table centerpieces practically free

So, at some time or another, everyone need to have centerpieces. If you attempt to call someone professional and have them design and create them, they will cost a fortune and

unless you are prepared to spend a fortune, you won't get a lot of bang for your buck. We

can fix this. There are so many fabulous ideas that are easy and cheap to create. For instance, everyone has access to those vases that come with floral arrangements, you can either leave them clear or spray paint them gold or silver. Go outside your house or to a park or wooded

area and collect branches that you can strip the leaves off of or some may already be without

their leaves. Make sure the branches are at least twice the height of the vase. You may also

put more than one branch in each vases, if you feel they are skimpy. It's also nice to spray

paint the branches as well, I like gold, silver, white or black, it adds lots of drama. After you

have arranged the branches in the vase, you may fill the vase with gardening gravel, available

at most home stores, water, sand or anything else you choose. It is only necessary to fill the

vase about half way full to stabilize the weight. If your branches are too heavy, it may be

necesary to fill it further up. If it's a holiday themed event, you can hang things on the branches

making sure that they are not too heavy, other wise your vase may tip over...Tinsel works great.

I will always add votives around the centerpiece, as many as you want, always an odd number.

Another addition that adds a nicer look is to find inexpensive fabric, plan on a half a yard per

table. Cut the fabric into squares of about a half yard each. Exact measurements are not that

critical. Tie a knot in each corner. Place this fabric in the center of the table, you can kind of

bunch it up and make it look like it was just thrown there and then place your centerpiece and

votives on top of it. It just adds another layer of decor. Inexpensive mirrors from the discount

stores, or trays and placemats will give you some other choices to place under your centerpiece.

Some other ideas that have worked for me are, tall glass ginger jar vases, available at Walmart

for about $5.00 each. I have filled them with a tall pillar candle , water and floated some flowers

with them stems pulled off, when the candles are lit, it is incredible. I have also gone outside my

house and cut some branches off of living trees. Olive branches, evergreen bushes, and the like

work well. Buy some lemons or limes and place them in the ginger jar vase and fill with water,

the fruit works as an arranger for the branches as well as looking interesting. There are so

many variations on these themes. Get busy, you can do it.