DIY in-store workshops – Rio Roses

How to Create a Christmas Wreath with Roses

Rio Roses — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 16:32:41 +0000

This rose-filled wreath makes a beautiful addition to your shop and a perfect DIY project to share with customers during the holidays. Host a wreath-making workshop in-store or online, or film a short tutorial for social media to boost engagement and sales this season. It’s a simple way to showcase your creativity, highlight your Rio Roses, and spread some holiday cheer.

What You’ll Need:

• Grapevine wreath base (store-bought or handmade from dried vines)
• Twine or natural jute cord
• Scissors or pruners
• Floral water picks, glue, and wire
• Small paintbrush and white acrylic paint
• Red Rio Roses (like Freedom Roses)
• Fresh fir sprigs
• Dried or bleached foliage (such as Dusty Miller or Ruscus)
• Pinecones, cinnamon sticks, acorns, and dried orange slices for accents
• Natural cloth ribbon (burlap or similar)

Step 1: Prepare the Base

Start with a grapevine wreath. If you’re making your own, twist several dried vines into a circle and secure the ends with twine until the frame feels sturdy and balanced.

Step 2: Insert the Roses

Trim rose stems to fit inside water picks. Insert the water picks into the wreath evenly and secure each rose to the wreath with twine for a rustic look.

Step 3: Add Foliage and Texture

Cut small bundles of silver foliage and tie each bundle to a rose, using twine to hold them in place.

Step 4: Add Greenery

Add fir sprigs around the wreath, in between the roses. Attach them with floral wire to create fullness that covers the base.

Step 5: Add Accents

Attach small pinecones, cinnamon sticks, acorns, and orange slices, spacing them naturally throughout the wreath. Secure them with twine or a dab of floral glue.

Step 6: Paint the Pinecones

Lightly brush white acrylic paint onto the pinecones to create a frosted, snow-dusted effect. Let them dry completely before moving the wreath.

Step 7: Finish and Display

Create a large bow using natural ribbon and attach it to the top of the wreath with twine. Check that each bundle is secure, trim any excess twine, and adjust your roses for symmetry. Hang your finished wreath in your shop or use it as a workshop sample to inspire customers to create their own.

We’d Love to See Your Creations!

Share your Christmas Rose Wreath on Instagram and tag @RioRoses for a chance to be featured in our holiday roundup.

HOW TO MAKE A WHIMSICAL GOOSE EGGSHELL EASTER ARRANGEMENT

Rio Roses — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 16:58:23 +0000

Flowers brighten any holiday, and this charming Easter arrangement is no exception. Its unique goose eggshell container adds a touch of whimsy to any tabletop. Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on creating this arrangement, which you can offer ready-made in your shop or teach others how to make at an in-store workshop.

1. Gather the following materials:
• Precut goose eggshell with stand
• Floral foam
• Knife
• Floral shears
• Rio Yellow Pompon Daisies
• Rio Yellow Craspedia
• Filler flowers of your choice

2. If your eggshell isn’t precut, carefully cut off the top, leaving the edges jagged for a natural look. You can also decorate it with a ribbon to make it even more festive. Then, trim your floral foam to fit inside the eggshell and soak it in water.

3. Insert the floral foam into the eggshell, leaving plenty of room at the sides so it’s easy to insert flowers inside the shell. Cut your flower stems so that they will insert into the floral foam and come just outside of the eggshell.

4. Insert the flowers into the foam, starting with the daisies, then adding the craspedia and other filler flowers along the sides and on top of the floral foam. Arrange them at different heights so that you create volume and interest. But don’t overdo it: less is more in this small arrangement.

The completed design is beautiful enough for any Easter table and makes the perfect hostess gift. Your customers will love this whimsical eggshell arrangement, so have plenty on hand in your store this season.

How to create a festive autumn arrangement

Rio Roses — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 15:51:33 +0000

A pumpkin is an ideal vase for this gorgeous autumn arrangement, featuring a variety of colors and textures that are perfect for this season. Follow our step-by-step directions to create this arrangement for your customers. Better yet, set up a DIY workshop where you can teach them how to create their own! It’s a perfect way to increase your customer base while sharing the beauty and power of flowers.

1. Gather the following materials:
• Floral foam
• Cellophane
• Knife
• Floral shears
• Rio Bi-color Roses
• Rio Spiders
• Filler flowers of your choice

2. Cut off the top of the pumpkin to leave an opening wide enough for the arrangement, then scoop out all the seeds. You may want to do this before your DIY workshop attendees arrive to make it easier for them.

3. Trim down the floral foam to fit in the opening you carved out. Then, soak the floral foam in water while you cut down the cellophane and line the inside of the pumpkin with it.

4. Insert the floral foam into the pumpkin so that it’s completely covered on the top and sides bottom by the cellophane. Make sure the foam goes all the way in so the top aligns with the top of the pumpkin, and trim as necessary.

5. Trim your flowers so the stems are long enough to insert into the foam and come out an inch or two above the foam. Insert the flowers into the foam, starting with the spiders as the focal, then the roses, followed by the filler flowers.

As you can see, this is a straightforward arrangement to make, and the results are stunning! That makes it perfect for a DIY workshop in your store. Also, have a few on hand as a “grab and go” gift this season. Your customers will LOVE them!

How to Create a Festive Christmas Arrangement

Rio Roses — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 21:32:29 +0000

With Rio White LA Hybrid Lilies as the focus flower, this showstopping centerpiece is sure to be a hit with your customers. We’ve laid out the step-by-step directions here so you can create a few and have them on hand. Better yet, set up a Christmas Floral Workshop in your store, where customers can gather and make this beautiful arrangement themselves.

1. Gather the following materials:
• Floral foam
• Knife
• Floral shears
• Decorative wide-mouth vase
• Juniper, pine, or fir needles
• Gold or silver pinecones and ornaments
• Dried red berry branches
• Rio White LA Hybrid Lilies

2. Trim down the floral foam, so it fits into the vase with approximately ½ inch to spare at the top. Also, cut down the lilies and greenery, leaving the stems long enough to place in the floral foam while extending a few inches from the top of the vase

3. Place the floral foam in the vase, then insert the greenery around the sides of the foam. Ensure the foliage comes out a few inches around the vase to form a base for the rest of the items.

4. Insert the lilies into the floral foam in the center of the arrangement, with enough space between them to add other items. Insert a few more pieces of greenery in the center, then add the berry stems into the foam underneath the lilies and in the center.

5. As a final touch, add the pinecones and ornaments on top of the arrangement between the lilies and foliage.

There you have it! A gorgeous Christmas centerpiece that everyone will love. These also make fantastic party gifts, so make a few extra in your shop that customers can pick up throughout the holiday season.

How to Make a DIY Christmas Arrangement

Rio Roses — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 04:40:56 +0000

As the old song goes, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” You certainly can see it in every store, including your own. So why not share the fun with your customers? Help them bring more Christmas into their homes by holding a DIY Christmas Arrangement Workshop. Here’s how easy it is to make this beautiful arrangement:

Gather the following materials:

Floral foam
Foam prongs (anchor pins)
Floral shears
Floral tape
Hot glue gun
Wooden skewers
Cinnamon sticks
Pine needles
Decorative plastic tray (silver or gold)
Decorative inserts (silver or gold)
Apple
Dried orange slices
Rio Red Mini Carnations
Rio Green Pompon Buttons

Using the hot glue gun, glue the foam prong to the center of the tray, then secure the floral foam to the tray with the prong.

Cut the pine needle branches so that there’s at least an inch of the stem that’s free of needles. This will make it easy to place the branches into the foam.

Insert the pine needle branches around the bottom of the floral foam, making sure they stick out at least an inch from the edge of the tray.

Cut the skewer just long enough to insert it into both the apple and the foam. Then apply hot glue to the tip of the skewer and insert it into the bottom of the apple.

Insert the apple into the floral foam right on the top corner. Then insert the cinnamon sticks and orange slices next to the apple, also using skewers. Continue to add branches until they cover the bottom, sides, and most of the top of the floral foam.

Trim the carnations, pompons, and decorative inserts to the right size, then insert them around the top of the arrangement. Add some pine needles in between to fill in as needed.

When finished, you’ll have a stunning Christmas centerpiece that your customers will be proud to display in their homes. You can also make a few up in advance and sell them as last-minute holiday party gifts!

How to Make a Gorgeous DIY Fall Arrangement

Rio Roses — Sun, 17 Oct 2021 02:18:21 +0000

Who would have thought a bunch of cinnamon sticks could make roses look so elegant? This arrangement is as easy to make as it is beautiful, so it’s perfect for a DIY workshop. And this year, why not have hybrid workshop? You can invite people to participate in your store, while also streaming it live on Instagram or Facebook. That way, more people can participate. And that means more potential customers for you! Here’s how easy this arrangement is to make:

Gather the following materials:

Floral foam
Dry foam or Styrofoam block
Floral shears
Foam knife
Cardboard
Floral cellophane
Hot glue gun
Long cinnamon sticks
Ribbon
Rio 3D Roses

Cut the cardboard as needed to fit on the bottom of the Styrofoam block, then hot glue it in place.

Using the hot glue gun, glue individual cinnamon sticks around the block. Make sure they line up on the bottom and are glued right next to each other so as little of the foam block shows through as possible.

Cut the floral foam to fit inside the arrangement, then soak it in water.

Cut the cellophane to fit inside the arrangement, then place it underneath the floral foam before inserting them into the “cinnamon box.”

Trim the roses so that the heads just come up over the top of the cinnamon sticks, then arrange them in the floral foam. Place the roses as close together as possible without crowding.

Complete the look by wrapping some ribbon around the arrangement and tying a bow at the front.

Voilà! A stunning arrangement that will bring a touch of Fall to any home. And the scent wafting from the cinnamon sticks will be a wonderful bonus!

How to Create a Rustic Christmas Arrangement

Rio Roses — Sun, 15 Nov 2020 00:46:05 +0000

How to Create a Rustic Christmas Arrangement

A key benefit of flowers is the feeling of having nature around you, even when you can’t go out in nature. This arrangement does just that by bringing nature into the home with a rustic, cozy feeling. You can make these arrangements for your customers or offer an online workshop where they can create their own.

Materials:

Small to medium open centered wooden log
Rio Freedom red standard roses
Green Moss
Green Floral Foam
Floral shears and knife

1. Cut the floral foam to fit into the log opening, then soak it in water.

2. Place the floral foam into the center of the log.

3. Insert the roses into the floral foam, starting at one end. Cut the stems of the center roses slightly longer than the outside ones to create a rounded look.

4. After inserting a few roses, start adding the green moss around the outside of the floral foam.

The finished product: A beautiful, rustic, and comforting Christmas arrangement that’s sure to bring holiday joy.

How to Create a DIY Fall Arrangement

Rio Roses — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 17:06:04 +0000

How to Create a DIY Fall Arrangement

In these crazy times, giving people a creative outlet is not only valuable for them but can be valuable for your business as well. Offer a DIY Fall Arrangement workshop online, where you teach your customers how to make a beautiful Fall centerpiece. They can pick up the materials at your shop ahead of time—curbside, as needed—and then log in to Zoom or Facebook Live at the date and time of your workshop to create their arrangement in real time.

Materials:

Floral foam
Neutral-toned bowl, gourd, or basket
Rio Sunflowers
Rio Red Hypericum
Filler greenery
Floral shears and knife

1. Cut the floral foam to the correct size, then soak it in water.

2. Place the floral foam in the container, then place greenery around the edge of the foam.

4. Insert the sunflowers in the foam, starting with the center and moving out. Cut the stems of the center flowers slightly longer than the outside ones, to give the arrangement an oval look.

6. Cut the hypericum and insert it in between the flowers and greenery. Create different lengths on the stems to add some height to the arrangement.

There you have it: A beautiful yet simple Fall arrangement that your customers can make at home to create this arrangement along with you.

DIY Wedding Corsage

Rio Roses — Wed, 13 May 2020 15:17:46 +0000

How to Make a DIY Wrist Corsage

May is a time of celebration, with graduations, proms, and weddings. Celebrations may be different this year, but they’re still going on! Students are holding proms on Zoom and celebrating graduations at a distance. Brides and grooms even have “drive-by” weddings. Here’s how you can contribute to their celebrations with a beautiful wrist corsage. While we use roses and carnations in this example, you can choose any flower you like.

Materials:

Grosgrain ribbon
Floral tape
Floral wire
Scissors
Glue gun
Card stock
Rio Roses
Rio Carnations
Filler foliage.

1. Take each flower and add a small amount of greenery. Wrap these two pieces together with floral tape. Do this for each flower. Choose no more than two or three of each flower so that your corsage won’t be too bulky.

2. Cut each assembled flower/greenery piece, so the stem is one to two inches long. Using floral wire, tie the pieces together to create an arrangement that will fit nicely on a wrist.

3. Cut a small piece of cardboard (approximately two inches long and the width to fit on the ribbon). Add glue to the back of the cardboard using the hot glue gun.

4. Cut a long piece of ribbon (about 2 feet). Attach the glued cardboard to the ribbon, about 3 inches from one end. Cut the cardboard as needed to make sure it’s not too long.

5. Add hot glue to the other side of the cardboard and attach the flower arrangement to it. Hold it in place for a few seconds to make sure it’s secure.

There you have it: A beautiful wrist corsage!

Use this guide to create corsages for your customers. You can also hold an online tutorial, by selling customers a “corsage kit” that they can pick up from your store (curbside as needed) and then having them follow along with you on Zoom or Facebook Live at the designated time. Have fun!

How to Make A DIY Easter Arrangement

Rio Roses — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 20:17:30 +0000

Easter is a time of celebration and family gatherings. With this DIY Easter arrangement, you can create a gathering of your own, right in your flower shop, DIY Workshop. What better way for families to get together and work on this creative Easter basket, and find out what your shop has to offer at the same time?

Materials:

Floral foam ring
Floral shears
Floral wire
Fir branches
Rio Freedom roses
Ilex twigs
Red and white ornaments
Artificial filler flowers
Cinnamon sticks
Red pillar candle.

1. Cut the floral cellophane to line the basket, in preparation for the floral foam.

2. Cut the floral foam to the correct size, then soak it in water.

3. Place the floral foam in the basket lined with cellophane, and cut the cellophane so it’s even with the top of the foam.

4. Add roses to the arrangement, spaced a few inches apart. Cut the stems just long enough to insert into the foam and stick out an inch or so over the top of the basket.

5. Add moss in between the roses, to create a base for the rest of the items.

6. Add the Craspedia, and any other filler flower, spaced evenly between the roses. Don’t make this too full, as you will want a few open spaces for the Easter eggs.

7. Add the colored Easter eggs to the spaces you’ve designated on the arrangement.

There you have it! A lovely, whimsical Easter basket floral arrangement that the whole family can enjoy!