Hi, it’s Joette from the Bowdabra® Design Team! Today, I’m upgrading an ordinary mum into a beautiful basket arrangement. Makeover a mum basket with coordinating foliage and a custom sunflower is an easy upgrade. The beautiful bow we made with the Bowdabra®. This makes a lovely gift for birthdays, get-well wishes, or thinking of you occasions, and it can also be a beautiful tribute for funerals and memorial services.

Materials

Bowdabra ribbons

2 yards of 1½-inch-wide wired burlap ribbon

1½ yards of 1½-inch-wide wired sunflower-print ribbon

2 yards of 2½-inch-wide wired sunflower-print ribbon to match the 1½-inch ribbon

2 yards of 21-inch-wide burlap mesh

1 Large Bowdabra®

Bowdabra® bow wire

1 foliage bush

Mum plant of your choice in its grower’s pot

1 decorative basket or pot sized to fit the grower’s pot

Cellophane or a suitable liner if using a basket

Instructions:

First, pick out the perfect mum. Tighter blooms will last longer, so aim for some tight and some opened slightly.

Next, line the bottom of the basket of your choice with some cellophane. Then place some lengths of burlap or deco mesh in the basket, leaving some showing at the top.

Make the bow

Cut a piece of Bowdabra bow wire.  Then, fold it in half and insert it into the Bowdabra.  You will have a loop on one side and two loose wires on the other side.  This will serve as your slipknot. Tuck the ends under to stay out of the way while you are making your bow.

Next, place in a fall foliage bush in the Bowdabra. Use 1 1/2″ wide sunflower ribbon in the Bowdabra to make a shoelace bow.  Repeat this step with a 2 1/2″ wide sunflower ribbon. To make a shoelace bow, find the center of the ribbon and scrunch it down into the Bowdabra.  Now bring one side across and scrunch down, then bring the other side across and scrunch down.

Use the burlap ribbon to make a traditional twist and fold bow. Scrunch in the ribbon, then bring the ribbon across and scrunch down, twist, and repeat.  Continue making loops back and forth, twisting and scrunching down into the Bowdabra.  Make sure the wrong sides are always on the inside of the bow. Make two loops on each side with two tails.

Next, make one more shoelace bow with the 2 1/2″ sunflower ribbon. Finally, Scunch down a coordinating 2 1/2″ wide ribbon from the center down like a scunchy bow.

Now scrunch everything down with the Bowdabra wand.  Then, insert the loose wires through the loop and pull tight while the bow is still in the Bowdabra. Then, remove the bow from the Bowdabra, separate the ends, turn to the back, and tie a knot.  Tie a double knot for extra security.

Use the pick on the bow to stick it into the mum. Fluff the bow and enjoy. See how easy it is to makeover a mum basket?