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How to Make Homecoming Mums

Making Award Winning Mums

Homecoming Mums Basics

The basic supplies for homecoming mums are: standard incurve silk chrysanthemum bloom(s), two cardboard shields or backing disks, plush animals representing the school mascot, jingle bells (if school rules allow), gilded letters, varsity letter stickers, woven ribbon “love chains”, ribbon streamers, curling ribbon, tulle, star garland, glitter and/or glitter spray, charms and/or miniature footballs, helmets, etc., battery packs and lights.

But don’t feel limited to the basics. Use your imagination!

You will also need scissors, a stapler and a hot melt glue gun.

Refer to the photo of a beautiful homecoming mum on the Homecoming Mums Supplies page for ideas and inspiration.

Make a Nest for the Mum

You want to create a frame or nest on one of the backing shields in which to nestle your mum. This can be done with ribbon, tulle or a combination of materials. Ribbon is a very popular nest material because you can create great designs using your school colors.

Here are directions for a simple ribbon nest. It will resemble a pre-made ribbon like you stick on a wrapped present – with ribbon points radiating out like rays of sunshine.

Say your school colors are blue and gold (substitute your actual colors). This ribbon nest will have two rings of ribbon points. (You make as many as your backing shield and mum require.)

Cut seven six-inch strips of 1 ½-inch wide “blue” ribbon and seven six-inch strips of 1-inch wide “gold” ribbon.

Lay the “blue” strips on your work surface shiny side up.

Lay one “gold” strip on top of each “blue” one (also shiny side up) so that you see a striped design in your school colors (1/4-inch “blue”, 1-inch “gold”, 1/4-inch “blue”).

Pick up one pair of strips with the thumb and forefinger of both hands.

Bend the strips backwards, bringing your thumbs and forefingers together so that the strips form a point; overlap the ends slightly and staple them together.

Repeat with the six other pairs.

Arrange the seven stapled ribbon points around three-quarters of the perimeter of one backing shield and staple in place. You want to leave one-quarter of the perimeter empty to attach your streamers. (If seven is too many/few for your backing shield, adjust accordingly.)

Cut six six-inch strips of 1 ½-inch wide “gold” ribbon and six six-inch strips of 1-inch wide “blue” ribbon.

Form these into points just as before and staple them to the backing to form the inner circle of the nest, again leaving one-quarter of the shield empty for your streamers.

Make and Attach Streamers

The length of the basic streamers depends on your design sense as well as the height of the intended wearer. Between two feet and three feet is common. You want to make a statement but you don’t want the wearer to trip and fall!

Cut six lengths of 1 ½-inch wide “blue” ribbon and five lengths of “gold”. Lay the strips on your work surface shiny side up as follows.

You want to form a fan of streamers that will fit into the open triangle of your ribbon point nest.

Lay a “blue” streamer in the center.

Work out from this center with alternating streamers: “gold”, “blue”, “gold”, etc. Staple all the ribbons together at the top.

Place your streamer fan onto the backing shield and staple it down.

Lay your arrangement out on a large table or on the floor. Trim the streamers as desired.

Many designers like to notch the ends. You can also angle them to a center point. Look at your design and decide whether you want to embellish some or all of the streamers.

You can add glitter or write names with glitter glue. You can glue varsity letters down one streamer or sequins and stars down another. The sky’s the limit.

Accessorize

Arrange the accessories you wish to hang from the backing shield. When you are happy with the design, string each one onto a thin ribbon of the appropriate length and staple to the backing shield.

Use different lengths so that each individual accessory will be shown to best advantage (you don’t want them covering or clanking into each other).

Weave your love chains and attach them to the shield. Here are directions for the the following homecoming mum weaves:

• military braid weave
• diamondback braid weave.
• diamondback garland
• interlocking hearts love chain
• spirit chains

If you want ribbon curls, add them now. The same goes for star garland.

Finishing Touches

You’re finally ready to glue the mum in place. Hot melt glue has a short set-up time so work quickly.

Liberally squeeze hot melt glue over the center of the baking shield. Position the mum and press down lightly on all the contact points. Watch your fingers; hot melt glue is – well – hot!

If you are adding a plush animal (mascot), attach it the same way you did the mum: liberal hot melt glue; press on all the contact points; and watch your fingers!

A large bow under the mum will help to balance your creation. Use more of the 1 ½-inch ribbon in both your school colors.

Make the bow wide – about the same width as the entire corsage. Use hot melt glue to attach it beneath the mum.

Your corsage needs a sturdy hanger. Cut a 3 ½-inch piece of 1 ½-inch wide ribbon. Double it into a loop and staple it to the back of the second backing shield.

Glue the two shields together back to back so that the hanging loop is at the top of your design. This hides all of the “works” and covers the staples so that they won’t catch on the wearer’s clothes.

Other Options

Here are directions for adding lights to your homecoming fantasy creation.

Or add homecoming mum charms.

If you’re still looking for ideas, here is a complete list of our homecoming mum articles.

Where to Find Homecoming Mums Supplies

Many supplies used by scrapbookers would serve very well, as would jewelry findings.

Visit Crafts @ joann.

Here is a comprehensive list of wholesale and retail suppliers of homecoming mum making materials.

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