Three fall flower centrepieces you can make yourself

I had such fun on Monday taping Cityline with Shawn Gibson from Teatro Verde, Arren Williams who is now at The Bay and Jason Parsons from Peller Estates Wineries. Humbled by the company, actually, especially when it came to showing off my ideas for three Thanksgiving floral ideas. Teatro Verde is one of the best florists in the city, so I was on my toes!

Anyway, I thought I would share three ideas to take simple flowers, and make them into something really unique.

1. Living branch

Start with a branch, or piece of driftwood. The ones I used were from Quince.

Fill small ramekins (mine were from Teatro Verde) with oasis. I bought the oasis at Loblaws. Use thin gauge wire to attach the ramekins to the branches. Add water.

Plant blooms into the ramekins. You can use a tight bloom, like button mums or carnations for a "puff ball" kind of look, or a larger bloom like a lily for a more decorative look.

2. Soda bottle centerpiece

Start with clear soda (or beer, depending on your household drinking habits!) bottles, that are clean and dry.

Pour about a half a cup of paint into the bottle. Swirl around until the inside of the bottle is coated. Pour out excess. You may need to repeat a second coat if it streaks when it dries.

Add single blooms like ranunculus, dahlia or sprig orchids. Add berries if you want to dress it up a little.

Line them up down the centre of the table, or on a mantel.

3. Inside out lanterns.

Start with two or three lanterns. Mine were from Pottery Barn. Line the bottom with moss or pebbles.

Assemble two or three small bouquets. I took apart an inexpensive supermarket bouquet and rearranged it into three little ones. Tie the bouquets (using dental floss is the easiest way I know) and cut them short.

Place in water glasses, mason jars or any small container you have lying around the house. Place arrangement in lantern.

Scatter tea lights all around the arrangement.

Make sure to watch the Cityline episode live on Monday October 3 at 9am and 2pm. It was such a fun show!