This post brought to you by iBulb. All opinions are 100% mine.
I love lilies!
They're beautiful,
easy to care for
and smell divine!
They're perfect for every occasion
from classic to modern
casual to formal
anniversaries, birthdays...
...and even when you need to apologize for forgetting one of those occasions.
Did you know that there are hundreds of types of lilies
and that they're considered a symbol of refined beauty?
It's no wonder that they were the inspiration for my
Mothers Day Lily Bouquet!
Don't these Astoria lilies look elegant
in this Victorian ladies' lace-up boot?
I'm excited to show you how to transform
a modern pair of thrift store boots
into a vintage looking Victorian Boot Planter
for the refined beauty in your life!
Victorian Boot Planter
with fresh Lily arrangement
For the boot planter:
- 1 lace-up boot, leather or vinyl (I found a pair at Goodwill for $5.25)
- A few sheets of newspaper
- 1 2oz. bottle acrylic paint in off-white (I used Americana Light Buttermilk by DecoArt)
- Medium sponge brush
- Small paint brush
- Paper towel or soft cloth
- Brown paint or Distress Ink for antiquing
- Pearls or pearl buttons
- Heavy duty glue (I used E6000)
For the arrangement
- Lilies* (I used three stems in this arrangement)
- Viburnum (Snowballs) or another green, leafy filler
- A tall slender jar (I used a jelly jar)
- A block of floral foam
*You can purchase lilies at grocery stores, garden centers, and flower shops
Step 1: Lace up and tie boot. Fill with a few pieces of crumbled newspaper to give structure while you paint.
Step 2: Use a sponge brush to paint entire boot with acrylic paint. Use a small paint brush to paint the hard-to-reach areas like the laces. Set aside to dry.
Step 3: Fold over one side of boot (as pictured above). Paint interior of the boot (you only need to go a few inches down).
Step 4: Once boot is dry, crumple and bend to make some wrinkles and wear lines.
Step 5: Use a bit of brown paint or stain on a dry brush to add antiquing to areas of the boot that would typically show wear (toe, heel, along edges). Immediately wipe away with a paper towel or soft cloth. If antiquing is too dark, you can go over it with more of the light paint. You can also use a Distress Ink pad (I used a light linen color) to add another dimension of age.
Step 6: Use a dab of glue to attach pearls or pearl buttons to the boot. Set boot aside to dry.
Time for the lily arrangement!
Step 7: Leave the newspaper inside the boot. It will help support and prop up the jar. To get the floral foam to fit perfectly inside the jar, place open mouth of jar on the foam and press down. The jar should cut through the foam and will end up in the jar. You'll want the floral foam to come 1/4" from the top of the jar, so you may need to repeat the process if your piece of foam isn't as tall as the jar to begin with. Pour a small amount of water into jar. Foam will absorb the water. Continue adding water until the foam will absorb no more. Insert jar into boot planter.
Step 8: (optional) Remove the pistils from the center of the lilies by gently pulling off. Remove the lily leaves and trim the stem at an angle to approx. 5".
Step 9: Insert several snowball or leafy green stems all around the jar. Remove leaves that face the inside. Insert lilies. Make adjustments to the greenery as needed to create a balanced look.
And you're done!
How about some more inspiring ideas for how to use lilies and flowering bulbs to brighten up your home and your day? Visit HERE.
GIVEAWAY
IBulb Lilies and IZEA are giving one lucky Rook No. 17 follower a $25 VISA giftcard so they can enjoy lilies in their own home! It's easy to enter! Leave a comment stating what type of craft project you would make with the lilies if you won, then click "I commented" in the Rafflecopter widget below.
Good luck!
