How to Make a Fall Cornucopia Arrangement

Looking for a colorful harvest display to add warmth to your home for fall? This simple craft project is a sophisticated and classic Thanksgiving icon. What better centerpiece to celebrate the season of abundance and togetherness than a beautiful autumn cornucopia? If you are not hosting the family dinner this year, consider gifting your host with this traditional craft. It makes a stunning presentation with minimal effort and supplies.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Twig cornucopia basket
• One to four fall floral picks (mums, sunflowers, wheat grass, pumpkins, gourds, and/or cranberries, apples, oranges, bittersweet vines or acorns)
• Wire cutters
• Hot glue stick
• Hot glue gun
• 2 wooden beads
• Optional: can of gold spray glitter, floral foam or small foam ball

1. Select a collection of one to four fall floral picks. Consider a combination of fall-themed artificial stems such as those listed in the above supply list.

2. Work out the design before gluing. To do this, simply arrange the floral stems into the cornucopia basket until you find a look that works well. Generally you will want a bit of height in the basket opening and some longer stems such as grasses or wheat to fill in the edges and bottom.

3. If needed, trim any of the floral stems that are too long using wire cutters. Be careful to trim only a small amount at a time and check the length by placing the stem back into the basket until you get the desired length. Trimming the lengths of several floral stems will vary the layout of your overall project.

4. Once your flowers are arranged in a pleasing pattern, secure the edges by applying a pea-sized dab of hot glue to the back of a leaf or petal and hold in place against the basket for about 10 seconds. Use this method to also fill in any openings by hot gluing leaves or petals to one another. Be especially sure to conceal the basket opening, so that your cornucopia looks full and overflowing onto the tabletop where it is placed.

5. If your cornucopia basket does not have feet, hot glue two small wooden beads (available in craft stores) to the underside of the base. This will allow the basket to sit level with greater stability.

6. If desired, lightly spray glitter over the outermost petals and leaves to add a finishing sparkle and pizazz to your project. Hold the spray can 12 to 14 inches from the project and make long, sweeping strokes two or three times.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have difficulty keeping the floral stems in place before you apply the hot glue, add a small piece of floral foam (cut to fit inside the curve of the cornucopia) or simply use a round foam ball (available in craft stores). Stick the ends of the picks into the foam to hold them in place more easily.

• Always use spray can (as with the glitter) in a well-ventilated area and place newspaper under the project to protect surfaces.