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The craft project for December is a Christmas centerpiece. This basic centerpiece could, however, be used for other occasions by varying the materials and decorations.

Supplies needed:

	Twelve-inch candle		Six-ounce cat food can
	Florist foam		Boxwood, holly, pine or other greenery
	Red ribbon, small cones or other decorations

Instructions for making the centerpiece:

If possible, select a gold-colored cat food can. If a gold can is not available, the can may be painted gold; otherwise use the can as it is and coordinate the color of the decorations with the existing color of the can.

Slice the florist foam in half lengthwise and use the cat food can like a cookie cutter to cut out a piece of florist foam to fit inside the can. Leave the florist foam inside the can and submerge the can in water, holding it under the water until the florist foam is soaked. Remove the can from the water and drain off excess water. Dry outside of can.

Center the candle over the can and once you are certain of the center press the candle straight down into the florist foam in one movement. If the candle is removed and a second attempt to center it is made, then the candle may not be stable in the florist foam.

Cut the boxwood, holly, pine and other greens into 2 and 3 inch pieces. Starting at the outside edge of the can, insert a piece of greenery into the florist foam as horizontal as possible. Three or four pieces, depending on their sizes, should be inserted like this. When the horizontal pieces around the edge are in, add a piece between each of those, sticking each into the florist foam a little more toward the center and more upright than the first circle. Continue with a third circle near the base of the candle and make these sprigs nearly upright.

Finish the centerpiece be adding small decorations.

• Narrow red ribbon can be made into bows and fastened with floral wire with the wire stuck directly into the florist foam.
• Small cones, such as those from a hemlock tree can be tied together with florist wire and then the florist wire can be stuck in the florist foam.
• One-inch cubes can be cut from packing foam, wrapped in solid-color wrapping paper and tied with colored string to make miniature Christmas packages. Stick a piece of florist wire into these small packages on the underside and stick the other end of the wire into the florist foam.

Place the centerpiece on your table or give as a gift. One year our Troop added small tags that said "Please come to our December Court of Awards" and used the centerpieces as invitations. Whatever, you do with the centerpieces, we hope you enjoy them, but please remember not to leave a lighted candle unattended.

This page is maintained by the Troop's Webmaster Victoria.

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