How to Make Carnation Ball Centerpieces

Dig out that depression glass cake stand and make an attention-grabbing floral pompom of a centerpiece in less time than it takes to fluff out a tissue-paper flower. Carnations inserted into a floral foam ball form an evenly rounded, easily customized pomander that stays fresh for hours after your event. Place one in the middle of a buffet table or one on each of the bistro-sized tables at a party. Try red carnations against a pink cloth for Valentine's Day; lavender and yellow for a spring luncheon; turquoise, orange and lime for a tropical brunch on the patio.

Things You'll Need

4- to 6-inch floral foam sphere
50 or more carnations
Bucket of water

Scissors
Fancy glass cake stand

Instructions

- 1
  Soak a 4- to 6-inch floral foam ball in water. The ball holds the moisture, distributing it to the flower stems so the blooms last longer.
- 2
  Snip the stalks off 50 or more carnations, about an inch lower than the receptacle, or base of the bloom. A larger foam ball may take more carnations to cover completely. Fifty flowers will cover the 4-inch ball, especially as you will be leaving an undecorated space on the bottom for setting the pomander on the platter.
- 3
  Fluff out the petals of the carnations and begin inserting the stalks into the foam. Start anywhere on the ball and push carnations into the foam in a straight line around the diameter.
- 4
  Fill in the foam ball, working around the circumference and keeping the flowers close enough together to hide the foam beneath them.
- 5
  Leave a small section of the foam ball open -- don't poke any carnations into it. This becomes the flat bottom that will sit securely on the cake stand.
- 6
  Set the carnation pomander on the tinted depression glass -- or another ornate cake stand -- and place the pomander, on its decorative pedestal, in the middle of the table.

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