Flower Crowns for Photo Shoots
I have been loving all the recent requests I have had to make flower crowns for maternity shoots. Side note - If you are ever in need of a great photographer for maternity, baby, or family shoots I would highly recommend Miranda North who is a Long Beach photographer and fellow LBC local. Some of her clients like to get flower crowns for themselves and their babies! A flower crown can add a whimsical and playful feeling to a beautiful photo shoot. I am honored to make these special crowns for these families, but I am excited to share my secrets anytime. Last year I had a flower crown workshop in Long Beach, and today I am going to share with you step-by-step instructions so you can make a special crown for yourself!
Flower Crown Workshop
In early spring last year I held a workshop to teach others how to make flower crowns! Each participant received all the supplies needed and were able to make a special crown for themselves. We had floral entrepreneurs from other self-made businesses and then many others who just wanted to have some fun! It was a great bonding activity and also informative. The women each got to take home their own beautiful crown! Stay tuned for our next workshop on centerpieces!!
Instructions for Making a Flower Crown
Here are the supplies you’ll need:
Most of these items can be found at Michael’s, Joann’s or most craft stores!
Snips (fancy slang for flower cutters - scissors will be fine)
2 pieces 20-gauge wire (this is the preferred thickness of wire)
3 pieces 26-gauge wire
Floral tape
Green bind wire (this is really flexible wire that is wrapped in a paper material for strength)
Here are the flowers I most often use:
2 cappuccino roses
2 spray roses
Leather leaf
Plumosa
Gunii eucalyptus
Limonium
You can really use any combo of flowers you like but I would recommend nothing larger than a cappuccino rose. They are perfect because they have a big face without a huge body. I almost always use spray roses as the special touch because they are a little smaller and they sit nicely all the way around the head.
Here are the steps so you can make your own!
Make your headband with the two 20 gauge wires. Place them side by side, and slide each one in opposite directions to reach the right length. Measure the length around your head so that each end almost touches in the back, leaving a small gap of 1 - 2 inches behind the head.
Wrap the two wires with tape so they stay together at the correct length.
Make a loop at both ends which is where we will attach ribbon or twine.
Cut all of your greenery into small pieces about 1 inch long. You should have about 20 - 30 pieces of each type of greenery.
Using your bind wire, create an anchor at the beginning of the crown. Wrap the bind wire a couple times before starting with any greenery. This will give you a nice hold so you can wrap the rest very tightly.
Start adding your greenery to your headband with bind wire. Hold 2 - 3 pieces of greenery down against the headband, and then use your other hand to wrap the bind wire tightly, two times.
Alternate different greens each time to give a full fluffy effect.
Continue this pattern until 3/4 of the way around.
9. At this point you’ll switch directions and start from the opposite end. Make an anchor again on this end like we did in step 4. Then start to add greenery from this end of the crown.
10. When you reach your other greens from the first direction, just wrap your bind wire once more to secure it and trim the end. It’s okay to have a small gap of wire showing.
Your crown is almost ready! At this point it should be fluffy and full of greenery. This can be a great natural look all by itself! Consider making just a greenery crown for parties, photo shoots or just a special occasion!
If you’d like to add flowers follow these steps:
Wire your flowers for stability. Stick your 26 gauge through the flower stem, perpendicular to the direction of the stem. You want to get it as close to the base of the flower head as you can, but be sure you are puncturing the stem, not the flower.
Pinch the two pieces on either side of the stem with your fingers, folding it down to be parallel with the stem. Wrap the entire piece together, stem and two wires, tightly with tape.
You will cut each wired stem about 3 inches long, so there is no need to wrap the tape past this point.
Once you have all the flowers wired that you would like to use, you can add them to your crown!
Begin at the gap between the two sets of greenery. Place the base of the flower head on top of the crown, and tightly wrap the wire around the crown to secure. Do this for each of the wired flowers.
It looks great to alternate the smaller spray roses with the larger cappuccino roses, but you can do any pattern you wish.
Finish the back of the crown with ribbon or twine.
Wear your crown proud!
Whether you have an event to attend or not, be pleased with your beautiful creation and take lots of pictures! I hope this was helpful and that you can make lots of flower crowns for yourself and your friends! See below for my next workshop announcement.
I am excited to announce my next workshop which will be CENTERPIECES!! In the evening of May 8th we will learn to make beautiful centerpieces for your table! This is meant to be in conjunction with Mother’s Day weekend so you can bring your Mom for a fun activity and some quality time spent together or make something pretty to bring to her on Mother’s Day! I will be announcing the location and ticket price soon so save the date!