If you’re tired of putting your flower arrangements in boring vases but don’t have the right basket to try something different, then make one! A faux basket is a unique and beautiful way to showcase your cutflowers – and works just as well as a real basket. What’s more, it’s easy and inexpensive. Just follow these simple steps to create a natural-feel floral container that gives the illusion of a basket arrangement.
Faux Basket - Step 1
You’ll need an inexpensive plastic dish, floral foam, bendable sticks, twine or raffia, spray adhesive and some Spanish moss to get this faux basket project started.
Photo Credit: David Pippin
Gather your materials: You’ll need an inexpensive, watertight, plastic container; a piece of floral foam taller than the edge of the container; waterproof tape; spray adhesive; sheet moss or Spanish moss; raffia or ribbon; four bendable twigs (about 18 inches long for an average arrangement); floral wire; leaves, greenery and flowers; disposable plastic (a small, plastic shopping bag is perfect); newspaper or a drop cloth.
Create the “handle” for your basket by inserting the four long twigs into opposite sides of the foam, about 1 inch deep (two twigs on each end). Carefully bring the tips of all four twigs to a point in the air above the foam, have them overlap each other a bit, then secure with a small piece of floral wire. Tie with raffia or ribbon.
Secure the floral foam in the container using the waterproof tape. (Foam size will vary depending on the size of your watertight container. For an average table centerpiece, the foam should rise about 1 inch above the container’s edge.)
Faux Basket - Step 2
To build, just insert the foam, cover the plastic container in moss and secure with raffia. Add the basket “handle,” and your basket is ready for filling.
Photo Credit: David Pippin
Assemble your basket: Working on some old newspaper or a drop cloth in a well-ventilated area, cover the foam with a piece of disposable plastic and spray the outside of the container with spray adhesive. (Make sure the plastic is secure – you don’t want to spray the foam!) Follow label instructions, and let the adhesive dry for a few minutes.
Cover the outside of the container with either sheet moss or Spanish moss, then tie raffia around it to hold the moss in place.
Faux Basket - Step 3
Adding greenery from your garden (instead of buying it from the florist) helps cut costs and gives your arrangement an even more “natural” flair.
Photo Credit: David Pippin
Add greenery: Now for the fun part… Using foliage from your garden (or from the florist), “green up” your arrangement by inserting leaves and small pieces of greenery into the foam. (I also like to use leaves from houseplants.) Remove all foliage from the lower portion of the stem that will be inserted into the foam – this prevents the foam from breaking and allows the stem to make a clean insertion. All stems should appear to radiate from the center of the foam block. You can use whatever greenery you’d like. Foliage used for the pictured arrangement include heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostrata’), tree fern (Asparagus virgatus) and song-of-India (Dracaena reflexa).
Faux Basket - Step 4
Fill in the blank spaces with some cutflowers – here statice and daisy mums perk up the greenery.
Photo Credit: David Pippin
Add flowers: The size of your container determines the number of flowers you’ll need. The average container takes 12-18 stems, depending on bloom size and fullness. (You be the judge!) Insert your flowers in the same manner you did with the foliage – so they appear as if they’re radiating from the center of the foam. Flower stems should be inserted into the foam about one-half to 1 inch deep for an average arrangement. (With larger arrangements, stems will need to be inserted deeper.) Pick whatever makes you happy. The flowers I used in the pictured arrangement are statice (Limonium sinuatum), Marguerite daisies (Argyranthemum frutescens), spray roses (Rosa) and bishop’s weed (Ammi majus).
Faux Basket - Step 5
Your finished faux basket should be overflowing with beauty from your garden! Use it as a centerpiece for special occasions, decorate your home, or make one for a friend.
Photo Credit: David Pippin
Water and enjoy: Water your arrangement, and keep it in a cool place where it can be admired. Just remember, fresh cutflowers drink a lot of water – so check your container daily and add water as needed.
This beautiful, easy and affordable arrangement is a wonderful way to dress up your home, holiday table or party décor – you couldn’t ask “faux” something more!
