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	family fun guide

How To Make a Birthday Garland

You can make a festive birthday garland for your child in about an hour. Begin by deciding how you want the garland to look. Do you want mostly flowers or foliage, or a mixture of the two? Any flowers will work, but some, such as poppies, mallow, tulips, and many wildflowers, will droop or lose petals more easily than others.

You may also want to consider the final size and weight of the garland. Some young children will enjoy wearing a lightweight garland that is mostly herbs and a few small flowers but will balk at a heavier garland, such as one made of garden roses (I found that out!). The most important consideration is that the birthday boy or girl should enjoy the day; if a child doesn't want to wear a garland, don't push the matter. Sometimes the rest of the family takes turns wearing it, and it always makes a nice centerpiece if nothing else!

Supplies
An assortment of flowers and/or foliage, such as herbs or ivy. Make sure you have enough--it usually takes more than you think it will.

Strong thread

Scissors

Floral wire--the thick, covered kind; green is best. It usually comes in a packet, and each piece is about 12 inches long.

A spool of thin, bare floral wire

Floral tape-green. (You can find floral supplies at most craft stores.)

A large pie pan, half filled with cool water.

Directions
1.Make the garland frame by taking two of the thick floral wires and twisting their ends together to make one large circle the size of your child's head. Don't trim any off. That way if the completed garland is too small, you can pull it out a little larger, and if it's too big, you can be fold it in a bit.

2. Make a small bundle of flowers and/or foliage, trimming the stems so that they are only about 5 inches long. Use your thread to tie the bundle together securely.

3. Cut off about 5 inches of the thin floral wire. Hold the flower bundle against the garland frame and firmly wrap the wire around the two to secure them together.

4. Cut or tear off a 4- to 5-inch piece of floral tape and wrap it firmly around the bare wire until it is completely covered. Press the end of the tape down (it should stick to itself).

5. Repeat steps 2, 3, and 4 until the garland is complete. Make sure to attach all of the flower bundles in the same direction, so that they overlap each other somewhat.

6. Place the finished garland in the pan of cool water, pressing down gently so that the stems are immersed. Put it in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it. Depending on the flowers, a garland will stay fresh in this manner for up to a few days, but it is usually at its best when used within a few hours. Make sure to shake it gently and let it drain well on a towel before putting it on your child's head!