If you get them early, they still may be "wet" and you'll need to dry them out. I put mine in a bag. Put in dry place, anywhere where they don't absorb outside moisture. Also, I can examine them for bugs and things that aren't easily seen by your eye. I leave the cones in the bag until they feel dry, just to be really sure nothing has laid eggs or they have bugs (This has only happened one time in my life). You can put them in a sealed baggie if you want to be sure.
Next, I go to the fabric store. I usually go to the aisle where they display the bolts only having a few yards left. You don't have to do this, but the prices are great. I have noticed that the people who sew start a season ahead, just like in magazines.
When buying remnants, you can get enough for a table runner, place mats, or a piece to just fit in the center of table. They always have the latest colors and designs for the season; plaids, different colors, and burlap. it's all there. Fall with its bright oranges and reds. This year, a bright golden yellow was my choice.
Select candles to pick up on one of the colors. You can use all the same color if you like. I'm not a matchy type person, so I like different sizes in the heights. Sometimes I use the round ones. They can be burned later after you disassemble the centerpiece; I use them for looks.
I have picked up a ceramic bowl, where you can put pumpkins at Halloween time (aren't out yet) along with my pine cones. I have it in the center of my table.
I used place mats this year but love changing it up, to brighten it up. It's beautiful with the place mat and a big bowl filled with pine cones and pumpkins. The candles frame it and everyone complements me on how wonderful it looks. You can omit the pine cones and use apples or fruit of several colors matching your table runner, place mat, or center piece of material.
If you do not sew, don't worry. You can purchase the tape that you just iron along the edge. Also I did see some fabric glue you could use, depending on what fabric weight you picked. The burlap is so neat because it comes in so many fall colors now. You can just take out the last few threads on the ends, leaving you with frayed edges.
Note: In my kitchen, a couple new hand towels hanging on the oven door, new oven mitts, and $3.00 rugs gave my kitchen a wonderful fall look.
By Luana M. from San Diego, CA
The kids will have a blast helping you too. Fortunately for everyone, most of these items have already been marked down! Remember to never leave a candle lit and unattended.
By Mistie from Baton Rouge, LA
By Susan from Elkhart, IN
I have just been called upon to make centerpieces for a up and coming church banquet. I need to make fifteen centerpieces and they have to all be under five dollars each! We are going with a fall motif.
I have looked all over the internet craft sites and my magazines at home for ideas. The problem is that nothing is cheap enough. I was hoping my thrifty friends could help me come up with some inexpensive ideas. Have a great day!
Kim
By bj357@comcast.net09/21/2011For a Fall accent centerpiece, you can use real leaves, acorns, and a votive candle for each table. Try to get some different color of leaves, You can buy votives, fake leaves & candle holders very cheap at the Dollar Tree too. this would be pretty and cheap too.
I need an elegant centerpiece with red apples being the main theme but with fall flowers. It needs to be simple yet elegant and not too high for tables. It is for the grand opening of nursing home. Maybe candles with fruit. I also need something for the mantle of a fireplace. I need to impress higher ups with elegance.
Thanks,
Joann from Throop, PA
By mrsmutt09/22/2006If you want to use candles, you could core the apple first, with a corer that goes all the way through, and then insert pillar candles in fall colors(orange, gold, sage, burgundy). If you want to keep it shorter, you can buy the 6 in pillars rather than the 12 in. You could cluster the apples on a plate, or line them up in a row, on a long narrow tray. They sell vines of fall flowers or leaves at the dollar stores, which you could intertwine throughout the apples. To keep it really low, you could scoop out the top of the apple with a melon baller or something, and then insert tea lights into the cavity. Make sure to level off the bottom of the apple, by slicing a piece off the bottom. This will keep them from rolling over. You could always cluster the table arrangements, and then line the fireplace mantle, with tall candles. And if you could lean mirrors against the back of the mantle, it would look like double the mantlepiece. Good luck!
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Fall Centerpiece Ideas