A summer treat inspired tweak to a leaf-roll technique to display the last cut flowers (or left-overs) picked from your warm weather garden

Roll a large leaf over a thin stick like a dowel...

This week our flower lesson email is about rolling the leaf neatly. Beginning it over a guide stick is absolutely vital and so is getting to know your leaf... it makes all the difference! I send out an email every Wednesday morning (Vancouver time) to let everyone know when the new design is ready to view and I add an insider tip for you to read about so that you can make the most of this weeks lesson... even before looking at the design. You can sign up below this post.

Add in more leaves if you need to create a big roll to fit snugly into the vase.

I use amaryllis leaves. But New Zealand flax, Dracaena even banana leaves work well.

Book readers turn to page 22 for instructions on how to craft a much larger version of this armature. And turn to page 210 for a leaf garland tutorial to make a leaf roll. It is such a great alternative to this technique! For more information about my book: The Effortless Floral Craftsman

But to get you started, I will also add a few more leaf-roll techniques below for inspiration.

Drop the leaf roll into the vase..

Lift out the innermost part of the leaf. Roll it slightly tighter and allow it to fall back crating a slight peak. You can of course adjust this to have more of a peak (or no peak) of flop over like a melted ice cream... if you want... but I wanted mine to stand slightly proud.

Add in a few vines...

I used clematis.

And I finish my design with a few sparkling dew drop crystals.

See the tutorial below for more detailed instructions.