Tutorial Tuesday: Manzanita Centerpiece

For both Easter & Mother's Day, my tablescape centerpiece included a "tree" that I put together.  While easy to do, it made it a big statement, so I thought I'd share this easy project with you.

What you'll need:

~1-3 manzanita branches (depending on how big you want it to be & the size of the branches)

~an urn or container of some kind

~spray paint (my two branches required 4 cans)

~ possibly something to stick down in the urn to help hold the branches in place

(Anything that has a little weight & fits should work......I've seen people use decorative orbs, floral foam, etc.  If the items will show, you'll want it to be something decorative, of course.)

~ tree "decorations"

What to do:

After testing out your branches to make sure they'll fit in the urn/container, spray paint branches desired color.  I painted mine "Ballet Slipper Pink"......I love the subtle color.  (The branches are pretty in their natural state, so you could skip the paint depending on the look you're going for.  I have one branch I've kept in its natural state for another tablescape I have in my head that I want to do sometime in the near future!)

 I took the branches out to the field next door to paint them.

 It took 3 or 4 coats to completely cover the dark color of the branches. 

(Guess I could have used primer, huh!)

 After paint is completely dry, set the branches in the container. 

 I was lucky that the hole at the bottom of my urn was just the right size for the ends of the branches, which helped to hold them upright.

I wanted my two branches to look like one, so I gently intertwined some of the limbs.  This also helped to hold it in place.  {Be careful when doing this as some of the limbs are fragile.}

 {Once in its desired place, here is where you might have to add something down in the urn to help keep the branches upright.}

Then, just decorate it.  For Easter, I chose to use vintage eggs & postcards on the branches.......

 

.....and added some "fluff" & eggs to the urn.

 

For Mother's Day, I wired on some daisies, along with a few butterflies & birds, and even a hummingbird or two....... 

 ........and added a few hydrangeas to the urn.

 

 {But that's all you get to see of my Mother's Day tablescape for now.  You'll have to wait 'til Thursday to see the rest of it!}

Another benefit of this centerpiece is that the branches can be repainted over & over to give your table a completely different look!  Hmmm, what color should I do next?

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you'll be back soon.

{I'm linking with Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style,  Show &  Tell Friday at My Romantic Home, Pink Saturday at How Sweet The Sound, Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper, Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch, & Hoo's Got Talent at Night Owl Crafting}