Silk Flower Arranging:
Shaping Silk Flowers and Stems
When you first purchase your silk flowers they may look compacted and squeezed together. This is due to packing for shipment to the dealer. Before using them in an arrangement, spread the branches and blossoms apart so they don't look crowded. Remove any manufacturers tags and stickers at this time.

You can now do some preliminary shaping to any parts that are wired, such as branched stem sections, petals and leaves. Shape them by applying gentle pressure with your thumb and first two fingers.

Be sure to shape the main stem sections also. Leaving stems rigidly straight will look unnatural. Try not to make any sharp, angular curves. Strive for an overall lifelike effect.

As you create your silk flower arrangement, additional shaping may be required. Imagine how real plants and flowers might look. For example, a bud stalk would curve outward and then up in a search for sunlight. Petals could be in various stages of bloom. A plump blossom might droop as if it were a bit heavy for its support. Leaves would twist in a quest for more growing space. Got it?

If you are not sure how a silk flower stem should be shaped to look natural, search the Internet for pictures of that variety!

Silk Flower Arranging:
Stem Measuring and Cutting
One thing to keep in mind: as a general rule, the height of a floral arrangement should be at least 1.5x to 2x the height of the container for pleasing results.

Stem Support

 Always allow for an extra length of stem to serve as an anchor in the styrofoam. Before cutting any stem, hold it up alongside the container. 'Eyeball' what length would look good, starting from the point where the stem would sprout from the styrofoam. Grasp the stem at that point and make a slight bend in the stem or pencil mark the spot. Cut approximately two inches below that point to leave a good anchor. (Styrofoam sheets are 1 or 2 inches thick. Styrofoam blocks may vary.)

In all cases, especially for deeper containers, leave anchors as long as possible. If items are used for other silk flower arranging projects later on, it will be easier to cut them shorter than to have to add extensions.

Trimming Stems
 For easier insertion into the styrofoam, try to cut stems at an angle. This will form a pointed leading edge. Some stems are too thick to cut easily. If this is the case, grip the stem with cutting pliers at the point to be cut. With your other hand, bend the stem briskly back and forth. Friction will weaken the metal wire inside the stem and cause it to snap. Then trim the leading edge to a point.

Adding an Extension
 Stem remnants of three inches and up can be used as extensions for short-stemmed items or as sturdy stems for fragile elements, such as dried flowers or natural Eucalyptus branches. When you first get started in silk flower arranging, you probably won't have many stem remnants available as yet.

You can buy stem wire from a local shop if necessary. Or, for a quick fix, you can use a paper clip as a stem extension. Just straighten the clip as best you can and bind to a stem, overlapping at least one to two inches.

Whatever you choose to use as an extension, use floral tape or paddle wire to bind them together. (I like to use floral tape.)

Overlap the two pieces one inch or more. Bind them TIGHTLY together, starting .5 inch above the area to be joined. Wrap downward in an overlapping spiral while applying steady pressure. End the binding .5 inch below the area being joined.

Alternative tools: you can attach items to wired wood picks (sharpened wood sticks of varying lengths with a wire to attach stems) or florist stem wire, which is available in different thicknesses ('gauge') and length. There is also an expensive mechanical device that attaches metal picks to stems, which can be handy if you have a lot of arrangements to make on a steady basis.

Cutting Stems into Parts
 If you want to separate the blossoms of one stem for placement in different areas, or if a complete stem would be too much to place in an area, it can be pruned. Clip off a section where it joins the main stem, cutting at a point where the clipped piece will keep as long a stem as possible. It can always be cut shorter later. Add an extension (as explained above) to any stem that may require more height.
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