Holiday Centerpiece

Eye-catching holiday decor needn't be expensive or a challenge to create. This unique holiday centerpiece uses "thises and thats" found in your own backyard or local craft store. It takes only 10 minutes to assemble, and the end result is undoubtedly dazzling.

Centerpiece supplies:

• Freezer-safe container with smooth, straight sides
• Distilled water
• Tea-light candles in clear containers or other decorative candles
• Paper towel
• Edged tray to hold centerpiece
• Fresh greens

Optional items:

• Artificial or natural pine greens and pinecones
• Fresh cranberries
• Small, plastic ornaments
• String beads
• Ribbon

Step One:

Place pine greens, pinecones and any other optional decorative elements you wish to include in your centerpiece in a freezer-safe container, using enough so that they stay in place when water is added. Arrange them so that they touch the sides of the container.

Step Two:

Carefully add distilled water to within 1 inch of the top of the container. Float tea lights on top of the water. Place on a flat surface in the freezer; freeze up to several days or until solid.

After 15 minutes before unmolding, remove the container from the freezer. Let stand at room temperature until the ice releases from the sides.

Step Three:

Trim or fold paper towel so it is a bit smaller than the centerpiece and place on tray. Place the centerpiece on top of the paper towel to keep it from sliding. Add fresh greens around the base of the centerpiece. Remove water from the tray as needed.

Simply Beautiful

This all-white variation (right) brings a subtle sophistication to the holidays. We used white and silver wire-edge ribbon, glittered curly twigs (available at craft stores), small plastic silver ornaments (found on floral picks), pinecones and white tea-light candles to craft this elegant display.