Roses are red. 

Violets are blue. 

Some bouquets are best eaten,

So here’s one for you (or your special someone).

Personally, looking at a fresh bouquet of roses only to know that in less than a week I will have to discard the wilted contents into the trash can be quite depressing.  I would much prefer having an edible version of the traditional bouquet.  I’m not talking about chocolate bouquets either.

Since the invention of the fruit bouquet, gift-receivers could nibble away at the contents without feeling guilty.  I came across this idea after receiving a pre-arranged gift from my loved one a year ago.  On Valentine’s Day, 2016, my sweetheart ordered a fresh bouquet delivered to my front door from Edible Arrangements, a company that creates these masterpieces for any occasion.  Fortunately, that doesn’t stop you from being creative and attempting this feat this yourself.  Even better, the prep time is quite short but the final result can be spectacular.  Here is your DIY survival guide for creating the ultimate fruit bouquet.

The Materials

Cookie cutter shapes – purchased from local supermarket

Your significant other’s favorite fruits – purchased from local supermarket

My favorite fruits for this gift include strawberries, pineapples, cantaloupes, honeydew, grapes and kiwis

Floral foam base – purchased from arts/crafts store/dollar stores

Vase – purchased from arts and crafts store or dollar store

Bamboo skewers – purchased at the dollar store

Kale for decor (optional) – purchased from local supermarket

The Message

Add a unique message for your significant other attached to the wrapping of your bouquet.  It helps add meaning to your gift and make it extra memorable for that special someone.  Perhaps include a handwritten message of a favorite memory you have with them or some ideas of things you like about them and places you’d like to go with them.  The possibilities are endless, so be creative and customize this message.

The Assembly

Once you have all the ingredients gathered, start by washing and peeling each fruit as needed.  Next, slice your fruits into chunks and use cookie cutters to carve each piece into a consistent size and shape.  The shapes can then be added to skewers in any particular order.  I prefer to cluster the same type of fruit on a particular skewer.  For example, the pineapples will be on one skewer while the strawberries on another.  Once you have individual skewers prepared, the most exciting part of the project follows; assembling the skewers onto your foam base.  There’s no right or wrong way to arrange the bouquet so you can be as artistic or conservative as you would like.  I prefer to color-coordinate my arrangement so that the outer circle of the bouquet would include strawberries while each inner ring of the bouquet would involve a different color.

The Delivery

Before delivering the final product to your partner, make sure to package the bouquet with gift wrapping paper.  Meticulously wrap the plastic wrapping paper as a little extra effort could go a long way.