Here are some:

Don't think about it to much and relax and have fun with it! That is how I have made some of my most beautiful arrangements. I'd love to post pics of mine, but can't figure out how to.............:-( darn it!

Mine are all in the closet. I'm waiting to like them again. Might happen.

Seriously, while I don't much care whether anything is trendy I'm really tired of them. They are dust collectors and I have better things to display. Maybe when there is nothing blooming outdoors I will need them again.

I've often used various silks in Christmas displays, especially non-Christmas colors.

I've found doing a monochromatic arrangement is easier than doing contrasting colors but I'm not terribly good at it. I usually just dump them in a vase and tweak a bit. I'm not afraid to cut stems to make it look better. I also have some of the stuff floral designers use such as foam, tape, pics, wire but usually just "stick-em" in the vase. The vase is usually more important and the flowers sort of blend with it.

BTW about the dust - if you buy good quality silks you can wash them without problems. I just swish them carefully in a mild detergent solution, rinse and dry on a clean towel. They're just like new.

If you want to learn how to arrange silks you might look at some good floral sites. The link below has a lot of nice pics in their catalogues. Just have fun with it and you'll get it.

Here is a link that might be useful: ndi catalogues

Check out youtube for videos on floral arranging - they are out there.

Also, www.flowers-by-design.com, a silk retailer/wholesaler, has videos on their website, as well as a very interesting article about whether it is wrong to use silks.

The most important things to think about when you are using silks, imo:

Are the flowers of good quality? Cheap flowers with raveling, skimpy petals won't look nice no matter how well they are arranged

Do flowers like this occur in nature? Bright teal blue carnations won't look real no matter how nicely arranged nor how well they match your decor, because their color will give them away.

In general, you want balance in an arrangement. Large, focal flowers, medium accent flowers, small filler flowers. Also, try to incorporate several kinds of leaves and other greens - it looks more interesting.

Finally, take the time to shape each flower, fluff the petals, open and curve the leaves if wired, etc. Run the stems between your thumb and first finger to give them a gentle curve - few flowers are all perfectly vertical, and it also makes it easier to see the 'face' of the flower.

Most of all, have fun with it. Just like any skill, it takes a little practice and playing to learn how to do it.

I know, I have a lot, but we have quite a few rooms, and I enjoy faux flowers, whether they're considered in good taste or not. I try to make mine look as natural as possible and to be appropriate to the room they're in. I hope this helps you somewhat in creating your own arrangements.

Ingrid - I really like the first one you posted.

Here's mine. After looking at these I can see it needs adjusted.
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shesharee, I think yours is a very nice arrangement for fall or winter. I really like the container. I need to get something similar since everything I have seems to have light colors.

Ingrid - Yeah oops I have that's what I still have in it right now. :) I wasn't sure what do put in it so I just left it like that for the time being.

a few of mine:

If you have a vase or whatever that you know you want to use, take it to Michael's and they will help you pick out what you need (at least mine will; I asked).

Beautiful flowers everyone! Thanks for the pictures, they gave me a lot of ideas!

One good thing about posting my arrangements is that it forced me to look at them closely and notice what was wrong with some of them. When they're sitting in your home you tend not to really see them after some time.

Ingrid, they are beautiful. I especially love the first one.