Thanksgiving Crafts: Easy Monogrammed Vase Centerpiece

Thanksgiving is a great time to show off your home - and your craftiness! - to those you love. This incredibly easy monogrammed vase centerpiece project looks just like those featured in home entertaining magazines. However, the cost is much less expensive and the project so much fun to do!

For this project, you will need:

- One large clear glass vase

- Soap and water

- Paper towels

- Krylon Indoor Outdoor Primer in All-Purpose White

- Krylon Indoor Outdoor Paint in Satin Brown Boots

- Krylon Adhesive Spray

- Sheet of craft vinyl in a cream or tan color (available from local craft stores)

- Large stencil in the monogram letter of your choice

- Fine tipped permanent marker

- Scissors

- Fall colored fake foliage (available from local craft stores)

- Hot glue gun with glue sticks

- Small block of Styrofoam

- Newspaper and/or a large drop cloth

For easiest cleanup after your centerpiece project is finished, start by covering up your workspace. Use a few sheets of old newspaper or a large drop cloth designated for crafting and/or painting. Wash the glass vase out with soap and water to eliminate any dust. Dry the excess moisture with paper towels and then let the vase continue to air dry until all moisture has dissipated.

Turn the vase upside down on the drop cloth. Prime the bottom and outside of the vase using Krylon Indoor Outdoor Primer in All-Purpose White. Let the primer dry for a couple hours before painting the vase with Krylon Indoor Outdoor Paint in Satin Brown Boots. Add additional coats of paint until the color is rich on the glass and you are no longer able to see through it. Dry completely.

Lay the sheet of craft vinyl face down. Carefully trace the monogram onto the vinyl with a fine tipped marker. Cut out the monogram using scissors. Turn the vase right side up. Spray the back of the vinyl letter with Krylon Adhesive Spray and adhere it to the side of the vase. Dry completely.

Insert the small piece of Styrofoam into the bottom of the vase. Hot glue the pieces of foliage to the Styrofoam so that the leaves flow out of the vase. It doesn't really matter how you arrange this portion of the project, as this is all up to you how you want the final centerpiece to look. When complete, let the hot glue dry fully.

TIP: Find glass or crystal vases for super cheap at your local thrift store. They are often the same prices as you would pay at the dollar store, for much higher quality.