Shells and Tiny Pumpkins Create A Fall Centerpiece

1. Step One: Find the really dirty, dusty, tarnished silver plated tray that I have been hauling around for 10 years.  (Where in the world could I have stashed it this time?)  Tom finds it under the bed...

2. Apply elbow grease to black tarnish.  Ewww.... sort of disgusting. Gosh, I hope this works!

3. Go to farm for fanciful pumpkins. (need cute boyfriend to push wheelbarrow!)

4. Dig out fall collection of amber, yellow, brown and sea green sea glass (box in the garage?)

5. Find collection of shells (I keep a pile of neutral bleached out pieces for fall) and interesting pieces of found driftwood. Believe it or not, the acorns were collected on one of our forays to Angel Island this summer - could not resist putting them in my picnic basket before we came home.

6. Add Candles.

Voila'! 

A new centerpiece for our coffee table this Autumn at our new home. 

I love doing this every year, as it gives me a chance to sift through our found sea glass and shell memories as we create more...

Mason Jars + Candy Corn = Beach Cottage Candle Centerpieces

Apparently, today is National Candy Corn Day.  I almost missed it! 

According to my friend Janet Rudolph on her blog "Mystery Fanfare",  

"The National Confectioners Association estimates that 20 million pounds (9000 tons) of candy corn are sold annually.  The top branded retailer of candy corn, Brach's sells enough candy corn each year to circle the earth 4.25 times if the kernels were laid end to end."

Yikes!  That's a whole lot of candy corn.  Personally, I haven't eaten a piece of candy corn in over 20 years.   But I did spot this fun idea for a candle centerpiece on Pinterest to celebrate fall at the coast.
  

Pretty darn easy to create something fun for a Halloween Centerpiece! 

Mason Jars, Fall colored candles and candy corns.  For something a little more "beachy" think about mixing it up with vintage aqua jars!

P.S.  Janet's recipe on her blog today looks pretty darn scrumptious!  Candy Corn Truffles