DIY Table Centerpieces

If you're like me, you want your room to be cutesie without the expense... What that usually means is making stuff yourself! What a fun way to explore your creativity! I was thinking about the tables in my room - specifically the four tables that my kids sit at. Generally, I call the tables by a number or by a color (Table 1 or Blue Table). Sometimes I have the kids create a team name. Regardless, I usually have something on their table that distinguishes their table from the next. In our school, that can be represented by a flag, a shape, or simple a strip of paper on the table. This year, I wanted to create something fun and adorable to put on the tables that would be something that no other teacher had.

I toyed with the idea of buying fake flowers and putting them in a vase; however, after I saw how much fake flowers were, I quickly axed that idea. So, as I was walking aimlessly around Hobby Lobby, my best friend pointed out a great idea - use two gift bows back-to-back to create one big, round bow. In that same aisle, I found these cheap, glittery mini buckets. I got some cheap floral foam and small sticks and I was in business! I got enough to make four centerpieces - one for each table - and my total came out to less than $20 for everything... plus I have a ton of extra floral foam and sticks in the event that one breaks. And while we're on that topic, my fiance seems to think that I'm going this work for nothing since my kiddos are going to break them.  I always say, set expectations and enforce them and you wont have a problem. Even if you do have that one crazy kiddo who decides to go after your centerpieces, you have extra sticks (probably the one thing that might break) to fix it! So, here it goes! Hope you like them!

DIY Table Centerpieces

Time: Less than 5 minutes per piece

Materials:
- 2 large gift bows (same color)
- a base for the piece (I used glittery mini buckets)
- floral foam (cut to fit in the base)
- small stick (I got them in the wood aisle at the craft store in a package of 20)
- tape
- scissors
- pencil
- matching colored paper
- hot glue gun
- hot glue sticks

Directions:
1. Trim the stick to the about what height you will want the centerpieces to be.
2. Take the backing off of the bows to reveal the sticky side.
3. Place the stick in the middle. Chances are it wont stick on there, so use some tape to tape it down.
4. Put the backing of the other bow flat over the first backing with the stick. Use some tape to stick them together (I wrapped a piece of tape around each side of the backing).
5. Shove the stick in the floral foam.
6. Hot glue the floral foam in the bottom of the base. (If the weight of your bows is heavier than the base, now is the time to add marbles or something to weigh it down.)
7. Use your colored paper to cover the top of the base so you can hide the floral foam. (I measured the size by tracing the top of the buckets on the paper and cut it out, cut a slit down the middle and slid it on.)
8. Hot glue the paper on the floral foam.

*You can paint the sticks if you want to match, but I'm not going to. If something is going to break on these it's probably going to be the sticks, which are easily replaceable. However, if you are using this as a formal centerpiece for something else, I would paint the stick.

(I have heard from a few people that loved this idea and are going to be using similar ideas for centerpieces at formal events - baby showers, parties, etc.)