With all the research and looking through of magazines and the like I saw this in the pages of an old Genii Magazine and goodness knows which issue or which year.
A basket made of plastic with a metal plate at the bottom is shown innocent enough. A silk or other (not supplied) is draped over the basket and when removed the basket is seen full of flowers! A plate with partial basket is inverted and locked into the weave of the basket helping hold the spring paper flowers that are included tightly closed.
Evidently the strings of the flowers are taped to the underside of this plate. If you remember seeing this issue of Genii and thinking you need one of these here it is.