Hi, everybody! I'm Paige from Little Nostalgia (blog no longer active) and I want to see a show of hands: who else is excited about fall?! The crisp air, the sweaters, the pumpkin-flavored everything... And I'm obviously stoked for the seasonal decorations. The whirlwind of Halloween through Christmas is about to start, so I've been getting some projects done a little early. One of them is a pumpkin centerpiece for our dining room table and it was SO fast. In retrospect I could've waited until the 11th hour for this one, but oh well. At least it's one less thing on the list, right? Here's how to make one for yourself.
Supplies
- Fake or real pumpkin (I used a Funkin!)
- Silk flowers, one large bloom and one small
- Faux leaves or branches
- Wire cutters
- Serrated knife or pumpkin carving kit
Directions
Step 1:
I was initially going to use a real pumpkin for this, but then I realized two things. One, I would have to scoop out the pumpkin guts and I hate that. And two, the pumpkin would eventually rot and I'd have to take my arrangement apart. If I used a Funkin, I could keep the centerpiece forever! (Or at the very least, I'd have a vessel for a new fall arrangement next year.) So a fake pumpkin it was - but you can totally use a real one if you don't mind scooping pumpkin guts. The first step was to cut out a circle on top and remove the stem. (this is where you'd also remove the guts of a real pumpkin if that's your choice)
Step 2:
The rest of the process is easy but if you've never crafted with fake flowers before, I do have some tips for getting a cute arrangement quickly and easily. You'll want to position your largest flowers first. In my case, it was some green hydrangeas.
Step 3:
The next step is to add some dimension, preferably with a leaf or other non-flower item. I found these excellent red leaves for 50% off at JoAnn. I pulled most of the "branches" off of the bigger stem because the whole thing was pretty big.
I put some leaves beneath the hydrangeas so they hung down over the front of the pumpkin. I also tucked a few of them up into the flowers themselves to fill in some gaps. This part was very unscientific. Just put the leaves where you see a sad empty space.
To get the bottom leaves to stay in place, I bent the ends slightly and hooked them over the edge of the pumpkin. If you plan to keep your arrangement for the long haul, you could use a dot of craft glue on the underside of the branch.
Step 4:
Finally, you'll add your second (smaller!) flower. I picked ivory because I was already working with two darker colors and some contrast was in order. As with the leaves, I kind of popped these in wherever there was a naked spot. I only had to use three.
One of the flowers went in at the bottom, so I did the same bend-the-stem trick I used with the leaves and hooked it inside of the pumpkin. The hydrangeas are voluminous enough that things don't really move around, anyway.
That's it! Now you can kick back with some apple cider and admire your stylish table.
I know some people are nervous about flower arranging, but cutting the hole in the top of the fake pumpkin was the worst part. I might make a couple of these to give as hostess gifts as we get into party season! A glittery winter version with some frosted leaves in a white pumpkin would be so pretty.
What pumpkin crafts have you made this year? What's in your fall centerpieces?
Paige Ronchetti is an interior decorator and blogger who writes about DIY projects, decor inspiration, and personal style over at Little Nostalgia (blog no longer active). When she's not blogging, she's working with local clients through The Room Kit, her budget-friendly interior design business. Her favorite books are Harry Potter. Follow along on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
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