7 Ways to Create a Gorgeous Bouquet with $10 or Less

Make one big bunch yield several arrangements by dividing it into smaller bud vases. Then group the vases into clusters of three on a windowsill or down the center of your table to avoid a polka-dot effect, says Waga Perez. Single sprigs in a simple glass container can also make as big of a splash as a large, riotous bouquet. And some flowers—like hydrangeas, which require a lot of water—do better alone. Cut the stem of a hydrangea about half an inch from the blossom and stick it in a small punch bowl or float a few in a shallow tray. For an earthy effect (seen at left), wash dirt off of freshly sprouted spring bulbs like daffodils or tulips (being careful not to remove the thin white roots), drop them into a clean spaghetti jar with a few stones at the bottom and watch them bloom, says Mead.