HOMECOMING MUM Texas Tradition - Football HOCO Garter Mum - DIY tutorial

If you live in Texas you definitely know all about mums. If you don't, be glad! :) This tutorial is for a very basic mum that was made for a 5th grader!! My son asked a friend to go but he also HAD to give her a mum. He gave me ONE DAY notice and I literately purchased the very last mum flower I found under a shelf at the craft store. Talk about fast and furious crafting. Whew!

Mum & garter mum

My son is now 8th grade and last night he started asking about creative ways to ask someone to HOCO. He is not 100% sure he will ask her but wanted to give me notice just in case. Looks like he remembered from the last time. :) I'll be buying supplies and may or may not be making one. :)

Mums grow each year and by senior year they are bigger than the girl.....so crazy!!!! I've seen some with lights and feather boas. I think our seniors do an all white theme (white & gold) and not the traditional school colors. I'll eventually find out. Geez!

Supplies

Lots and lots of ribbon

Accessories - footballs, bells, sport/activity trinkets

Mum flower

Mum cardboard base (2 pieces)

Mum flower decor (bear, large helmet, letters, etc.)

Glitter stickers - names, year, etc.

Garter - for guys

I made ribbon loops to go around the mum base.

There are so many different designs but this one is really easy.

I tested the flower in the center to make sure the staples would be covered and tested spacing for the long ribbons. Don't forget to leave space to attach ribbons.

MAKING THE BASE RIBBONS

I found the center of the each ribbon (plain - not design ribbons) and folded the sides down to make a point.

Staple near the point to keep the shape.

One single black wide ribbon for the center. Two sets of side ribbons layered based on width - large bottom (black), medium - middle (red) and small - top (black) ribbons alternating colors.

One wide black ribbon in the center and the layered ribbons on each side.

I'm testing spacing before the ribbon loops were attached.

This are some additional ribbons specific to our school. They are not really suppose to be symmetrical ((cringing because I love symmetry)) BUT I think in the end only one or two were different. Lol. I pre-planned how I would layer them.

Layer the ribbons and attach with hot glue.

Remember to position the ribbons with the names to be seen. Usually when they walk but only partially hidden when hanging.

Remember to add little accessories and bells. The noise is expected.

I first tie it and then add a little ribbon. Extra little detail.

I attach two ways for the girl to wear the mum. 1. the ribbon for around the neck to hang and 2. (not pictured) another ribbon loop to add a large safety pin to attach.

IF she wore it around her neck the "v" shape would make it hang nice and leaves a little space between the ribbons not to choke her. IF she didn't wear it around her neck the ribbons fall behind the mum and you can't see them.

The small black "v" are the ends on the neck ribbon. I secured with hot glue.

For the center of the mum I could only find a white bear. I was hoping for red since the mum flower was white. I ended up just using red accessories and stickers for the hat.

Hot glued the bear in the center of the flower.

Hot glued the flower to the base. DONE :)

GARTER MUM

For the guys it's really similar but on a smaller scale. Smaller ribbons, smaller accessories, smaller base, etc.

The only really difference is the garter. The guys wear them on their arm.

Made the ribbon loops in each color.

I attached the red first and waited to attach the second row of black.

Attached the base ribbons.

I tested placement of the black ribbon loops and decided to add the rest of the ribbons before attaching them. I wanted the ribbons placed wider than I planned. With the black loops attached I wouldn't have that much space to add ribbons.