Seasons > Christmas > Decorations for the home > 4 Christmas Centerpieces Using a Trifle Bowl
With a little imagination, a trifle bowl can serve up several elegant Christmas centerpieces. For this version, layer greenery, Christmas balls and pinecones around the base of the trifle bowl, and around a pillar candle in the trifle bowl. Keep costs down by cutting greenery from the yard, or from the back side of the Christmas tree. If those aren’t available, buy artificial greenery--cut up a swag or mini Christmas tree. These are pretty inexpensive, but save even more money by buying them after Christmas for the following year, or buy them from Goodwill or garage sale (recycle shops.) You can get used ones for almost nothing because they look so bad. But YOU know that all you have to do is take off the crumpled bow and fluff out the branches, and vacuum them if they are dusty.
Make each place setting match the centerpiece by layering a napkin, greenery, and mini wreath on each plate. You can buy small wreaths, or you can make them yourself--cut 4 or 5 strands of paper twine into 4 yard lengths (4 meter.) Tie them in a loose knot in the middle, then keep twisting the ends in and out of the middle hole. Tuck the ends into the wreath. Tie a bow at the top.
Add more greenery and matching ribbons around the room--on banisters, windowsills, or bookshelves.
Make a nativity scene take center stage. Put salt in the bottom of a trifle bowl, then stand the figures in the middle. Put a floral pick at the base. If you can’t find floral picks at a dollar store or craft store, you can make your own by tying together small branches of greenery with ribbon, Christmas balls, pinecones, and tiny ornaments.
Each place setting has a Christmas candy cup--inside a clear ornament ball. Pair up a colored ornament with a clear Christmas ball--tie them together with curling ribbon. These have mint Kisses inside, but you can fill it with your favorite treat.
Throw a few holly twigs into the bowl, add a dove from a craft store, and you have a Christmas centerpiece in seconds! (look for the doves in the wedding section.) Linens with holly or poinsettias sprinkle more red accents across the table.
Add elegance to every place by folding napkins into triangles and draping them in goblets. Use the time you saved by making a simple centerpiece and use it to make paper cones to hold a candy treat. Cut a lace doily in half, layer it on top of a red half circle, roll them into a cone and staple both layers together. Fill with goodies (these are the kisses made of white chocolate and peppermint bits.)
Christmas balls piled high in the trifle bowl gives a riot of color in the middle of the table, and shouts, “The party is here!” A star studded tinsel garland winds around the balls and down both ends of the table. Scatter a few more balls on the table, and a floral pick at the base of the trifle bowl.
Combine green and red napkins with complimentary colored balls. Fold the napkins in triangles and drape them in juice glasses. Nestle a ball in the middle, or balance one at the base.
Seasons > Christmas > Decorations for the home > 4 Christmas Centerpieces Using a Trifle Bowl
The eyelet table runner provides a light backdrop for the centerpiece to show it off. Since the figures are dark, they would disappear against a bare table. The striped placemats keep the color theme going without making it all too frilly.
