Pumpkin Candleholder Centerpiece Made From Wine Glasses

Yes, it is that time of year once again.  Autumn, fall, whatever you choose to call it is here.  It is an absolutely beautiful time of year when days shorten and leaves change color and fall to the ground,  when pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn abound,  when people decorate their yards and porches with corn shocks, beautiful blazing mums and pumpkins - lots and lots of pumpkins.  Halloween decorations will also appear and last until the end of October.  I love this time of year!

Who doesn't look forward to cooler sunny days and brisk cool evenings where a light jacket is required? Isn't it nice to be able to burn a fire in the fire pit and enjoy the warmth of the flames while being mesmerized by the dancing colors before you?  Maybe you can even make s'mores, those delicious delectable treats made with graham crackers, toasted marshmallows and chocolate.  Yum.  I had my first s'more at about age 7.  Our neighbor was a Girl Scout leader and she took us to a cook out with her.  Yes, I thought it was the best thing I had ever eaten and remember it like it was yesterday.  And there is hot apple cider with a cinnamon stick or hot chocolate to enjoy on cool evenings.  Football fans are in their glory this time of year and there are so many wonderful festivals to attend.

With the coming of Autumn, it also means time to decorate the interior of the house changing everything from a summer theme to the warm ambiance of fall colors - oranges, yellows, dark reds and browns.

I had seen this pumpkin trio centerpiece I made over the weekend on Pinterest.  It was from an Etsy shop and there were no instructions, but I truly loved the way it looked so I decided to give it a shot and create one for our dining table.  I have to say I am quite pleased with the way it turned out and it is really easy to do.  All you need are 3 wine glasses in different sizes.  Mine came from, where else, The Dollar Tree.

I had lots of acrylic craft paints and brushes on hand and I buy Elmer's glue in the gallon sized jug so that was also on hand.  I had fall leaves left from another project and the only other necessary item was a hot glue gun.  Be sure and cover your surface with something that will not allow paint or glue to seep through.  I use a white plastic trash bag.  Here is what you do to make this adorable centerpiece..

First, remove any labels from the glasses and coat the outside of each glass with a layer of Elmer's glue.  I used a 1 inch foam brush to accomplish this.  Let the glue dry.  Doesn't take but a few minutes.

Next, put some orange, yellow and burgundy paint on a plate to use as an artist's palate.  Paper plates will work just fine.  I used one of my ironstone plates because I can wash it off and use it again and again.  Using a foam brush, load your brush by mixing your colors and start painting the glass from the bottom to the stem.  I used burgundy and orange for the base colors, then highlighted with yellow.

See how you get a nice variegated color by using the two colors at once?

Now, it's time to paint the top of the "pumpkins".  Use three shades of green and put a small amount of each color paint on a plate.  Using your foam brush, load the brush with all 3 colors and paint the stems from the top of the "pumpkin" up, covering what would be the bottom of the glass also.

Using a thin liner brush, load the brush with the burgundy color and make lines that would divide the segments of a pumpkin.  I made the lines by rolling the brush between my thumb and fore finger so that they are not perfectly straight - you want the lines to be sort of wiggly.  Let all of the glasses dry completely.

I had a package of fall leaves from The Dollar tree that had wired stems.  They are the big leaves that are under the pumpkins in the picture at the top of the page.  I cut the stems off with wire cutters and curled one end around my finger.  I twisted the wired leaf stem around the stem of the glass, then hot glued a small artificial leaf to the stem.

Place some small tea light candles in clear plastic containers on the top of the "pumpkin" when the paint is dry and you have an adorable fall centerpiece that you can enjoy through Thanksgiving.  Check clearance sections at Target, Michael's, or WalMart for sale tea lights.  I got a real bargain on mine at Target.  I sat the trio on a burlap runner that I had also made and was done.  This was a really easy craft project and cost very little to make.  I LOVE the way they look on the table.  It is easy to see over the centerpiece, it is colorful and appropriate for the season.  It will also provide some lovely candle light for evening dinners.  Easy peasy.  That's the kind of project I love to do when I am so busy every day.

You may have some old wine glasses sitting around gathering dust at your house.  That would be one less expense for you if you make this project.  These are NOT for drinking out of, but for decorative purposes only.  Enjoy your centerpiece if you make one as much as we will enjoy ours.  Happy Fall Y'All.

Everyday Donna

Things to Remember:

The falling leaves, drift by my window,
The Autumn leaves, of red and gold.      Autumn Leaves lyrics by Johnny Mercer
(now I have that song in my head and will sing it for days.  ; )