Eucalyptus Branch
Though there are many varieties of eucalyptus, one of the most recognizable is the Silver Dollar Eucalyptus, which this branch mimics. The round, blue-green leaves and airy stems lend movement and dimension to arrangements and bouquets.
SUPPLIES
Blue-green felt
18˝ of 18-gauge floral wire
22-gauge floral wire
Eucalyptus template
Needle-nose pliers
Wire cutters
Scissors
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
STEP 1: Cut the pieces. Follow the eucalyptus template to cut out nine leaves from the blue-green felt. Cut the 22-gauge wire into four 4½˝ pieces.
STEP 2: Attach the leaves. Add a ¼˝ line of glue to the center of a leaf on the bottom (unpointed) end. Press the end of the 18-gauge wire into the glue. Note: Keep the leaf flat and press the wire onto it, do not pinch the leaf around the wire. Glue a leaf onto each end of the 22-gauge pieces of wire.
STEP 3: Attach a leaf pair. Twist a leaf pair around the 18-gauge wire until the bottoms of both leaves are close to the stem.
STEP 4: Make the large leaf bundle. Take another leaf pair and twist the remaining two leaf pairs onto each end of it.
STEP 5: Finish. Twist the large leaf bundle onto the main stem about 3˝ below the first pair of leaves. To finish, bend the leaf wires in random directions to give the branch a loose, natural look.