Mauve Peony Flower Arrangment

Today I’m going to share how I made this Mauve Peony Flower Arrangment with faux flowers to create this beautiful spring floral arrangement. There are some tips and tricks to using artificial flowers that will make your flower arrangements look great and I’ll share the pros and cons of using artificial/faux flowers.

I will link all my favorites at the bottom and throughout the post. Just click on the images to shop the source.

Disclaimer: This post does include affiliate links for your convenience. This is at NO additional cost to you but earns me a small commission. To read more, check out our disclosure policy.

The Pros of Using Artificial Flowers

Faux Flowers last forever.

Faux flowers last forever if you take good care of them and store them properly. You never have to worry about them dying. You invest about the same amount of money or close to it, for real flowers but they are dead and gone in a week or less. Try using high end faux flowers next time and see how beautiful they are!

They are easy to bend and shape.

Artificial flowers are easy to bend and shape to fit your arrangement and they tend to stand up and stay where you place them, especially if they have a support system like a tape grid, chicken wire base, or floral foam. I’m not a huge fan of floral foam though as it’s terrible for the planet! Try using a chicken wire base if you want another option.

Faux flower quality is improving.

Another pro with using artificial or faux florals and greenery is that that the overall quality of flowers you can purchase now is amazing!

I typically only use the high-end type flowers, and people often ask me on my Instagram how I keep my flowers alive. Thats how nice they are! Many people think they are real!

They are so beautiful that they look real.

There are a lot of “real touch” flowers on the market nowadays and the quality just keeps getting better! I’ve linked the ones I used here for this Mauve Peony Flower Arrangement at the bottom of the post.

Artificial flowers are also much easier to come by when real flowers are out of season or hard to get.

Let’s be honest, peonies are only in season for about 3-4 weeks in early summer and that’s way to short!

I have so many beautiful peonies in all colors and sizes that I’ve found online and also have in my online shop Shop Holly J Home. I’ll be adding many of my favorites in the shop soon so stay tuned. (as of posting this 5/3/23, we should be launching the shop in a matter of weeks so check back soon if the website isn’t working yet)

The Cons of Using Artificial Flowers

They don’t have any smell.

I guess that could be a pro though if you have allergies!

They are not real and at the end of the day, fresh flowers are still my favorite to use but when they are not in season or hard to get, artificial flowers come in handy.

If you don’t swap them out often or don’t dust much, they do tend to get dusty.

I change flowers out often for the seasons so I don’t have that problem and I store them in my basement when not in use and keep them in a dust free area. Give them a good shake if they are dusty.

You have to store them somewhere in your home.

I am fortunate to have a basement in both my homes where I have ample storage space to keep all my flowers and seasonal home decor.

I prefer to store mine in french flower cans or buckets and I like to store similar colors and seasonal flowers together. I will also use large clear plastic garbage bags from Costco to put over the top of the flowers or greenery that I store in buckets or bins. This also helps keep them from getting dusty.

It’s a little harder to create arrangements that look asymmetrical and how they would appear in nature.

I like to give each flower it’s own space to breath and using real flowers allows for this to happen a little easier but if you use a proper support structure, you can achieve a beautiful look with the faux florals as well.

How to Arrange Faux Flowers

Now that we have covered some of the pros and cons of artificial flowers, let’s talk about how to arrange them.

One of my favorite techniques is to use a grid.

There are many ways to do this and in this particular arrangement, I used a grid that came with another vase I bought years ago. It was the perfect size for the antique crock opening and I used floral tape to attach it to the crock.

The grid provides some support and a little structure for the flowers. In a wider mouthed jar, vase, or crock, as I’ve used here, this really comes in handy.

You can see how I made this Mauve Peony Flower Arrangement in this reel video I shared here on Instagram.

I used a marble lazy susan to set the vase on and then I started arranging the flowers. This helps to see all sides of the arrangement. I learned this method years ago at a floral arranging workshop at my friend Dawn’s All My Thyme Rose Farm.

Start arranging your flowers.

Now that you have your tape grid or floral grid secure and a lazy susan, you can start arranging your flowers. I used two types of faux peonies. One was a dark mauve color and the other a similar color but with some contrast and a little smaller.

I love the simplicity of these colors and how they are similar but different.

I started adding a layer of the larger peonies then added in a layer of the smaller peonies. I used the the lazy susan to spin the vase around so I could see any holes or areas in the arrangement that looked sparse. I added both the large and small flowers in until it looked balanced and full. I was amazed at how many flowers I was able to fit into this crock!

I’ve shared as many of the sources as I could find in this next section but you can use any type of flower or color combo that you like. Just tap the photos of the individual sources to get to the link.

I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing how to create a faux or artificial peony flower arrangement!

Shop the Look

Here are some other flower arranging posts to check out!

Blue and Orange DIY Fall Centerpiece

Summer/Fall Sunflower Centerpiece

Blue and Yellow Summer/Fall DIY Floral Arrangement

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The post How to Create a Beautiful Mauve Peony Flower Arrangement appeared first on Home With Holly J.

Disclaimer: This post does include affiliate links for your convenience. This is at NO additional cost to you but earns me a small commission. To read more, check out our disclosure policy.

Blue and Yellow Summer/Fall DIY Floral Arrangement

I created this Blue and Yellow Summer And Fall DIY Floral Arrangement for my kitchen island a few weeks back. It’s the perfect faux flower arrangement to transition from summer into fall. It’s super easy to make, and I’ll link as many of the sources below for you so you can recreate it for your home!

Using Faux Flowers

I used to avoid faux flowers because they look fake and were not high quality. Over the past few years, I’ve changed my viewpoint on faux or artificial flowers because I’ve found some really high quality ones that I can use many times over. Invest in some higher end flowers and if you take care of the properly and store them in upright containers when not in use, you can re-use them for years to come!

Another reason I like to use faux flowers is that they last forever! I do love fresh flowers, but it’s also nice to create an arrangement like this that I can use in my kitchen and home decor for weeks on end.

Non-Transitional Fall Colors

Another thing I like to do is use non-traditional fall colors, especially as we transition from summer to fall. Sunflowers are in bloom right now and they are what inspired me to make this flower arrangement. I have a lot of blue in my home so I thought it would be the perfect mix of blue and the dark yellow sunflowers for this centerpiece.

Kitchen Decor

I like changing out my dishes and decor items on my open shelves in my kitchen, and because I used these rustic, blue flower vases in my island centerpiece, it was only fitting that I used my dark blue dishes and other yellow colored dishes and rustic accents.

Get Creative with your Decor Theme

How do I come up with the colors and themes for my decor? I am always inspired by what is in season. Sunflowers are blooming in my garden, as are my blueberries. Even though these are faux, they still represent what is in season. I also did a similar colored tablescape, and the dishes I used were another part of the inspiration for this flower arrangement.

Here’s a peek at my coordinating tablescape using blue and yellow colors.

Use what you already have or purchase a few flowers or a vase that inspires you. I’ve had these vases for months now and finally found a way to incorporate them into my decor. I have a lot of blue decor in my house, so this was also a great fit.

My Tips on Arranging Flowers

Whether you’re using faux or fresh flowers, the floral arranging techniques are the same. I work in odd numbers and typically use three or five of each flower. I had five sunflowers stems, five blueberry stems, three of the taller forsythia stems, and five of the smaller sunflowers or marigolds. I then added in three white peony stems to fill in the space and add some balancing white. Look on all sides of the vase to make sure each view looks even and filled in.

One thing I like to use is a Lazy Susan Turntable. You can spin the vase around and makes floral arranging so much easier. I also bend the wire stems to create different lengths or you can also cut them using wire cutters.

I hope you enjoyed seeing the details of this fun summer/fall transitional blue and yellow flower arrangement that you can recreate for your own home.  I’ve linked as many of the sources I could find below for you!

Enjoy!!

xoxo,

For more Inspiration on Summer/Fall DIY faux flower centerpieces and arrangements click on these posts:

Blue and Orange DIY Fall Centerpiece

Summer/Fall Sunflower Centerpiece

Sources Linked Here:

Blueberry Stem

Blueberry Cluster Stem

Sunflower Stem

Vintage Blue Vases

Hydrangea Stem -Twilight

Exact and/or similar options here:

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DIY Floral Arrangement

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Blue and Orange DIY Fall Centerpiece

Fall is quickly approaching and I’ve already started my Fall decorating! This Blue and Orange DIY Fall Centerpiece is so easy to make and adds a pop of color anywhere you place it. I set mine in the middle of my kitchen island and I love how it turned out.

Picking my Fall Color Decor Palette

I have a lot of blue in my Highland, Utah home and decided to go with a light blue and orange color palette. I wasn’t sure if I would like it or not so I started with this faux floral centerpiece. Once I was done making this I set it out on the island on top of a round shaped wood cutting board and I knew I’d made the right choice for colors!

After placing the centerpiece on the island, I started adding other decor in the same color palette to my open shelves and the rest of my kitchen, family room, and dining room. I also used tan and ivory colors around my home to compliment the blue and orange.

Using Artificial Florals

One of the reasons I like to use artificial or faux flowers is that they last forever and you can use them over and over again. I only use high quality florals though, as that makes all the difference in the overall quality of your centerpiece or floral arrangement. Here are some of the items I used in this fall centerpiece and in my kitchen decor. I’ll link the sources below at the bottom of the post.

Tap the photos below for sources. They are also listed larger at the bottom of the post.

Here you can see how I styled the rest of the kitchen and open shelves.

Another reason I like faux flowers is that you can get almost any color in many different types of flowers. I don’t know if a burnt orange peony actually exists, but I sure love that there is a faux version available! Faux flowers are easy to arrange because you can shape and bend the stems and cut off the stems if they are too long.

I used a mix of artificial hydrangeas, peony’s, roses, and few others smaller flowers that add height and shape to the larger flowers.

How to Arrange Faux Flowers

First, pick a ginger jar or wide mouth urn or vase to recreate this look. This particular vase has a lid so I removed it and then started filling the jar with my flowers. I added three each of the roses, hydrangeas, ivory peonies, and orange peonies into the vase, and then added in the taller delphinium flowers. I always use odd numbers of flowers so 3 of each is a good formula for this type of arrangement.

I then added in some of the smaller cream colored roses on the outside and bent them over to look like they are falling out of the vase. You want it loose and not overfilled. Then add in some of the smaller orange flowers to fill in any holes. The last thing I do is check all sides to make sure there are no holes on the sides or back of the arrangement. Since this one can be seen from all sides, every part needs to look good!

I hope you enjoyed seeing how I created this blue and orange fall centerpiece flower arrangement for my kitchen island. This would also be perfect for a dining table or entry table. You could make one larger one and two smaller ones to accent the larger one and place the smaller ones throughout your home.

xoxo,

Here are all the sources (or similar options) for the fall centerpiece and some of the other items I used to decorate my kitchen. For more fall inspiration, check out my Summer/Fall Sunflower Centerpiece and my Fall Home Tour 2019

Shop The Post by tapping on the images below.

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Mothers Day Gift Ideas

Mother’s Day is coming soon so I thought it would be fun to share some Mother’s Day Gift Ideas!

Create a Flower Arrangement with Faux Flowers 

Take any type of a vase, pitcher, or ginger jar and add some pretty faux flowers. Faux flowers last forever and arranging them yourself adds a special touch. Here are a few of my favorite vases and containers to use with faux flowers.

Plant some Spring Flowers in an Indoor or Outdoor Container

Another fun idea is to repurpose an old container or buy a new one and plant some flowers or succulents in it. Above all, it’s a gift that will last for awhile.

Decorative and Functional Gifts for the Kitchen

I love displaying pretty serving bowls, compotes, milk glass, cookbooks, and other decorative things on my counter, cupboards with glass doors, and open shelves. Most of these are items are functional as well as beautiful to display. One special thing you can do for your daughters or granddaughters, is to hand write your families favorite recipes and put them in a pretty recipe box. They will treasure this! My grandma did this for me many years ago and the following year she passed away. This recipe box she gave me is now one of my greatest treasures and I have shared one of her recipes here on the blog. You can see the hand written recipe card that she gave me for this family favorite. Click here for Lazy Daisy Cake.

Beautiful Books and More

I collect recipe books, books on flowers, and home design books. Here are some of my favorite books, easels, and cake stands! These make lovely gifts. You can also write a note inside the cover of the book or tuck a handwritten note or card inside.

Keepsakes and Jewelry

What mom doesn’t like jewelry? Below are a handful of items that I love, including some personalized ideas that are unique keepsakes.

Home Decor Classics 

Moms often splurge on everyone else but rarely treat themselves. I’ve linked some of my favorite items I think of as a splurge. One of my favorite items that I can’t live without is a vanity mirror with magnification and a light. It’s a lifesaver for those of us that can’t see as well as we used to (me)! The silk pillowcase is something I’ve always wanted to try and is supposed to help with wrinkles on your face while you sleep.

You could even make a little gift basket with a few of these items I’ve linked here or any of the items above if your budget allows. Also, I’ve linked some nice baskets that can also become part of the gift! Add in some chocolates or her favorite treat and a card telling her how much she means to you.

Dishes!

You all know how much I love dishes and so does my mother! We have spent hours searching for dishes in antique stores. We almost always give each other dishes for mothers day. I’m sharing a few of my favorite sets that are timeless and beautiful. These are the perfect gift because every time she uses them, she will think of you. Then, they can be passed down to you someday and you’ll always have that special memory.

Another unique idea for a mothers day gift is to pick out a china pattern and give your mom one place-setting. Have other family members do the same so over time, she has a new set of fine china. You can also give her another place-setting for her birthday and as a Christmas gift so she has a full set to use sooner. The memories of sharing a meal together using the dishes you gave her will be extra special to you both. I’ve linked my favorite set of fine china that I received as a gift from my husband.

Make sure you set a beautiful table for your mom and do all the cooking so she can relax. Last year my kids made brunch for me and set the cutest table. I was very impressed with this tablescape!

I’ve linked some of my favorite dishes for you. You may be seeing some of these on my table soon!

Gift Boxes

Here are some of my favorite gift boxes and tissue paper that I keep on hand for gifts. These work great if you want to put a few items together for a gift box. You can also use a decorative basket. (linked above)

Hopefully you found this Mother’s Day Gift Ideas post helpful and are as excited as I am to spoil all the amazing moms that are a part of my world.  Lets make them feel extra special this year!

Happy Mother’s Day!

xoxo,

The post Mothers Day Gift Ideas appeared first on Home With Holly J.

Disclaimer: This post does include affiliate links for your convenience. This is at NO additional cost to you but earns me a small commission. To read more, check out our disclosure policy.

Green and Gold Fall Harvest Tablescape

One of my favorite times of year to decorate and create tablescapes is Fall. There are so many beautiful colors to play with and pumpkins seem to come in all sorts of colors, sizes, and velvet! Who doesn’t love a velvet pumpkin?!! This Green and Gold Fall Harvest Tablescape if full of dark green velvety pumpkins, beautiful faux flowers and some of my treasured dishes.

I love adding other elements in the dining room to compliment the tablescape. You can never have enough velvet pumpkins so I added more brown colored velvet pumpkins below this beautiful wood sign from Teal Barn Signs (link for this sign is at the end of the post in the slider with photos of items). To add some color to the space below the sign, I put some of the leftover flowers from the garland centerpiece in a galvanized tin bucket and set it on an old antique crate.

The Place-Setting

For the place-setting I used my dark green dishes layered with my favorite antique limoges haviland gold and white plates. I like mixing the old with the new.

I used gold flower shaped placemats, gold flatware, a gold rimmed goblet and a dark green cloth napkin and gold napkin ring.

I added in accents of gold all throughout the table. Even the charger has gold antiquing on the edges.

The Garland Centerpiece

I like creating long garlands to fill up the middle of the table. My table is a large trestle table and I like the way it looks when there’s not a lot of open space on the table when I create this type of tablescape. I don’t typically put my food on the table as it’s easily stained so if you prefer to add the food to the table you can use matching serving pieces and make the centerpiece or garland smaller.

Another reason I like to do it this way is that it keeps the decor lower to the table so when you’re seated for dinner, you can see the people across from you. A centerpiece should draw your eyes to it but not block your view of the other guests.

I like to create a little more height in the center of the garland and then let it taper off to the end. For this tablescape, I put the largest green velvet pumpkin in the middle of the garland and then the smaller ones off-set throughout the rest of the garland.

I started with a base green garland and then going in opposite direction from the center on each side I layered in different faux green stems and white flowers.

Then I added a few more green velvet pumpkins, gold candlesticks with ivory taper candles and gold votive candles filled in the rest of the open spaces.

Final Details of the Green and Gold Fall Harvest Tablescape

I always say the beauty lies in the details and if you look closely at all the little details I think you’ll agree with me! Here you can see one of the little details where I mix the old with the new is the antique green salt and pepper shakers. These were a gift from my mom. She is a dish lover too, so adding these onto the table reminds me of her and all the fun times we’ve had hunting for dishes in antique stores.

Another little detail I added was these gold and white bread plates that said “harvest” and “gather” on them. I alternated them on each place-setting and it brings in the fall element to the table. They also paired perfectly with the gold and with antique plates.

The last detail was adding these white and green velvet pillows to the end chairs. They paired perfectly with the green velvet pumpkins and it’s the final piece to the entire tablescape that makes it perfect for a fall family gathering around the dinner table.

I hope you enjoyed seeing the details of this Green and Gold Fall Harvest Tablescape. Creating these tablescapes brings me such joy and I look forward to creating more memories with my loved ones around our dinner table.

Wishing you all a very happy Thanksgiving in the coming month and as I reflect on what I’m grateful for, I am grateful for all of you! The fact that I get to share what I love with you and hopefully inspire you to create your own beautiful gathering table makes my heart happy. Thank you so much for stopping by and allowing me to do this!

XOXO,

To see more of my Pumpkin Themed Tablescapes click here

All Sources Linked Below

Disclaimer: This post does include affiliate links for your convenience. This is at NO additional cost to you but earns me a small commission. To read more, check out our disclosure policy.

Gold Placemats: Hobby Lobby

White and Gold Pumpkin Plates: Fred Meyer/Smiths Grocery Store

Green Velvet Pumpkins: Debi Lilly

Green and White/Ivory Flowers: Aforal and A Matter of Style, Maple Valley WA

Green Velvet Pillows: McGee & Co.

Green Fall Leaves sign is linked in the slider of products right above this.

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