Create Your Own Gift Of Beauty

(NAPSI)-Taking the time to create homemade treasures remains one of the most cherished traditions of the holiday season. Flower arrangements leave fresh, fragrant, personal touches that can brighten any room.

"Fresh floral arrangements can range from basic and simple to more creative and elaborate," said flower designer Jill Slater. "Regardless of the design, the charm and allure that a homemade floral arrangement offers will add a warm and inviting feel to any room of the house."

She offers the following festive flower recipe to add elegant and distinctive decoration to your home or to give as a unique present:

Gerbera Daisy Topiary

A holiday-inspired mug is filled with a topiary Christmas tree of red gerbera daisies and tied with a festive holiday ribbon. Cranberries-a holiday tradition-cover the foam for a picture-perfect look.

You will need:

10 red gerbera daisies

One red or green mug

One-half brick floral foam

Flower food/preservative

Two feet holiday ribbon

Fresh cranberries

One rubber band

Step 1: Fill container with floral foam that has been soaked in water treated with flower food/preservative for at least 30 minutes. Gather the flowers in the web of your hand (between thumb and other fingers), holding them just under the bloom. The flowers should tuck neatly into each other. If right-handed, gather the flowers in your left hand. Secure the stems together with the rubber band and bring the rubber band up just under the blooms. This will make the gerberas perky and straight.

Step 2: Hold all the stems of the flowers in a neat bundle and cut off about one inch from the bottom of the stems. Insert the bunch into the center of the floral foam.

Step 3: Cover the floral foam with fresh cranberries. Using your favorite holiday ribbon, tie a bow around the rubber band. For trans-seasonal appeal, change the color of the gerberas or try other flower varieties such as iris, standard and miniature carnations, chrysanthemums, roses and lilies. Be sure to match the container and ribbon to the season.

You can get more flower- arranging tips and ideas from the Flower Promotion Organization Web site, http://www.flowerpossibilities.com.

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