DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design // JustineCelina.com
Create, DIY, Dwell, Flower Arranging, Flowers, Summer

DIY | HOW TO MAKE A SUMMER FLOWER ARRANGEMENT


Have you ever wanted to learn about Flower Arranging? Well friends, you’ve come to the right place! Today Rebecca Dawn Design is sharing her expert flower arranging tips and showing us how to create this colourful summer arrangement in a step-by-step, illustrated tutorial!

I’m so fortune to be able to work with Rebecca to bring flower content to JustineCelina and I want to take a moment to acknowledge just how lucky we really are to be able to learn from her. In addition to being my friend, she’s also one of the industry’s most talented flower designers and a fantastic teacher. I’ve learned so much being able to work alongside her and I couldn’t be happier or more excited to be able to share it with all of you! Today Rebecca is spilling her flower design tips and insider tricks as Milton Photography captures it all on film — so grab a notepad and a glass of wine and let’s learn how to arrange flowers together!


DIY | HOW TO MAKE A SUMMER FLOWER ARRANGEMENT


DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design // JustineCelina.com

When I’m dreaming up ideas for flower content or collaborative work here at JustineCelina, I always start with an overarching concept and a mood board. For this project, I requested something cheerful, colourful and organic for my In the Kitchen With feature where this arrangement originally appeared. I love being able to work with Rebecca on blog content because she’s very skilled in taking my ideas and bringing them to life with her signature, artfully undone aesthetic. I always leave the specifics totally in Rebecca’s hands and am constantly amazed by how she’s able to take concepts and enrich them with her creativity — our work together always comes out even more beautiful than I envision it! Here are a few words from Rebecca about her inspiration for today’s arrangement:

“To me, the definition of summer is fresh, bountiful blooms. The markets are filled with endless options of flowers in every colour and texture imaginable. Peonies, tulips and ranunculus are always on my summer necessities list. This DIY arrangement was inspired by the colourful blooms themselves. Their uplifting scents, vibrant hues and frilly textures are just as enchanting as a warm breeze on a sunny day.”


INGREDIENTS


Here’s a list of the blooms and branches in this colourful summer flower arrangement!

DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design | Colourful Summer Arrangement with peonies, ranunculus, fringe tulips, double tulips, parrot tulips, craspedia, Nanking cherry blossoms and olive branches // JustineCelina.com

1. Tulip Varieties

2. Peonies

3. Olive Branch

4. Ranunculus

5. Nanking Cherry Branch

 DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design // JustineCelina.com

Just like your favourite recipe, an arrangement also has a list of ingredients. Typically there are primary flowers and secondary flowers — and sometimes tertiary flowers and foliage depending on the complexity of the arrangement. Our DIY Summer Arrangement features primary flowers, secondary flowers and foliage. Here’s a breakdown of all the ingredients and tools used we used!


Primary Flowers


DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design | Pink Peonies // JustineCelina.com

In this colourful summer arrangement, these gorgeous pink Peonies are the star of the show. Typically, the largest flower is considered the primary flower in an arrangement and acts as the focal point. We’re obsessed with pink peonies this month at JustineCelina, so if you’re looking for some free downloadable tech wallpapers with a pink peony theme — you’re in luck! Hop over to our July edition of Digital Blooms to choose from 3 designs. You can also learn All About Peonies in this educational post!


Secondary Flowers


DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design | Secondary Flowers: Ranunculus and Tulips // JustineCelina.com

Secondary flowers compliment the primary flowers in an arrangement. They’re typically smaller and add more interest and diversity in both colour and texture. Our secondary flowers include more of my favourites — Tulips, Rananculus and Craspedia (the little yellow balls, which are also called billy balls!). The Tulips in our arrangement aren’t just any tulips — there are a mixture of Fringe Tulips, Double Tulips and Parrot Tulips. If you’d like to learn more about all the different tulip varieties in this arrangement, hop over to our All About Tulips post.

DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design | Secondary Flowers: Tulips and Craspedia // JustineCelina.com


Foliage


DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design | Foliage // JustineCelina.com

Foliage works to round out an arrangement and add the finishing touches — think of it like the arrangement’s accessories! The blossoming branches are actually from a Nanking Cherry Tree in Rebecca’s Mom’s yard. We both like to bring the outside in (learn more about urban foraging or how we used these blossoming branches for a Summer Solstice Dinner Party) and I love the organic look they give the arrangement! Lastly, Rebecca also used some olive branches to tie everything together with a natural, leafy note.


Tools


DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design // JustineCelina.com

You’ll always find Rebecca with her trusty clippers and floral tape — both of which are flower arranging essentials. Now that we have our ingredients ready, let’s get to arranging!


INSTRUCTIONS


1. Prep Your Flowers

DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design | Flower Conditioning // JustineCelina.com

In terms of prolonging the life of your arrangement, conditioning your flowers before arranging them is the most important step! Prep your flowers by giving them a fresh cut at a 45 degree angle and removing any foliage that may fall below the water line — any leaves in the water will create bacteria that will shorten the life of your flowers. Learn more about flower care and conditioning.

DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design | Flower Conditioning // JustineCelina.com


2. Prep Your Vase

DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design | How to Use Floral Tape // JustineCelina.com

Then, choose your vessel (the vase or whatever item you’re going to use to contain your arrangement). Fill your clean vase with warm water and a floral preservative, preparing the mixture according to instructions on the floral preservative label. You can also tape off the vase with floral tape to create additional structure for your arrangement.


3. Measure Twice, Cut Once

DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design | Using Foliage to Create Your Shape | Nanking Cherry Branches // JustineCelina.com

You’ve probably heard this one before, but it applies to flowers, too! Hold flowers and foliage up to your vessel to measure them — gauging height, size and testing out how you would like individual stems in your base layer to lie. Use their natural forms as guides for placement in the vase.

DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design | Using Foliage to Create Your Shape | Nanking Cherry & Olive Branches // JustineCelina.com


4. Build Your Foundation with Foliage

DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design | Using Foliage to Create Your Shape | Nanking Cherry Branches // JustineCelina.com

Begin mapping the shape of you arrangement by placing your foliage around the edges of the vase and crossing the stems — almost like you’re constructing a nest. When you’ve finished, the base should be sturdy and able to withstand the impact of many additional flower stems. To keep your arrangement feeling natural, it’s helpful to establish a singular high point and a few low points to balance out the shape.

DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design | Using Foliage to Create Your Shape | Nanking Cherry & Olive Branches // JustineCelina.com


5. Add Primary Flowers

DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design | Adding Primary Flowers | Pink Peonies // JustineCelina.com

Begin adding the largest and sturdiest flowers that you have chosen as your primary flowers — in this arrangement they’re pink Peonies. You can keep it low and compact or really angle the stems outward for a large, arching arrangement. Choose 3-5 primary flowers and scatter or cluster them in the arrangement. Keep the arrangement interesting by selecting plants that bloom at different angles and different heights — perfect uniformity is not something you should feel you need to strive for.

DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design | Adding Primary Flowers | Pink Peonies // JustineCelina.com


6. Add Secondary Flowers

DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design | Adding Secondary Flowers | Pink Peonies // JustineCelina.com

Next, add your secondary flowers to begin filling in any holes in your arrangement. Rebecca always adds the most delicate flowers last, so the heavier blooms don’t squish or damage them. First, Rebecca added the Ranunculus in yellow, blush and cream.

DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design | Adding Secondary Flowers | Pink Peonies // JustineCelina.com

Then, she added the some hot pink fringe tulips and some lavender parrot tulips.

DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design | Colourful Summer Arrangement with Peonies and Cherry Blossoms // JustineCelina.com

To finish things off, she added Craspedia (the yellow balls). They’re so cheerful, aren’t they?

DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design | Colourful Summer Arrangement with Peonies and Cherry Blossoms // JustineCelina.com


7. Give it a Once Over

DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design // JustineCelina.com

Once you believe you have a successful arrangement, do a final check for stems that may not be securely placed or need another trim.

DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design | Colourful Summer Arrangement with Peonies and Cherry Blossoms // JustineCelina.com

Congrats, you’ve made your very own summer flower arrangement — now place it in your home and enjoy it! If you want to learn how to maximize the life of your arrangement we have a post full of Rebecca’s expert tips.


MORE FROM OUR FLOWER ARRANGING SERIES


DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design | Colourful Summer Arrangement with Peonies and Cherry Blossoms // JustineCelina.com

An Ultra Violet Arrangement

How to Make An Asymmetrical Holiday Wreath

DIY Floating Spring Centrepiece

An Eclectic Globally Inspired Arrangement


All About Tulips // JustineCelina.com

We hope you enjoyed today’s post and it’s given you the confidence to try arranging your own flowers at home! If you do make your own arrangement, be sure to tag us on Instagram, send us a photo or leave a comment below so we can see your beautiful creations! And, as always if you have any flower questions or requests for upcoming content just leave us a comment below.


Digital Blooms Desktop Wallpaper 2 | July 2016 // JustineCelina.com x Rebecca Dawn DesignCraving even more flowers? Check out our free monthly downloadable wallpapers inspired by what’s in season — DIGITAL BLOOMS! We also have a FLOWER EDUCATION series where you can learn more about these blooms and how to care for them.


DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design // JustineCelina.com

Concept & Creative Direction | Justine Celina Maguire
Flower Design & Styling | Rebecca Dawn Design
Photography | Milton Photography


DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement with Rebecca Dawn Design | Colourful Summer Arrangement with peonies, ranunculus, fringe tulips, double tulips, parrot tulips, craspedia, Nanking cherry blossoms and olive branches // JustineCelina.com

Disclaimer: Thank you to Rebecca Dawn Design for partnering with me to create this post and to Milton Photography for capturing it on film. This post is not sponsored, and contains our genuine thoughts, ideas and recommendations.

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24 Comments

  • Reply COME HANG OUT IN MY KITCHEN - Justine Celina July 21, 2016 at 12:49 pm

    […] arrangement totally brightens up my kitchen! If you’re interested, Rebecca and I have a DIY post where we show you how we (and by we, I mostly mean she!) made this arrangement, step-by-ste…. The blossoming branches are actually from a Nanking Cherry Tree in Rebecca’s Mom’s […]

  • Reply DIGITAL BLOOMS JULY 2016 | FREE TECH WALLPAPERS - Justine Celina July 31, 2016 at 10:21 am

    […] and how to care for them. If you’d like to learn more about flower arranging, check out our DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement post featuring… you guessed it — pink peonies! Have a great long weekend, […]

  • Reply Amanda Orlando August 17, 2016 at 10:03 am

    As usual, another beautiful post! #KillinIt

    • Reply Justine August 17, 2016 at 10:12 am

      Thank you so much, Amanda! Glad you enjoyed it. I’m very fortunate to work with these talented ladies!

  • Reply Renee August 17, 2016 at 10:49 am

    Nothing brightens up a room like fresh cut flowers. Thanks for the valuable DIY info!

    • Reply Justine August 17, 2016 at 10:51 am

      You’re very welcome! Thanks for stopping by our flower section, Renee!

  • Reply Samantha August 17, 2016 at 11:25 am

    Beautiful arrangements. The simple ones speak loudest to me … very helpful tips here Justine!

    • Reply Justine August 17, 2016 at 11:28 am

      Thank you, Samantha! Rebecca is so generous to share her secrets with us. I’m glad you enjoyed this colourful summer arrangement — it’s one of my favourites we’ve created together!

  • Reply Redawna August 17, 2016 at 11:46 am

    Just beautiful! I love having fresh cut flowers around the house and the studio! It is a nice finishing touch to a room.

    • Reply Justine August 17, 2016 at 8:33 pm

      Thanks, Redawna! They really do transform a room. If you’d like to see these ones in action, I featured this arrangement in my Come Hang Out in My Kitchen post. I appreciate you stopping by!

  • Reply Dana August 17, 2016 at 3:33 pm

    What a gorgeous DIY session and post! You know, I have so much respect for flower arrangement ever since I attended a workshop last Christmas. It’s one of those things that seems straightforward until you try it and you realize it’s so much more complex than you’d ever imagined. It truly is an art. I love asymmetrical arrangements like this one! They just pop! Excellent work, as usual.

    • Reply Justine August 17, 2016 at 8:35 pm

      Right?! I always knew there was an artistry to flower arranging, because I’ve known Rebecca since her first started her business, but I’m constantly amazed by how much there is to know and learn. It’s such an interesting facet of design. Thankfully, I have a wonderful teacher and I get to share her with all of you! Thanks for the feedback, I’ll be sure to pass it along. 🙂

  • Reply Sean August 17, 2016 at 8:38 pm

    What an awesome tutorial. I mean, the arrangement itself is straight-up gorgeous – I particularly like how it’s got a sort of East-meets-West thing going on, like making ikebana in and English garden – but I’m especially impressed by how approachable it looks. Building the branches first makes so much sense… I’d just never thought of it.

    Thanks for this 🙂

    • Reply Justine August 17, 2016 at 8:50 pm

      Thanks, Sean — I’m glad you enjoyed it! I figured you would, since it contains a few of your favourite blooms. 😉 I’m also happy to hear that you felt the arrangement was approachable, because that’s something we hoped to achieve. When you break the process down step by step, it really is doable — although flower arranging definitely takes practice and skill, it can be taught and learned! And aren’t those Nanking Cherry tree branches awesome? I never thought it of an East-meets-West thing but that totally makes sense — I love your analogy! Thanks for stopping by, my friend! I love your love for flowers.

  • Reply Cassie | Crumb Kitchen August 18, 2016 at 8:22 am

    This is honestly so helpful, Justine! So much work goes into flower arranging and this really breaks down each step and type of flower. Plus, the photos look stunning as usual!

    • Reply Justine August 19, 2016 at 1:06 pm

      Thanks so much, Cassie! This post was actually a rare occasion when I didn’t take the photos — they’re courtesy of the talented Milton Photography. She shoots on film!

  • Reply FORAGED PRAIRIE WILDFLOWER BOUQUET - Justine Celina August 22, 2016 at 10:04 pm

    […] bouquet. If you’re looking for some general guidelines for flower arranging, hop over to our DIY | How to Create a Summer Flower Arrangement post where Rebecca very generously shares some of her expert flower arranging […]

  • Reply AN INTRODUCTION TO AUTUMN FLOWERS - Justine Celina September 14, 2016 at 9:29 pm

    […] you to get creative with flowers and use this post as a guiding resource! Rebecca has provided DIY flower arrangement tips previously, so if you’re looking for a a step-by-step tutorial on how to arrange […]

  • Reply LUXE HOLIDAY FLORAL INSPIRATION - JustineCelina December 17, 2016 at 1:23 pm

    […] arranging this winter or more information about vase selection and prep, be sure to hop over to the DIY | How to Make a Flower Arrangement post Rebecca and I created where she very generously shares some of her expert flower arranging […]

  • Reply AN ECLECTIC, GLOBALLY INSPIRED ARRANGEMENT - JustineCelina January 22, 2017 at 11:51 am

    […] Then, choose your vessel (the vase or whatever item you’re going to use to contain your arrangement). The terracotta vase Rebecca selected for this arrangement is from Plant (a local Calgary boutique). Fill your clean vase with warm water and a floral preservative, preparing the mixture according to instructions on the packet. You can also tape off the vase with floral tape to create additional structure for your arrangement, like we did in this post. […]

  • Reply A BLUSHING SPRING ARRANGEMENT - JustineCelina April 20, 2017 at 5:06 pm

    […] partial to cherry blossoms. I just missed them on my recent trip to Vancouver and the island, but Rebecca and I actually worked with them last year! Lilacs are also lovely, although it will be a couple of months before they pop out here […]

  • Reply THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AUTUMN ARRANGEMENT, EVER - JustineCelina November 20, 2017 at 9:40 pm

    […] arranging this winter or more information about vase selection and prep, be sure to hop over to the DIY | How to Make a Flower Arrangement post where Rebecca shares her expert flower arranging […]

  • Reply A PANTONE 2018 ULTRA VIOLET INSPIRED ARRANGEMENT - JustineCelina January 20, 2018 at 10:12 pm

    […] Then, choose your vessel (the vase or whatever item you’re going to use to contain your arrangement). The bronze vase Rebecca selected for this arrangement is actually an antique — choose what works best in your space and with your selected flowers and foliage. Fill your clean vase with warm water and a floral preservative, preparing the mixture according to instructions on the packet (flower food will help keep a vase clean and bacteria-free — prolonging the life of your flowers and helping buds and flowers open). For a more organic feeling arrangement, add chicken wire to the vase to help hold your flowers and foliage in place like Rebecca did here. If you’re working with a clear vase, use floral tape to create structure for your arrangement, like we did in this post. […]

  • Reply DIGITAL BLOOMS AUGUST 2016 | FREE TECH WALLPAPERS - JustineCelina March 19, 2021 at 12:04 pm

    […] of Digital Blooms! Which design was your favourite? If you love cheerful flowers, check out the DIY | How to Make a Summer Flower Arrangement post Rebecca and I created together showing you how you can create an arrangement at home with our […]

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