Creating a holiday centerpiece may be a little intimidating for some. So, I was trying to think of some easy, elegant but inexpensive holiday centerpieces that anyone could assemble.  I also wanted to incorporate things that most everyone has some, or alot of. So I opened my cupboard door, looking for ideas, and in front of me were shelves of clear glassware…vases, bowls, platters, stemware, and candlesticks.  I thought if I had a lot of this stuff, many of you would too.

  Much of this glassware alone would not make a very interesting arrangement, so I thought I’d group, stack, turn upside down, and lay things sideways to see what developed.  I went a little nuts, but it was so much fun to see how many combinations worked well together and could make a great centerpiece.

Besides the glassware you already have. You’ll need to buy or cut from your garden,  live flowers, fruit, berries and/or fall leaves. I bought garden mums right from the garden center, I used some flowers from my yard,  fruit from the grocery store and leaves from the ground, or silks.

Here’s a few ideas (collages are a “before” and “after”, reading left to right. Click on photos to enlarge).

Collage 1.

Turn a large open vase on it’s side and make a “crystal cornucopia”. Fill the vase with fruit, nuts, cranberries and leaves pouring out of the top onto the table.  Add in 2 more vases for floral color and height and you have a lovely traditional centerpiece. Don’t forget the candles.

 Stack sturdy vases on top of each other for height and interest. Turn some upside down for more options. Add in smaller vases and fill each with different or the same flowers. Add a few candles in smaller vases for an elegant arrangement for a large table.

Collage 2.

Group 3 or 4 pretty vases of different height together on a glass tray. Add flowers for an easy elegant touch.

Stack sturdy vases on a glass platter. Turn stemware upside down to use as candlesticks. Add one kind of flower for a more contemporary look.

Collage 3.

Make a footed platter by turning a bowl over as the base, set the platter on top and a vase on top of that for flowers. Add cranberries/fruit on the platter for color. Stack 2 glasses together. Dot with a few dots of hot glue to secure (glue rubs off after). Set some candles on top, if sturdy.

Use stemware for candlesticks. Repeat 5 down the center of a table.  Stack them upside down on top of bowls and add in leaves or cranberries for color between the layers. Top with a fall leaf and a votive candle.

If you’re looking for a beautiful original centerpiece. Try some experimenting with all the beautiful glassware you already own. It’s much more interesting than purchasing a prearranged, generic arrangement and much less expensive. Your guests will comment how creative you are.

Have fun and let your “inner floral designer” emerge.