Waxed roses & Christmas Bunches..

As quite allot of you know I dip roses in wax for my Christmas bunches for outside.. They just make a change from wreathes sometimes..!!
This year was not a good year for getting the roses to open & after I bought them either, I don't usually have this problem I think it was the cold frosty weather maybe had something to do with it...:dh:

I had to turn the flash off as it burnt the white out, so sorry they are a bit dark..

Dipping a bud...



You have to do this fast but fluent... After the wax dip plunge it into cold water immediatley to set the wax & reduce petal damage & keep the colour....

Close up of a dipped & cooled rose bud..! The wax protects the petals from frost & rain damage & prolongs the life of the flower, so these should still be looking good right over the Christmas period..!




These have all been dipped.....




I actually made 4 bunches but my daughter took hers before I could photograph it..!!:dh: I used the flash for these next three..
1.


2.


3.


Made from fresh greenery I gathered. Larch cones dipped in glitter for sparkle. A waft of silver paint on the ivy so that it is not thickly covered, but has that slight metallic look.. Holly from my SiL's farm & of course my dipped roses...!:wink::D

 

:thmb: Thanks Dave & Kedi, no I don't have another thread running on it Kedi, I had been talking in Wakey wakey about them.... Sadly the roses are not from the garden Dave, I wish they were, it would make the whole thing complete then...:wink:

:thmb: Kedi you use ordinary candle wax. I melt whatever colour wax to suit the colour of my roses... I think dark red are some of my favourites to do they come out looking like sumptuous velvet...!
I did a special posie for a very special young girl about 10yrs ago now... They have never been outside, just kept in her cabinet.. The colour is still good in them even now..

:thmb: Some other flowers that wax well are, Daisies, Paper Whites, Tulips, Hycinths, Stephanotis, & other flowers that have a waxy type of flower... Avoid delicate flowers with thin petals like pansies as they will wither......

 

Hello High Kype, not really sure what tips you want, why not just ask me any questions about what you want to know..! :wink: Probably easier that way...:thumb:

 

:gnthb: Morning High Kype. yes if you look closely at the first pic I am using an old pyrex jug inside a saucepan of water.... Or if you have one an old double boiler...

I break the candle down into about 1" peices & pull out the wick & put in the jug.
Fill saucepan just over half way up the jug & bring to the boil, turn down & simmer till all the wax has melted... Keep an eye on the water level...!!!!!!!!! The wax is quite slow to melt..

Take pan off heat...

Dip flower head into wax shake excess off gently & plunge into cold water...!! Stand in container to finish cooling & drain...

Voila...!!!!!!!!:gnthb: Hope that helps... Don't be frightened by the thought of what you are doing, just go ahead & do it, rather like cooking....!!!!!!:dh::hehe: Good Luck, let's see your finished flowers..!:thmb:

 

:thumb: Thanks Pal You know you may have a point there about the wax.. I have put the larger of those bunches up at the church on the family plot & it stays lovely the whole time... The birds eat the holly berries but not the flowers.....!! Give it a try..!!:thmb: The Victorians started it I think...