How to Make a Simple Centerpiece From Dried Stems

Select the stems for your arrangement. You can choose flowers from your own garden and hang them upside down in a cool, dry place to dry or purchase pre-dried stems from a craft or home decor store to get dramatic pieces you may not have access to in your own garden. You can also choose both types and combine them. Choose at least one tall element and one shorter, fuller element to round out the arrangement.

Decide on the container. This arrangement will be long-lasting so choose a container you won't need for something else in the near future. A terra cotta or wood vase or an ornate metal container are good choices. Make sure the dried stems and container will blend together in an overall theme and are of similar style. If you are using themed stems, such as for fall centerpieces, make sure the container goes along with the season; however, if this will be a year-round arrangement, keep it neutral to match the home decor instead.

Lay out your dried stems. Select the most attractive ones and discard any that are damaged. Use the tallest, best-looking stems for the center of the piece and set aside smaller, less well developed pieces for the filler. Usually two to three different types of dried stems work best.

Place a block of craft foam or a brass pin holder in the bottom of your container. A brass pin holder works well for very tall, heavy stems that may cause the container to tip over or for a shallow, wide container where the stems may want to lean. Floral foam works fine if the vessel supports the stems.

Begin with the center and tallest stems. Place them in a strategic design, either symmetrical or asymmetrical, depending on your tastes. A symmetrical design means both sides will be arranged the same while a asymmetrical motif is more free-form and does not necessarily balance so the two sides reflect each other. Clip the stems if they are too long. You can keep the tall stems somewhat uniform in height or vary them.

Add other elements that are shorter or fuller to the arrangement, dispersing them among the tall stems. Clip these stems so their height is shorter than the first elements. They can be just slightly shorter or even half as tall, depending on the type of arrangement and elements you have chosen.

Fill out the arrangement with the less prominent foliage or floral stems placed among the others. These are shorter, less dramatic pieces that provide balance to the tall elements. You can choose to make this arrangement full or open, again depending on your taste and the elements you are using.