson. At
Rittners Floral School in Boston we provide floral design instruction
that includes a wide range of different styles and techniques. Folks attend Rittners Floral School, because not only are we very, very fine floral designers, but also because we are outstanding teachers!! Please come and take one of our hands-on workshop programs!!
Rittners Floral Education Center
returns you to our Floral Education Cente
Your Webmaster is Dr. Steve Rittner, who may be reached at Stevrt@tiac.net.
All photographs and text on
this page are Copyright - Rittners School,
and may not be reproduced, or used for any commercial purposes.
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