The choice accessory of weddings and school dances, a corsage is an elegant way of incorporating nature's beauty into your special day. Traditionally worn at the wrist or on the lapel, attaching your corsage to your clutch or purse will safeguard the fabric of your dress from tears, and your corsage from demolition on the dance floor. Change out a traditional flower corsage for one inspired by Martha Stewart, who incorporates ribbon flower blossoms. With flexible wire bases, these ribbon corsages can be pinned to the clutch's surface, wrapped through chain-link straps, or around clasps and handles.

  • The choice accessory of weddings and school dances, a corsage is an elegant way of incorporating nature's beauty into your special day.
  • With flexible wire bases, these ribbon corsages can be pinned to the clutch's surface, wrapped through chain-link straps, or around clasps and handles.

Gather a strand of ribbon -- 2.5 cm (1 inch) or wider by running a quick sewing stitch through one edge of ribbon. Pull the end of the thread through to gather, which will bunch the ribbon into your "petals." Stitch or glue the opposite ends of the ribbon together.

Run a coordinating button through a strand of wire -- Martha Stewart recommends 15 cm (6 inches), but yours may be longer if you plan on wrapping the stem around your clutch to attach it to your purse. Bend the wire in half, with the button positioned in the middle of the bent wire.

Slip the wire through the centre of your ribbon blossom. The button will remain in the centre of the flower. Twist the ends of the wire together to make the stem, then wrap in a piece of small, thin ribbon. Tie a bow to secure the thin ribbon in place.

  • Run a coordinating button through a strand of wire -- Martha Stewart recommends 15 cm (6 inches), but yours may be longer if you plan on wrapping the stem around your clutch to attach it to your purse.
  • Slip the wire through the centre of your ribbon blossom.

Dab two small dots of hot glue on the back of the flower's stem. Attach a safety pin and let the glue set. Pin the ribbon corsage to your purse, or skip the safety pin and wrap your wire stem around the clutch's clasp or strap.

TIP

Adapt a boutiniere corsage for a clutch or purse by simply changing the placement of the bloom. For fabric-covered clutches, simply pin the corsage to the purse's flap with the same straight pin one would use to attach the same flower to a suit lapel. If the clutch is hard-backed, or if you worry that the pin may damage the fabric, consider attaching the corsage to the clasp with a few twists of florist's wire. Use a strip of wide cotton eyelet for an especially elaborate corsage. Run the sewing stitch through the non-scalloped edge of eyelet, then continue as described above.