How To DIY Artificial Mums For The Perfect Fall Centerpiece

Chrysanthemums are the ultimate Fall flower. Unfortunately, as beautiful and vibrant as these blooms may look, chrysanthemums might not be the ideal houseplant. The toxins they produce as a natural defense mechanism against predators can cause serious problems if ingested, making chrysanthemums unsafe for households with pets. Similarly, they can trigger allergic reactions, including rashes and respiratory problems. If your household is susceptible to any of these scenarios, but you love the look of these sprawling, warm-colored flowers, you can swap them for an adorable DIY to get your home ready for fall.

For this DIY, you'll need chenille stems, also known as pipe cleaners, in your favorite colors for the petals and in green for the stems and leaves. The Caydo Thick Pipe Cleaners from Amazon, for example, cost just $7.99 and include 200 pieces in multiple colors. Each flower head needs about 16 chenille stems for the petals. To recreate the sepals and the receptacle, you'll need three green chenille stems, plus another three for each leaf. Finally, to bring it all together, you'll use a hot glue gun, green florist tape, and fake floral stems, like the $5.99 OJYUDD Gauge Floral Stem Wire from Amazon. For a different look, substitute the pipe cleaners for metallic paper. Cut it into petal shapes and curl them to mimic the look of a spider mum.

To make the petals, bend each of the 16 chenille stems in a zig-zag pattern seven times, creating eight segments. The first segment should be 1.5 inches long, slightly longer than the next six, which should all be about 1 inch. The eighth segment will be the longest, measuring about 2 inches. Twist the first and second segments together at the 1-inch mark and repeat for segments three and four, five and six, and seven and eight, to form four petals. Finally, wrap the excess stem from the eighth segment around that of the first, forming a short leg. Repeat the process with three green pipe cleaners.

Apply hot glue to the leg of your first set of petals and attach the faux floral stem. Clump that first set together to create the center of your mum and continue gluing each of the remaining 15 sets, rotating as you go. Finish by attaching the three green sepals, below and around the petals, and use florist tape and extra glue to tie the receptacle tightly. Wrap the tape all the way down the stem.

For the leaves, take three green pipe cleaners and bend them in half. Hook one of them underneath the others and twist it slightly. Bring all the parts together, using the bottom end of one to tie around the others. Fluff out the leaves and attach them to the stem with the tape. Repeat for as many mums as you want in your bouquet. You can use it to bring an Autumn flair to your mantel, dining table, nightstand, or entryway. They're colorful, creative, and will last much longer than fresh flowers.