About Holiday Centerpieces

Centerpieces adds beauty and charm to a table during festive occasions. The three main holidays that feature centerpieces are Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. By incorporating each look with the surrounding plates and stemware---the centerpiece will be the focal point of the table.

Supplies

For most holiday centerpieces, one should gather the basic supplies needed to put the arrangement together. When working with fresh florals or live greens, a floral water stick will allow the flower or green to receive water while on display. Green craft foam is essential in providing a base for both live and silk flowers. Scissors, floral wire and hot glue are added essentials that will make creating the project easier.

Fresh Materials

Using fresh materials will set the centerpiece apart from other objects in the room. The aroma of using fresh materials should be considered as part of the main design element. Pine cones, cranberries, winter berries, poinsettias, roses and evergreen are popular Christmas time elements. For Easter, spring flowers, such as lilies, hyacinths and tulips make wonderful centerpiece accents. Fresh grass and hard boiled eggs can also be added as accents. Thanksgiving welcomes the harvest. Pumpkins, gourds and corn can be brought in from outside to create a holiday centerpiece. Chrysanthemums are colorful fall plants that can add a splash of color to the center of a table.

Designs

For a Christmas holiday centerpiece, fresh greens provide the foundation. The greens are inserted into a floral water stick and then into a block green foam. The ends can be inserted in various lengths to create a tiered effect with the greens. Sprigs of winter berries can add a splash of color to the base as well. A bright gold or silver ribbon can trail down each side of the arrangement. A large hurricane globe can be placed in the center along with a red or green candle. The candle can be secured by a few small glass Christmas bulbs or fresh cranberries. You can accent with a color coordinated bow around the hurricane globe if desired.

A Thanksgiving centerpiece traditionally starts off with a cornucopia. The cornucopia can be overflowing with miniature fresh gourds, corn and small pumpkins. Fresh fruit such as grapes, apples and oranges can also be placed in and around this arrangement. On either side of the cornucopia, a fresh blooming chrysanthemum can be showcased in a fabric wrapped base secured with a color coordinating gingham bow.

Easter is a celebrated time around the world and the second biggest religious holiday in the United States. Floral foam can act as a base as fresh picked spring flowers, such as tulips, daffodils, Grecian wildflowers and hyacinths serve as fillers. The flowers can be inserted into a floral water stick and placed as a base for the arrangement. In the center, a dainty basket full of pastel foiled chocolates and decorated Easter eggs attract the eye to the middle.

Care

Keep stemware and dinnerware separate from the centerpiece, as this will assure the materials stay out of food. With a fresh floral arrangement, it should be kept cool and dry for longevity. Picking dead flowers or dried leaves from the arrangement will keep it fresh longer. Frequently replacing dying flowers with silk flowers will keep the centerpiece lively. Minimal movement of the arrangement will assure it will stay intact throughout the holiday season.

Time Frame

Preparing a holiday centerpiece by gathering tools and supplies takes much longer than putting the piece together. Finding the right color combinations and height of flowers can take time. If the flowers or vegetables cannot not be obtained from the backyard--a trip to the local farmers market and florist will suffice. Silk florals and plastic vegetables can be substituted if real materials cannot be utilized. The arrangement should be left on the table longer before the holiday rather than after, so preparing the arrangement a few days before entertaining is recommended. The floral water sticks will allow the fresh flowers to last five to seven days longer than if they were not being watered.

Resources

• Easter centerpiece information
• Example of a Christmas centerpiece
• Thanksgiving centerpiece details