The weather outside might be cold and unfriendly but these Rainbow Carnations will warm up any room! Plus they’re a great project when you’re stuck inside. All you need are a bunch of fresh white carnations (baby or full size are fine) and your set of Jewelry Box Colorants. Now let’s get started!
First, get 2 cups of warm tap water and 5 or 6 glasses. Fill each glass about 1/2″ full then put 3-4 droppers full of colorant in each (use each color individually, plus mix them to get other shades. Check out this handy color mixing chart here). Pour remaining water into a bowl, then cut your carnation stems about 6″ long, at an angle, under the water. Immediately put your cut flowers in each cup.
Depending on how fresh your flowers are and how intense your color mixture is, you may start to see color in as little as one hour and get full color saturation in 24 hours.
To arrange your flowers in a pot like in the photo, take a small pot, a plastic cup, and a block of oasis. Cut your cup down so the top is below the rim of the pot. Then cut your oasis with a knife until it’s slightly bigger than the bottom of your cup. You should push it down so it’s wedged into the cup. Now start sticking your flower stems into the foam, working from the outside edge into the center. Then fill your cup with water. Ta da!!
SHORTCUT!: If you are feeling impatient and want to see some seriously instant results, cut your flower just below the bud (under warm water!) and put in a tiny cup like a shot glass with warm heavily colored water. I started seeing color in 5 minutes!! Have fun!
-Debbie, Soapylove
Great idea, you can color them with your color scheme for a party!
Cheers!
Cody Wellard
This is a great project. I was wondering, does this work with any white flower or does it have to be carnations or queen ann’s lace (although I am not sure if we have queen ann’s lace in Australia).
I would think it will work with any flower that is fresh and still drawing water up the stem. Carnations are just inexpensive and draw up lots of water. – Amber
Such a cool idea! I thought you dipped the tops to color flowers – you have schooled me once again! Another lovely tutorial Debbie!
we also used to do that with Queen Ann's Lace and food coloring 🙂 I was never patient enough, so I'd just stick the flower part straight into the coloring instead – LOL!
Maybe I'll see if I've developed any more patience over the years since then and try this with carnations – looks lovely!!!
Carnations last a LONG time! As long as they stay in water. Once the flowers are the shade you like, you can take them out of the dye water and the color will stay.
Those are so pretty! A must do! How long do they last?
I would not have thought of using the soap colorants for this. Great idea. I love the yellow!
What a fun post!!! Thanks so much for sharing this with us.
my cousins and i used to do that with queens ann lace and food coloring- very cool
Oh, wow, what a cool idea! I never would have thought to do this with my soap colorants — the flowers are just gorgeous!