How to Make Blooming Tier

Blooming Tier

This flirty arrangement is a tower of texture and color. No matter what the season, it sings of spring. This elegant and dramatic arrangement is perfect for a bridal shower, a welcome reception, or a brunch. The clustered layers of blossoms, arranged in concentric circles, create the old fashioned look and style of a Victorian nosegay. Select any type of small blossomed flower in the shades you like best. Apple blossoms, sweet peas, and grape hyacinths are all lovely choices.

Here are the materials you will need to make one blooming tier:

• two 6” (15 cm) terra-cotta pots
• one block of floral foam
• three terra cotta saucers, one ¡n each size: 4"(10 cm), 6” (1 cm), and 8” (20.5 cm)
• three bunches of mini irises
• three bunches of mini daffodils
• two bunches of tulips
• six to eight leaves from tulip bunches
• hot glue gun and glue sticks
• floral snips
• floral wire

STEP 1. Turn one pot upside down and center it on the largest saucer, Hot-glue the pot in place. Next, hot-glue the medium-size saucer on top o the base of the glued pot. Hot-glue the smallest saucer on top of that, upside down. Finally, glue the second pot onto the upside down saucer. Let the terra cotta tiers dry thoroughly.
STEP 2. Cut the floral foam into small rectangular blocks. Glue the blocks onto the lip of the bottom pot.
STEP 3. Continue gluing foam onto the second tier. Cut foam to shape to fill the top pot. Trim all the corners that stick out past the edges.
STEP 4. Cut iris stems to 2” (5 cm) in length and hot-glue them into the foam. Arrange the flowers around the base, keeping the heads even. If a stem sticks out too far, simply cut the stem and try again.

STEP 5. Just as you did for the iris, cut the daffodil stems to 2” (5 cm) in length and glue them around the second tier. Be sure the tier is filled in with blossoms to create a full and rounded look.
STEP 6. Arrange the tulips in the top pot, trimming the stems as needed to get the height and shape you like. Start positioning the flowers at the center of the pot, making those stems the longest. Work out to the sides, trimming the stems to length so the flowers form a slight dome shape.
STEP 7. After you've added all the tulips, fold each leaf in half, base to tip, to create a loop. Wrap the ends of the leaf together with floral wire. Push the wire securely into the foam in the top pot. Arrange folded leaves around the entire outside of the pot to add a final layer of color, texture, and interest to the tier.