Our DIY “Balls of Pretty,” aka Bouquets
I am very excited to share today’s post with you all. It’s been one helluva a journey, but I am finally ready to reveal the DIY bouquets we’ve been working on since April for my handmade wedding! After countless glue gun burns, hours of hair-pulling frustration, painting and re-painting, trial and error, then more trial and more error, then more trial and more error once again… the goal to complete 8 DIY bouquets has been accomplished. *Dusts shoulders off like a pimp*. Hopefully this provides you with some wedding inspiration of your own. Here’s the loot:
Seven beautiful bouquets, for seven beautiful ladies.
Here are a few up close and personal:
I made that!
Yes, that is a red lion "leaping" through the bouquet. Have you met me yet? My name is Wacky.
This one showcases cranes made out of magazine pages, then painted. Looks pretty funky fresh if you ask me.
And without further ado, here is MY bouquet, The Ultimate Ball of Pretty:
If I told you how many hours I spent making this thing, you wouldn't believe me. I don't even believe it. Let's just say I'm glad I started MONTHS ago...
Here’s a few more glamour shots of my bouquet, because, let’s face it, it’s just too awesome to not show off its curves:
The top of the ball. I am in love with the colors. In LOVE!
And you know what the *best* part about these bouquets is? They are 100% re-usable. In so many ways. I can Brideshare them… Ladies, let me know if you’re getting married in Los Angeles after July 31st. These babies could be all yours for free… as long as you promise to give them back to me when you’re done 
Hey man, I want to decorate my apartment with them after this whole wedding thing is over! But my absolute favorite part about these bouquets is that they are going to double as part of our centerpiece decorations at the wedding. Here are just a few examples of what we may do:
Blue ball jar + Cardboard packing coaster + Bouquet = Centerpiece magic!
My bouquet. Sittin pretty in a gift box that I covered in Chinese character paper and ribbon trim.
My bouquet in a wine tube carrier that I covered with Chinese character paper and laced-up ribbon.
The reason why I am more inclined to call these “balls of pretty” instead of “bouquets” is because the word bouquet implies real flowers. Well, at least in my mind it does. And I knew from the start that real flower bouquets weren’t going to be a possibility. So after much thought, I was able to boil the idea of a bouquet down to this definition: “Bouquets are just balls of pretty on sticks. They can be made out of anything you deem attractive to your eye. That’s it.” In case you are wondering what MY balls of pretty are made of… I started with a bouquet holder that set me back only 2 bucks. Then I glued some corks on it to create a good base, like so:
The bouquet's base. The heart. The center. The insides. The goo.
Then I started gluing like a mad woman. Here’s a list of materials I used:
- Wine Corks
- Champagne cork wire
- Yarn/yarn balls
- Ribbon
- Paper bag grocery bag handles
- Lace
- Pieces from old jewelry
- Plastic toy animals
- Bottle caps
- Brass brads
- Paint
- Mini finger skateboards
- Foam flowers
- Dried flowers
- Fake butterflies
- David Bowie pins
Even though this process was tedious to say the least, I would definitely recommend it for those who want a DIY floral alternative for a bouquet. I describe the process as tedious because you will need time to shape and build and color your bouquet to your liking… which, if you are like me, can end up taking a long time to figure out. Don’t try to get these all done in one weekend. Spread it out. Have a craft party and invite some friends over to help. Work on them a little at a time, and slowly fall in love with your creation!
Well done Miss! These are beautiful and I'm sure they will be a big hit!
LOVES!
All I've gotsta say is that the plastic skateboard = legen-wait for it-dary.
These are rockstar fabulous! I LOVE THEM and you must feel so incredible to have made these meaningful, visually striking, stunning balls of pretty!
o.O Those are… kinda ugly. To me anyway. I would never buy one. But I guess if other people like them… kudos to them xD
I am both wildly impressed and not just a little intimidated. For a non-DIYer, that means it's pretty awesome.
Way to be constructive Jenny
I love them, personally. Way to go, Britt!
Good thing I'm not selling them.
I love them! The red lion is awesome. You did an incredible job!
You are so creative! Good job.
Oooooooh Brit I loooove them. Like, luuuurve. Loooove. LoOoOoVeeeEEee!!1!11 them.
Actually jk they're totes ugly.
Jk, I still love them
Great job, gal!
Gorgeous! Totally digging the Bowie pins in your bouquet. So, do you DYI in silence, or to appropriate kick-a*** music? Because I know there's as choice, and a reason.
Wow – really awesome! I love everything about them! There is nothing like a finished DIY wedding project!
I love the bowie pins I see stashed away in yours.
Music most definitely! I would come home from work every night, turn on the jams, pour myself a glass of wine, and craft til I passed out basically. But yes, the music certainly inspired these bouquets in many ways.
NICE WORK, britt!! this is so you and so perfect!
The only ugly thing I see around here, Jenny, is your attitude about a person's effort and hard work.
These are beautiful! Congrats on your upcoming wedding!
Wow, Britt, these are bombass!!! Love them, seriously. I can't believe you did them yourself! They're awesome!
Love love love the lion jumping through the bouquet!
these are great, britt. to have bouquets with bowie buttons, a lion, a skateboard on them is such a creative way to add personality
Love them!
Also… BALLS.
That made me spit out my orange juice.
tbh i'm with Jen i think they look cheap and ugly all for making your own but these are a joke i think. i love DIY just not these.
also thought i'd add i am having a diy bouquet its made of buttons too so i dont hate you just dont like these so dont get upset
if you allow comments you have to allow for all types of comments.
Britt, these rock the casbah (cashbar? cazzbaahr?). They rock almost as hard as you do. Keep on keepin' on. Haters gonna hate. Can't change a meanie. Meanies live on getting a reaction out of you. You KNOW you rock, and that's kind of all that effing matters. Btw, don't you have some KY coming your way?
I am impressed! they look great! Fab job!
I love them!!! They are original, definitely a keepsake, and most importantly D.I.Y!!! I love it!!!
I'm trying to figure out what to say to you, Jenny, that won't make me sound as ugly and small as this comment that you made, but I can't find the words.
Nice work, Britt.
Hey Jenny and pixie how about you keep your snide immature comments to yourself. Yeah so you don’t like them, but there’s no need for thooooseee types of comments. Cheap and ugly are the words that describe you people. They are most definitely not a joke to Bowie bride or the whole wedding party. They’re classy and beautiful! People like you disgust me! Love em britt !!!
I love these – eff the negative nellies! This takes a lot of hard work and just to do them yourself is impressive.
Why be hatin'? No need to be hatin…
Britt, these are so lovey and sweet! I made my own bouquets also, but they are simply silk flowers, other than the pin from my mom and the tie tack of my dad, my memories of them that I will be adding as my "something old". And I simply love the way that you are displaying them in the box with Chinese paper. Great job! And congrats! Debbie
i think you need to look up what classy means. these wouldn't come under it. they look immature.
sorry
Yo Pix. Kim is my sister. She's carrying one of those bouquets at my wedding. Back up off her.
Britt, __I love these!! And, you have inspired me to make my own brooch bouquet – I'm starting now, and I'm not even engaged yet (file that under "overachiever…). Anyway, you rock, and so do your bouquets!!__
sorry sister or not i'm just saying it as it is honey
How did you get it so round! Amazing. I was just going to use a round styrofoam ball…now my mind is blown.
here i am scouring the web for ideas on what to use for a diy bouquet base.
corks on styrofoam. GENIUS.
I have different height flowers too and this will even it all out. wow. you are my hero.