The Language of Flowers -- Let Your Bouquet Express Your Emotions

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I though it would be a great time to explore the traditional symbolic language of flowers, so you can create a bouquet for your loved ones that truly expresses how you feel. These came from an old magazine, circa early 1900s, found at my grandmothers house when I was a kid. It seems the language of giving flowers was quite complex back then.

Flower and Its Emotion

Abatina -- Fickleness

Acacia -- Friendship

Acacia, Yellow -- Secret Love

Alyssum, Sweet -- Worth Beyond Beauty

Amaranth, Globe -- Unfading Love

Ambrosia --Love Returned

American Linden -- Matromony

Amethys -- Admiration

Azalea -- Temperance

Bachelor's Buttons-- Celibacy

Bluebell -- Constancy

Bridal Rose -- Happy Love

Carnation, Deep Red -- Alas, My Poor Heart

Carnation, Striped -- Refusal

Carnation, Yellow -- Disdain

Chrysanthemum, Red-- I love You

Chrysanthemum, White -- Truth

Chrysanthemum, Yellow -- Slighted Love

Clover, Four-Leaved -- Be Mine

Coreopsis Arkansa -- Love at First Sight

Cranberry -- Cure for Heartache

Daffodil -- Regard

Dahlia -- Instability

Daisy -- Innocence

Daisy, Garden -- I Share Your Sentiments

Daisy, Michaelmas -- Farewell

Dittany Of Crete -- Passion

Fern -- Facination

Fleur-de-Lis -- Flame -- I Burn for You

Forget-Me-Not -- True Love

Honey Flower -- Love, Sweet and Secret

Honeysuckle -- Generous and Devoted Affection

Iris -- Message

Ivy -- Fidelity, Marriage

Jasmine, Spanish -- Sensuality

Jasmine, Yellow -- Grace and Elegance

Jonquil -- Desire and Affection

Laurel -- Glory

Lavender --Distrust

Lemon Blossoms -- Fidelity in Love

Lilac, Field -- Humility

Lilac, Purple -- First Emotions of Love

Lilac, White -- Youthful Innocence

Lily, Day -- Coquetry

Lily, White -- Purity, Sweetness

Lily, Yellow -- Falsehood, Gaeity

Lily Of The Valley -- Return of Happiness

Lotus Flower -- Estranged Love

Magnolia -- Love of Nature

Mallow, Syrian -- Consumed by Love

Marigold -- Grief

Marigold, African -- Vulgar Minds

Marigold, French -- Jealousy

Mint -- Virtue

Morning Glory -- Affectation

Motherwort -- Concealed Love

Mugwort -- Happiness

Myrtle -- Love

Narcissus -- Egotism

Nasturtium -- Patriotism

Orange Blossoms -- Purity and Lovliness

Orange Flowers -- Chastity, Bridal

Orange Tree -- Generosity

Osmunda -- Dreams

Pansy -- Thoughts

Peony -- Shame, Bashfulness

Peppermint -- Warmth

Periwinkle, Blue -- Early Friendship

Periwinkle, White -- Pleasures of Memory

Pheasant's Eye -- Remembrance

Pink, Carnation -- Woman's Love

Pink, Single -- Pure Love

Poppy, Red -- Consolation

Primrose -- Early Youth

Purple Clover -- Provident

Quince -- Temptation

Raspberry -- Remorse

Red Catchfly -- Youthful Love

Rose -- Love

Rose, Bridal -- Happy Love

Rose, China -- Beauty Always New

Rose, Deep Red -- Bashful Shame

Rose, Dog -- Pleasure and Pain

Rose, Single -- Simplicity

Rose, White -- I Am Worthy of You

Rose, Yellow -- Decrease of Love, Jealousy

Rose, White & Red Together -- Unity

Rosebud, Red -- Purity

Rosebud, White -- Girlhood

Rosebud, Moss -- Confession of Love

Rosemary -- Remembrance

Scabious -- Unfortunate Love

Snapdragon -- Presumption

Snowdrop -- Hope

Sorrel -- Affection

Spanish Jasmine -- Sunsuality

Strawberry Tree -- Esteem and Love

Sunflower, Dwarf -- Adoration

Sunflower, Tall -- Haughtiness

Sweet Basil -- Good Wishes

Sweetbrier, Yellow -- Decrease of Love

Tulip -- Fame

Tulip, Red -- Declaration of Love

Tulip, Variegated -- Beautiful Eyes

Tulip, Yellow -- Hopeless Love

Violet, Blue -- Faithfulness

Violet, Sweet -- Modesty

Violet, Yellow -- Rural Happiness

Water Lily -- Purity of Hear

Zinnia -- Thoughts of Absent Friends

Punch Art Heart Tag

I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday season. I can't believe how quickly it all came and went. now it's time to look forward. Today's project will give you a head start on Valentine's Day.

If you have a shape templates, or a tool like the Fiskars Shape Cutter, it's easy to cut shapes in bright colors and layer them to make interesting gift tags like this one, which would be perfect for Valentine's Day, or any romantic or loving occasion. For added interest we used a corner punch with a removable guard for the lacy punched edge.

You Will Need:

• paper scraps in 4 colors (we used neon green, dark green, red and pink)
• shape cutter tool and/or templates (I used Fiskars Shape Cutter with the square and heart templates)
• adhesives (I used a Xyron adhesive machine, you could also use spray adhesives or glue sticks or adhesive runners)
• decorative photo corner punch with removable guard (mine is by EK Success)
• round hole paper punch
• narrow strip of red paper

Step 1. I used the Fiskars Shape Cutter with the square and heart templates to cut the shape for this tag. You can make your tag any size you like. The tag in the photo measures 3 1/2 inches square. The inner dark green square measures 2 1/2 inches. I then cut two small hearts to layer inside the smaller square.

Step 2. Use the punch to punch the corners of the outer square. Remove the corner guard from the punch and punch once in the center of side of the square.

Step 3. Weave the small dark green square into the punches to old it in place.

Step 4. Spray the back of the hearts with spray adhesive or you can alternatively run the pieces through an adhesive machine like those made by Xyron.

Step 5. Glue the larger heart on the center of the inner square and glue the smaller heart on top of the larger heart.

Step 6. Use a round hole punch to punch a hole in the center top edge of the tag. Thread a narrow red paper strip through the hole in order to attach it to the gift.