Serpentine Floral Centerpiece

Free Craft Projects - Serpentine Centerpiece

This lovely floral centerpiece project was kindly contributed by Author: Richard Bedsole, of American Institute of Floral Arts, AIFA, Inc.

The problem with centerpieces is: 1. Seeing over the arrangement and 2. Holding a conversation with your guests without having to dodge the flowers on the table. The solution? A Serpentine Floral Arrangement.

You probably have a Serpentine Necklace in your jewelry box…consider the shape of each link in the necklace or the shape it takes when you lay it across the dresser. Or…consider the shape a serpent takes as it “snakes” along the ground. That “S” shape is where the Serpentine Arrangement gets it's name. It's low and flat and slightly curves along the table top giving it an interesting shape.

The Serpentine Arrangement is so easy to design. In this newsletter we'll show you how to create the perfect look for your head table or dining table. Let's start by discussing garlands first. Artificial garlands are abundant. It's important to select a realistic garland so that your Serpentine Arrangement looks real. Choose an Ivy Garland with two-toned foliage or something similar. Foliage garlands are generally sold in six foot lengths (pine garland is usually nine feet). You can make this garland as lush as you'd like by simply winding, braiding, or twisting them together. Use two or three garlands depending on their fullness. It's important NOT to be too particular about how you accomplish this. Let the leaves twist together to create fullness. Don't worry too much about whether some leaves are upside down. It will add to it's realistic look. In our example we're using two garlands in six foot lengths. (See photo below).

Once you've twisted your garlands together, lay them out on your table top in an interesting shape. Bear in mind that we're attempting to create a slightly curved “S” shape. You can incorporate candle sticks (brass, crystal, etc) to achieve the look you want. Simply stand the candlesticks along side the twisted garland so that the garland covers the base of the candlestick. Be sure to alternate your candlesticks on both sides of the garland so that your Serpentine Arrangement doesn't appear to be one-sided. (Hint: you may want to add a drop of hot glue to the bottom of the candles as you put them into the candlesticks to keep them straight and prevent them from falling out). With your candlesticks in place (evenly arranged throughout your garland), you're ready to begin embellishing your garland. Using either an assortment of flowers, or just one type (maybe just roses), you'll need to lift the foliage on the garland, bend the stem of the flower in the same contour of the Serpentine Garland and slide the stem beneath the foliage so that only the bloom appears to be nestled among the leaves. Use this treatment along the entire length of the garland, facing your blooms in varying directions, on both sides of the garland and along the top to create the desired fullness. When you've placed all of your blooms, simply tie a couple of small bows and using the tie wire from the bow, lift the blooms and foliage from your Serpentine Arrangement and feed the wire into the arrangement at strategic intervals ( Hint: Usually the center looks great for bow placement to create the visual weight in the center). (See photo below).

Visit Richard Bedsole, of American Institute of Floral Arts, AIFA, Inc. for more great floral arranging tips and ideas.

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