October 14, 2011
Trick or Treat, Adult Style: 3 DIY Centerpieces to Make for Friends at Halloween
Halloween party coming up? Don’t go empty-handed. A spooky or fall-themed centerpiece could be just the hostess gift to add delight and focus to the celebration. Of course, each host or hostess has different tastes, and only you can know what’s appropriate. Review these three options to find the right style for the Halloween hostess you aim to please.
Option #1: Décorative Centerpieces.
The consummate decorator may be a little too spooked by centerpieces with funeral-, blood-, eyeball-type themes. Similarly the protective parent won’t want anything to give the little ones nightmares. Happy, fall-themed Halloween centerpieces use orange flowers, greenery, happy pumpkins and a contented black cat or two.
Pumpkin in a Harvest Wreath
The theme of this centerpiece is (fear-free) autumn abundance. With flowers disappearing from lawns and landscapes, it reflects the rich colors of late summer. The busy, multicolored wreath base complements the pumpkin’s sleek and shiny ridges. You’ve never seen a pumpkin looking prettier! With no pumpkin cutting necessary, this centerpiece could last for weeks.
Materials:
(available at craft stores)
Foam or straw wreath form
U pins
Silk or fresh magnolia leaves
Small plastic fruit like grapes, cherries and small apples
Silk flowers in yellow, umbers or reds
Halloween garland with orange berries
Pumpkin, with surface cleaned
Steps:
Pick an attractive, squat pumpkin; check that it stays stable when sitting; make sure it will fit within the wreath form without occluding too much of the greenery.
Remove pumpkin.
Attach plastic fruit and silk flowers to the wreath form with u pins.
Wind Halloween garland (with small orange berries) around wreath form and pin in place.
Pin magnolia leaves so that the pinned areas disappear under the loose end of the next leaf.
Arrange magnolia leaves to hide all pins.
Coax the orange berries on the Halloween garland through the green magnolia leaves.
Transport separate, but place pumpkin in the wreath upon arrival.
Option #2: Graveyard Scene for a Fun, Family Halloween Centerpiece.
Families who find Halloween lots of fun can usually handle a Dracula or two, just so he has happy eyes. Keep the ghosts friendly, too, and you’ll be the favorite guest invited.
Materials:
(available at craft stores)
1 large, preferably tall, pumpkin
5 lbs black craft sand
Black floral spray
Halloween “picks”- often used as cupcake toppers or toothpicks for appetizers, these come in dancing skeletons, happy pumpkins and smiling bats.
6 tombstone cupcake toppers
Branches that can serve as trees
1 bag candy corn
Steps
Turn tall pumpkin on side and carve a wide opening horizontally. Do not remove the stem. The stem will now be on one side of the pumpkin. Remove seeds and scrape clean.
Treat pumpkin with Pumpkin Fresh™, a bleach solution or Vaseline on exposed, cut edges. See our blog post “How to Brighten Dark October with a Pretty Pumpkin Vase” to learn how to keep the pumpkin centerpiece fresh for as long as possible.
Fill pumpkin cavity with black or brown sand.
Find two or three branches small enough to look like spooky trees when included in a miniature scene. Paint them with the black floral spray.
Arrange the Halloween “picks” of tombstones, skeletons, ghosts in a graveyard scene.
Use the candy corn to create “rock” pathways through the graveyard.
Option #3: Creeping Out the Centerpiece to the Max for Goth Friends.
Add a touch of evil to Halloween with this centerpiece. It all starts with a garish silver tray, the more tarnished the better. If you don’t have one in the garage, find a knock off at a home goods store. A mirror in an elaborate, silver frame can work as well. Definitely a centerpiece to stimulate conversation, feel free to add or subtract a macabre element or two to your liking.
Materials
1 Tall pumpkin
5 small gourds
10 small skulls
Fine, silver and black glitter
Black floral spray
3 black pillar candles of varying sizes
3 black small votary (tea light) candles
3 large, white carnations
3 stemmed drinking goblets
Small plastic spiders or centipedes
Tea light candle or battery-operated light for inside the pumpkin
Steps:
Spray paint pumpkin with black floral spray and let dry
Spray paint small gourds with black floral spray
Roll small gourds in silver glitter
Once tall pumpkin is dry, remove top and insides
Cut narrow strips from front of pumpkin to make prison bars
Fill inside of pumpkin with small skulls (for a creepy cave scene)
Sprinkle in some spiders
Illuminate with battery operated tea light
Arrange gourds around big pumpkin
De-stem carnations
Place flowers on mirror or silver tray
Top with plastic spiders
Cover with goblets
Top goblets with black votary candles
Arrange with pumpkin as focal point
When the Centerpiece Just Didn’t Get Done . . .
Out of time? A stop by the florist on the way demonstrates your appreciation for the efforts of the party host. Consider these Halloween decoration floral options or a Pumpkin Gift:
Orange Halloween flowers:
Lilies
Tulips
Carnations
Chrysanthemum plant
Black Halloween flowers & accents:
Thistles
Bat, spider and other plastic “pick” accents
Purple Halloween flowers:
Iris
Carnations
Lisianthus
Tulips
Perking Up the Halloween Party
Whatever option you choose, a Halloween centerpiece will be a welcome surprise. Gauging your decision based on the hostess’ idea of fun wins you additional points. Who knows? You may have started a whole new Halloween tradition! Make sure to send Halloween flowers to your loved ones today!