You really, really can make florist-quality arrangements with grocery-store flowers, and I promise it's not too hard. Most important is sticking to one or two colors, with a little greenery thrown in if you feel like it. Second-most important is cutting the stems pretty short. Your mood should be careless, romantic exuberance, not tall, willowy elegance. I like to use little mason jars or even short drinking glasses. Four bunches (I used ivory roses, ivory something else, purple chrysanthemums, and purple asters) should run you less than $20 (at the Giant in Harrisburg, PA they were $16) and turn into 6 to 8 small, low, awesome creations. Focus on one vase at a time,. Cut a stem be a bit taller than the top of the vase, strip it of leaves, and place directly into the water. Criss-cross the stems, picturing a vortex in the center that each must go through. That will intertwine them in a way that they'll prop each other up. Add leaves (above you see rose leaves, and yes, I threw the baby's breath that came with the roses in, too) last as accents. Work quickly and don't think too much, and they'll come out superbly. Let me know if you have trouble.
