A few weeks ago, I featured Naomi's crafty/punk wedding, and there were lots of folks who wanted to know more about Naomi's illuminated christmas bulb bouquet, which her mother made for her. Well, I got the information from Naomi! Here y'all go…
Supplies Needed:
[Editor's note: all these supplies should be available at craft stores, but I've linked to online providers as well]
- 30 medium-sized shatter-proof Christmas bulb ornaments in two to three textures such as shiny or glitter coated
- Florist tape and wire
- Wire cutters
- Fast drying glue
- Tulle
- Matching bead sticks/picks (found at craft stores, probably in the floral aisles…)
- Styrofoam bouquet base
- Ribbon, 4 inch
- Battery operated LED lights… 10 per string
Prepare the Christmas ornaments:
- Cut about 4 inch pieces of florist wire
- Bend the wires in half and stick them into the bulb tops
- Glue wire into bulbs
- Use as many as you need to fill your bouquet, about half shiny and half glittery bulbs
Prepare the tulle & lights:
- Cut ten 4-inch tulle squares
- Tie the tulle in the middle with the florist wire
- Twist the wire to make a stick
- Stick the tulle sticks in the base
- Attach the LED lights to 10 of these with craft wire
- Cut bead sticks to about 4 inch lengths
Build the bouquet:
- Starting in the center of the styrofoam bouquet base, first insert the Christmas bulbs on wires, filling the entire bouquet
- Then, add the tulle and lights between the ornaments
- To ensure things are filled in, add plain tulle picks without lights as necessary
- Add the bead picks as embellishment
Hiding the battery pack:
I made a bag out of the 4 inch ribbon and inserted the battery pack. I attached the battery pack to the handle of the bouquet by wrapping tulle around it and tying it off. I also covered the bottom side of the bouquet form with ribbon.
Comments on "How to make a light-up Christmas ornament wedding bouquet, by Naomi & her mom"
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Helen
January 26th, 2009 · 6:47 AM · #
Oh! Oh! Thank you!!!! Since seeing Naomi's bouquet I became totally fixated on making one just like it and now I don't have to figure it out myself by breaking things
Thank you again! And I have to say, her mum is awesomely talented 
Nikki
January 26th, 2009 · 7:20 AM · #
How fun! And that would be so great in white and silver for a Christmas or winter wedding. Winter solstice – light returning to the world – oh, I love it!
Alie K
January 26th, 2009 · 8:16 AM · #
EEEP! That is awesome! I recently went to Michaels and bought a BUNCH of clearance Xmas decor stuff and this would be super! Thank you Naomi! This might just be the perfect thing for my Vegas Wedding Posse…
Rachel
January 26th, 2009 · 9:28 AM · #
This is totally making me rethink the lantern idea!
Mariah
January 26th, 2009 · 2:37 PM · #
Those aren't just bouquets, those can be centerpieces, too! Thanks for sharing!
un-bride
January 26th, 2009 · 2:48 PM · #
Thanks for posting this! I found myself looking at the pics from this wedding again last night. Such a gorgeous, young, obviously fun couple. Congrats &thank you, Naomi.
Kelli Ann
January 26th, 2009 · 3:22 PM · #
Such an AWESOME idea!
@~>~~
Cate
January 26th, 2009 · 11:04 PM · #
Tulle – "Tie them in the middle and make sticks out of them" ?? Can't visualize that step. How do you make sticks out of tulle?
Ariel
January 27th, 2009 · 7:59 AM · #
Cate, that confused me too … but I assumed it was just my lack of DIY-ness. I've asked Naomi for some clarification.
Melissa
January 27th, 2009 · 9:16 AM · #
I love this bouquet. Thanks for posting directions. I'm going to do a black and white tulle bouquet.
Nikki
January 27th, 2009 · 11:24 AM · #
Hi Cate, my guess is (and it's only a guess) is she means that you tie the tulle in the middle with the florist wire, then twist the wire to make a stick, then stick it in the base. That's what makes sense to me, at least.
kristy
January 27th, 2009 · 5:40 PM · #
this is amazing it is beautiful it is makin me re think my bouquet at my wedding. it is gorgous
Autumn
January 28th, 2009 · 5:35 AM · #
Oh my god wow. Drooling as usual.
Naomi
January 28th, 2009 · 3:16 PM · #
Nikki
January 27th, 2009 · 11:24 AM · #
Hi Cate, my guess is (and it's only a guess) is she means that you tie the tulle in the middle with the florist wire, then twist the wire to make a stick, then stick it in the base. That's what makes sense to me, at least.
Exactly what Nikki said. THANKS!! i was having a hard time trying to type that up:o)
Nikki
January 31st, 2009 · 5:34 AM · #
YAY! Glad I could help! I want to make one of these, just for the heck of it!
Quelyn
February 2nd, 2009 · 9:09 AM · #
Wow, this is really helpful. Ever since I saw the first picture of this I thought it was so cute. I might just try it out! Thanks so much for sharing the secret!!!
Heather
February 4th, 2009 · 3:29 PM · #
Okay, too cute. But, I'm stuck at the beginning with -
1 – Bend the wires in half and stick them into the bulb tops
2 – Glue wire into bulbs
Where do we glue? my wire continuously falls out of the bulb or the bulbs are all floppy. Help?
Mindy
February 4th, 2009 · 11:00 PM · #
I just made a red and black one! argh! its so awesome! thanks for posting it, however i cant find christmas lights in brisbane atm (if anyone knows anywhere pls let me know!!) or more christmas decos. wah! i'll have to go raid my friends decorations! teehee!
also i can get them to stop falling out either,(out of the foam thing) but i'm going to try hot glue gunning it!
Thanks again!
Mindy
February 4th, 2009 · 11:29 PM · #
yep heather, use the hot glue gun! it worked!
Kellie
February 23rd, 2009 · 8:41 PM · #
I'm putting these bqts together for my friend's wedding in green and purple and also including some knitted flowers! I've seen this bouquet somewhere once but it's great to now have the directions for making it! Thanks! I'll take pics of our finished bqts and share if anyone is interested!!
Offbeat Bride | 17 wedding bouquet alternatives for fearless brides
March 5th, 2009 · 5:31 AM · #
[...] Looking back in the Offbeat Bride archives I found the step by step instructions on How to make a light-up Christmas ornament wedding bouquet, by Naomi & her mom. [...]
Mindy
April 4th, 2009 · 11:56 PM · #
I'm planning my Christmas wedding and was trying to come up with an alternative to flowers, because there just aren't many good blue flowers (at least not in royal blue). I love the shininess of ornaments and started the hunt for an ornament bouquet .. and this is exactly what I want! Amazing! And I can make it months in advance and it won't wilt or die.
Tess
May 18th, 2009 · 2:58 AM · #
Hey Mindy,If you want wedding/christmas lights – try Christmas Alight at Everton Hills. They have the battery operated white LED lights.
Cheers.
Cynzilee
June 4th, 2009 · 4:25 PM · #
wow great idea for a bouquet that can be used as decoration item after the wedding!! If anyone had made one in different colors, is it possible to post a picture just out of amazement on people crafty talents? thanks great tips!
Sharon
June 5th, 2009 · 8:35 PM · #
Thank you so very much!!!!!!!! My husband to be did not want any flowers this is our answer. Again thank you so much.
Ravyn
June 9th, 2009 · 2:36 PM · #
I aboslutely love this and my mom and I are helping my soon to be sister in law make one for her wedding. The only thing we aren't sure of is the size of styrofoam ball to start with??
Tiddler
September 30th, 2009 · 3:20 PM · #
love to you from a fellow Naomi!!! I adore this idea! Am gonna give it a trial!
Amanda Rigsby
October 19th, 2009 · 12:39 AM · #
I stumbled upon this through google searches for my upcoming December wedding. I just wanted to say it is gorgeous and I am making one for myself. I also thought I would add that here in Jersey the Dollar Tree carries the battery pack lights and now has pretty much all components for this project available. Not the floral parts but rest of it tulle and all. Sorry its just that I'm so excited that I can save alot of money making this and it still looking amazing. Thankyou!