How to Make a Homecoming Mum: A Step-by-Step Guide!

September 4, 2011

Today, I am excited to show you how to make a fabulous homecoming mum! 🎉 These directions are straightforward, guiding you step by step through the process.

If you'd rather watch a video tutorial, visit the Melz Mumz YouTube channel.

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Gather Your Supplies

First things first! Let's talk about supplies. Here’s a basic list of what you’ll need to create your stunning mum! 🎀 These items are not all required, but they will definitely help. You can also add more to make it uniquely yours!

I also sell customized DIY mum kits for those who want to skip the craft store and get everything delivered right to your door. Check them out and all the other supplies we sell here: Melz Mumz Homecoming Mum Kits.

Essential Supplies

• Lots of solid ribbon in school colors – at least 10 to 15 yards of each color in every size (I use all sizes #3, #5, #9, and #16)

• Mum flowers

• Mum backs

• Printed ribbon, clear ribbons, honeycomb ribbon, various metallic ribbons

• Trinkets!!

• Braids and loops

• Extras! Such as feather boas, large letters, etc.

  
  

Starting with the Top of the Mum

I usually like to start with the top of the mum. Grab one of the backers. For this example, I will show you how to create a single mum using a 6" backer.

The Mum Top

Once you decide how to attach your ribbon backing, start stapling it to the backer. (Check out my post here for different ways to do ribbon for the backer!) For this mum, I used 6" pieces of #16 ribbon folded in half.

1. First, staple one at the top and one at the bottom directly across from each other.

2. Next, staple the sides.

3. Then, staple the ones in between, allowing them to overlap slightly for added dimension.

   
   

Now, I used some Dynasty Metallic Ribbon, also in 6" pieces. Bend the ends together to form a point and staple them around. I also took some silver glitter glue and added tiny dots around the top.

A Must-Do Step!

This part is not 100% necessary, but I do this on ALL of my mums and HIGHLY recommend it! If you've ever heard someone say their flower came apart, this is the way to keep that from happening.

1. Step 1: Take one piece of pipe cleaner and tie a knot in the end of it.

   
   

1. Step 2: Find the center of the inside of the flower and hold that spot.

   
   

1. Step 3: Turn the flower over and snip the back off.

   
   

1. Step 4: Insert the pipe cleaner into the flower from the inside and pull tight so the knot holds on the inside of the flower. Add a dab of hot glue on that knotted end of the pipe cleaner inside the flower to help it hold, and a dab of hot glue on the green nub on the back of the flower where the pipe cleaner is sticking out.

   
   

Now, attach your mum using lots and lots of hot glue! Use the pipe cleaner sticking out of the back of the flower as your guide. Push the pipe cleaner through the hole in the middle of the mum backer and pull it out the back. Glue it down to the back of the streamer backer.

Let Your Imagination Shine!

Now it’s time to decorate the top! This is where your imagination comes in! 🎨

For this one, I used a 5" jointed bear. I made the bear's necklace with some silver beads and a large rhinestone. I had some pretty burgundy silk flowers, so I popped the flower off the stem and glued it to the upper left side. The glassine flowers are clear, so I used my Copic markers (that's right – my markers!) to color the backside of them to make them appear burgundy. Then, I curled a chenille stem and glued it onto the bottom to round everything out.

The Mum Base

Now, let’s move on to the base of the mum! Use your second backer. The first thing I always do is cut my solid ribbon into 1-yard pieces. For this mum, I used 10 yards of burgundy #16 and 10 yards of white #16. I like to attach them in groups of four (four groups of 4 or 5 ribbons).

I take the first group and spread the ribbons out on top of each other with the same distance between them (about 1/4").

Now, staple this first set of ribbons to one side of the backer, angling them out just a bit.

Next, attach another set to the left side.

For this mum, I had four sets, so I attached the next two sets to the right middle and left middle. Make sure you cover the middle well; you don’t want any “holes” when you complete the mum!

Now, I added 2 yards of honeycomb ribbon and 2 yards of silver mylar #9 ribbon.

Time to Decorate!

Gather all your braids, loops, trinkets, garland, and anything else you want to add, and lay it out. This is where I decide where I want to hang everything to create a balanced look.

Start stapling and gluing! I personally staple most items and then hot glue things that won’t staple, like the garland.

Once you have this done, make sure to add a neck ribbon or hang ribbon to pin it on with. I usually attach both. Most girls like to wear them around their necks, but I like to give both options just in case they would rather pin it onto their jacket.

Final Touches

Now, COVER this backer with hot glue. And I do mean COVER! I use a high-temp glue gun for this purpose because the glue will not continuously come out and has to melt. The high temp keeps it hot for longer.

Now, attach the top. Try your best to position it directly over the backer that you just applied hot glue to and press it down. Hold it there with lots of pressure until the glue starts to dry.

Now you have a mum!! 🎉

I know it can be hard to see here, but there is a burgundy marabou boa on the right side!

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I hope you enjoyed this and that it helps explain the process a little. Please feel free to comment if you have any questions or need help!

Thanks for looking, and as always, HAPPY MUMMING!

Melissa

www.MelzMumz.com