Need paper centerpiece ideas...

[AmyMCGS]

Most of you know by now that I'm the Activity Director at a nursing home.

Every year, our big event is our Christmas Open House. This year, I'm doing a "Peace on Earth" theme using white doves.

I need centerpieces for 28 dining room tables. The catch is this: we have NO money right now. Any supplies outside of paper, glue, and other basics will probably come out of my own pocket. I'd really like to do something with a white dove, which of course wouldn't be hard to do with white copier paper or cardboard and glitter.

The other thing to keep in mind is that wrapped boxes or other gift-looking things (bags) get immediately ripped up by dementia patients who think they are opening gifts. Otherwise, I'd just get some suitable dove-themed wrapping paper and put "gifts" in the middle of every table.

My first idea was to take these little boxes from Oriental Trading (they look sort of like Chinese take-out boxes) that are blue with a snowflake print and then somehow attach a two-sided paper dove on the top, and use some pine roping to make a little wreath around the bottom. I haven't totally worked that out yet, though, and I'm afraid it might look tacky. Plus, the boxes are probably too small for what I have in mind.


So, does anyone have any other ideas for a cheap peace dove centerpiece? They only have to last through one party, by the way!

[sunshine]

Well, this is a tough one. Do you have or can you get a wreath for every table? Then add the paper doves to decorate the wreaths. Of course you could MAKE paper wreaths for each table too

[captclearance]

this is a cute one...... do the wings with tissue paper.....

http://members.aol.com/Sabetour/Dovecraft.html

For this one I would make little stands..... Use some plaster of paris ( Walmart.... 2.00 for large container) use some kind of small cup (disposable) for the form, use wire (heavy gauge or coat hanger) and make those picute holding wires with the corled top. This would be easy to do by rolling the end with a pair of needle nosed pliers...... Then set it in the form... the form will be a weighted base for the holder........

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_organizi...379738,00.html

[captclearance]

How about this dove........ It's Pablo Picasso's "Dove of Peace"

http://www.pablo-picasso-posters.com/Dove_of_Peace.htm

Copy and paste image to a printing program, size it to the size you want. Print and cute out just leaving a bit of white around the image (Leave signiture if you like) and use a glitter pen or make fine glitter lines here and there to add some flair.......

[captclearance]

Here is another of Picasso's doves..."Colombe avec Fleurs ".... you could use both and have a couple different ones......This moght be a chance to expose them to some fine art......

http://www.pablo-picasso-posters.com...vec_Fleurs.htm

[Missy]

Great ideas!!