How to Make a Shotgun Shell Boutonniere

Step 1: Wash and dry the hull

Scrub inside and out with warm, soapy water to remove residue. Rinse, then dry completely. Then wipe the outside of the hull with isopropyl alcohol for maximum glue adhesion.

Step 2: Test your glue on the spare hull

Shotgun hulls are LDPE (low-density polyethylene), a low-surface-energy plastic that adhesives struggle to wet. Glue a bead onto the spare hull and try to peel it off. If it lifts, scuff the spot with fine sandpaper and wipe it clean.

Standard EVA hot melts do poorly on polyethylene. Polyolefin-based hot melts bond better. For a permanent bond, use a structural acrylic made for low-surface-energy plastics, or cyanoacrylate with a polyolefin primer. Read the label and safety data sheet first.

Step 3: Build the feather bundle

Layer the feathers and glue them together into one bundle. Then glue the bundle down into the hull so it sits firmly inside. Set the baby's breath at the front, with the stems trimmed short. The opening of the hull is about the size of a US nickel, so how many feathers and how much baby's breath fit is up to you.

Another option: floral foam. Cut a piece to fit the opening of the hull, press it in, and insert the stems into the foam.

Wet floral foam is for fresh flowers. It is open-celled phenolic (phenol-formaldehyde) foam that absorbs water through capillary action. Soak it in water before inserting fresh-cut stems.

Dry floral foam is for artificial, silk, or dried flowers. It does not absorb water, and it is denser and firmer than wet foam, so it supports heavier faux stems and wire. It is typically made of polyurethane or extruded polystyrene.

Test the foam with your glue on a scrap piece first, just as you test the hull.

Step 4: Keep the weight low

A heavy boutonniere sags and tilts. Keep the arrangement light, and wear it on a jacket lapel instead of a thin shirt, which sags under weight.

Step 5: Wrap the middle third in tulle

Hot glue the tulle around the middle third of the hull body. Press the end flat so it stays put.

Step 6: Glue the pin high on the back

Glue the safety pin to the back of the hull, high up near the mouth, so the weight of the florals stays balanced instead of tipping forward.

Step 7: Cool it, then pull-test

Let the glue cool and set completely. Then tug the pin, feathers, and flowers firmly. Anything that moves gets scuffed, re-glued, and tested again.

Step 8: Wear it on the left lapel

The traditional spot is the left lapel. On a notched or peaked lapel, center it directly under the notch. Keep the pin point tucked behind the lapel so nobody gets pricked.