How to make a pen bouquet

The other day I went to take my Texas music content test and I got done way early. The girls were home with a babysitter and I thought... I just need a few minutes to wander a store by myself. I passed a dollar store type place and went in. I am always on the lookout for things I can use to organize or decorate my home or my classroom. At the store, I found some great deals that inspired me to make a pen bouquet.
I've always liked the idea of a pen bouquet, but found a lot of them to be different than my style. I like the more natural, clean, white flower look. I found a flower pot that has the look of terra cotta, but is plastic (ALWAYS good in the classroom!), and some flowers that were not hideous. (NOTE: these would look great with even more realistic flowers, but I just don't have that kind of spending money right now.) I grabbed some blue and clear floral rocks. I already have some floral tape and abandoned pens at home.

Here is the finished product:

I'll show you how easy this was. First, I found all of my materials, including scissors and wire cutters, and some "helpers".

Next I chose a pen and started winding floral tape around the bottom. I cut a flower to be about the same length as the pen and added it as I winded up the pen.

As the floral tape winds up the pen and flower, I cover those spots where the leaves sprout. I keep winding until I get up to the actual leaf. At that point, I push the leaf aside and keep winding up around the flower stem and pen.

At the top, I cut the floral tape and press it on until it sticks. Here are what the two types of flowers look like attached to pens.

Here are some more pics of the finished product:

Tell me what you think! Share ones you've made!