Dead-Branch Centerpiece

Courtesy of H. Camille Smith and Janell Beals

Hi Friends,

Make a big statement in your dining room, foyer or front porch with this easy craft. Just take the kids outside to help you gather dead branches, clean off any leaves then paint the branches. Once dry, you can add a few hand-lettered tags or go the creepy route and fill the branches with rubber bats, spiders or snakes. Creating this flower-free centerpiece is a snap to dress up a Halloween table setting or place it on your entry table to greet trick-or-treaters.

Here's how...

Materials Needed:

• 4 to 5 tall bare branches
• newspaper
• tall narrow vase
• black, orange and yellow card stock
• 1 roll 1/4" wide black ribbon
• black crow
• black wide-tip marker
• decoupage glue
• glue stick
• ruler
• scissors
• hole punch
• white spray paint
• drop cloth

Paint Bare Branches
Remove any leaves, then place branches on a drop cloth and evenly coat all sides with white spray paint. While paint dries, tear lengths of newspaper.



Cover Branches With Newsprint
Brush decoupage glue onto lengths of torn newspaper (Image 1). Wrap glued paper along branches and press into place (Image 2). Repeat until branches are entirely covered, then arrange them in a tall narrow vase to dry. Tip: Decoupage just a few or cover all the branches depending on desired look for finished centerpiece. Newspaper can also be antiqued using wood stain for an aged appearance.



Cut Card Stock
Cut orange and yellow card stock into five to seven 2" x 4" pieces. Cut same number of 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" black card stock pieces.



Assemble Tags
Apply glue to colored card stock pieces and center on black card stock to create tags (Image 1). Create holes on tag ends using a hole punch (Image 2). Write Halloween phrases on tags with wide-tip black marker (Image 3).



Complete Centerpiece
Cut ribbon into 10-inch lengths and thread through holes in tags. Hang cards on branches and finish the centerpiece by attaching a black crow.



Enjoy your flower-free centerpiece...

Check back for more great ideas from your friends at Interior Design!

Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!

Live well,
Yvonne