How to make a candy bouquet

A bouquet is usually made just from flowers, but that doesn't have to be the case. You can make your bouquet more interesting by adding other items, such as candy.

Yeah, you read correctly, I said, Candy!

Candy Bouquets are fun to make, look great, and they are a fantastic talking piece. I promise that everyone that sees your candy bouquet will feel compelled to comment on it. Young children in particular, will be absolutely delighted when they see your candy bouquet!

To make a candy bouquet, you will need:
- 5 Silk Rose Buds
- 1 Bunch of pearlies
- 2 Thin Gauge wires
- 1 Thick Gauge wire
- 9 Lollipops.
- Silk Leaves
- Stem tape (green or white)
- Ribbon

Step 1: Trimming the lollipops
Trim the lollipop sticks to about an inch or two in length, or just below the wrapper. Later, we will wire and tape the sticks just like normal flowers. We do this so that the lollipops can be moved around and positioned more easily.

Step 2: Trimming the Rose Buds
Trim the stems on the rose bud heads, and then wire and tape them.

Step 3: Wire the lollipops
To wire the lollipops you will have to put a twist in the wire around the stick of the lollipop. You will probably have to do this twice, to make sure that the wire is tight and wont come loose. The easiest way to do this is to use long-nosed plyers, and to squeeze the wire around the stick.

Step 4: Wire and Tape the Pearlies
Although you don't need pearlies in your candy bouquet, they can work well to soften the bouquet, and make it appear more like an everyday floral bouquet.

Wire and tape the pearlies. Place the wire alongside the white part of the pearly strand, and then stem tape in place.

Step 5: Assemble the Candy Bouquet
Now start to assemble the candy bouquet. Start the bouquet with the lollipops in a bunch, in one hand.

Then slowly insert the leaves between the lollipops.

Fan the lollipops into a circular shape, with the leaves facing out.

Place the flowers in next, keeping two lollipops between each flower.

Fill any gaps left over at the end, with leaves and pearlies.

Step 6: Add Figure-of-Eight Bows
Make eight figure-of-eight bows, for the last layer of the candy bouquet, and fan them around the base. You can use normal ribbons or curling ribon.

Step 7: Prepare the handle
The last step in making a candy bouquet is to trim and tape the handle.

That's it! Simple isn't it?

All you have to do now, is resist eating the bouquet long enough for some other people to see it!

Peta D'Silva has been making bouquets for over 14 years. Her website www.visionsofsilk.com, has lots of free information on making your own bouquets, including more details (and pictures) on How to make a candy bouquet