How to Make Fresh Christmas Centerpieces for Under $10

Flower crazy and flower power are my incentives for my flower-related articles. I make flower arrangements for all occasions.

Need a fresh Christmas centerpiece this Christmas? You know it would make the house more Christmassy, and if you have guests, the centerpiece will set your table apart from others. It will bring the beauty and fresh aroma of Christmas and festivity to the occasion. But you don’t want to spend too much on one? I hear you. What if I tell you that you can easily make one for under 10 dollars? And we’re not talking about short-changing the beauty and quality of the arrangement. In fact, it may even look better than the one you’re eyeing at the store or the flower shop.

Now, if you’re thinking that’s a task for florists or flower wizards—not so. The task at hand is relatively simple. All you need is some degree of eagerness—an eagerness to create and be surprised by your own creativity.

In this article, I will show you how to keep your cost down, and I will show you how to make a simple table centerpiece. Ready?

Get Free Stuff

If you look around, you can find free stuff—there for the taking—like free Noble fir or Douglas fir. If you go to any Home Depot or places selling pine trees at this time of the year, the chances are they’ll have a bin for discard fir branches. Drop by one of these centers and cart away the discard branches. Free and waiting to be used.

You can also gather free stuff when you go for nature walks. Pine cones fall at this time of the year—collect some. If you have a big yard, be sure to plant some Christmas plants, they’ll come in handy at this time of the year. And if not, you may know of someone with such a yard, don't be afraid to ask. Of course, it would help if you know her well. I’ve developed a thick skin (as my mother used to say) and am not afraid to ask my friend for her Christmas greens. Thankfully, she’s obliges every year. I only hope she doesn’t move away.

Sale Items

Why buy anything at full price when you can get the same item at a discount? I practice this sage advice with great militancy. …especially when it comes to Christmas containers, candles and any Christmas decorative item. You can easily get a discount coupon on their website or look out for blowout sales. Michaels usually have a 40% coupon and sometimes, you can even get a 50%. Of course, buying items after Christmas is quite the way to save and you can always save them for use next Christmas. Again, I’m quite guilty of that. I rarely spend anything over $10. In fact, all the Christmas décor, candles, pots, containers are anywhere between 79 cents to $5.99.

Recycle, Reuse

Recycle and reuse not only help your budget, it is very eco-friendly. That way, it costs you next to nothing. Bottles, vases, candelabra, candle votives, Christmas figurines or decorations make good recycling candidates. Sometimes, I have even gone so far as to recycle ribbons and anything else that looks like it would survive another use without looking shabby.

Let’s Make the Centerpiece

This centerpiece is appropriate for a long rectangular table. However, the principle will still apply to round centerpieces—just use a circular or square base.

1. Soak floral foam (make sure they are for fresh flowers) until totally soaked through.
2. Insert candles. You may use one or more.
3. Cut Christmas greens a couple of inches longer than the container.
4. Stick green across horizontally, vertically and diagonally so they make a frame around the container.
5. Continue cutting greens, shorter and shorter as you go further up and sticking them into the foam so the whole foam is covered. Think of it as building a floral fort around the foam.
6. Add flowers, cones, ribbons or any decorative item after the whole foam is covered. You may have to floral wire or floral sticks to anchor pine cones or ribbons to the arrangement. This is explained further in the video you will see at the end of the article.

Done! Just make sure you keep it watered and it should last you a while. Mine have been known to last for weeks, especially the greens.

The resulting centerpiece is shown below.

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Merry Christmas!

Enjoy creating your own centerpiece this Christmas. You can get fancy if you wish. Add more flowers or use cylinders to hold festive candles. You can make it elaborate or simple. If you need more tutorial on how to create a centerpiece, I've selected one for you.

Merry Christmas!

© 2011 anglnwu

Comments

anglnwu (author) on December 30, 2011:

Jill, glad to see you here. Creating Christmas centerpiece is so much fun. Thanks for your support and have a wonderful new year!

jill of alltrades from Philippines on December 30, 2011:

Hi Angeline,

This is great! I love creating my own Christmas décor and this gives me great ideas! Sometimes I just bring in a potted plant and add some bright red ribbons! I'll take a picture of this and send to you!

Thanks so much for mentioning me! I'm tickled pink that I am able to make you laugh! What a compliment!

Voted up, useful and beautiful!

anglnwu (author) on December 23, 2011:

Rtalloni, thanks for dropping by with your encouraging comments. I make the hanging votive --try it some time.

RTalloni on December 22, 2011:

As usual, anginwu, your work is beautiful. The hanging votive holder is so unique. I hope to try that one out soon--but probably not for Christmas. I can practice on other holidays and plan mine for next Christmas. :) Thanks! Voted up.

anglnwu (author) on December 19, 2011:

Snakeslane, thanks for your beautiful comments. I love flowers--not a florist, have never worked in the floral industry ( would love to some day). Thanks for dropping by to comment--it means so much to me:)

Verlie Burroughs from Canada on December 18, 2011:

Wow anglnwu, you are an artist with floral, these Christmas arrangements are gorgeous, fresh and festive. I love the wreath. Thank you for great ideas, and thanks for your lovely comment and link. All the best to you. I worked in floral for quite a few years, and I admire your work. Regards, snakeslane

anglnwu (author) on December 16, 2011:

Lady E, thanks for your positive comments. I love doing flower arrangement. Merry Christmas.

anglnwu (author) on December 16, 2011:

Prasetio, thanks again for your supportive comments. It's always fun to be able to make beautiful stuff at a low budget. Glad you like it and always good to see you. Merry Christmas.

anglnwu (author) on December 16, 2011:

Thanks, Stephhicks, appreciate your comments and have a Merry Christmas.

Elena from London, UK on December 16, 2011:

Very creative and beautiful too. Thanks for sharing all the photo's. You are gifted at this... I hope you will take it a step further. :)

Happy Xmas.

prasetio30 from malang-indonesia on December 16, 2011:

Very inspiring hub and creative hub as well. I believe that many people will love your idea in making fresh Christmas centerpieces for under $10. Most of people love affordable price and you come up with solution. This was so beautiful Christmas decoration with low budget. You are genius, my friend. Thanks for writing and share with us. I give all my vote to you. Take care!

Prasetio

Stephanie Marshall from Bend, Oregon on December 15, 2011:

Wonderful ideas for Christmas centerpieces! That snowman is really cute. Another awesome hub - thanks so much, Steph

anglnwu (author) on December 15, 2011:

Haha, Om, I know that's a sticky one--my word choice is not exactly correct. I read what I wrote (more than once) and I thought, what the heck--I'm going with it--that way it's open for interpretation. But I'll take the first one, of course. Thanks for dropping by and Merry Christmas! Perhaps we'll meet one day--me--doing your wedding flowers?

anglnwu (author) on December 15, 2011:

Movie master, thanks for your wonderful comments. I know-- we're all behind at this time of the year. I've more centerpieces to do. I promise better ones, ones with more flowers. And I know you're just being modest--your centerpieces will outshine mine. Thanks for dropping by.

anglnwu (author) on December 15, 2011:

kakalina, thanks and I'm glad you dropped by to comment.

anglnwu (author) on December 15, 2011:

Pamela, good to see you here. Yes, there's still time for making these centerpieces. Thanks for commenting.

Om Paramapoonya on December 15, 2011:

I'm your best "online pretend friend"? Does that mean we are best friends who have never managed to meet face to face, or I'm the best at pretending to be a friend? I hope you meant the former, not the latter. haha..... Well, have a fantastic Christmas! You have made my hubbing experience very enjoyable as well. =D

Movie Master from United Kingdom on December 15, 2011:

Hi anginwu, your Christmas centrepieces are fabulous!

I am all behind here... work keeps getting in the way:-)

I have to make time this weekend to get cracking on my arrangements, but you are a hard act to follow....

Thank you my friend for my mention, best wishes MM

kikalina from Europe on December 15, 2011:

wonderful centerpieces!

Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on December 15, 2011:

Beautiful centerpieces and they don't look too hard to make. This is a great hub for us who are still decorating. Thanks for the instructions.