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Flower power: 3 crafty ways eco-conscious Valley residents can keep old bouquets out of landfills

Stemistry owner Dylan Capshaw creates a bouquet at his shop.
Stemistry owner Dylan Capshaw creates a bouquet at his shop.
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If you’re still holding on to winter holiday flowers or looking for ways to preserve bouquets and other arrangements from special occasions or an upcoming holiday like Valentine’s Day, there are many ways to keep the flowers’ magic for a long time.

I’ve always been an activist for the environment, even before starting my flower bar and coffee shop, Stemistry. When flowers start to wilt, people usually just throw them away. Repurposing your flowers is a creative, sustainable practice that reduces waste and gives flowers a new life. I encourage my customers to do this as an inventive way to hold on to meaningful memories.

Reusing your flowers can be a fun DIY project. Here are some of my favorite crafts to give them a new purpose:

Dried flower shadow boxes

The most common way to keep your flowers for years to come is in a shadow box — a deep picture frame that holds and displays the arrangement — depending on how large it is.

To get started, ensure that your flowers are dried completely, then wipe off any water that might be on the stems. Use a hanger or string to hang them upside down for a couple of days to complete the drying process.

Once the flowers are completely dried, you can start by picking out paper or fabric to place them on in the shadow box. I’ve seen people use cards, party invitations and other items from a special occasion to make the display extra sentimental.

Arrange the flowers how you want them displayed, then hot glue them to the background. Some like to tie the flowers together with a string or bow to confirm they’re in place. Once you get the flowers exactly where you want them, place them in the box and you’re finished!

It’s an easy but memorable piece you’ll cherish forever.

Potpourris

Potpourri is a combination of petals, herbs and essential oils that can be placed in a bowl or jar. Potpourris are not only appealing decorations, the essential oils give your flowers a fresh new scent to enhance the rooms where they’re displayed. They can last anywhere from two months to years, and you can always add more essential oils to refresh the scent.

If you’re not a super crafty person, potpourris are a simple way to repurpose flowers by combining everything in one container.

Start by removing dried petals from the stems, then add the leaves and stems for added visual. After that, go crazy with it!

You can use dried herbs or dried fruit to give more of a natural scent, but make sure they’re also completely dry so they don’t mold. Adding spices like cinnamon sticks and cloves can add more dimension to your mix while also providing an earthy fragrance.

The last step is to add essential oils. Add six to eight drops to start, then toss your supplies together. It’s kind of like adding dressing to your salad and mixing it. Make sure essential oils are evenly applied in the mixture, and seal it for a couple of days if you want the scent to be stronger before you ventilate it. It’s that easy.

Flower-scented candles

Taking your dried blooms and using them as décor in floral candles is another craft that can give your flowers a new purpose. This can seem like a daunting project, but they can be simple to make. You can either put your dried flowers on the outside of an already-made candle or mix them with the wax.

If you want to add flowers to the outside of a candle, partially melt it and take flowers that you’ve already pressed and place them gently on the candle’s side. Dip a small brush in the wax and smooth it over your flowers to ensure they stay in place.

If you want to make your own candle, pour wax scented with your favorite essential oils into a small container and add the flower petals as you pour. When the candle is formed and you light it, you’ll be able to see the flower petals as it melts.

One more way to repurpose

If you don’t like crafts but have other plants or a garden, composting is another great way to repurpose your flowers while also being sustainable. Old flowers can give nutrients to your plants’ soil and improve plant growth.

Getting creative with your flowers doesn’t have to be hard, and it can help foster an eco-conscious lifestyle while keeping holiday and special occasion memories alive.

Editor’s note: Dylan Capshaw, 18, is the owner of Stemistry, a flower bar and coffee shop with three locations in Scottsdale and Phoenix. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

flowers, bouquets, crafts, DIY, shadow box, potpourri, essential oils, candles

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