How to Create Simple Centerpieces
Ten Steps to Fast and Inexpensive Christmas and Holiday Decorations
Nov 19, 2008
Garden materials like holly and pinecones are easy to come by at this time of year. Find dried and silk items, and basic supplies at arts and crafts stores. Florist departments in grocery stores sell inexpensive fresh flowers and cut greens.
The most important part of creating a simple centerpiece is to visualize the size and appearance of the finished decoration. Although instructions describe a centerpiece built on a 5" x 8" rectangular tray, increase proportions for a larger centerpiece. Enlarge the foundation and increase materials or even use a round tray as a foundation to suit your individual circumstances.
Basic Materials
- Shallow, rectangular or circular tray measuring 5" x 8" or 6 to 8" in diameter;
- Floral foam cut slightly smaller than the base tray – use dry arrangement foam or that for wet arrangements depending upon desired materials. Soak foam for wet arrangements in floral preservative;
- Floral picks;
- Bow constructed of 1" patterned ribbon wired with a floral pick;
- Small seasonal decorations like sleigh bells, figures, pine cones or fruit;
- Candle(s) in candleholders(s);
- Pruning shears;
- Floral tape;
- Anti-transpirant like WILT-PRUF®;
Floral Materials – Fresh, Silk, Dried or a Combination
- One dozen 10-to 12-inch needle-leaf evergreen pieces like yew, hemlock, white pine or balsam fir; or
- One-half dozen needle-leaf evergreen pieces mixed with one-half dozen small-leafed broad-leafed evergreen pieces like myrtle;
- One-half dozen similar-sized pieces of larger broad-leafed evergreens like holly, laurel or small-leaved rhododendron;
- One-half dozen or less flowers to suit theme.
Ten-step Procedure
- Assemble all materials on a suitable or protected work surface.
- Tape foam to base or tray so it will not slide.
- Place and stabilize candle holder(s) in center of foam or equidistant from each other.
- Remove leaves from lower third of all material, including the silk stems to allow easier insertion into foam.
- Mentally find the center of the floral foam. This will be the 3-dimensional insertion point for all stems.
- Use the imaginary insertion point and begin interleaving contrasting pieces of greenery, varying needle-leaf evergreen pieces, small-leafed broad-leafed evergreens and larger broad-leafed evergreens.
- Arrangement looks a little like a porcupine at this point because greenery pieces almost cover the floral foam. There should be small spaces for flowers and miniature seasonal decorations.
- Wire stems of flowers with picks and insert evenly into about three-quarters of remaining spaces.
- Wire miniature seasonal decorations if necessary and place in remaining quarter of empty spaces.
- Finish by placing bow and inserting candle.
Spray fresh arrangements with an anti-transpirant. This will ensure a long-lived arrangement by decreasing loss of water.
Other Simple Holiday Ideas
How to Create Holiday Decorations: Three Inexpensive DIY Ideas Using Supermarkets Flowers and Ideas
How to Make a Simple Gift Bow in Ten Steps: DIY Bow Suitable for Corsages, Wreaths and Gift Boxes
How to Have a Safe Christmas Tree: Fresh-cut and Well-watered Trees Maintain Decorative Longevity
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