Use A Simple Trick To Turn Simple Grocery Store Flowers Into Something Special

When you think of colorful floral arrangements, visiting a boutique or specialty flower shop might come to mind. However, the grocery store is one unassuming place where you can find inexpensive yet stunning flower arrangements perfect for putting out on display or gifting to a friend. These bundles typically come wrapped in plastic and held together with rubber bands with a bit of plant food tucked inside to help the flowers thrive. They might not be the most attractive right from the store, but to prepare them for gifting or presentation, you can wrap the bouquet in many creative ways. Instead of using plain old paper, try wrapping the flower stems in washi tape for a fun, one-of-a-kind finish that gives the bouquet a polished appearance.

If you're unfamiliar with washi tape, this crafting material is a type of decorative tape that's traditionally made from Japanese paper. It functions similarly to masking tape but is not as sticky, making it easy to work with and remove from surfaces. What also makes washi tape different from standard varieties is that it comes in countless different colors, patterns, textures, and levels of translucency. These qualities make washi tape ideal for crafting projects, and in some cases, you can even use washi tape as decor around your home.

When it comes to wrapping your bouquets, consider the colors and shapes in the flowers to choose washi tape that coordinates. You can go with a solid color, or dress up the bouquet with a fun pattern that fits the vibe of the display. You'll need enough washi tape to wrap around the bundle of stems, so grab a few extra rolls of your preferred pattern to make sure you have enough.

Getting a bouquet ready to gift is not only about presentation but also about helping the cut flowers from the grocery store stay fresh for longer. It's common for the stems of flower bouquets to be wrapped in plastic wrap, a plastic bag, or floral tape to help stabilize the branches. Try mimicking these methods using your favorite design of washi tape to achieve the same results. 

Start by cutting the stems at an angle and then wrapping the tape around the bottom portion of the stems. Continue adding layers upward, overlapping each pass of tape, until you reach the desired wrap height. Thanks to the washi tape having a built-in design, you're able to call this project finished once the stems are wrapped, if you want to go with a basic presentation. Or add more embellishments on top of the washi tape. You could tie a bow in the center or wrap it with a piece of lace or a strand of beads. 

If you'd rather have the washi tape be a supportive element to your flower arrangement, you can choose to attach it to a base or wrapping paper instead of putting it directly on the stems. For example, you can use an empty toilet paper tube as a DIY flower holder — this trick helps keep your bouquet standing up straight while you present it. All you have to do is cover the tube in washi tape to make it look elegant and slide the flower stems inside the tube. There's also the option to wrap the flowers in floral paper and use the decorative tape as a small embellishment.