DIY Floral Skull Centerpiece

The first sight of pumpkins in October always gets me giddy with delight. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays – second to Thanksgiving, of course. I love getting into the dark and ghoulish spirit, always looking to outdo the previous year when it comes to decor. I’m super excited to share this Halloween themed floral centerpiece with you – I mean, who knew a human skull makes for such a wonderfully creepy vessel?!

You’ll need:

• a life size mode skull with removable calvarium
• a wet floral foam block
• pruning shears
• a knife
• a large Ziploc bag
• a variety of fresh flowers (large and small blooms, twigs, an assortment of full leaf, slender and floppy greenery)

Start by removing the top of the skull. Cut a square block out of the floral foam.

Fit it inside the skull and slice away corners and edges so that it fits. You can press down on the foam to make sure it gets as deep as it can. Use a knife to slice off any excess foam but be sure to leave at least 1/2 an inch of floral foam peeking out from the top of the skull. You want the foam deep enough to hold your flower stems!

Remove the foam and submerge it in a bowl of water. Leave it for at least a few minutes to absorb as much water as possible. Take a large Ziploc bag and fit it over the skull. This will prevent water from leaking through the skull and allow you to water your centerpiece once it’s finished.

Set the wet floral foam back into the skull. Trim the plastic lining.

Now it’s time to arrange your centerpiece! When arranging flowers in wet foam, you must always trim the stems at an angle so they can absorb plenty of water. Once you insert a stem you cannot remove it as the wet foam has no memory. Insert the stems upright and about 3/4 of the way down. Start with the largest, leafiest flowers. This will help set the framework for your centerpiece.

Since you’ll want your skull upright when working, set a small foam block under the back of the skull to help prop it up. Add more flowers – I added the fluffy dahlias and calla lillies next. Be sure to add foliage around the edge of the skull to help hide the foam.

Add all the tall green stalks and slender stems last. Peel away any leaves or flowers to help insert the stems without crushing the other flowers.

Add interesting elements like grapes on a vine or long twigs with berries. And have fun with shaping the centerpiece – it shouldn’t be too perfect. Outliers make it fun and interesting!

Your centerpiece should last at least a week. Be sure to water it each day and keep it out of direct sunlight.

(images by HonestlyYUM)