A regular straight cut will work just as well. Add length to short-stemmed flowers by slipping drinking straws onto the stems before placing them in the vase. Straws are also useful for flowers with damaged stems. Just slip the stem in the straw and they'll be able to stand up straight. When arranging cut flowers, a colorful way to keep them in place is to use aquarium gravel in festive colors.
Hair curlers are another festive way to arrange flowers.
Place a small piece of chicken wire atop the vase to allow more precise control of how the flowers are arranged. Be sure to be aware of the environment in which the flowers will be displayed. Smoke causes flowers to die quicker, as does excess heat caused by ovens and televisions. Don't forget to add the water. Put flowers in a clear vase to make it easier to keep an eye on the water level and the quality of the water.