How to Make a Modern Centerpiece Using Natural Materials

comments (5) November 13th, 2008

kayte terry, contributor

17 users recommend

A few jars of different sizes staggered on a runner or a piece of fabric looks modern and sophisticated.

I kept each jar pretty spare so that the centerpiece looks more modern.

Sandwich the ends of twigs in between the felt and fabric.

A few jars of different sizes staggered on a runner or a piece of fabric looks modern and sophisticated.

Photo: Kayte Terry

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As you may have guessed by this point, I am a huge fan of using natural materials like leaves, acorns, and twigs in my craft projects. I am often found in my local park scavenging around for materials much to the confusion of my neighbors, but who cares? Nature is one of my biggest sources of inspiration, and fall is especially abundant with creative materials.

Here is a fun centerpiece for fall: It looks lovely on a dining table, a coffee table, or even on a mantel.

What you'll need:

Leaves for templates
Cardstock
Paper and fabric scissors
Small scraps of felt and fabric
Water-soluble fabric pen
Bunch of twigs (I used two or three per jar)
Hot glue
Small amounts of wool roving in a few colors
Needle-felting needle and mat
Acorn caps
Three 1-pound bags of beans
Three clear vases, jars, or canisters

Making the leaves:

1. Trace a leaf or two onto cardstock to make a template. Cut out with paper scissors.

Cut a bunch of various-size leaves in different fabrics.

2. Trace the leaves onto the wrong side of the fabric scraps using a water-soluble fabric pen. Make about 15 to 20 of these. Cut out with fabric scissors. Repeat for the felt scraps, making 15 to 20 felt leaves.

Sandwich the ends of twigs in between the felt and fabric.

3. To glue leaves to the twigs, lay out the fabric leaf, wrong side up, add a few dots of hot glue, and affix the end of the twig to the leaf. Affix the felt leaf to the other side of the twig, sandwiching the twig end in between the felt and fabric leaves.

Making the acorns:

1. Pull off a quarter-sized bit of wool roving and roll it into a ball. Lay the ball on a needle-felting mat, and pierce repeatedly with a needle-felting needle, rolling it as you pierce the roving until it forms a tight ball.

Continue rolling and piercing the felt roving until it forms a ball.

2. Add a few drops of hot glue to the inside of an acorn cap, and affix the roving ball to the inside of the acorn cap. Repeat to make 10 to 15 acorns.

Glue the roving balls into the acorn caps. Look for acorn caps that are still attached in bunches; they look really cute glued to twigs.

3. Hot-glue the acorns to the twigs.

Making the centerpiece:

1. Pour the beans into the clear container.

I kept each container pretty spare so that the centerpiece looks more modern.

A few jars of different sizes staggered on a runner or a piece of fabric looks modern and sophisticated. By the way, the fabric is handprinted by Summersville. Check out her Etsy shop!

2. Stick the twigs into the container as desired.

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Autumn Leaves
Rebecka

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Comments (5)

kaytet writes: rebecka-
that looks great! i love the colors you chose and the extra sewing accent!
Posted: 6:42 pm on December 5th

Rebecka writes: Love this idea so much I made one myself! :)
Thank you for the tutorial!
http://rebeckaverola.blogspot.com/2008/11/autumn-leaves.html
Posted: 4:48 am on December 4th

d23 writes: mmm great idea thinking this type of thing cud work well w tiny shells, blanched driftwood, in those jars of white beans.... lovely inspiring work>cheers!
Posted: 4:42 pm on November 22nd

bluebutterfly writes: Nothe elso of great work =D
Posted: 8:38 am on November 19th