By Mitch Rice
Homecoming mums are a great part of homecoming if you’re from Texas, some parts of Oklahoma, or even a few other surrounding states. These big and powerful flowers are made to draw attention to you, and when they’re done right, show just how much school spirit you have to offer. While you can buy homecoming mums from the store, where’s the fun in that?
If you’re curious about going the DIY route or need some helpful ideas, this company is here to help. Read on to learn how to make homecoming mums.
What Is a Homecoming Mum?
A homecoming mum is a chrysanthemum that’s surrounded by ribbons, fabrics, bells, and other materials. They’re meant to be worn during homecoming events like Spirit Week, the pep rally, and sometimes at the sporting event. In fact, sometimes schools in Texas and Oklahoma will want girls to wear homecoming mums over their homecoming dresses (like these) at the dance.
While mums for homecoming are often fancy and fun, students should be creative with them. Sure, you can find some at local stores, but why not make one yourself?
Supplies You Need to Make a Homecoming Mum
Before we dive into how you can make a homecoming mum, we first have to cover the supplies you’ll need to use. These supplies vary based on the specific mum you plan on making, so use them as a loose guide.
Your average homecoming mum kit should include things like:
- A chrysanthemum flower
- Ribbons
- Bells
- Pipe cleaners to attach things to the flower
- A class star
- Glitter and sparkles
- Streamers
- Stickers
- A centerpiece like a bear
- Trinkets and charms
- Neck straps
- Glue
- Hot glue gun, stapler, and other adhesives
Depending on the type of homecoming mum you want to make, the supplies you’ll need will vary.
How Much Does it Cost to Make a Homecoming Mum?
A homecoming mum can cost as little as $50 to make. However, more expensive mums will cost upwards of $500 if you want to have it done professionally. Plus, some of the materials may be expensive, and if you want to add a lot of layers to your mum, that will drive the cost up.
How to Make a Homecoming Mum
Making a homecoming mum on your own isn’t that challenging, but you will have to spend a good chunk of time on it, especially if you want it to come out well. Fortunately, we can walk you through the entire process from start to finish. The steps below serve as a rough outline for how to make a homecoming mum.
1. Make the Backer Board
First and foremost, you need to make the backer board, which is what holds the mum in place. We recommend cutting out the backer board using materials like cardboard or foam and make sure the diameter of the circle you cut is around 6-8 inches.
2. Attach the Chrysanthemum
Next, it’s time to attach the flower. You’ll want to add the chrysanthemum to the backer board with hot glue, staples, and pipe cleaners. It’s also possible to use multiple backer boards for a more secure fit, so you have plenty of options there.
3. Attach the Ribbons
Once you have the flower attached, you can start to add the ribbons. You’ll want to make sure the ribbons are around two to three feet in length, and we recommend having them match school colors. It’s also a good idea to make your cuts fancy with things like v-cuts.
4. Add Letters and the Name of Your School
Since a homecoming mum is for, well, homecoming, it’s a good idea to add letters and the name of your school. We recommend adding things like your date’s name, your name, and even the name of your school as well. For the letters, you can use stickers or other materials.
5. Decorate Your Homecoming Mum
The last step is to decorate your homecoming mum with trinkets. Many people choose bells, but feathers, glitter, sparkles, and other accessories can be added to the mum. You can also customize the color to reflect your school’s color and identity.
Make the Perfect Homecoming Mum Today!
Homecoming is a big event that tends to last about a week, so your homecoming mum should be something you’re proud of. We recommend spending some time on this one and using a combination of real flowers, ribbons, and other decorations to make your homecoming mum stand out from the rest.
If you ever need any help, you can always come back to the steps we covered in this article. They serve as a rough guideline for what your mum should look like.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.