Christmas Decorating Projects - Holiday Centerpiece

Interior Decorating

Evergreen Centerpiece, Page 2

Working with Cedar

Cedar is the secret to this long lasting fresh arrangement.

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• Variations
• Materials
• Tips
• Christmas Ideas

Choose boughs that are fresh, flat, and supple. Avoid branches that are dry, very large, or are curled.

Use smaller boughs as is. Cut up larger boughs into sections or cut off each individual "leaf" to use alone.

Be sure to strip the bottom 1-2" of each branch before inserting it into damp floral foam.

	Cut Cedar Boughs This shows how to cut a long branch of cedar into several useable sections. Use these to fill in the top and sides of the arrangement. Tip: Remove a few needles at the end of each branch before inserting into the foam. See photos of materials used in this centerpiece.
	Cutting up cedar Cut up larger branches of cedar to make lots of smaller sprigs. This will keep the size of your arrangement in scale.
	Cedar Branches Shows a cedar branch before being stripped at the end. Gently remove the last few needles on evergreen branches.
	Stripped Branch Remove needles up about 1/2 to 1" on each stem. This will give you a clean end to insert into the foam, and will give a better hold.
	Fill around all edges Cover all of the edges of the container with shorter pieces of cedar.
	Cedar complete Cedar covers the damp floral foam, but there are still plenty of areas to be filled in with flowers and other greens.
	Add Evergreen Add a few stems of other types of evergreens. A variety of greens adds interest and color. GO ON to Add Flowers and Decorations