Valentine's Day Centerpiece

A beautiful centerpiece completes the look of any table. For Valentine's Day, try this easy-to-make, heart-shaped floral arrangement with white and red roses and a pillar candle.

Supplies Needed:

- 11" x 17" piece of flat, floral foam (found at craft stores or mass merchandise stores in the crafting section).
- Heart pattern (There are many on the internet. One that is approximately 7"- 9" long and 8" by 10" wide works well).
- Pencil, pen or marker
- Knife (a pairing knife works well).
- Pillar candle
- Candle holder (large enough to hold the pillar candle)
- Paint, fabric or ribbon (to cover the foam. Red or white are the preferred colors).
- Glue (if using fabric or ribbon to cover the foam).
- Bamboo skewer or other like item (to pierce holes in the foam).
- Artificial flowers (white, closed roses and red, bloomed roses).
- Wire cutters
- Ruler or tape measure.

Begin with your floral foam. Trace the heart pattern and cut around it. Flip the foam over and do the same on the other side (you will know where to cut because of the knife prints on the other side of the foam). In the center of your heart, trace a circle the size of your candle holder and cut it out. Again, flip the foam over and do the same on the other side.

When covering the foam cut-out, the easiest and quickest technique to use is craft paint. However, a more experienced (or patient) person may want to cover the heart cut-out with fabric or wrap it with ribbon.

If using ribbon, begin within the circle cut out for the candle holder. Glue the end of the ribbon on the foam and wrap the ribbon around the foam, overlapping the ribbon slightly. Be sure to keep the ribbon taunt while wrapping. Secure the end with glue.

If using fabric, place your heart pattern onto the fabric. Measure 4¡¨ around the edge of the heart (you need extra fabric to overlap). Cut the fabric piece out and place on the foam piece. You will need to cut an X with your knife inside the inside cut-out. Glue down the fabric onto the foam, keeping it taunt.

After you cover the foam, begin to arrange the flowers.

Use white, closed roses around the top of the foam. It is easier to form the shape of the heart doing this. The roses will be placed approximately 2 inches a part (more or less depending on how big your heart is). A good trick is to use a bamboo skewer or other pointed object to pierce the hole through the foam and then place the flower in the hole. Snip the ends of the flower (where they are held together), and then snip off more stem to place the flower (about 2¡¨). Your heart is covered with paint, ribbon or fabric, so it should look full, but not too crowed.

You will then do the same with the red roses along the sides of the foam. Place these flowers 2 inches a part, with 2¡¨ stems.

After you are finished arranging your flowers, your centerpiece will be complete. Display on your table or any other flat surface! Enjoy!