1. Pour water in carton, filling just less than half full.2. Cut stems from roses and place in water, arranging so the blooms are facing the outside of the carton. Fill in with ivy and ferns.
3. Wedge a candle into the center of the carton, using the flowers to hold the candle up straight.
4. Add more water if necessary to cover the tops of the flowers and greenery.
5. Place in the freezer until completely solid.
6. Peel the paper carton from the iced flowers. Place several frozen flowers and candles onto a platter. Fill around bases of ice with additional roses and ivy.
Gift Boxes Centerpiece
Materials:
17 to 19 gift boxes (this example uses 19 boxes, all approx. 5" x 5" x 3 1/2" )
3-4 rolls coordinating gift wrap
invisible or double-stick tape
sharp paper scissors
coordinating ribbons and holiday trims (ornaments, natural elements such as pinecones or pine branches, etc.)
Note: If you'd like the centerpiece to be easily movable, you'll also need a hot glue gun, glue sticks and a round piece of sturdy cardboard (such as a cake round).
Instructions:
1. Begin by test-stacking your boxes to see exactly how many you will need for the size centerpiece you would like. (These directions are for a larger centerpiece, appropriate for a buffet.)
2. Wrap all the boxes in two or three coordinating giftwraps.
3. Create a circle of six wrapped boxes as the base. If you intend to create a movable centerpiece, hot glue this circle to the cardboard cake round.
4. For the second layer, use five boxes (again, gluing each one in place unless you plan to dismantle the stack later).
5. Use four boxes for the third layer and three for the fourth layer.
6. Center the last single box on top and glue in place.
8. Make a large bow to place on the top of the arrangement, leaving long tails to trail down the edges of the arrangement.
9. Fill in any holes between boxes with additional trims, ornaments or other festive accents.
Hanukah Centerpiece
Materials:
shallow glass bowl (11"-15" diameter, 2-4" deep)
18-gauge wire (at least 30 feet)
needle-nose wire pliers with wire cutter
12" square (approx.) scrap of wood
6 nails
hammer, ruler, pencil
polystyrene foam to fit in deepest area of bowl (approx. 4" square)
silver Mylar<®> sheet
glass marbles, blue and clear
silver leaf (foil) and adhesive
flat 1/2" brush
8 clear smooth glass votive holders and white candles
florist's sticky clay
Instructions:
1. Mark an equilateral triangle on the wood, measuring 7-9 inches between points (adjust the size of the triangle based on the size of the bowl, no real rule, just preference). Hammer nails into each point.
2. Cut a length of wire approximately 9 feet long. Wrap one end of the wire around a nail, leaving a 2-inch tail. Tightly wrap the entire length of wire around all nails, making sure to end at one of the triangle points. Wrap the end of the wire under all layers of wrapped wire and twist over the wires several times to secure.
3. Cut two pieces of wire, each about 2 inches. Using pliers, wrap these at the remaining two points several times to secure. Pinch the ends with the pliers to prevent sharp points.
4. Remove two nails from the wood and slide the triangle shape from them. Use your fingers to sharpen the corners of the triangle and adjust to the desired shape.
5. Repeat these steps to create a second triangle.
6. Lay one triangle over the other to create the Star of David. Cut six pieces of wire to 2-inch lengths. Use these pieces to twist around the triangles where the two touch. Use the pliers to tighten the wrap and pinch to prevent sharp points.
7. Cut two pieces of wire, each about 14 inches long. Fold each piece in half. Wrap one wire around each side of the bottom point of the star, along the straight edge that intersects the bottom point. With the pliers, twist tightly and neatly the entire length of each folded piece of wire. These wires should point away from the main part of the star and will serve as the stand that holds the star up. Set the star aside.
8. Apply a generous amount of silver foil adhesive to each of the candleholders. Allow to dry, following package directions. Apply the silver foil, as much or as little as desired.
9. Wrap the block of polystyrene foam with the silver Mylar<®> sheet as you would a present. Use florist's sticky clay to attach the wrapped block to the bottom center of the glass bowl. Insert the wire attached as the stand to the star into the center of the foam block (the wire point should poke easily through the mylar). If the star isn't standing straight, apply a dab of hot glue at the base of the wire and hold straight until set. Cover the glue dot with a glass marble.
10. In the bowl, mix the blue and clear glass marbles, filling it to almost full and covering most of the Mylar<®>-covered foam.
11. Place a few marbles into each of the candleholders, then place a candle in each. Arrange the candle holders in the bowl of marbles, moving marbles around to get a variation of heights.
