No-Fuss Centerpieces

Have an early-morning birthday celebration with bagels or plain doughnuts instead of sugary cupcakes. Stack bagels atop a cake plate and place taper candles within each stack. Alternating pumpernickel and egg bagels or sesame and poppy can create colorful patterns. To ensure that the candles stay upright and don't lean on the bagels or doughnuts, drip some melted wax on the plate to use as an anchor. Festive ribbons add the final touch; just be sure to blow out the flames before they get too close!

East meets West with this playful centerpiece created with take-out boxes. Perfect for a themed party, add smaller boxes filled with candies or chocolates as guest favors to each place setting. Found at craft stores, take-out boxes are a blank canvas for your ideas and personality. Besides the traditional white, try patterned or colored boxes for a different look. For an authentic accent, chopsticks are made in a variety of materials, not just wood. Add some whimsy and a natural element with wheatgrass or flowers. Line the box before watering.

For a year-round centerpiece that pulls its weight in the kitchen, plant a large bowl with assorted herbs. Pick plants that have the same sun and water requirements, since they'll be roommates, so to speak. Pinch off a few leaves as you're cooking for a fresh-tasting boost of flavor to your dish. Great herbs to try include basil, thyme, rosemary, and parsley.

The Japanese have been creating bonsai trees for more than 2,000 years. These living works of art can be made from nearly any tree species, but require tremendous amounts of patience and care. You can create this natural look much faster by using small potted shrubs instead of miniature trees. Wrap the base of a potted clipping or small shrub with textured paper or birch bark. As your plants grow, you can clip them back, forming a sculpted look and flow to the branches, just like a bonsai, but without the wait.

During a holiday time-crunch, this rustic centerpiece can be made in a flash. Take an old wooden box, small fruit crate, or basket and fill it with pinecones and some small pine branches. If you're lucky enough to have conifers in your backyard or local park, get the kids to gather your supplies and help arrange the centerpiece. Cones from both fir and pine trees work equally well and provide an assortment of sizes and shapes. With nicer boxes, an old cloth napkin can protect against sap and debris.