Dollar Store Craft: Fall Centerpiece

This is a fun, easy to make fall craft you can make with basics found at your local dollar store. If you are looking for an inexpensive, yet beautiful craft, you can make this fall centerpiece in about 45 minutes with these step-by-step instructions.

Dollar Store Craft: Fall Centerpiece

When my niece suggested we make a few dollar store crafts, I must admit I was not very enthusiastic. When I think “dollar store” I generally think er, craptastic and overpriced (check out those per ounce prices!) Sure I buy a few things at a dollar store, most notably the garden stones for crafts and the clear stone weights for crafts. Those are a real bargain in my opinion. But, as for the rest? That is Hubby’s wheelhouse, not mine.

The tin container used in this craft was rather flimsy. It was, however, only a dollar. The floral foam was also a dollar, and wow was THAT a bargain!! (I’m adding something else to my “buy at a dollar store list”.)

The flowers are more cheaply made than what you would find over at Michaels, Hobby Lobby, or Joann but they are also about 1/5th the price. Still keep in mind that quality of flowers from a dollar store can be suspect. Look them over carefully when you are purchasing.

A few tips about making a dollar store floral arrangement:

• When selecting flowers, bushier flower will be better for filling in “holes” (see above).
• When choosing flowers, stay. in the same theme (fall flowers, spring,. etc.) and do not be overly “matchy”. The key to a nice arrangement is height differential.
• Wispy tall grasses will make the arrangement look more realistic.
• Cut stems longer than you think you will need (stand it next to the “pot” and see how it lines up). You can always cut more off, but you cannot add back length (well, beyond the length of a pick).
• Do not work on one side at a time, try and work the whole arrangement. It will help with balance. This is a three dimensional arrangement, so be conscious of the space. Turn and work to fill in the foam in the tin.
• Taller flowers are inserted in the center, and then the other flowers are filled in around.
• Tall wisps are inserted last (first on a wreath, last on a flower arrangement).

Dollar Store Craft: Fall Centerpiece Materials:

• Dollar Store Flowers
• Tin
• Floral Foam
• Small Scarecrow
• Wire Edged Ribbon

Please note that even though this is a dollar store craft, you will need a few items that can not be purchased at a dollar store (or at least not at any dollar stores where I have shopped!):

• Floral Picks
• Wire Cutters
• Glue Gun
• Hot Glue Sticks
• Floral Tape

Dollar Store Craft: Fall Centerpiece Directions:

• Wrap a piece of wire-edged ribbon around the tin (for length), plus at least ½ an inch. Cut.
• Lay the length of ribbon out good side down and fold over that excess ½”. Hot glue it in place (see above). This will help prevent fraying.
• Hot glue the ribbon to the outside of the tin.
• You may have to form darts at the ends, so the ribbon will lay flat.

• Hold the scarecrow against the tin. Eyeball how tall you would like it to be in your arrangement. The scarecrow should be the tallest thing in this craft, so plan accordingly.
• Cut the wooden stem to the length you would like your scarecrow.

• Liberally run hot glue over your foam.
• Inset the floral foam into the tin. Hold in place until the glue cools and hardens.

• If you purchased bushes of flowers, clip them off the bush. You want individually stemmed flowers.
• Measure the flowers against the tin and eyeball where they will hit when inserted. That is where you want to cut the stem.
• Take a floral pick and wrap it around the floral stem.

• Take the floral wrap and cover the attached floral pick. Floral tape is wonderful in that it sticks to itself. Once you start, wrap upward (or downward) to form a mummy-wrap.

• You can wrap all your flowers at once, or as you need them.

• Drop a dot of hot glue onto your floral foam where you want to place your flow. Insert the picked flower on top of that hot. Hold until the glue cools and hardens.
• Taller flowers are inserted in the center, and then the other flowers are filled in around.
• Once the taller flowers (in this case sunflowers) are inserted, begin adding the next size down flowers. Do not work on one side at a time, try and work the whole arrangement. It will help with balance. This is a three dimensional arrangement, so be conscious of the space. Turn and work to fill in the foam in the tin.

• Once the second row of flowers is inserted, insert your scarecrow.
• Insert the smaller flowers to fill in the front row.
• Check for large holes and fill in the spots with fuller flowers.
• Tall wisps are inserted last.

• This is what mine ended up looking like. Yours may be different depending on the container you chose, whether you want to add a bow to the side, whether you picked up different colors or flowers, etc.

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