Tools
- Cross Outline
- Silk Flowers
- Foam Sheet
- Hotwire Tool
- Outdoor Mod Podge
- Floral Stem Cutters
- Floral Pins
- Grapevine Wire
- Optional: Outdoor Acrylic Paint
- Optional: Ribbon
- Optional: Floral Wire
Step 1: Size your Arrangement
The size of your arrangement may depend on whether you are using it with an easel stand, as a wall arrangement, or even as a standalone ground arrangement.
Regardless of the size you choose, an important measurement to consider is the inner width of the cross.
We recommend that you maintain a minimum of 2 inches throughout your cross. This is to maintain stability, and to give you enough room for your flowers.
Outline
You will need an outline to guide you when cutting your foam sheet. You can either create one with thick paper like poster board, or you can buy one that is made from other materials.
Creating an outline with something like poster board is a faster option than trying to find a cross that matches your desired size.
Regardless of which option you choose, remember that your outline has to resist the heat of your hotwire tool. The more your outline resists, the more accurate the cut, and the more number of cuts you can get out of it.
Step 2: Cut your Foam Sheet
You're going to need a hotwire tool, a foam sheet, and the outline you created or bought to create a foam cross.
Simply place your outline on top of your foam sheet, and cut around your outline. You can use floral pins to keep your outline from moving.
Optional: We recommend that you then seal your cross with Outdoor Mod Podge. This will help your foam remain sturdy and last longer. You can also use some Outdoor Acrylic Paint to paint your cross.
Optional: If you decide you want to paint your foam. Add one more coat of Mod Podge, this will seal your paint, and help keep it from fading.
Foam Sheet
You can get a white foam sheet at certain craft stores. We recommend, and use 2-inch thick foam for our cross arrangements.
If you are buying online, make sure your sheet is big enough to create your arrangement. You may want to get extra sheets in case you have a bad cut, or in case you decide to change the size of your cross arrangement.
Hotwire Tool
To cut the floral foam, you're going to need a hotwire tool. You can use the U-Shaped attachment or the pen attachment. Use which ever one you find most convenient. Our designer personally prefers the U-Shaped attachment to make crosses.
If using the U-Shaped attachment, make sure to keep the wire tension tight so you can get a clean cut.
Step 3: Select your Flowers
If you are buying your flowers from a crafting store, you should take your foam cross with you. You can preview what your cross will look like before comitting to a style or color. There are different ways you can style your cross. Make it your own original style as it makes it so much more personal!
You can use a single color throughout your arrangement. Or you can use one color as an outline, and another complementary color for the inner part. You may also add other decorations like a ribbon, leaves, and baby's-breath just to name a few.
Open roses, and sunflowers are popular choices for cross arrangements. Which ever style you choose, keep in mind the size of your cross as you need enough of a particular flower to cover the foam.
Step 4: Glue your Flowers
The final steps are to separate your flower bush, trim your stems, and glue your flowers onto your cross.
If your foam has a 2 inch depth, you can use your floral stem cutters to cut your stems to around 1-1.5 inches. If your foam has a 1 inch depth, trim your stems to around half an inch.
Finally, dip your stems in your Outdoor Mod Podge, and attach them onto your cross.
Hanging Cord
If you are using your arrangement with an easel stand, or hanging it on a wall, you will need to create a hanging cord.
You can use floral pins, and grapevine wire to create a hanging cord. You can also try other materials like floral wire if you like. Use your Outdoor Mod Podge as a glue to secure your hanging cord.
Optional: Ribbon
To add a ribbon to your cross arrangement, you can use floral wire, and one of the stems, you cut off. Tie your ribbon, wrap the floral wire around a stem, and wrap the floral wire around the center of the ribbon. Dip your stem in your Outdoor Mod Podge, and place it on your arrangement.
Article by: The Rosy Arc
Last updated: 10/29/2023