Academic Recognition Dinner Centerpieces?

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I need to come up with an inexpensive centerpiece for an Academic Recognition Dinner for our high school. I need to make 45 centerpieces and would like them to cost only a few dollars each.

School colors are Green and Gold. Any ideas? Thanks!

Linda from Northern Michigan

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March 17, 20050 found this helpful

I did this for a wedding reception for a friend on a very tight budget & it looked really nice. It is an inflated latex balloon (not helium) on a balloon stick (think plastic dowel sold for this) stuck into a base of some sort which has been wrapped in 2 colors of tissue paper. To hold the balloon onto the stick you buy an "adapter" sold for that. The whole balloon stick assembly cost under 50-cents when I made them. I used upside down cottage cheese containers (nice shape) including the lids filled w/ sand (or rice, dirt, rocks, whatever) for weight. I punched or drilled a hole in the top (which is really the bottom of the container) to insert the stick into container. You could use putty inside bottom of container or glue gun glue on top to help hold stick tightly & straight.

Experiment w/ what works best for you. Then wrap the base in the 2 colors of tissue paper & tie w/ ribbon near the top of the container leave the ribbon stream down loosely curled, leaving the top "fringes" there to hide the container, like flower petals & pouf them up. I also put curling ribbon, 2 colors, onto the balloon adapter & curled it slightly & let it hang down. These centerpieces were about 12-15" tall each & looked very nice. If time permits make a few per night until needed. Improvise instructions to suit your project, maybe you will create a better way! We also hung balloons from the ceiling but suspended from ribbon.

kidsNclutter

March 17, 20050 found this helpful

Helium Balloons: Take a piece of fabric (or 2 pcs. in different colors), attach the ribbon to a latex helium balloon to the center of the fabric. (duct tape) Fill w/ sand & tie shut w/ ribbon to make a "sack" similar to a nice looking rounded beanbag. Fluff up the fabric that is above where you tied it shut. The centerpieces at the dinner we were at had two or three balloons taped to each, but one usually looks ok too. Play up the school colors!

We had a cub scout dinner so we used cans of soup as weighted bases & donated them to the food bank after the dinner. For added "punch" you can place them atop two school-color square paper napkins put on the table to show both colors or use paper placemats in school colors to place centerpieces on. Latex helium balloons should be made the same day as the event as they do not last longer than about 8-12 hrs.

Klr2080

March 17, 20050 found this helpful

You can always use floating candles. Walmart has a small ivy bowl for around $.77. You can fill it with uncolored water and purchase green floating candles. The flame of the candle will give you the gold reflection in the water and your candle can be green. You can purchase floating candles at Michaels Crafts and at some Walmart's. They cost about $3.00 for 6. Then for an added touch you can sprinkle some gold confetti on the table cloths around the bowl which will give it even more golden sparkle. You can then recycle the bowls for later use.

The plus for this idea is that it will only take a few minutes to decorate all your tables and to undecorate after the event.

Lynn

March 23, 20050 found this helpful

Our local $1 store sells nice colored gift bags, tissue paper and helium balloons. You might also try asking your local merchants to donate centerpeices for door prizes that advertise their businesses. Gift baskets or coupons to their store. Even if you get just a few, it helps to cut your own costs.

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