Our inspiration for this fun, but simple project comes to us from the pages of Marie Claire Idées. We love marrying old, discarded objects to create beautiful, new objects (pun intended!). Recycling tea cups, candle sticks and cake plates is about the most charming way there is to salvage yesterday's treasures and by doing so, you'll save as much as 75% of the cost of traditional centerpieces! To get the look, follow these simple steps:
1. Search flea markets, thrift stores, and eBay for broken (and cheap) candelabras and tea cups.
2. Your bases (the candelabras) can be any material, from ceramic to tarnished silver. Just be sure spray paint them all the same color to create a unified look.*
3. If you're really crafty, you can reglaze your tea cups, but we think that's a lot of extra work! Instead, pick up assorted cups in one color—or pick up sets that coordinate. If you choose a simple white cup, you can embellish the cups yourself with ceramic decals.
4. Glue the cups to your bases with solvent-free Elmer's Craft Bond Ceramic & Glass Glue.
5. Voila! Centerpieces. Fill each with fruits, nuts, sweets, small plants and soy or beeswax votives, and congratulate yourself on your creativity and thriftiness.
Photo courtesy of Marie Claire Idées.
*Eco Warning: It should be noted that spray paint, while giving objects a prolonged shelf life, is not eco-friendly. Contained in an aerosol can, spray paint contains a propellant, and is believed to cause neurological damage with prolonged use when not properly venilated.
 These madcap teacup candelabras cost 75% less than traditional floral arrangements—and are so much more fun! | a diy centerpiece |
