I was asked to make Christmas centerpieces for my church’s women’s Christmas brunch this year. I don’t know how you are with things like this, but it makes me NERVOUS! There are 24 tables at the event, and I have to make a centerpiece for each table. We wanted to make sure that you would be able to see the people across the table so people could converse with each other. The theme for this year is “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
I’ve been working on “tweaking” them for a little while, but here’s what I came up with:
You can so easily make this too! Here’s how I made them:
Start with some sticks (we were able to use some that had broken off of my parents trees after the freak October snowstorm):
I painted them –
I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on filler for the bottom of the vases (that can add up pretty quickly when you have to make 24 of these centerpieces!) so I found the perfect solution: rock salt!
Just $6.98 a bag at Lowe’s (and yes – it’s a 50 POUND bag!) Crazy! And I totally carried it in HEELS in Lowe’s to the cash register. Ooooh yeah 🙂
I put a bunch of rock salt in a hurricane vase. FYI – these hurricane vases were leftover from my wedding over 3 years ago. Love to re-use things as much as I can!
So, I put some rock salt in the vase, and then arranged the painted sticks in the salt. Then I poured some more salt in to the vase to make the sticks a little more secure.
Then I got these ornaments from the Dollar Store:
I just hung them off of the branches at various heights:
Since the theme of the brunch is “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” so I wanted to incorporate some angels in the centerpieces somewhere. I cut up some sheet music to make little “loops” to hang angels I bought on Etsy.
This angel bought from this shop
This angel bought from this shop
I put a lighted garland around this one, but I’ll be putting some fresh greens around the centerpieces for the brunch, which will help to keep the costs down.
I really love the finished product! 🙂
Total (per centerpiece): $3.03
(The total would be $7.82 if you didn’t have a vase on hand)I’ve only made 2 of these so far – only 22 more to go! Yikes!
UPDATE: It was a crazy time, but I made enough of these for 26 tables! All of the women really loved them, and it was so nice to be able to do this with a very tight budget!
Tell me – what are your thoughts?! I really want your feedback!
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LOVE. Seriously…love the way they look but also the price! And they don’t look like they only cost $3…they look high end! Great job, lady!
They look great! SUCH a good call with the rock salt!!
Good luck making the rest, I feel your pain. It took SO LONG to make the ones for my wedding haha.
So clever and so pretty! The tables are going to look beautiful! Great job!!!
You are a genius!! I love this!! So, simple and cute!
stopping by from markte yourself monday! They look amazing!! Good luck with the rest of them. Might just be making somethign simlar come the holidays! Thanks for the inspiration!
Simple beauty. I love it.
They are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We can recruit and make plans for help for you!!!!!!!!! Let me know! Thank you soooooooooooooo much Christina- you are fabulous and a blessing. They will look stunning and it’s great that the women at the brunch can be inspired by them for their own decorations!
You are so talented and these are absolutely beautiful. Thank you for your kind comment on my blog- it was so fun writing that article!! Not sure if anyone will ever read it but oh well. hehe 🙂 Your blog is seriously amazing- one of my summer goals is to do some serious blog work/upgrading and I know who I will be contacting!!!
So pretty. Modern, festive, elegant. LOVE. I think the only problem you’ll have is that they’ll continue to ask you to make centerpieces for every church event. 😉
These are beautiful! I never would have thought to paint sticks, but I love that idea. Just might need to steal it for my Christmas decorating 🙂 Thanks!
They are just fantastic and so thrifty to do! I hope to try these!
This is such a lovely centerpiece! Being from the South, I have never seen a bag of salt that big! 🙂 We would love for you to share this at our Home for the Holidays link party!
http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/2011/11/home-for-holidays-link-party-2.html
I LOVE this! I would love if you would share this at the Crazy Cute link party happening at Between U & Me right now! I’ve got a totally awesome giveaway this week, too!
OOH! AND, I’m your newest follower! 😉
http://www.betweenuandme.com
22 more to go, Christina! Your church is SO lucky to have your creativity!
If you have a moment, please share this at my Creative Juice Party. Hope to see you there!
Awesome bang for the buck…and beautiful to beat! I’m sure the room will look lovely when all the tables are adorned with these centerpieces. If you have the time, I would love for you to share this project at my party (running now through Monday).
They will look gorgeous Christina.
I’d love it if you could link this to my Simply Christmas Inspiration party at: http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.com/2011/11/yay.html
Festive hugs ~ Kerryanne
This is super creative..I love it.. Very festive and fun… I have a Pin’Inspirational party happening right now I’d LOVE for you to link this to please..? TY so much.. Wishing you a great start to your weekend.. http://theartsygirlconnection.blogspot.com/2011/11/pininspirational-thursday.html
It’s beautiful! You did a fantastic job!
The rock salt is pure genius. They look great!
I am going to make this right away. It’s awesome.
Good job ! What a great economical centerpeice! And a pretty ambitious project.
LOVE! ah. Can you come down and decorate my house for Christmas!? Ok, I’m needing inspiration for a nice Christmas coffee table decoration, mantle decoration, and wreath (I’m thinking indoor wreath over a mirror?)…. will be looking to my amazing cousin for inspiration 🙂
These are so beautiful!!! Why oh why can’t I find sticks in my yard in South Florida?? Michael’s it is. Seriously wonderful job!
Simple,elegant and delightful! I will be doing this.Thanks for sharing!
http://on-secondthoughts.blogspot.com/
sweet. easy and not to expensive.
Great idea!
xo
I love it! My cats would literally “have a ball” with it! What a great idea for gifts! =-)
No. need. to. be. nervous. You’ve got “the” touch! 😀 BEAUTIMOUS I should to this for my entry way since I’m not putting up a tree this year (so busy with work & it’s just hubs, me & college son so they’re giving me a break this year :p ) I bet I cave though–I said I wasn’t going to last year too and did :p (somebody called me old-lol)
I love the centerpiece. It is absolutely beautiful. You have a lot more to do-but oh what fun! Just a thought-are you doing all in white, or perhaps some in different colors? You are very artistic. Can’t wait to see what you come up with next.
I love this. I am going to try them this weekend. thank you for sharing your ideas