DIY Wrist Corsage

Tuck a single blossom through a slit in a wide velvet ribbon to create an elegant wrist corsage for any special occasion. Use a sculptural blossom that looks good on its own, such as the cattleya, dendrobium, and cymbidium orchids pictured. Cut a length of velvet ribbon long enough to wrap around the wrist, leaving 3 to 4 inches to hang down at each end. Fold the ribbon in half, and make a slit in the center for the flower stem. Choose a large, healthy blossom, and cut its stem down to about 2 1/2 inches. Wrap the stem with floral tape to protect it and to keep it from slipping out of the slit after it's been inserted.

Source: Martha Stuart Living, May 1999

Ribbon Flowers: Give your bridesmaids a fashionable floral accessory that will look fresh long after the wedding day: wrist corsages made with silk ribbon flowers. They can even be tied around a ponytail or worn as brooches. These corsages are easy to make: Tie elastic ribbon around your wrist in a big bow, then pin the bloom to the knot.

Source: Martha Stuart Weddings 2005

corsage by Livia Cetti

Elasticized ribbon, which comes in many styles and materials, ensures a snug and comfortable fit; choose ones that are 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch wide. Cut a 6-inch piece of 18 gauge floral wire with wire cutters. Wrap the wire with green floral tape. Bend wire in half, then bend back as shown, making two loops large enough to accommodate ribbon. Bend one end of wire up and over, passing between loops to separate. Cut a 12-inch length of ribbon, and thread through loops. Cut a flower's stem to 1 1/2 inches. Cover steam with floral tape; attach to wire beneath loops, wrapping with floral tape. Tie ribbon around wrist.

Source: Martha Stuart Weddings 2007

1. You will need a 45-inch-long piece of 1 3/4-inch-wide eyelet trim for the flower, a 16-inch-long piece of narrow eyelet trim (finished on both edges) for the strap, and a needle and thread. (You can use gathered eyelet trim as an option.)

2. Machine-sew two rows of basting stitches, about 1/8 inch apart, along the selvage of the wide trim; pull bobbin threads to gather.

3. To make the flower: Beginning at one end, coil the gathered trim, whipstitching it together along the bottom edge as you go.

4. For the strap, sew the center of the narrow trim to the back of the flower. Fluff "petals."

Source: Martha Stuart Weddings