A Nautical Centerpiece Craft

Inspiration

• Before beginning your nautical centerpiece, choose a theme. You can select any type of nautical theme -- sailing, beaches, or lighthouses, for example. Seek images of various nautical scenes such as seashells, sailboats, lighthouses, anchors and thick rope, looking in books and online. Sketch a centerpiece design that uses these elements to create a design for your centerpiece.

Materials

• The first thing you will need is a container for your centerpiece. Try using a clear vase or jar so that you can view the materials inside. Collect driftwood, seashells and sand to fill the vase. Purchase nautical themed items at junk, thrift, fabric and craft stores, such as small anchors, bits of thick rope, blue and white ribbon, and canvas sail scraps. Purchase candles or flowers to adorn the centerpiece. You'll also need scissors and a hot glue gun to assemble your centerpiece.

Assembling

• Begin by adorning the exterior of your vase or jar with ribbon, rope or canvas sail. Wrap these adornments around the center of the vase and use your hot glue gun to secure them in place. Then, fill the vase with sand, placing seashells or small pieces of driftwood against the glass. Once you've filled the vase, insert your candles or flowers into the sand deep enough so they stand upright. Place larger items, such as anchor or lighthouse sculptures, and larger bits of driftwood around the flowers or candles to complete the centerpiece.

Finishing Touches

• Create fully cohesive decor by decorating your table to match your centerpiece. Consider using navy blue or off-white runners to match your centerpiece and nautical theme. Small anchor trinkets can be attached to place cards or napkin wrappings using bits of ribbon or rope. Place your centerpiece at the center of your table and light the candles for a nautically themed dining experience.