Holiday Decorations Archives

Celebrating Grandparents Day

Being a grandparent is the best excuse to be a kid again! At least one afternoon a week I plan some type of creative activity to do with my granddaughter Juliette – watercolor painting, calligraphy, planting a fairy garden, and one of my all time favorites – coloring! According to Digital Trends website, adult coloring books are the latest, and definitely least techy, method that people are choosing to help relax! In the past few weeks anywhere from four to eight of the top 20 best selling books on Amazon are coloring books!

While I really do enjoy the creative process involved with our “arts and crafts” days, the very best part is the time that Juliette and I spend together. Some kind of magic happens when you and your grandchild sit down together and let all of the other “things that need to get done” go and just relax and create. These are precious moments that both of you will always remember and hold dear.

Flowers make people smile and are an excellent way to let someone know how much they mean to you. I created printable coloring pages from my two favorite arrangements from the 1-800-Flowers.com Blooming Mason Jars Collection.

Garden Bouquet™ is a vibrant mix of fresh-from-the-garden blooms with lots of saturated colors and various textures. Because of all the color and texture, the color page is a little more difficult and may appeal more to the grandparent.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE GARDEN BOUQUET™ COLORING PAGE.

The beauty of this Sunflower Bouquet by Real Simple® lies in the majestic simplicity of the blooms. This coloring page will be easy for a child to handle.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE SUNFLOWER BOUQUET BY REAL SIMPLE® COLORING PAGE.

Even if you can’t be together physically you can still share coloring pages. Print out the coloring page and mail it to your grandchild for them to color and send back to you to hang on the fridge. Take a picture of it hanging on the fridge and post online or mail back! Most kids love getting mail!

Grandma, Daughter & Granddaughter Coloring

Make It Personal

Customize Your Roses With A Unique Vase

Gertrude Stein’s famous quotation, “Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose” is often interpreted as meaning “things are what they are.” But I like to shake things up a bit and put my own spin on them. And when it comes to roses—the # 1 gift for Valentine’s—there are so many ways that you can make yours a truly original, one-of-a-kind gift from the heart!

We all know that red roses say, “I love you,” but so does giving someone a bouquet of colored roses in an unexpected “vase” that has special meaning.

I’m a big fan of anything vintage. I love the colors of this old Maxwell House coffee tin, so I created a similarly-hued bouquet of “coffee break” and “Florida” roses to give to a special friend. We try to get together at least once a month to catch up over a cup of coffee, and I truly cherish our friendship and our monthly “coffee tawk.” I think Valentine’s Day is the perfect time reach out to all of the special people in my life to let them know how much their love and friendship means to me. (You could also send this arrangement to a loved one with a card that reads, “Our love is good to the last drop!”)

I’m a Queens girl living in Rockaway Beach, and Coney Island in Brooklyn holds a special place in my heart. I’ve taken many spontaneous trips over the bridge to ride the Cyclone, play Skee Ball, catch a ballgame, or grab a hot dog at Nathan’s. My father even took my mother there on one of their first dates in the late 1940s to ride the Parachute Jump (also known as the Eiffel Tower of Brooklyn). So this arrangement of “Wild Spirit” roses nestled in a Coney Island mug from Fishs Eddy (another favorite fixture of mine) would be the perfect Valentine’s gift for me! I think an arrangement like this would be perfect to send to a guy as well.

Of course you can’t go wrong giving red roses, and these three tips will help you stand out from the crowd!

1. The element of surprise!

2. Wear your heart on your sleeve!

3. (shoe)Dazzle her!

If you liked this article, you may also be interested in some of our other Petal Talk articles from 1-800-FLOWERS.COM Floral & Lifestyle Expert Julie Mulligan:

*How to Preserve Flowers with Wax
*Roses Being Arranged in a Vase
*How to Make Your Roses Last

Rose-Merry & Bright

I have SO many favorite things about Christmas, but what I love the most is getting to spend time with family, especially my grandchildren. And my granddaughter Juliette was more than happy to help me create this video greeting from our family to yours!

Labor Day: A Time to Honor the American Worker

The History of Labor Day

While Labor Day signals the end of summer for many—and the weekend is often filled with beach parties, barbecues and picnics—I’m guessing that most people don’t think about the historical and lasting significance of Labor Day.

Celebrated since 1882, Labor Day became a national holiday in 1894 to honor the contributions of the working men and women who built this country. Indeed, laborers are the backbone of this nation, and Labor Day is a time to recognize the dignity of work and the belief that honest, fairly-compensated labor gives meaning and structure to our lives. This is, and always will be, a core American value.

Celebrating the American Worker

This Labor Day, I want to honor Mary Doyle Keefe. As the model for Norman Rockwell’s “Rosie the Riveter,” Mary Doyle Keefe became the symbol of American women working on the home front during World War II. Ms. Keefe died recently at her home in Simsbury, Connecticut at age 92.

There was another image, similar to that of Rosie, at the same time that was part of a nationwide campaign to sell war bonds. While not the same character, the message was the same: “We Can Do It.”

I created this beautiful bouquet for Mother’s Day one year using an old galvanized toolbox as the container and filled it with a variety of garden flowers. There are many versions of the original “We Can Do It” image. I loved this version with the baby being held in the strong arm of the working woman. To me, it says so much about the many roles a woman plays.

Labor Day Gift Ideas

Isn’t there someone in your life whom you should honor this Labor Day? These are the kind of gifts that are so meaningful—the unexpected gestures that truly speak from the heart.

For instance, you might let your grandmother know—in a fun way—that all of those big Sunday dinners with the whole family are some of your best childhood memories! And that you now realize how much work went into them. She just made it seem effortless!

Here are a few more ideas to inspire your creativity:

Milk Man Gift Ideas - Milk Bottle Flower Arrangement

Sewing Basket Gift - Celebrations E-card

If you can’t make up a one of a kind gift for someone that you would like to honor this Labor Day, it’s easy to reach out with a digital card, like the one above, from Celebrations.com.

Flowers: Born in the USA

Another way to honor the American worker—and to do your part in supporting companies who grow, produce and manufacture products right here in the USA—is to choose a bouquet from our Fresh Cuts Collection. All of the flowers in this collection are proudly grown on farms in California, picked when your order is placed and shipped directly to your recipient. Not only will you be sending smiles, but you will also be doing your part to keep our nation strong! Here are a few of the beautiful California grown bouquets.

Chinese New Year 2015

The Year of the Sheep

The Chinese New Year begins on the first day of the New Moon. This year it falls on February 19th. It is “The Year of the Sheep”! For ways to celebrate, turn to traditional Chinese customs, foods, and colors for inspiration. Don’t be afraid to have some fun with it and use your imagination.

Decorations

Red is an important color not only because of its intoxicating vibrancy, but also because of its rich meaning in Chinese culture and history. It is said that red is the color of the soul of the nation. The color red signifies reunion, health, happiness, harmony, peace and prosperity. So guess what color palette I would suggest for your Chinese New Year’s celebration? That’s right – red!

Flowers are an important part of the Chinese culture, and New Year’s is the biggest day in the Chinese flower market. Flowers are said to bring good luck and are given when visiting family for the traditional New Year’s Eve feast. Pick up decorative takeout containers from a party supply store and fill with flowers in shades of reds, golds, and oranges. These sweet, petite arrangements can also be given as gifts to your guests when the party is over.

Or you could go with a more glam look like this. Deep, rich red roses snuggled in a Chinese takeout- inspired purse would make a lovely surprise for someone special. Just line the container with a waterproof plastic dish or even a tin can, fill with fresh clean water, cut the roses short and place in container!

“Sake” to Me Baby! A few stems of dendrobium orchids placed in a beautiful sake bottle is an easy yet elegant touch that is sure to delight. A tea light in a matching sake cup completes the look!

Food

Lettuce wraps are a fun and easy traditional Chinese food. They are served at New Year’s because the Cantonese word for lettuce sounds like rising fortune. And they are filled with other lucky food such as noodles and peanuts. You can find some great recipes for lettuce wraps at www.food.com and www.foodnetwork.com

Gifts

Hongbao, which are small red envelopes stuffed with money, are often given to unmarried children. You can find these envelopes at party supply stores or online at www.orientaltrading.com.

Download free, printable Year of the Sheep graphics like the one I used on the container holding the Hongbao for an even more custom look!

Make Your Own Spooky Spider Tree Halloween Centerpiece

Here’s a “spider tree” that is very simple to make and will look great in a picture window, on a table in the foyer or as a centerpiece for a Halloween party. Begin making your own spooky spider tree Halloween centerpiece by starting with a store bought tree made from papier-mâché and pipe cleaners. Then I just glued black feathers, green millet and green spider mums to the pipe cleaner branches. I used a floral adhesive for the spider mums and it looked great, without water, for over a week!

If you want to turn the creepy scary up a notch wrap the entire tree with spider webs. These spider webs are so easy to make and can be put almost anywhere. Just take two small pieces of Styrofoam – just about 3” – 4” in size – and put a dollop of hot glue on one of the pieces. Put the two pieces together and slowly pull apart. You will see the spider strings start to form. Take your arms and go around the tree and press the two pieces of Styrofoam together again and then pull apart and bring your hands back around the tree and meet again in the front. Continue to do this until you are satisfied with the amount of spider webs you have created. To remove the spider webs, just spray with a hair dryer and they will melt away!

Create Festive Floral Place Settings

Creating a decorative detail on each dinner plate is an easy and inexpensive way to add a personal touch to your Thanksgiving table. You don’t necessarily need to add a place card, especially if your family is a “first at the table gets their choice of seat” type of family! It is a nice touch though. Here are a few ideas to help you create festive floral place settings for your next holiday gathering.

Savory Succulent
This cut succulent looks good enough to eat. Luckily with all of the food you’ll be serving at dinner no one will be tempted to eat it.

Krazy for Kale
This kale is grown to be enjoyed as a cut flower and really makes a statement when placed on a dinner plate. Use one of the leaves as a place card.

The Colors of the Season
Wrap a few sprigs of colorful fall flora and fauna to bring the vibrant colors of the season onto your table. A few leaf shaped cards from craft store (or you can cut them out yourself) are the finishing touch.

Zen Style
Create a sense of peace this Thanksgiving with a Zen inspired holiday table. Keep the look clean and simple with minimal elements. Now let’s mediate on all we have to be thankful for!

Thanksgiving at the Shore
Whether you’re having Thanksgiving at your home on the beach or you just wish you were there, create the mood with sand dollar place cards with a single orchid tucked in for a look that’s simple and elegant.

Picture Perfect Place Settings
Give each guest at your table their own floral arrangement with petite colored bottles holding a single flower. For a truly personal touch attach a special note to each bottle telling that person what you are thankful for about them. Add a copy of a photo of them on the front of the note instead of just writing their name. I particularly like the look of photos from the past. It adds a sweet nostalgic feeling that is perfect for Thanksgiving!

Sweet M&M Halloween Table Centerpiece

Halloween is a great opportunity to have some creative fun! Make it sweet and simple with this easy M&M Halloween Table Centerpiece craft.

Here’s a quick centerpiece idea for your Halloween festivities…

I love the purple, lime green, orange and black combination for the holiday, so when I saw Halloween M&M’s in the store, I immediately bought a few bags. Just another reason to buy candy! I developed a nested vase for one of the products in my collection, The Sweet Heart Bouquet, and knew it was the perfect container for this M&M project.

You can make your own by putting a narrow vase or glass inside of another large glass container. Ideally, you would want both glasses to be the same height, but if not, the inside glass can be slightly shorter then the outer one. For the floral, I used shamrock spider mums and purple statice. Both flowers are hardy and will last about two weeks.

Would you believe it, right after I made my arrangement, a crow flew in the window and started eating my M&M’s! I named the crow Russell and told him he could stick around, so look out for him in future images!

If you are running low on time, check out a similar product here from 1-800-FLOWERS.COM.

Make a Fun Candy Corn Inspired Centerpiece

From now until the end of the year is a crafters dream. From Halloween through Thanksgiving and right into the holiday season, there are more reasons to decorate and create than any other time of the year. Make a fun candy corn inspired centerpiece and let the creativity begin!

Candy Corn

This ubiquitous Halloween candy was the inspiration for this floral centerpiece. It is made entirely out of carnations with a floral foam base. Since carnations come in so many beautiful colors, including orange and yellow, and are long lasting they were a natural choice for this project.

Remember to check back on a regular basis, because I will be sharing many ideas for decorating, gifting, and creating with flowers for all of the upcoming seasonal celebrations.