Balloons have always been associated with a fun, festive, and carefree time. What better to show that your party is a time to celebrate than having a balloon centerpiece or two around the room. Although there are professionals you can hire to do the work, have fun and learn how to do your own balloon centerpiece by following some tricks and hints.
An easy way to create a great centerpiece that incorporates festive balloons and fragrant flowers is to use this method. Simply choose a balloon in your favorite color, fill it 1/3 of the way with water, place a fresh flower inside, and place ribbon, netting, or even tulle around the balloon. Make sure the central balloon is stationary, and watch the flower and water ebb and flow whenever the people at the table get up to dance. It truly is a beautiful and festive centerpiece.
Another great way to create centerpieces using balloons is to place a small battery powered candle inside the balloon. Make sure the wattage of the candle is extremely low, and the balloon is inflated just enough to allow for a gentle glow over the table. Add a garland of flowers and ribbons to suit your taste, and you’ve got a great conversation piece as well as a great centerpiece. If you want to take it a step further, give the balloon and flowers a light spray of a white or silver glitter for a frosted look. It’s a simple idea that makes each centerpiece look like a work of art.
If you want a spectacular look when creating your balloon centerpieces, you can’t go wrong with this idea. Take some long, pre-cut ribbons and attach one end of the ribbons to the center of the table, either through weights or tape. Take the other ends and attach them to some balloons filled with helium gas. As the balloons rise and twist into the air, they create a great sight and conversation piece for your next party.
As you can see, these are but a few of the choices you have to make very festive centerpieces using a few simple balloons, pieces of ribbon, or the occasional ring of flowers.
It is amazing what a few ribbons, balloons and a little imagination can do. In no time, you’ll come up with centerpieces that will be the talk of your party. Let your imagination run wild and you will come up with a truly unique centerpiece.
Although there are some things we wish could last forever or a moment we wish would never end, ultimately they do. The memory of the special event, however, can be preserved for us to recall and enjoy for a long time to come. Drying flowers is a simple and inexpensive way to preserve these cherished moments. There are multiple ways to use your flowers and preserve them for crafts and decorations. Whether they were a gift, or from a special day, they can be made into something to enjoy long after that time has passed.
One way to preserve flowers and use them in crafts is by hanging them to dry. If you decide to preserve your flowers whole, and intact, you will need to decide this before they have fully bloomed. If a flower has opened up too much, when it is dried the petals will fall off. The brighter and more vivid the fresh flower is, the better color it will have as it dries. If you want more intense colors, be sure to start with that trait in the fresh flower. If the dried flower will be used with its stem, it would be best to wire the stem while the flower is still fresh. Then attach the flower, upside down, to a wire hanger and leave in a dark place for two to three weeks. If the dried flowers will be stored a while before use, cover them with a light material, such as tissue paper to keep the dust off.
Flowers preserved in this way can be used for a variety of purposes. For a special event, such as a wedding, some people want to preserve their bouquets. After following drying instructions bouquets can be placed as a wall hanging next to the wedding photo, in a shadow box, or simply placed on a table or in a hutch. After flowers are dried they can also be put back in a vase and set on a table. If a single flower is preserved, perhaps to save on space, it can be laid over the wedding frame or in front of the wedding photo. Individually dried flowers can also be used when making a wreath. Flowers do not have to have special meanings; any flower that dries well can be used to make an arrangement. In addition to adding a variety of leaves, berries, ribbon or other embellishments, dried flowers look beautiful in a wreath. Sometimes less is more, if your wreath is not looking right, try lessening the amount of items in it.
Flowers can also be preserved by being pressed. This method is simple and can be used for things you want to keep forever, or for special cards or invitations. Although you can buy kits to press, they can also be made by having several layers of cardboard stacked with flowers laid out on each sheet and then bound with adjustable straps that you can tighten to ensure a successful drying process. Pressed flowers are very versatile in their uses. When making wedding announcements a pressed flower of the wedding colors is a beautiful addition to the invitations. They can also be used to make cards or baby announcements. Another option for pressed flowers is to place them as a garden scene in an old window or frame. Glue them on a separate piece of glass, not part of the original frame, cut to the same size, and then place and secure to the frame. Any size can be attractive and used anywhere in a home, from a bathroom to bedroom. The flowers do not have to be the center of the picture, but can also be placed around a photo or poem on the mat. This is a wonderful way to incorporate the flowers to the event, but do it in a small, elegant way.
If you can find a way to preserve special memories they will bring joy for years. Although fresh flowers are beautiful, dried ones can be just as enjoyable. By finding various ways to use your flowers, you will be surrounded by your memories and remember those happy times when life might be more difficult.
One of the most famous gifts for Easter is a gift basket filled with chocolates, toys, and fun little items for children to enjoy. As you get older, perhaps your children grow up and there is no longer that joy of helping the Easter bunny put together special holiday gift baskets. That doesn’t mean, however, that you cannot continue the tradition with other holidays and special occasions.
Christmas is a wonderful time to make your own gift baskets and can be a terrific way to add a personal touch to any present. If you know a woman who loves to pamper herself, consider purchasing a nice basket and adding a bottle of her favorite bubble bath, body lotion, perfume, and anything else that you know she loves. If you have a sports fan in the family, a basket filled with his/her favorite teams memorabilia will be a big hit. Some examples may be a t-shirt and baseball cap, a rare trading card, or other official collectibles. For any recipient, consider his or her hobbies and interests to select a theme.
One trick of the trade is to fill the bottom of the basket with packing peanuts. This will give the illusion of a fuller basket and make the gifts easier to see. Think about safety when making a basket for a child. Over the ‘peanuts’, place a thick layer of gift-bag or basket filler, shiny shred, or tissue paper. Overfill the basket as it will be weighted down as gift items are added. Begin adding the biggest and tallest items toward the middle or back. Aim for balance in weight and arrangement. To hold some items in place, use tape to attach them to each other, to the basket handle, or to the container. The deep filling makes it easier to keep things still by “sinking” them in a bit. Continue arranging gifts and then “fill out” the look of the basket. Make sure the paper or shred shows through. Fill in with more, if necessary. Add little items such as wrapped candies, silk flowers, Christmas ornaments, pine cones, or whatever works with the theme. Gift cards are a good small-space addition.
Once you have filled the gift baskets with goodies, its time to purchase clear cellophane gift bags. After opening the gift bag, carefully place the gift basket and all of its contents inside. Once you have it perfectly situated, secure the top with clear tape or a staple. A large bow at the top will make your gift baskets not only personalized, but the recipient will also know that you put a lot of thought into the design and look of their gift.
Another terrific idea for gift baskets is to include a colorful variety of fruits, including apples, oranges, pears, strawberries, plums, etc. If you purchase gift baskets that do not feature a handle, these can be placed on a dining room table or as the centerpiece in the living room. Fruit gift baskets are ideal for teachers, doctors, lawyers, or the health-conscious family member.
If you are looking for some additional gifts to include, consider jewelry, a leather wallet, special event ticket, gift certificates, stuffed animal, favorite candy, etc. The more color and variety you can add to a gift basket, the more festive your gift will appear.
Still need some theme ideas for gift baskets? Many enjoy creating personalized pet gift baskets, baby gift baskets, and even newlywed gift baskets. There is no end to the number of creations that can be made with a little imagination and some time and effort.