I wanted to make a few small centerpieces for my Thanksgiving table this year.
I used some items I had already and created this.
It was easy to do so I thought I'd share.
A few weeks back, I created this rope pumpkin using a $1 styrofoam pumpkin from the Dollar Tree.
I had purchased several of them and knew they were hallow. This made them perfect for vases.
Using a box cutter, I cut a circle out of the top of the pumpkins and discarded it. (Just like you cut a regular pumpkin.)
From there, I painted 2 coats of creamy white that we always have on hand because it's the trim paint for our entire house.
It took two coats to cover the orange completely.
I just staged them over some caulk tubes and a small portion of a cut pool noodle to dry on my workbench in the basement.
They were just a bit too "white" for my needs, so I pulled out my trusty Valspar Antiquing Glaze in Asphaltum and gave each pumpkin a bit of age.
Using a dry cloth, I rubbed the glaze on then off, allowing it to settle in the groves and texture of the styrofoam.
I set them aside to dry overnight into "antiqued pumpkin vases."
The next day, I took them all upstairs and pulled out my juice glasses from the cupboard.
I checked for "fit" into the cut opening, making adjustments along the hole to fit the glass through cleanly but securely.
The glass was the perfect height of the pumpkin.
I soaked my floral foam in water until it was thoroughly saturated.
The trick to soaking foam is to drop it into the water and allow it to gently soak up the water. If you force it, there will be lots of dry patches on the inside of the foam. Give it time. When it's soaked through it will sink to the bottom.
I cut my piece to fit snugly inside my juice glass.
You can see that it's been used before, but as long as it's not totally hole-ridden it can be used again.
I can get 2 uses from one oasis foam.
I cut the foam taller than the glass which in turn made it taller than the pumpkin.
I split a piece of scotch tape down the middle to make two skinner pieces of tape.
These were crisscrossed over the foam and secured to the sides of the glass. It keeps the foam from floating on the water that's in the glass, especially as it begins to dry out.
I carefully dropped the glass and foam inside the pumpkin.
Here you can see how it eclipses the edge of the pumpkin which is important for this arrangement.
You'll see why in a minute.
I had visited Posey Palace earlier in the day and purchased some loose florals. I highly recommend doing this as a more cost-friendly option than purchasing from the grocery store.
All of this cost me around $25. It's WAY MORE than what I would be able to get for the same price at my grocery store. AND...these flowers were delivered this morning so I got them fresh off the truck!
I pulled out my green fern-like plant and stripped off the individual fronds from the main stem.
Starting on one side then moving to the opposite side I placed the stems into the sides of the oasis, parallel with the countertop.
With the oasis sticking up over the edge of the pumpkin, it's easier to camouflage the rough opening of the pumpkin, the glass, and the oasis this way.
I worked in a circular motion with the greenery until I had a "wheel-like" configuration as the base of the arrangement.
A good rule of thumb when working with flowers is to cut the base of the stem at an angle. This allows the flower to continue to gather water because the tip of the angle is on the bottom while the actual angel is open to drinking.
Another tip to making your blooms "open" is to gently rub the edges of the bloom to separate the individual petals. It won't hurt the flower at all!
Working in a circle, moving the pumpkin around and around, I began to place flowers.
I used the white mums as the center point/focal flowers and then built below it on all sides.
As I turned I looked for places where there were gaps.
When selecting and placing flowers I always like to have blooms in different stages.
This gives an arrangement texture and interest.
Unless a bloom is brown, faded, or wilted, I try to find a way to use it.
Baby's breath is a great way to add a pop of white and fill bare spots in an arrangement.
You can see a gap here. The baby's breath snuggled right in and because it was white it made the red mums pop even more.
An idea I've seen plenty of times in commercially created bouquets is a looped grass element.
I looped my grass, wrapped it a few times around the base and stuck it back through the wrapping.
I then cut the firm bottom portion on an angle that allowed it to ease into the oasis.
And in a few minutes, I had my first of three arrangements completed.
I love the pumpkin! It looks like it's porcelain when we all know it's really styrofoam.
From all angles, the arrangement has interest and texture.
My finished table setting will be up on the blog this Saturday, so look for the trio of arrangements.
I hope your Thanksgiving day is wonderful, relaxing, and filled with great food and fun.
Post a Comment