Equipment hire

Floral Recipies

All equipment used to create these images is for hire. You will find two inspiring free recipe cards below

Sample Recipe Suspended Pampas Curtain

Difficulty rating Beginner Cost <£30 Time to construct 2 hrs Saving £250

This simple but styling focal piece is bound to wow your guests and is so easy to construct you do not need experience to make it. I would advise wearing old clothes as cut Pampas sheds literally everywhere so ideally construct this outside in a ventilated space. I wear a mask when I’m preparing Pampas especially when the seedbeds are fluffy and prone to shedding. A light spray of hairspray over them usually does the trick but it goes without saying BEWARE OF NAKED FLAMES.

• Pampas Grass (ask friends and neighbours to cut theirs) and secateurs

• 1.8m length of baton 5cm x 2cm

• Cream or white paint

• Hammer and U Pins

• 2 screw in hooks and 2 ‘s’ hooks

• Fishing Line or chain

• Glue Gun and glue sticks (available at Hobbycraft and DIY stores)

METHOD

• Paint the wood to blend in with your Pampas. While it dries prepare your Pampas into different lengths using your secateurs. Avoid cutting into the heads where possible. leave some stems longer than others and discard any loose or straggly material.

• Place the stems against the wooden baton using the long exposed stems first and covering where necessary with short stems to form a random pattern tacking each stem in place as you go with the U pins leaving a 2 cm stub above the top of the baton. If pieces fall away place them to one side and use the glue gun to fill in gaps at the end. If the pieces are very small try wrapping a thin wire around them first to hold them together while you glue.

• At the end of the line lift the baton up and check for any gaps or loose stems and repeat step 2 where required.

• Screw in a hook at either end of the wood on the upper surface. The screws will be hidden by the 2cm stub.

• At your venue use the fishing line to go over the beam you will hang the curtain from bringing both ends together tie a knot bringing two equal lengths down to the height of the Pampas curtain. Tie another secure knot and slip the knot over the hook. For extra security leave some of the fish line free to wrap around the baton. Alternatively a cable tie and ‘s’ hook works equally as well.

• After use dispose of your fish line responsibly. Discarded line is a hazard to wildlife. Congratulations - you did it and you have just saved yourself £250

Sample Recipe Suspended Cake Stand

Difficulty rating intermediate cost <£50Time to construct 1 Hr Requires 2 people to hold the step ladder

This recipe requires the use of a ladder and weight bearing beam. The cables simply need to be placed over the beam and attached to opposite sides of the wooden base using the bolted eyes.

• Cake platform and cable hire £10 for 3 days hire

• Fresh or artificial foliage and flowers

• Small cable ties

• Water vials for fresh flowers

• Spirit level

  METHOD

• Using Step ladders and ensuring they are positioned under the beam position 2 cables over the beam. avoid overstretching and use get 2 helpers to hold the step ladder. Attach the ends to the platform bolted eyes, positioning the cable to the required length.

• Check the platform base is level using the spirit level

• Drape the greenery over the vine eyes and around the outer circumference of the platform securing in place with the small cable ties, snip off the excess.

• Build up the layers of greenery and foliage avoiding contact with your cake and using the cable ties where stems meet to secure in place.

• Insert fresh flowers into the water vials and attach them in place with cable ties or bindwire and top up with fresh water. Remove any material that will sit below the water line before inserting into the vials. TIP - Add a sachet of flower food into 5 litres of water and use this in your water vials. The food will help to keep the water clean and feed the flowers. Ensure the vials are topped up in hot weather to avoid flowers wilting.