FLORIDA FEDERATION OF GARDEN CLUBS

MAGNOLIA MANIA

Making a Magnolia Blossom out of a Balloon!

At a FFGC Convention in Boca Raton, during a standing-room only workshop, Emma Short  of Gainesville, taught members to make faux magnolias from ordinary BALLOONS! 

Her club has created and sold these creations for several years at fundraisers and found them to be a "bestseller"!   Emma says, "Without our fundraising activities, we could not accomplish the many goals of our club, or carry out our many worthwhile projects! So, we feature this popular craft item, and recommend it to our clubs and circles throughout the state, as a great item for bazaars, boutiques and other FUN-draisers.

MATERIALS NEEDED:                                                PURCHASED AT:

Ten 12" white balloons (Pkg. contains 15 balloons)     
 A party supply store

Ten pieces #21 gauge floral wire                                   
A florist supply store

#26 gauge roll of paddle wire                                        
Craft or florist supply

Green or brown floral tape                                 
Craft or florist supply 

One small l to l l/2 inch pine cone

 Follow these
 easy steps:

1. Cover #2l gauge wire with floral tape. Stretch tape as you pull and wrap the wire. 
2. Bend the wire in half, insert the folded end into the balloon. 
3. Pull and tightly stretch the balloon down the wire, pressing the air out. 
4. Squeeze the neck of the balloon together about 4" or 5" from the top and bind tightly with paddle wire to secure. Cut off rolled edge of the balloon to reduce bulk. Cover the remnant of the balloon with floral tape. 
5. To form the flower, place 2 petals facing each other and wire them together wrapping  2x's with paddle wire.  DO NOT CUT WIRE!  Now add 2 more petals next to the gaps. Repeat wiring.  Continue this procedure until all petals are attached.  Then  wrap the wire all the way down, forming a main stem. until all petals are attached.  After this procedure, cover the entire stem with floral tape, beginning directly under the flower and continue to  the end of the stem. 
6. To shape the magnolia unfold all the petals, bending outward.  Open each petal by spreading the wire about two inches wide into an oval shape.  Slightly cup the  petal by bending the tip upward.  Adjust the position of all petals to the shape of a magnolia flower. 

Stamen - carefully glue the pine cone into the center of the flower without smearing as it will discolor the petals. 
Leaves - Magnolia leaves must be wired to form a long stem (real leaves from the magnolia tree are used for this. They may simply be dried, or you can use the glycerinated ones.) 

Bend a 6" piece of wire into a hairpin shape.  Pierce the leaf l/2" above each side of the stem.  Securely wire it onto the stem and extend the wire downward.  Finish the fabricated stem by wrapping with floral tape. Place the finished leaf under the flower with stem extending downward and secure with floral tape to the main stem.  Additional leaves may be added by following the same procedure. 

Now, you are ready to use your creation  in a design!

 

HAVE FUN, AND  MAKE FRIENDS WITH FLOWERS!