1. August 2008 Tools, Containers, & Mechanics of Floral Design Modified by the GA Ag Ed Curriculum Office July 2002

2. August 2008 Types of Hand Tools

3. August 2008 Knives One of the most important floral design tools because flowers must be cut before arranging Pocket knives and paring knives are the most commonly used types.

4. August 2008 Clippers Also called floral shears Used for cutting and trimming thicker flower and foliage stems

5. August 2008 Wire cutters Several types of wire cutters are available: –Wire Snips: have a spring action handle and short blades; can be used to cut thick items easily –Utility Wire Scissors: serrated; used to cut wire and plastic; often have longer blades

6. August 2008 Strippers Also called rose strippers or dethorners Used for removing thorns and leaves from stems

7. August 2008 Scissors Ribbon scissors have long slender blades, and they should only be used on ribbon, netting, and fabric. Utility scissors are used to cut thicker materials.

8. August 2008 How to Choose a Container

9. August 2008 Function Containers are the foundation of a design. Containers that house fresh flowers must hold water and provide a deep reservoir. The opening in a container should be big enough to hold all the stems of a design. The container should be heavy enough to support the actual weight of the design.

10. August 2008 Shape and Size The shape of the container should flow visually with the arrangement. The shape of the container will often dictate the form of the finished design. Container size should be proportional to the flowers -- not too big or too small.

11. August 2008 Style Certain container shapes portray a period style theme. The color of the container should be compatible with the flowers of the design. The texture of the container reflects the mood of the design. For example, coarse textured baskets reflect a casual mood and rugged style.

12. August 2008 Common Container Materials

13. August 2008 Materials Glassware: common, affordable, and versatile; simple and elegant Plastics: come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors; can take on the appearance of other materials Baskets: charming and homey; can be used to create many different looks

14. August 2008 Ceramics: includes pottery, stoneware, and porcelain; glazing can create a polished and formal appearance Brass: highly reflective and elegant; generally expensive; used for special designs Materials

15. August 2008 Mechanics of Arrangements

16. August 2008 Establishing the Foundation A secure foundation is necessary to arrange flowers and have them remain where you put them. Popular foundation materials include floral foam, pin holders, grids, and lacing.

17. August 2008 Floral Foam Porous material designed specifically for the arrangement of flowers Must be soaked in water if used for fresh flowers Do not reuse foam after soaking. It is best to cut floral foam with a knife. Foam should be anchored with tape, pins, or glue.

18. August 2008 Pin Holders Also known as needlepoint holders or frogs Has a heavy metal base with many closely spaced pins sticking upwards Requires more time and care when used in a design

19. August 2008 Grids Used mostly in clear glass containers to make arranging easier You can get pre-made plastic grids, or you can make one by taping off the top of the container.

20. August 2008 Lacing A grid made by interlocking foliage stems Leatherleaf fern is commonly used in lacing.

21. August 2008 Wire A gauge number indicates thickness. For example, a lower number equals a thicker wire. Types of wire – straight – paddle – chicken Wiring techniques – pierce – hook-wire – insertion

22. August 2008 Glue Adhesives Helps to keep individual pieces of an arrangement securely fastened together Common types –pan-melt –glue guns and sticks –liquid floral glue –spray glue

23. August 2008 Clays and Tapes Floral clay is a putty-like substance used to anchor items into water. Floral tape is a paraffin-coated paper tape that sticks to itself when stretched.

24. August 2008 Ribbon Adds a decorative touch to designs Ribbon width is referred to by numbers such as #3, #9, #40, etc. A larger number equals a wider ribbon.

25. August 2008 Types of Ribbon Satin acetate ribbon is the least expensive and most commonly used. You can also use: –wired ribbon –paper ribbon –metallic ribbon –decorative lace –print/novelty ribbon