Losing a loved one is difficult. One of the ways that some people choose to remember those who have passed away is to place flower arrangements on the headstone. Store bought arrangements can be ugly, and they aren’t ever personalized. For this reason, a good arts and crafts project to help you remember loved ones is to make personalized flower arrangements for their headstones.
Gather information and materials
Before you start your memorial arrangement, it is important to check with the cemetery to find out what is acceptable. Some cemeteries, such as Highland Cemetery in South Bend, have restrictions as to what types of headstones, memorial markers and floral arrangements are allowed in the cemetery. In some cases, the options available depend on the type of headstone or grave marker used. For example, in the ‘flush bronze only’ section of the Highland Cemetery, floral arrangements are allowed only if they can be secured to the grave marker.
Once you find out what types of arrangements you can use for the grave site, you have to start making your plan. If the grave marker has a built-in vase, you need to get those dimensions so you can cut the floral foam block to fit the vase. You then have to decide what type of flowers you will use. You can choose from fresh or fake. Fresh flowers are usually a prettier option, but they don’t last as long as fake flowers. You should also grab some baby’s breath, greenery and any trinkets or items that remind you of the deceased. A wide ribbon makes a nice finishing touch if you tie it around the mouth of the vase just under the lip.
An important consideration if your loved one’s monument marker is outside is the animals that call the cemetery home. Be careful if you want to place small plastic items in the arrangement, as this may cause a problem with birds. If you must use items that may prove to be troublesome to local animals, make sure you secure them well so the animals won’t choke.
Make the arrangement
Most grave sites are visible from all angles. For this reason, you have to make the arrangement so it looks nice all around instead of only focusing on the front. Start the arrangement in the center. This is where you will place the tallest of the flowers. Group the flowers however you want, but make sure that you leave enough flowers to make the remainder of the arrangement look full.
Once you place the flowers in your pre-cut floral block, move on to positioning the baby’s breath and greenery. These are the items you will use to complete the fullness of the arrangement. After you have those positioned, you can add in the trinkets or reminders of your loved one.
When you have put the arrangement together as much as you can at home, it is time to take it to the cemetery. Bring some extra supplies with you in case you need to fix up the arrangement some once you get there.
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