let’s paint the town

I LOVE the simplicity of these paint cans. You can buy them in any
hardware or paint store—I got mine at Home Depot. Even though
they are paint cans, they are silver and shiny, which makes them
look modern. If you are lucky enough to have a collection of cans
with beautiful colors dripping down the side, you have ideal vases!
Given the simple form of paint cans, you can use pretty much any
flowers in these containers. I used peonies and roses here.
I love how the colors bounce from soft pink to medium to dark.
To create that effect, mix flowers of three different shades. To get
that POP, add four white peonies randomly on one side of the
largest arrangement. This “imperfection” gives it some character.
You can add the three flowers randomly to any one of the arrange-
ments and the effect will be the same.
You don’t have to keep all three cans together; you can spread
them throughout the house. The big can would make a great
center­piece for a dinner party.

3 paint cans in a variety Large Can: Make your bouquet, and then add
of sizes four white peonies to the right-hand side of the
bouquet.
Large Can
12 soft pink peonies Medium Can: Make your bouquet with the hot
4 white peonies pink English roses.
Medium Can Small Can : Cut the three dark red peonies, and
2 dozen hot pink English pop them into the can—they require very little
garden roses arranging. Keep two of the stems a similar
height, about an inch taller than the can, and
Small Can
make the third one 2 inches taller than the can.
3 dark red peonies
For fun, leave a couple of the can lids on the
table.

more is more 93

Mota_9780307587985_3p_02_r1.indd 92-93 1/19/10 12:32 PM

 let’s paint the town
I LOVE the simplicity of these paint cans. You can buy them in any
hardware or paint store—I got mine at Home Depot. Even though
they are paint cans, they are silver and shiny, which makes them
look modern. If you are lucky enough to have a collection of cans
with beautiful colors dripping down the side, you have ideal vases!
Given the simple form of paint cans, you can use pretty much any
flowers in these containers. I used peonies and roses here.
I love how the colors bounce from soft pink to medium to dark.
To create that effect, mix flowers of three different shades. To get
that POP, add four white peonies randomly on one side of the
largest arrangement. This “imperfection” gives it some character.
You can add the three flowers randomly to any one of the arrange-
ments and the effect will be the same.
You don’t have to keep all three cans together; you can spread
them throughout the house. The big can would make a great
center­piece for a dinner party.

3 paint cans in a variety Large Can: Make your bouquet, and then add
of sizes four white peonies to the right-hand side of the
bouquet.
Large Can
12 soft pink peonies Medium Can: Make your bouquet with the hot
4 white peonies pink English roses.
Medium Can Small Can : Cut the three dark red peonies, and
2 dozen hot pink English pop them into the can—they require very little
garden roses arranging. Keep two of the stems a similar
height, about an inch taller than the can, and
Small Can
make the third one 2 inches taller than the can.
3 dark red peonies
For fun, leave a couple of the can lids on the
table.

more is more 93

Mota_9780307587985_3p_02_r1.indd 92-93 1/19/10 12:32 PM

 To purchase a copy of
Flowers Chic and Cheap
visit one of these online retailers: