#16 floral wire (about 12)
16" foam or wire heart-shaped form (foam is better)
3" floral picks (package)
1 roll floral tape
1 sturdy grapevine or willow branch 24" long
1 bunch fresh or preserved boxwood leaves (with short branches)
25 pink (or your favorite color) rosebuds - dried or preserved
(I prefer freeze-dried)
Hot Glue Gun and sticks

Gather bunches of the boxwood and attach them to floral picks using the wire on the end of the pick and then wrapping (pulling gently but firmly) with the floral tape.
If you use the foam wreath form, dip end of pick into hot glue and begin to fill in the wreath.
If you use the wire form leave a longer "tail" of the wire to wrap around the form and add a dab of hot glue. The bunch of boxwood should be a small handful.
Start the filling in at the top right of the heart form, with the boxwood going up and at a slight right angle. Continue going in this direction until about ½ way down right outside of form.
Then, begin to angle the boxwood very slightly at a downward angle, continuing this way to about ¼" way up the left outside.
Then begin to slowly turn the boxwood upward to top of heart form until it begins it's downward swoop to meet at the "cleavage" of the heart.
Now, start filling in with the boxwood at the inside of the form. Continue to fill in until the heart looks like it's completely "solid" boxwood.

Now, using either the grapevine or willow branch, begin to add the rosebuds.
This is done by holding the rosebud firmly and sticking a 4" piece of the #18 wire into base or, if you're careful, just at the very bottom-most side of the rosebud and insert wire into the flower head.
Wrap wire with florist tape and lay the head aside.
Continue to do this with each of the 25 heads.
After all heads are wrapped, attach them to the branch using the floral tape in the same manner as you did before…firmly but carefully. (Refer to my picture.)
Also, attach 4 rosebuds at what will be the top of the arrow, adding a rosebud approximately ¼"- ½" apart. Continue down branch with all heads going in an upward direction until you reach the bottom of the branch.
Do you see the 2 rosebuds that are hanging straight down?
Only the one closest to the branch is attached to it.
The last head is attached to the other rosebud using the wire and floral tape so that you have what looks like the tip of the arrow.

Last Step!
Attach the arrow (that's what you just made with the branch and the rosebuds) to the heart by wiring and tucking the left-over wire into the boxwood and shooting some hot glue at the point of attachment.
Check it over by gently shaking and shoot glue wherever needed.
Cover a 3" piece of wire with the floral tape and make an oval loop to attach to the form to by which to hang the heart or, using a large easel, prop the heart on the easel and use on tabletop or mantle. Voila~~Done!

Spray with a fine mit of water to keep looking fresh. There's also a product in the craft stores (JoAnn's or Michael's) that is a preservative and works very well.

Submitted by Vintage Lady