Posted on Jun 30, 2010 under wreaths |
Dressing up your table for your mealtime holiday guests is tricky. Centerpieces are challenging because they are viewed from all angles, so you have to choose an item that is beautiful from all 360 degrees. When you have a stunning centerpiece, your dining experience is festive and full of Christmas spirit. Is your centerpiece lackluster and losing life? Try something different to surprise your guests this year. These creative ideas can transform your table and create a joyful setting for your feast.
Glass canisters and containers
We grow tired of centerpieces quickly. They are not like Christmas tree ornaments we treasure year after year. After a year or two, we retire them and find replacements. The reusability of this idea makes it sensible as well as stylish. You can easily change out your centerpiece each year by filling clear canisters and containers. When you pitch one “filler”, just swap it out for another. There are so many inexpensive items that pop when grouped together in your clear container, so you can feel less guilty about changing it out each year. Any small, festive items grouped together look great displayed inside your glass containers. Here are just some ideas:
Christmas ornaments
Peppermints/candy
Garland
Artificial poinsettia blossoms
Jingle bells
Gift bows
Glitter
Fake snow
Let your imagination guide you and fill your glass containers with the item of your choice. Use one container, or cluster multiple for a larger table. When you have multiple containers, try to find some that vary in height and width to add visual interest. With so many possibilities, you can have a centerpiece that is distinctly you.
Candles
Candles are standard centerpieces, but with a little creativity you can make a candle centerpiece that’s original. Weave garland amongst your candlesticks to dress them up for the holidays. Or, try putting candle rings or wrap short pieces of garland around the base of candlesticks. To create a theme, use the same material as napkin rings. Your table setting will be cohesive and have a custom feel.
If you have larger candles, cluster them together and nestle them inside a wreath, almost as if you are “framing” the candles with the wreath. Add as much or as little décor on your tabletop wreath as you wish. It’s an unexpected use of two very traditional Christmas decorations.
Tabletop tree
Small, tabletop trees are very customizable centerpieces. You can trim your small tree to match your dinnerware. If your dinnerware has a design on it, try to mimic that design on your tree by making your own ornaments. Or, use a food or wine themed tree to appease your guests’ appetite (and distract from the real food if your culinary skills are sub par). Here’s another fun idea: write the names of your guests on inexpensive glass ornaments with a metallic permanent marker. Your guests will feel honored with a tree made just for them. You can use one tree to showcase its brilliance, or make your own mini forest with several very small trees. A strand of lights adds extra sparkle to one or multiple trees, but be sure you get battery-operated lights. A cord dangling from the table is not only unattractive, but can trip you or your guests.
Gifts, already?
Treat your guests extra special with a small, wrapped present adorning each of their plates. Then, place larger, fake gifts in the middle of the table as your centerpiece. Mix up the sizes and shapes of the boxes and use various coordinating patterns of wrapping paper. To really make it look like Santa was in, buy or make a velvet sack, just like Santa’s. Fill it with toys and gifts that spill onto the table. (The only problem is keeping your guests out of Santa’s sack.)
The key with successful centerpieces is creativity. Don’t look for items that are meant to be centerpieces. Those are the kinds of things you will get tired of quickly, because they are so boringly expected. Instead, brainstorm new ways to use items as centerpieces. The more creative your design, the more spectacular your table will be.
Technorati Tags: centerpieces, holiday
Posted on Jun 12, 2010 under wreaths |
Clear beer bottles thoroughly and remove the labels. Spray paint the bottles with the glitter spray silver, gold, or in your wedding colors. Tie an identical or contrasting ribbon across the neck of the bottle with ribbon streamers hanging down. Set both a candle in the high or fill with water and insert flowers. Make an association of 3 or five bottles per table.Use sherbet dessert dishes or champagne cups for this showpiece plan. Using three dishes per table, gather them in a cluster in the center of the table. Tie ribbons/bows on the stems. Setmints in one dish, small chocolates in another and arduous candies in the third. Scatter flower petals, confetti or tinselaround the bases of the dishes.Visit garage sales or a “dollar” store. Purchase a number of decorative teacups and saucers. Sizzling glue the cup to the saucer. Place a small bit of florist foam contained in the cup, add water with put in fresh reduce flowers into the foam or skip the water and use silk flowers.Purchase some colored glass beads available in most craft stores in addition to situate a small layer within the bottom of a giant, yet shallow glass bowl. fill up the bowl with water you may colour the water with meals coloring if you want in addition to float a candle and some flower petals on top.For a garden wedding, purchase pre-made, small fowl houses. Paint in addition to adorn the houses. If it would not already have a perch, drill a small hold in the front of the bird house with glue in a small dowel piece. Connect a small hen to the perch available at most craft stores. Situate the birdhouse on a mattress of twigs and colourful leaves.Go to your native nursery in addition to purchase some small potted plants. Reduce a big circle from material in your essential wedding shade – sufficient so it covers the underside of the pot in addition to up the sides of the pot, so you’ll be able to gather it collectively by the rim. Secure the material with an elastic band. Tie a large ribbon and bow around the top of the pot to cowl the elastic using a complementary color. These build very nice with simple wedding centerpieces, which you’ll be able to hand out to your bridal occasion attendants or to members of the family on the finish of the evening.Utilizing pillar candles is common choice for simple wedding centerpieces as a result of they’re so convenient. Get a plate or base slightly bigger than the pillar candles you choose to use. Place a grapevine wreath on prime of the plate be certain that the opening within the wreath is not less than a half of” bigger than the candle base. You’ll be able to beautify the wreath with some skinny ribbons, string craft beads in addition to small dried flowers. Place the candle within the center. If you want to take action, you may also top it off with a glass hurricane lamp cover. Buy little straw craft hats. Embellish them with ribbon attached around brim in addition to a cluster of dried flowers on single side of the hat. Finish off with a bow. Place these within the center of the desk and scatter some flower petals around. Another thought is to turn the hat over in addition to fill it with a dried flower arrangement.Embellish some wattled baskets in your wedding colours using ribbons and fabrics. Place fruit or rolls within the basket. A nice simple wedding centerpieces concept with a practical use.
Technorati Tags: centerpieces, Create, fast, Recommendations, simple, Them, wedding
Posted on May 30, 2010 under wreaths |
With the holidays just around the corner, everyone wants to bring a little something special to the table-especially when it comes to Thanksgiving centerpieces. Adding something a bit daring to the décor will put even the most reluctant party-goer in a good mood. Capturing their attention as they enter the room, these unique centerpieces don’t forget that you’re on a budget. Most of them just add a little ingenuity to some things you probably already have to create a stunning display.Suspended Wreath
Chances are you probably already have one too many wreaths around your house and are wondering whether you need to toss them in favor of something different for this year’s gathering. Don’t toss them–hang ‘em from the ceiling! Suspended by glorious ribbons, a Thanksgiving wreath in fall colors has a whole new flair. Hovering about 6″ above the table, guests won’t believe their eyes, and all you did was attach 5-7 ribbons equally spaced around the outside edge of the wreath and extend them to a center point in the ceiling or the base of a chandelier for an unforgettable effect.Pumpkin Mum
Mums the word when it comes to how easy it is to make this eye-catching design. Created with a sphere made of floral foam and a few dozen orange mums, you can create a pumpkin patch right in the center of your table. Simply wet the sphere to provide moisture to the blooms and cut the stems to about 3″. Insert them into the foam until the entire sphere is covered using varying heights to resemble the shape of a pumpkin. Add a green vine to the top for a fresh-picked appearance, and you’ve got a creative floral centerpiece.Pedestal Power
You’ll be amazed at what a simple pedestal can do. Whether it’s a cake stand, vase or risers, elevating your table centerpieces give them an elegance they simply can’t get sitting on the table. If possible, use the high-low method when decorating with the focal arrangement at the highest point surrounded by smaller items on the table.Gobble, Gobble!
Just so you don’t think that you can only have a dramatic centerpiece for adults, here’s a great Thanksgiving centerpiece for the children’s table-a turkey with edible feathers! If you’re feeling crafty, you can put this together in no time. All you’ll need is:
Styrofoam: 1 six-inch ball (body); 1 small egg shape (head); 2-inch piece of tube (neck)
Medium-size foam paint-brush
1 tube of Delta Ceramcoat Acrylic Paint – Dark Brown
Freehand drawn eyes, beak and wattle
Elmer’s glue
15-20 candy sticks
1 package refrigerated dough
Wooden toothpicks
Carefully cut off the bottom portion of the large ball so it sits flat. Paint each turkey part and allow to dry. Attach the head to the neck with toothpicks, and then the neck to body. Set aside, and prepare feather cookies by rolling out dough and using a small paring knife to create feather or spear shapes. Press candy stick into the cookie and bake according to package instructions. After cooling, coat the front side of cookie with colored royal icing, and drag a toothpick of darker color through the icing to create the feather motif.
To make royal icing, you’ll need:
3 tablespoons meringue powder
4 cups confectioners sugar
6 tablespoons warm water
With a mixer, beat all ingredients at low speed until icing forms peaks, 7- 10 minutes. Divide into small sections and add different food coloring to each one.
While cookies are drying, glue the eyes, beak and wattle to the head of the turkey. Finish the design by inserting cookie feathers into the Styrofoam throughout the backside of the bird. Use a plain candy stick to make an initial hole into the Styrofoam. When your guests see it, children (and adults) can’t wait to gobble them up!
No matter whether you’re planning an intimate gathering of close family and friends or hosting what seems like a reunion of all your extended relatives, choosing the right centerpiece and coordinating décor can make everyone feel at home.
Technorati Tags: budget, centerpieces, Dramatic, thanksgiving
Posted on Sep 15, 2009 under dried flowers |
Wedding bouquets can be dried and preserved by simply hanging them upside down in a cool, dark place. Discover other ways to preserve a bridal bouquet with advice from the owner of a trendy boutique florist in this free video on wedding flowers.
Expert: Melissa Seykora
Bio: Melissa Seykora is the owner of A Village of Flowers in trendy Hillsboro Village in Nashville, Tennessee.
Filmmaker: Dimitri LaBarge
Duration : 0:1:29
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Technorati Tags: arrangements, bouquets, boutonnieres, bridal, centerpieces, decorations, floral, florists, flower, flowers, lilies, ribbon, roses, vases, wedding, weddings
Posted on Sep 13, 2009 under dried flowers |
Large hydrangeas are perfect to use as bridal bouquets, and the stems simply need to be bound together with wire, dried off completely and wrapped in satin ribbon to match the wedding colors. Create a simple and fresh bridal bouquet with helpful tips from an experienced professional florist in this free video on wedding flowers.
Expert: Crystal Nassar
Contact: www.tuscanflorist.com
Bio: Crystal Nassar is a floral designer and part of a family-owned business, Tuscan Florist, with more than 30 years experience in the floral industry.
Filmmaker: Gina Miller-Britton
Duration : 0:3:39
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Technorati Tags: arrangements, bouquets, bridal, centerpieces, floral, florist, flower, flowers, fresh, hydrangeas, roses, silk, wedding
Posted on Aug 04, 2009 under silk flowers |
The basis of any artificial flower arrangement is greenery, and it should be placed in such a way that it hides the bottom of the container. Arrange artificial flowers by starting with the biggest flowers first with help from a florist in this free video on flower arrangements.
Expert: Karen Rodowicz
Contact: www.JKFlowersInc.com
Bio: Karen Rodowicz owns JK Flowers in Bellaire Bluffs, Fla.
Filmmaker: Christopher Rokosz
Duration : 0:1:30
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Technorati Tags: "artificial, arrangements, bouquets, care, centerpieces, floral, flower, flowers, guide, wedding
Posted on Jul 24, 2009 under silk flowers |
Conceal the wire and base of your silk flowers. Learn how to create a floral centerpiece in this free silk flower arranging video from a professional floral designer.
Expert: Jim Tomasits
Bio: Jim Tomasits has been a floral designer for more than twenty years. He has distributed arrangements on both the national and international level, and he is considered an international florist.
Filmmaker: Reel Media LLC
Duration : 0:1:4
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Technorati Tags: arrangements, centerpieces, floral, flowers, silk
Posted on May 26, 2009 under silk flowers |
Centerpieces will add the final touch to any decor. In this 3-part series, Dana Plazyk of http://www.flowers-by-design.com shows you step-by-step instructions on how to make a centerpiece for a table using silk flowers. In part two, Dana shows you how to place flowers relative to their size and color and why you should start with a fabric swatch. For a list of materials used please visit http://www.flowers-by-design.com/MaterialsListTraditionalCenterpiece.html – Part 1: http://budurl.com/kssy – Part 3: http://budurl.com/mjqj
Duration : 0:9:56
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Technorati Tags: artificial flowers, centerpiece for table, centerpieces, centerpieces ideas, Dana Plazyk, dining room centerpiece, dining table centerpiece, easy to make, flowers-by-design, how to instructions, silk flower designs, silk flowers, step-by-step, table centerpiece
Posted on May 23, 2009 under silk flowers |
Centerpieces will add the final touch to any decor. In this 3-part series, Dana Plazyk of http://www.flowers-by-design.com shows you step-by-step instructions on how to make a centerpiece for a table using artificial flowers. part 3, Dana puts the final touches in this lovely centerpiece arrangement. Watch all three parts to learn how to make a magnificent table centerpiece. A list of materials used is available at http://www.flowers-by-design.com/MaterialsListTraditionalCenterpiece.html – Part 1: http://budurl.com/kssy – Part 2: http://budurl.com/u4xt
Duration : 0:6:7
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Technorati Tags: artificial flowers, centerpiece for table, centerpieces, centerpieces ideas, Dana Plazyk, design with silk flowers, dining room centerpiece, dining table centerpiece, easy to make, floral design, flowers-by-design, how to instructions, silk flowers, step-by-step, table centerpiece
Posted on May 21, 2009 under silk flowers |
Centerpieces will add the final touch to any decor. In this 3-part series, Dana Plazyk of http://www.flowers-by-design.com shows you step-by-step instructions on how to make a centerpiece for a table using artificial flowers. In part one, learn how to pick flower sizes and colors and what other factors to consider in order to make that perfect dining table centerpiece. Materials used can be seen at http://www.flowers-by-design.com/MaterialsListTraditionalCenterpiece.html
Duration : 0:9:7
Read the rest of this entry »
Technorati Tags: artificial flowers, centerpiece for table, centerpieces, centerpieces ideas, Dana Plazyk, dining room centerpiece, dining table centerpiece, easy to make, flowers-by-design, how to instructions, silk flowers, step-by-step, table centerpiece
