Do you want to turn a bunch of supermarket flowers into a gorgeous, gift-worthy bouquet that looks expensive? With a few simple materials from your craft cupboard and a touch of creativity, you can transform everyday flowers into something truly special. In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through 12 easy steps to create a bouquet that will wow the recipient without the florist price tag.
This rewrap makeover method is perfect for all sorts of gifting occasions such as: Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, new baby arrivals, thank-yous, housewarmings, teacher appreciation, retirements, job promotions, or simply to brighten someone’s day.
This design is intentionally versatile, by using clear cellophane and natural fabric it works beautifully with any colour scheme. By choosing cellophane instead of paper, you can prepare your bouquets a day ahead, store them in water overnight, and keep them looking fresh. The only pop of colour you’ll need to add is from the ribbon, making it easy to personalise for any occasion.
Here was my scenario… I needed to buy seven bouquets of flowers, one for each of seven wonderful teachers as part of a group present. With just £6 to spend per person, I knew a professional florist was out of the question. The solution? Head to the supermarket and work a little DIY magic to upgrade the bouquets myself.
Here in the UK, supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl, and Asda offer a surprisingly beautiful selection of fresh flowers. Prices typically range from around £3 to £15, making them a budget-friendly choice. With the right care, creativity and finishing touches, these blooms can look every bit as stunning as those from a high-end florist.
In the next 12 easy steps, I’ll guide you through transforming budget flowers into a stunning, professional looking bouquet that’s sure to delight any recipient.
So let’s get started, here’s what you’ll need:
- Supermarket flowers
- Scissors
- Jute twine
- Clear cellophane 80cm width (roll or sheet)
- Sticky tape
- Double sided sticky tape
- Hessian/burlap fabric (11cm by 18cm)
- Ribbon (1cm width, 70cm)
- Vase/bucket (to store in)
- Tape measure or ruler
For the cellophane, I recommend an 80cm-width roll as it’s the most cost effective choice at around £4.50 for 20m and will come in handy for countless other craft projects, not to mention future bouquets. While you can buy pre-cut 80cm x 80cm sheets, they’re usually more expensive. I purchased mine from Easy Florist Supplies here in the UK.
Step 1. Prepare your Materials and Tools
Before you head out to buy your flowers, ensure to get all of your tools and materials first. This is because you’ll want to purchase your flowers either on the morning of gifting or the day before, to make sure they’re as fresh as possible. This is also the perfect time to pick a colour scheme and ensure you have the correct ribbon colour beforehand. I went with white and pink for a classic, elegant look.
💡 Tip: Choosing just two colours makes it easy to keep everything coordinated.
Step 2. Purchase your Flowers
Get your flowers from a supermarket! I would advise to bring a bucket or vase of water with you so the flowers are never without water. When choosing, look for vibrant, healthy flowers and avoid any with drooping heads, browning petals, or damaged stems. Ideally, pick bunches with unopened or partially opened buds for longer lasting freshness.
I got these flowers from Tesco in the UK for £6.
Step 3. Remove the Packaging
Carefully cut open the packaging from the bottom up and set aside the flower food packet as you’ll be attaching this back later. If the stems are tied together with string or elastic, cut this off too.
💡 Tip: If you prefer to keep the original store arrangement instead of rearranging the stems yourself, simply keep the flowers close together whilst on step 4 and skip step 5.
Step 4. Prep the Stems
Lay the flowers out on your work surface and strip away any leaves to two or three fifths up the stems. Remove any wilted petals or damaged foliage with scissors so only the healthiest parts remain.
Step 5. Arrange your Bouquet
Rearrange the flowers until you’re happy with the look. A helpful floristry tip is to follow the “rule of threes”. Try grouping flowers in threes, working in three sections, or creating small triangular shapes with the same colour or flower type. This technique naturally adds balance and interest without looking too rigid. Aim for a slightly asymmetrical arrangement, as this is often more pleasing to the eye than perfect symmetry.
As you place each stem, angle them gently, as this not only helps the flowers sit together neatly but also gives your bouquet a fuller, more professional finish.
Step 6. Secure the Stems
Once you’re happy with the arrangement, tie the stems together with twine. I used green twine, but any colour will do as it will be hidden later. This step keeps your bouquet neat and easy to handle while you wrap it.
Step 7. Prepare and Fold the Cellophane
Cut (by scoring) a sheet of cellophane to roughly 70cm × 80cm, or use a pre-cut 80cm × 80cm sheet. When working from a roll, score rather than cut to keep the edge neat and smooth. Don’t worry if it isn’t perfectly straight, as long as the edge is smooth it will look great once wrapped. Adjust the sheet size to suit your flowers: use smaller sheets for shorter stems and larger ones for taller bouquets.
Once cut, lay the sheet flat with the shorter side (70cm) vertical, then rotate the sheet 45 degrees clockwise. Take the bottom-right corner and take it up to be the same height as the top-left corner, creating a neat V-shape in the middle.
💡 Tip: The central V-point will form the back of your bouquet, so keep this in mind for wrapping.
Step 8. Position and Rewrap the Bouquet
Place your flowers at a slight angle on the left-hand side V of the cellophane (like the picture below), with the front of the bouquet facing down and the back facing up. Position them lower down on the cellophane if you want more wrapping projecting above the flowers as this gives a grander, fuller effect. Make sure the stems extend slightly out of the bottom so they’ll be easy to trim later.
Now, wrap the cellophane around the flowers, starting at the bottom and keeping firm tension at the bottom. Roll the cellophane around the bouquet from left to right, and roll further in an arch-like path where the bouquet ends up at the right-hand side V. This part can be a little fiddly so don’t worry if it takes a couple of tries.
The key is to line up the back of the bouquet with the central V-point of the cellophane for that grand effect and professional finish. Once wrapped, adjust the cellophane slightly to make it sit how you want it to.
Step 9. Secure the Wrapping
Once your bouquet is wrapped, use sticky tape around the wrap line to hold the cellophane firmly in place. Then tape the packaged flower food securely to the back of the wrapped stem area.
Step 10. Add the Fabric Wrap
Cut a piece of hessian (burlap) fabric to size, mine measured about 11cm × 18cm, but you can adjust depending on your bouquet. Place double sided sticky tape along the edges of the fabric, peel off the backing and wrap it neatly around the stems. Make sure the fabric covers the flower food packet and the seam is at the back, for a tidy finish.
Step 11. Tie the Ribbon
Cut a 70cm length of 1cm width ribbon. Add a small strip of double sided sticky tape to the middle of the ribbon. Attach this onto the back of the hessian wrap. Bring both ends of the ribbon around to the front, tie a neat bow, and trim the ends so they sit approximately level to the base of the fabric. This prevents the ribbon from dipping into water when the bouquet is stored.
Step 12. Final Touches & Storage
Cut about 1cm off the stems and at a 45 degree angle, making sure they’re all roughly the same length. Place the finished bouquet in a vase or bucket of clean water until you’re ready to gift it. Avoid letting the water touch the hessian fabric or ribbon, just enough to keep the stems hydrated is perfect. If storing overnight, replace the water the following day to keep the bouquet looking fresh and vibrant.
💡 Tip: The cutting of the stems at a 45 degree angle helps the flowers absorb water more easily. This simple trick keeps them fresher and more vibrant for longer, so don’t skip it!
And there you have it, your supermarket flowers are now transformed into a stunning bouquet and is perfectly ready for gifting. It’s amazing how simply rewrapping a bouquet can make it look far more expensive than it actually is. 🌸
Just for fun, if you are interested here is one of the seven bouquets I originally created for the seven wonderful teachers.
The best part is how versatile this method is. You can experiment with different colour schemes, flower varieties, or fabrics like linen for a rustic touch. Why not try printed or coloured cellophane, or play with ribbons in different sizes and textures to give each bouquet its own personality?
I hope this tutorial has inspired you to give it a try! If you do, I’d love to hear how you got on. Do share your thoughts in the comments below and show me your own creations. Nothing makes me happier than seeing your versions of these projects.
💐 Love this tutorial? Save it to Pinterest so you can find it again later!
If you enjoy making thoughtful handmade gifts, you might also like my Seasonal and Celebratory crafts for more creative ideas.
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