Inside-Out Centerpiece

Welcome to the Flower School.com video library. I'm Leanne Kesler, director of the Floral Design Institute, and today I'm here to share with you a romantic lantern design. Designed with blush flowers, on-trend for weddings today. 

Originally designed to hold a candle, you just open the door, slide the candle in, and there's even a release here so you can shut the door, so it's safe for fire hazard. But adding flowers, even more fabulous. To do that, working with the IGLU, that gives us a water source, I've pre-soaked it with water and flower food. Then, using a uGlu strip, pulling that off, fastening it to the back, pressing it down firmly, and peeling off. Now I can take this and adhere it directly to the lantern, putting one on the outside, and then I have another one with the strip already on, opening it out, placing it on the inside. And now we can do flowers that go through the glass. It's a magic touch to make it extra special. 

To cover the base mechanics, a combination of foliage and pieris. Andromeda, lily of the valley bush, you'll hear it called so many different things. In the springtime it's just wonderful, nice and drapey and full. For foliage, maybe some galax leaves, easy to work with, giving them a cut, and then just placing them into the IGLUs. Coming around to the inside. Then adding the andromeda, letting it drape. Nice and long. Then, coming out from the opposite side. You can see that illusion, going from one side to the other of the glass, making sure that you conceal all of the foam, so that the magic stays intact. 

The beauty of this design is you can stop at any point. The lantern by itself is pretty; adding just the foliages and the lily of the valley bush is also quite lovely. But then, adding in flowers. Got some ruffly lisianthus - that beautiful peach - a little bit of hypericum berry, also in the peach, we got a nice texture and contrast, and then leucadendron, in that maroon color that's so popular to update the blush look. And then, a few mini-carnations just to add a little more coverage, a little more interest, in that same coloration. Starting in, maybe with the lisianthus, because they're so grand, some on the outside, even go up a little taller up the side. Then bringing some to the inside, and you can see it through the glass, drawing your eye through. Adding the leucadendron, bring it up tall, some a little lower, and then pulling it on through to the inside. If you do it outside, you want some on the inside, so that the color stays consistent. The beauty of the IGLU, it keeps the water reservoir so you don't have to worry. Then coming back with the contrast, the additional flowers, filling in for interest. 

As you finish, look at the back, look at the front, look at the sides, double-checking that none of the foam and mechanics shows. Drawing back a little bit more here, carrying through some of the hypericum. And then just a touch of the mini-carnations to fill in, adding a little more color and texture and interest throughout the design. 

Once it's complete, you can go back, shut the door, and it's ready for display as a centerpiece. Looks beautiful, front, back, and sides. Or, stop there, open the door, add one more bit of the Andromeda, a little longer coming out, adding some draping movement to the front, and then enhancing with a nest and eggs tucked right in, creating an accent area for the finished design. The versatile IGLU gives us the magic of working inside and outside, creating the illusion of the garden growing through the glass. 

For more creative inspiration, check out our website, Flower School.com. The website contains hundreds of floral design how-to videos, floral design classes, online floral classes and DIY Flowers. 

If you have questions you can reach us there, or by telephone at 503-223-8089. And of course, I always love to see what you create. Take a picture, post it on social media, be sure to tag #FloralDesignInstitute, and let us all see your creativity, because now it's your turn. Have fun, and do something you love.