by Norma-Anne Chattin

Created on: January 28, 2011   Last Updated: January 30, 2011

Instead of flowers for Mother’s Day this year, give her a whimsical arrangement of bright and colorful candies. Customize your gift with a special container, variety of candies, themed presentation, and plenty of handcrafted creativity.

The Basic Candy Bouquet

Create a basic candy bouquet by arranging various sizes and colors of candy in a pretty wide mouth vase or coffee mug. Lollipops, peppermint sticks, and soft candies like wrapped chocolates may be used in your arrangement. Secure soft and smaller candy with a toothpick or skewer.  Your arrangement will pull together artfully if you use floral foam inside your container. The foam ball shapes available in craft stores will automatically give your arrangement staggered height and interest. 

When using a clear glass container line the inside with tissue paper before inserting the foam. If the glass container is not as attractive as you might wish then cover from the outside with pretty wrapping paper and tie a bow to secure. 

Easily arrange your candy by making an arch across the center of the foam and then a second arch in the other direction so it appears as a cross from above. Next fill in the blank spaces with randomly placed candies slightly angled towards the rim of your container. Allow the sticks to rise in the center and push further into the base as they approach the edge. 

The candies in the bouquet need not cover the entire foam base; however they do need to appear very full from the top and sides.  Once they are all inserted, use colored paper shreds to cover the foam base. These are available as gift packaging filler in the stores or make your own with a paper shredder. 

Tie a pretty bow and gift tag around the vase or on the handle of the coffee mug as pleasing accents. Try a kabob skewer to insert the card into the bouquet similar to the way florists insert their gift tags. 

Customization Techniques

Customize the arrangement further by varying the size and brands off candies. Use larger ones in the center and smaller toward the edges. Mimic professional arrangements by creating a focal point in the center of your design with larger and higher elements. Keep in mind that focal elements look best when grouped in odd numbers and staggered sizes. 

The type container cleverly customizes your arrangement further. Look through your own collections or shop a thrift store for unusual containers that Mom would enjoy. 

Consider a clay flower pot for

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