Ideas For Repurposing Funeral Flowers

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One of the most common ways people express their condolences when a loved one dies is by sending flowers. Even if you take good care of them, however, the flowers eventually expire. Rather than throw the dead flowers into the trash, here are a few ways you can give them new life.

Create a Unique Picture

Dried and dead flowers can make an interesting piece of art. Depending on your level of skill and ambition, you can make the artwork as simple or elaborate as you want. The process is very easy. Simply choose a frame to fit the flowers, arrange and glue the flowers on a piece of paper stock and then place the whole thing inside the frame. You can also remove the bulbs from the stem and make an interesting arrangement just using the petals.

Be certain to use acid-free glue and paper to prevent the paper and the flowers from becoming discolored with age. Add pictures, stamps, ribbon and other decorative items to make a unique picture to hang in your home or give to a friend.

Embed Into Candles

You can dress up a simple candle using the different parts of a flower. If you're feeling a little adventurous, you can even make candles with flower petals embedded inside. In either case, it's best to use the flowers while they are still moist as dried flowers present a fire hazard.

To press the flowers into a plain pillar-style wax candle:

• Separate the petals and leaves and place them flat on a piece of wax paper
• Cover them with another piece of wax paper and then place a heavy book on top of the flowers to flatten them. They should sit like this for one day. A few times during that time period, move the petals and leaves around to prevent them from sticking to the paper.
• Once the flora is flat enough, you can start applying it to the candle of your choice. Take a spoon and hold it over an open flame. You want the spoon just warm enough to slightly melt the wax.
• Apply the petal or leaf onto the candle and then place the warm spoon over it for a few seconds. The wax should begin melting right away. Remove the spoon and the hold the item in place until the wax resettles, which should only take a few seconds.
• Continue until you have the design you want.

Feed Other Plants

If you have other plants in the home, you can fertilize them with the dead flowers. Although you can add the flowers to a compost pile, they work just fine as they are. Simply bury the dried flowers into the soil of your potted plants or garden. They will help retain water and then provide much needed nutrients to the living plants when they begin decomposing.

For more ideas on how to repurpose funeral flowers, contact a funeral home, like Walker Funeral Home, or florist near you.

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8 January 2015