Constructing Boutonnieres and Corsages

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Constructing Boutonnieres and Corsages
Modified by the Georgia Agriculture Education
Curriculum Office September 2005
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Constructing Boutonnieres

• A boutonniere is a small floral piece worn for
  several occasions by a man.
• Generally consists of one or two small flowers.
• Flowers are selected based on personal
  preferences, but roses and carnations are most
  popular.

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Steps to create boutonnieres

• Step 1 Select a high quality flower. Make sure
  the flower is firm and fresh.
• Step 2 Using No. 20 or 22 gauge wire, wire the
  flower. Use the pierce method for roses and
  carnations. Use the hook method for wiring
  chrysanthemums or other daisy-like flowers.

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Steps to create boutonnierescontinued

• Step 3 Bend the florist wire down along the
  stem. Tape the stem using green floral tape.
  Make sure that no wire is exposed.
• Step 4 Select a piece of foliage or greenery to
  use as a backing for the boutonniere. Wire the
  foliage and wrap with tape.

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Steps to create boutonnierescontinued

• Step 5 Place the flower and foliage together.
  Let approximately the top 1/3 of the foliage show
  above the flower. Tape down the stem.

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Steps to create boutonnierescontinued

• Step 6 Cut off excessive stem. A stem length
  of 2 2 1/2 inches is most desirable. Add a
  boutonniere pin by inserting into the base of the
  calyx.

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Constructing corsages

• A corsage is more elaborately designed and
  constructed than a boutonniere.
• Corsages are primarily designed to be worn on a
  womans shoulder, but can also be worn on the
  wrist or in the hair.
• Select flowers based on the occasion, color of
  garment, and preferences.
• Commonly used flowers are carnations, roses, and
  orchids.

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Steps to creating corsages

• Step 1 Select 5 firm and fresh carnations.
• Step 2 Using the pierce method, wire each
  flower with No. 24 gauge florist wire. Tape each
  flower securely from the base of the petals down
  to the end of the wire.
• Step 3 Wire and tape four small pieces of
  leather leaf. Construct a bow of 3 ribbon.

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Steps to creating corsages
continued

• Step 4 Place the 3 larger carnations in a
  triangular pattern. Bend the flowers so that
  they will face outward when placed on the
  shoulder. Place a leaf of leather leaf fern on
  each side between the flowers. Wrap the stems
  together with a No. 30 gauge wire.

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Steps to creating corsages
continued
Step 5 Tape two carnations and one piece of
leather leaf fern together in a line. The
leather leaf fern should be between the two
flowers. Step 6 Attach this group to the group
of 3 flowers. Tape over any exposed wire.
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Steps to creating corsages
continued

• Step 7 Secure the bow to the corsage under the
  two lowest focal flowers. Cut the lower portion
  of the stems about 1 1/2 to 2 inches below the
  lowest flower.
• Step 8 Finish by inserting one corsage pin
  through the stem above the bottom flowers. Place
  another pin in the stem above the base flowers.