Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Making a Pumpkin Centerpiece in 6 Easy Steps

Now that Halloween is over, use a pumpkin to make a fall centerpiece! The centerpiece will look lovely in fall colors. It will also smell great with all the live flowers. Follow these steps for a fun, frugal family project!

1. Purchase a Pumpkin
First, purchase a pumpkin and some fall foliage at the store using coupons. The pumpkin needs to sit up nicely by itself. It also needs to looks pretty from all angles. Spend some time picking out the best pumpkin. By buying now, and using coupons, consumers will get the best buy because retailers are trying to get rid of their pumpkins after Halloween. Buy a pumpkin that is smaller in size or your arrangement may get too tall.

2. Cut the Top Off
If you have children helping with this project, make sure you are the one that handles the sharp knife. After you have the top cut off, throw the top away in the compost pile. Make the opening about six inches across. Make sure and control the knife well so that you do not get cut.

3. Clean Out the Pumpkin
Let the kids help you clean out the interior. Make sure and get all the junk out. All that should be left is the meat of the pumpkin. Leaving any seeds or the juice around the seeds will make the pumpkin smell bad. Spend some extra time on this step so that you make sure and do it right. Turning the pumpkin around as you clean helps to make sure that you get all the junk out.

4. Insert a Metal Can
Fourth, insert a metal can into the pumpkin. This can be a metal can from last night’s supper. No one will see it. It does not have to be anything fancy. Remove the paper wrapper from the can. This will help the pumpkin stay fresh longer. Fill the can half full with water. Be careful to not spill any onto the pumpkin. If you spill water on the pumpkin, it will rot faster.

5. Buy Flowers
Make a trip to the local flower market. Pick fresh flowers in fall shades. Many families love to make this a family adventure. The kids will be thrilled with all the sights. They will be amazed at the wide variety of flowers that are available. When you return home, place the flowers inside the can. Arrange them in an attractive manner. Most centerpieces look better when they incorporate different levels. Trim off the bottom of the flowers to make them the length that you desire. If you trim them at an angle, they will last longer. Make sure the centerpiece does not get too tall.

6. Replenish as Needed
Refill the water in the can as needed. Naturally, you’ll also want to replace the flowers that become wilted. If you need a larger arrangement, surround the pumpkin with colorful gourds and candles.

Jackie Seely likes to write about the holidays, saving money & credit score ratings.

No comments:

Post a Comment