Bring a rustic accent to your home with a faux cotton branch centerpiece. Whether bundled by themselves in a tall vase, arranged with bouquets of fresh-cut wildflowers, or woven into golden stacks of wheat for autumn, they add a natural and earthy element to your floral displays.
![Faux cotton branch centerpiece](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/6a3ec5b0-001f-41d5-a6bb-75a335ae4a38.jpg)
Things You'll Need
Empty egg carton
Scissors
Brown paint (acrylic, craft or watercolor)
Paintbrush
Cotton balls
Hot glue gun
Long, thin branches or sticks
![Materials](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/cb038508-d2cd-4990-8606-6aa7976836ef.jpg)
Step 1
Separate the individual egg cups from the carton by cutting them with scissors.
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![Separate cells](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/54077fbb-4b4c-4846-866e-30ab2e4ec413.jpg)
Step 2
Cut four petal-like shapes around the cup. This will form the pod of the cotton boll.
![Cut carton into four petas](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/16a36f26-11b9-4e3b-be5e-407a92437789.jpg)
Tip
You can also do this step after painting the carton as the paint makes the fibers softer and easier to cut.
Step 3
Use brown paint to paint the entire boll, inside and out. Here watercolor paint was used, but you can use acrylic or craft paint.
![Paint with brown paint](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/aa399204-6754-43fc-9418-c2554c7c5cf7.jpg)
Tip
Try mixing various shades of brown to give the cup more depth and dimension.
Step 4
Bend each "petal" of the boll towards the middle and set aside to dry.
![Bend in towards middle](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/219e678a-9923-4988-97cd-4b280f029a88.jpg)
Step 5
To make the cotton bolls more realistic, cut some smaller fragments around the petals of the boll.
![Cut extra fragments](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/d425378e-c032-4643-8a84-94f23b9588c0.jpg)
Step 6
Prepare the cotton by taking two cotton balls and pulling the fibers apart. Combine the two cotton balls to make one large ball.
![Cotton balls](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/40b4f17d-eb08-49e1-b8dc-6e66b4e29715.jpg)
Step 7
Hot glue the cotton into the center of the boll.
![Hot glue cotton to pod](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/82169758-d2b5-42d9-bc6a-7351d1896525.jpg)
Step 8
Shape the larger petals on the boll towards the center and the smaller fragments towards the bottom.
![Insert into pod](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/30dd7c88-4a08-4a8b-8075-7e6e4c40bae8.jpg)
Step 9
Apply hot glue at the bottom of the cotton boll and attach it to the tip of the branch, holding it in place until secure.
![Hot glue to branch](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/3489f953-7a0e-447e-9568-1a50ef6c57ca.jpg)
Step 10
Continue this process, varying the sizes of the cotton bolls for a more realistic appearance.
![Faux cotton branches](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/0e0a7fbd-fce0-45ca-9724-1fb65b87e260.jpg)
These faux cotton branches will add a touch of country-chic charm to your home decor. Gather your branches and insert them into vessel for an easy centerpiece. Alternatively, you can use the branches to make a wreath.
![cotton branch centerpiece in middle of dining table](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/5ba0bc54-506a-4c22-b727-7b963ab39349.jpg)
![Faux coton branch centerpiece closeup](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/989d6ea0-843d-4cd7-b067-5b6f7fc19354.jpg)
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