Arranging Your Own Bouquets

The next time you pass up those run-of-the-mill flowers at your local supermarket, you may want to think twice.

Turning common grocery-store bouquets into eye-catching arrangements can be a cinch, as Early Show Style Contributor Christy Ferer demonstrated on Friday.

Roses
Before: Roses are one of the most popular and traditional of all flowers, especially red ones. When bought at supermarkets, rose bouquets typically come with baby's breath and greens (ruscus leaves). Their lack of presentation leaves a super-elegant flower looking very average.

Redo: Remove the baby's breath and cut down the stems. Then arrange in a low open cylinder like an inexpensive silver tomato can and cuff (border) with greens leaves.

Carnations
Before: Carnations are one of the least expensive flowers and often look it, yet these underrated flowers do not have to look so cheap or boring.

Redo: Create decorative orbs with carnations. Using one color of carnation is best. Mold several balls out of an oasis block (available at any florist) and soak in water. Cut carnation stems down to approximately two inches and insert flowers - covering three quarters of the orb. Repeat to create several orbs. Place individual orbs in goblets or stack several on a plate.

Mixed Flowers
Before: Other common supermarket bouquets are mixed flowers. Usually these kinds of arrangements are too busy, mixing color, texture and sizes.

Redo: Cut down bouquet (you'll probably need two) to same level and mix in one-of-a-kind flowers (e.g. anemones) to dilute inexpensive generic batch.

Single Stalk Flowers
Before: The presentation of one singular stem, like an orchid, can make a dramatic statement. Many supermarkets and home centers now sell orchids, such as cymbidiums, at very affordable prices.

Redo: Submerge stem into tall slim glass vase filled with about four inches of glass beads. Fill vase with water.

Gerber Daisies/Day Lilies/Gardenias
Before: Flowers of the same same kind such as daisies, day lilies or gardenias sometimes look better alone (or scattered) than together in a bouquet.

Redo: In this case, less is often better. Dismantle daisies or day lilies and tube individually with stem tubes (available at any florist). Then display flowers between books on a bookcase or perhaps between a bowl of the fruit - either a bowl of green or red apples or even pomegranates. As for gardenias, individual ones look beautiful floating in a shallow container of water.

Containers - Containers are a key element and can make all the difference in a flower makeover. Look for an appropriate one among household items (e.g. teapot, cans). Smaller containers may also serve as excellent vessels for leftover flowers.