| Decorative Centerpieces |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-105 |
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Q: I am doing a lot of entertaining at home this month and would love not to pay a florist a fortune for centerpieces. I'm not very good with flowers. Does Nancy have any ideas?
A: (Nancy Golden, Ask DIY Decorating expert) To keep costs down, design one centerpiece that can take you through the year with some updates. Here's how: Materials:
Pedestal planter
Florist's foam
Florist's picks
Decorative moss
Bunch of artificial ivy
Simple seasonal decorations such as Christmas ornaments, silk flowers or fall leaves
- Find a great-looking planter, such as a pedestal planter, and fill it with florist's foam (figure A). The foam is light and squishy, so you can push it into place with your hands, leaving an inch or so above the rim of the planter. This is a messy job, so you may want to take it outside or work on it in the garage.
- Top the planter with decorative moss, attaching it with several florist's picks, which look like sharp hairpins (figure B) .
- Add artificial ivy to the arrangement -- the type that is several "vines" bunched together (figure C). Plunge the bunch of stems into the center of the foam, and then pull and bend the vines until they fill out the sides and top of the centerpiece.
- Embellish the centerpiece with a few simple decorations as the seasons turn or for a holiday. For spring, for example, you could twist in a few fresh or artificial spring flowers. For fall, add a few fallen leaves or sprigs of dried (or artificial) berries. At Christmas, tuck in a few glittery ornaments or foam balls (figure D)-- or maybe a garland of crystals or pearls. Don't go overboard; this is a simple, sophisticated look, not too crafty.
For a dinner party, consider adding some fresh vegetables or fruit, such as grapes, apples, or an eggplant. More questions for Nancy
Q: Is there a way to preserve the fruit in the centerpiece?
A: Paint shellac on the fruit and it will last indefinitely. Count on fresh fruit lasting no more than a day. Use it for your dinner-party centerpiece, and then take it off and eat it.
Q: I want to have a dinner party but I don't have enough table space. Any suggestions?
A: Put a hollow-core door over a couple of sawhorses, cover it with a nice cloth, and you'll have a great table. Or if you have a 36-inch square card table, find one of those plywood tops that they sell that will make the tabletop 48 inches round. That should help you seat an additional six people. The plywood top also folds up so you can store it away.
Q: I don't have enough cloth napkins for my dinner party. Any suggestions?
A: Cut up old men's shirts, 14 inches square, for napkins. Or use pinking shears on some extra fabric, and tie the squares with French wire ribbon. If you're going to have a barbeque, or some other messy food, go ahead and use terry tea towels as napkins. They don't all have to match -- and you can throw them in the washer afterward. Web site resources for decorative centerpieces: Fish Centerpiece Decorative Centerpieces Paper-Embellished Centerpieces Decorative Table Touches Thanksgiving Centerpiece Holiday Ice Centerpiece Book: The Decorated Table
by the editors of Handcraft Illustrated
Readers Digest (1998)
Customer Service
P.O. Box 235
Pleasantville, NY 10570-0235
Phone: 800-310-6261
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