You can create your own stunning floral centerpiece and other arrangements to add a festive touch to your home this Thanksgiving. It is easier than you think. Don’t you host Thanksgiving dinner? Why not surprise the cook with a beautiful floral gift and enjoy the look of surprise and wonder on her face when you say, “I made it myself!”

Once you know some of the basics, arranging flowers is pretty simple. YES, even if you think you’re not creative. I offer dozens of FREE lessons and ideas on my website. This month I show you detailed instructions with photos on how to create various Thanksgiving arrangements. You’ll find easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions complete with photos for creating over 50 designs in my new book, “Flowers Made Simple – How to Arrange Flowers Just for the Fun of It.” This is a wonderful holiday gift for all the flower lovers on your list. More information is available on my website.

So what do you need to start playing with flowers? You don’t need a lot of expensive equipment and materials, so it’s not an expensive hobby. A good pair of pruning or cutting shears is a must. A sharp florist’s or paring knife is helpful for removing foliage and thorns from the stems. Waterproof florist’s tape is widely used in floral work. Can’t find it? Narrow cellophane tape will also work. Floral foam is a must for many arrangements and designs. It’s available at most craft stores these days, even some of the discount department stores. Make sure you get the foam designed for fresh flowers, sometimes called wet foam, and not the one made for silk or artificial flowers. Other than the containers and flowers, that’s all: cutting scissors, small knife, masking tape, and floral foam.

And the containers? We can get into the routine of putting a bouquet of fresh flowers in those dirty old vases under the kitchen sink. Get creative when looking for a floral container in your home. Recyclable materials like mason jars from pasta sauce and pickles make great floral containers, especially when grouped together. Mason jars are also a good option. Tie a few strands of raffia around the neck, add a bouquet of any kind of flower, and you have a beautiful country design. Don’t throw away your cans either. They can be spray painted or covered with fabric, wallpaper, craft paper, jewelry, seashells, etc. to transform them into incredible containers to display a bouquet of beautiful flowers. And they are waterproof so you don’t need any kind of lining! And they are also free. Wouldn’t this be a great craft project for the kids?

Browse your cabinets for other intriguing containers. Pitchers, tureens, serving bowls, small bowls, all can be used as vases. Even small containers such as wine, brandy and martini glasses, teacups, votive candle holders, custard cups, egg cups, salt and pepper shakers would be perfect for floating a single flower.

As long as your flowers are in an airtight container, you can insert them into unexpected items such as cornucopias, baskets, straw hats, festive gift boxes, boots, shoes, bags, baskets, wood and metal trinket boxes, decorated terracotta, or others. ceramic pots, watering cans, gift bags… get creative. Look around you and see what you can transform into a flower stand! I have even used giant seashells. Start thinking outside the box.

Try experimenting with floral foam; you will be hooked! It’s very easy to use and allows you to do many things with flowers that you can’t do by simply inserting them into water. I provide many FREE ideas for using floral foam on my website, http://www.flowersmadesimple.net.

And if you decide you just want to use the old stock glass vase, that’s fine. Just know the correct way to add the flowers and vegetables. The Layering System and Tape Grid Method teaches you how to take that bouquet from the grocery store and turn it into a masterpiece. No one, including you, will believe that it did not leave the flower shop. And it’s SO EASY! How many of you think that you should put the flowers in the vase and then the green ones? He will get much better results if he does it the other way around.

Fresh cut flowers can be found in so many places these days: farmer’s markets, street stands, street vendors, grocery stores, discount department stores, delis, pharmacies, not to mention your local florist and maybe even his own garden. Who doesn’t like flowers? And once you learn to work, really PLAY with them, you’ll discover a sense of joy, peace, and contentment like you’ve never experienced before. Get in touch with nature and start making flower arrangements – just for fun! (And don’t forget to check out my website and check out my book.)