I have never been a big fan of the corsage selection at most florists. Too many baby’s breath and shiny ribbons for my likes. Last year for a daddy-daughter dance corsage order, I decided to DIY it with wax flowers, tulips, thistle and calla lilies from Trader Joe’s, accented by tulle. They turned out soo pretty, but they were pretty labor intensive, and the stems of those flowers are not as strong as your more typical rose stems, so I was slightly stressed all evening that they would snap right off. They did stay intact through the event, but this year I decided to go with something more durable that would not only make it through the night, but could even be re-worn for another special event or as a bracelet. And I know we are talking elementary school here, but after styling all 3 sisters in Milly Minis dresses (Milly’s adorable girls’ line), I also wanted to go with something more… chic.
Channeling some inspiration from the recent runways, I decided ostrich feathers & vintage broaches atop glitter slap bracelets was the way to go. The slap bracelets really hit my adult self in the nostalgia department, but what kid doesn’t love a slap bracelet?? They also ensure a perfect fit for any size wrist.
I was more than happy with the results, and most importantly, all 3 corsages were done in 15 minutes, including hot glue gun heating & drying time. These would also make for great corsages for a flower girl, homecoming, or prom!
The first step is sourcing the materials. The most difficult part is finding slap bracelets that are not obnoxious colors, but I was able to find really cute pink & black glitter ones from Justice. If you’re having a hard time finding slap bracelets or want the look to feel more grown, a nice thick satin ribbon would make a great alternative. The vintage broaches were leftover from a Halloween ringleader costume, but you can easily find them at a thrift store or Salvation Army jewelry counter. The ostrich feather trim is from Amazon.
Next, open up the bracelets and lay the broach where you want to place it, and cut the feather trim to the width of the broach. For these corsages, I did not center the broaches so that the wraparound end would not be visible when worn. Though this does look slightly better on, in the future, I would just center it because it makes it easier for the kids to take on and off when they are getting in and out of their jackets or showing their friends.
Slap the bracelet closed, and insert the pin through the fabric of the bracelet, and then fasten the pin closed. Depending on where the pin falls on the backing, you may need to hot glue gun a portion of the broach to stabilize it from flipping up.
Open the bracelet and lay flat, broach side down. On the inside (not glitter) side of the bracelet on the edge that will face up the wrist towards the elbow, place a line of hot glue and press the feather trim on it. Allow to cool for 5 minutes.
That’s it, you’re done! Wear them with the feathers going up the arm, towards the elbow. Wear them again to jazz up some leggings and a black top, or even around a pencil holder or vase to jazz it up!
