DIY: Christmas Centrepiece Arrangement

After working at a greenhouse this past year, I learned how to make centrepieces with different types of greens - and yes, they are real greens. They are super easy, but take a lot of supplies and a little practice. Add whatever bulbs, sparkly sticks, bows, and anything else you want to use to spice it up. They are great to add a natural Christmas-look to your home and will be the centre of attention at your holiday party.

Featured on AmericaJR.com: Succulent Pumpkin Planters

My post from October on DIY Succulent Pumpkin Planters is being featured on AmericaJR.com. Click below to check it out!

http://americajr.com/news/pumpkinplanters1028.html

Painted Pumpkin Project: Don't Settle for Orange Pumpkins!

So the Succulent Pumpkins I made at the beginning of the month made it through Thanksgiving. They were a great centrepiece for the dinner, however they went to mush shortly after. Everywhere I looked, I couldn`t find anymore white pumpkins. People were either sold out or their white pumpkins weren`t the right size. I began to give up since I really didn`t like how the plants looked in the traditional orange pumpkins. And then while waiting in line at the grocery store, I saw it...the Chatelaine cover and decided: why settle for orange pumpkins? Pick a colour to match whatever room or setting you want.

I painted one black and spray painted the other brown. I wouldn't recommend spray painting pumpkins. It looks great, but takes almost 24 hours to dry. It was extremely sticky. The paint dries a lot faster. I loved the Chatelaine pumpkins. They were painted with pale pinks and shimmery golds. So you can really get creative with the colours.

All the plants used were succulents that I purchased from Martha's Greenhouse in Windsor.

 

 Black Succulent Pumpkin with Orange Bow


 

A little Halloween with the candles.

 Brown Succulent Pumpkin with Orange Bow

My two boring orange pumpkins.

 

Onyx stole my pumpkin top and ate it. Made a big mess on the grass.

Carve out the pumpkin top to fit the planter's size. Scoop out the seeds and insides. Paint pumpkins starting from the bottom. The paint will drip down and the bottoms only need one coat of paint since they won't really be seen.

Pumpkins need at least 2-3 coats.

Love the orange bows :)

 

Buddy checking out the situation - Also put a paper towel down in case there are any wet spots on the bottom!



I really love how the succulents look.

 

Add Spanish Moss to fill in the gaps and hide the soil.

Project: Succulent Pumpkin Planters

I got this great idea at work to create succulent pumpkin planters. First, carve off the top of a pumpkin. I used white pumpkins. They have a great shape and are easier to cut. Plus white pumpkins are unique and trendy this season. Fill a small plastic container with succulents and slip it into the carved pumpkins. It is important to plant the succulents in a container because it will allow the display to last longer. Add a bright fall bow for some colour and Spanish moss to fill the empty spaces. It is a great centrepiece for any table or porch for Thanksgiving and Halloween. Also the pumpkin can easily be replaced once it begins to rot because of the plastic container. Once the season is over, remove the container and keep the plants near a sunny window. The last two pumpkin pictures were made and are available for purchase at Martha's Greenhouse in Windsor. However if you are feeling creative and want to try it yourself, all materials are available for purchase at Martha's as well.

The one for my grandparents

The one for my mom

Use a variety of succulents

Able to purchase this one at Martha's Greenhouse in Windsor

Also found at Martha's Greenhouse

Projects: Old and New

I love having projects for myself to do. I am very goal-oriented person in every aspect of my life. I have to see an objective for everything I do whether it is something as big as finishing a degree or as small as making my family happy with a batch of cookies. I love making lists and checking things off when they are completed.

As a result, I have this tendency of finding little projects for myself that usually require taking something old and fixing it or improving it into something new. I definitely get this quality from my dad who has the ability to turn junk into beautiful things. He however is much better at it and gets a little nervous when he sees me taking out his power tools.

These are just two of the many projects that I have on the go right now...

Wedding Planters:

As I have mentioned in past posts, my brother is having an outdoor wedding at our house next spring and we have been trying to prepare for everything this summer. When I started my job at the greenhouse back in April I noticed two broken wooden planters. They were huge and went past my hip, but they were originally priced at $77.99 each. They continued to sit there all season and finally I got the courage to ask how much they would be willing to let them go for. I got them at a great deal of $8.00 each. Turns out she just wanted to get rid of them, but didn't want to toss them in the trash. She also knew they needed a lot of work.



The wood was painted a mix of white and grey. It was spun around the container.
As you can see it was a complete mess.

Not the Martha Stewart way, but I used glue to reattach the pieces of wood.
I also used a giant stone from the garden to hold the wood in place while the glue dried.
Use gloves when you use Gorilla Glue. It creates a mess on your hands.

I painted a layer white before spraying it.

I then sprayed it with spray paint "Satin Khaki"

I ran out of spray paint and need to go over some spots to make it more even.

I think they look great and will look even better when they are filled with plants in the spring.

  The Trunk:

I found this trunk two years ago at Timeless Treasures in Windsor. It was a bit of a mess and that's why it was only $80. I don't have any before photos, but I assure you the inside was peeling and smelled like a dead body might have been stuffed in it at one point. I had to re-do the inside with cedar wood to fix the smell. The patent markings say it was patented in 1877. My grandfather explained to me that it doesn't necessarily mean it was made that year, but only that this type was made that year. He said it is still very old.



The trunk

The wear really shows on the lid. Went over all the wooden frames with a special shiner.




The little girl painted on the inside.


Upcoming Projects:

An old wooden cabinet and a living succulent wall.