by Patricia Sabina

Created on: December 09, 2008   Last Updated: December 20, 2008

Making a Christmas centerpiece can be an enjoyable experience for everyone. By involving others in the process and making it a team effort, you won't be stuck for ideas and the end result could be a pleasant surprise. More importantly, you will be creating something of beauty together each making a unique contribution. What better way is there than that to begin the holiday!

Some members of your family may not be keen to participate. Just get started and when they see what fun they're missing, they will soon want to join in. To help start the process, gather together a range of basic items which could be included in the centerpiece, such as:

- A shallow bowl (ceramic or glass)
- Baubles
- Candles
- Greenery, flowers, or a plant
- Fruit and other edibles
- Christmas wrapping paper
- Ornaments
- Ribbon
- Tinsel

Begin by sitting down together and setting some basic ground rules. Agree that you will only go forward with an idea when everyone is happy with a suggestion. This way, it may take a little longer to reach your desired goal, but with everyone in agreement the end result will be sure to be a happy one! It also helps to agree not to judge or make negative comments about anyone's suggestions. The aim is to encourage ideas, and not to squash creativity.

You may decide to make your centerpiece around a particular theme or by only using specific colours. Here are a few suggestions to spark some ideas. Your creative participants are sure to come up with more.

- A winter wonderland
- The nativity
- Your family
- Silver and gold
- A cartoon character

Children may have a special little toy they would like to include or you might add the photograph of a family member. Perhaps a photograph of someone who can't be with you or someone you want to remember. Let the ideas unfold - the creative juices will begin to flow and just see what transpires. It may only take 10 or 15 minutes to come together, or it could turn into a marathon task. There is no knowing what will happen and that is the exciting part.

With everyone participating, the end result could be a surprising delight. But as the saying goes, it's not the winning but the taking part that counts'. So no matter what the outcome, you will have spent quality time with your family, friends and loved ones, negotiating, creating, compromising, giving and taking, and hopefully having lots of fun!

Have a joyous and peaceful Christmas.

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