I have to admit that we have often teased my mother for this frugal tip, but I’m starting to love her artificial flowers. I often see artificial flowers for next to nothing at yard sales and thrift stores. Even craft stores discount them every season. If you can pick up a few stems for a couple of dollars it is definitely worth doing.
Can you tell which flowers are fake in this arrangement?
My mother used real orange & yellow marigolds and green liriope leaves from her garden and put half a dozen artificial stems to fill out the bouquet. I love how the artificial daisies help fill out the arrangement! The best part is that they never wilt or die, and you can continue to use them in other arrangements throughout the year.
So don’t pass up that next discounted artificial flower arrangement at the thrift store. Bring it home and use it to fill out your next real bouquet.
This post is linked to WFMW.
What a great idea! I would have never thought of intermixing them!
I, too, have been reluctant for years about artificial flowers, but I’m coming around. I prefer real flowers, or dried arrangements. However, I have to admit that artificial flowers are much easier to clean! (The dried flowers either get too wet if I rinse them, or get sucked into the vacuum… :-/ ). My mom uses them all over her house; she even brings out different sets when the seasons change. She found them all at thrift stores. That’s a great idea about using both types in an arrangement! It’s really hard to see the difference. I love the colors!
I confess I use artificial flowers in the house, too, and sometimes even outside to fill in in the hot summer months here. Your mom has GORGEOUS artificial flowers.
You don’t have to clean them. With the price you pay at thrift stores and yard sales when they get dusty just throw them away and replace with the ones you just picked up at the yard sale!!! Fresh flowers (kinda), new arrangement every other week… nice!
I have a friend in Ohio that has a HUGE beautiful yard (a couple acres) and she uses artificial flowers. She changes them every season. You can not tell if they are realy or not! Everyone is always commenting on how beautiful her lawn and flowers look and what a wonderful job they do keeping it looking so nice. I have to laugh!
You have a very smart mom!
You are right you can really find some pretty artificial flowers; some so realistic looking you have to touch them to know.