How to Make a Candle Platform Centerpiece

Pick up a piece of scrap metal (make sure it can bend) at a metal shop. Ours was cut to 42" x 16". Make sure to leave at least three extra inches so it can fold over the sides of the wood.

Cut the piece of wood to just two inches shorter than the length of your centerpiece. For a 42" x 10" centerpiece, cut the wood to 40". 

Lay the sheet metal facedown. Place the board in the middle of the metal and use a flat head screwdriver to score along the edges that will be folded.

Turn the piece around and carefully hammer along the edge to help bend it over the sides.

Turn the sheet metal back around again and pull the edges in together. Carefully fold up the edge. They will not be totally flat until they are hammered along the edges. Hammer carefully.

Hammer the back until it lays the way you want. Turn it over to check the results.

Turn over to back and lay out the candles in the location you want them to sit on the piece. Mark the candle placement with a black marker.

Use a metal drill to pre-drill all holes where the black markers are placed.

Insert  screws in all the marked locations — only part way through.

Move the piece to a place where you can fully insert the screws so they are sticking out of the front of the metal. Finish by tightening the screws by hand. Be careful handling the centerpiece with the screws now exposed through the top.

Drill holes along the two unfinished ends. You may need to slide a piece of scrap wood underneath the metal while drilling the holes.

Use floral wire to create a fringe that closes the edge. You can make it decorative or close it like a seam.

Add felt furniture pads to the bottom of the piece, over the screw heads so it will protect your furniture from scratching.

Carefully screw in the large candles into the screws.

Optional: Take pieces of plastic leaves and place along the edge (tuck under) once placed on the table.