Bring out that Ring! The Perfect DIY Ring Bearer Pillow Alternative!

I've been researching various options for my ring bearer.  I simply didn't want to go with the same ol' Oriental Trading Company pillow, I wanted to be different.  So, I found this picture on Martha Stewart's website: 




My inspiration!

But I didn't want to use real flowers because it was too much trouble so close to the wedding day, I wasn't sure where to find the mums that are in the picture and green isn't one of my wedding colors (pale pink, ivory  and navy are my colors).  So, I did something alittle different which used silk flowers and is in my wedding colors.

Here's how I made this pretty little thing:

1.) I started out at Michael's, a craft store, by purchasing flowers.  This time, I was really intrigued by the hydrangeas.  So, I purchased about 5 larger stem hydrangeas (they were originally $5.99 each, but there was a 50% off sale!).  Here's sort of how they looked:

2.) I also purchased a square one-inch thick piece of floral foam like this:

3.) Then, I found a single large silk peony and a package of corsage/boutonniere pins with ivory pearl tops.  I also already had the navy ribbon (see my last post) and a hot glue gun.  

4.) I first cut the corners of the styrofoam so they'd be more rounded.

5.) I had a difficult time with the hydrangeas. When they come on the stem, they don't have a stem in the middle and the leaves are held on by a sort of hook contraption.  So, I just pulled them off the hook, put a little hot glue near the center of the flower and placed it on the foam square.  But they appeared to lay very flat.  So, I pushed just the center of the flower into the foam with a little rounded stylus and then the leaves went up.  I then pierced the center with the corsage pins. 

6.)  I did this all the way around the block.  I pierced the middle of the styrofoam all the way through and ran some floral wire through it so that there was about a three inch loop on the top, and the ends on the bottom were pushed into the foam. 

7.) I took the white peony and pulled the wire loop through the center of it.  Then I secured it all with hot glue.  So, the flower now had a wire loop through the center. 

8.)  I hot glued the edges of the navy ribbon to the under leaves of the peony and ran them around the little box. 

9.) Finally, I tied ribbons to the top of the peony around the loop of the floral wire.  I made two bows, and then added two more ribbons (just knotted) which I will tie the rings on.  I did one in pink and one in blue for the bride's ring and the groom's ring respectively.

10.) Then I pushed some extra corsage pins through the top just to make it secure.

A little time consuming, but worth the effort! Hope you enjoy it!