Last-Minute Centerpieces

Parchment Luminarias

Materials:

craft or parchment paper from craft store
scissors
clear vase
double-sided tape
raffia
stationery seal and wax

Steps:

1. Cut paper one to two inches shorter than the height of the vase.

2. Wrap the paper around the vase, overlapping the ends an inch or so, and hold in place with tape.

3. Tie raffia around the paper.

4. Melt the sealing wax and form the seal over the raffia knot.

Materials:

raffia
clear juice glass
gravel or marble
herb clippings or other greenery

Steps:

1. For this simple decoration, tie raffia around a clear juice glass.

2. Place gravel or marble in the bottom of the glass, then add clippings of herbs (lavender and rosemary work nicely) or other greenery.

Candles in Sea Glass

Materials:

colored sea glass*
pillar candles
glass baking dish

* Sea glass is colored glass pieces that have been tumbled to remove the sharp edges. You should be able to find it in most crafts stores for about $5 a bag.

Use sea glass to fill in around artfully arranged pillar candles in a clear glass baking dish.

Materials:

olives
cherry tomatoes
cheese cubes
cocktail onions
toothpicks or skewers
citrus fruit
clear glass votives

Steps:

1. Place olives, cherry tomatoes, cheese cubes and cocktail onions on toothpicks or skewers.

2. Stick them in citrus fruit, using clear glass votives and candle holders as stands.