Upcycle Vintage Doilies Into A Stunning DIY Centerpiece On A Thrift Store Budget

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Once upon a time, drink coasters as we know them didn't exist. Instead, there were doilies, made with the mad crocheting skills of Victorian-era women. They were the coasters of old. Nowadays, since coasters are actually a thing, crafters have started turning vintage thrift store doilies into all kinds of cool things, including bowls that complement a variety of stunning DIY Dollar Tree centerpieces. To make this DIY a reality, you'll wrap retro doilies around a balloon (to create the bowl shape), cover the doilies with craft glue to set the form, and then place a candle inside the resulting bowl to create a centerpiece.

It's because vintage doilies were hand-crocheted that they're such an obvious choice for the base of a budget centerpiece. Although many doilies are made following a pattern, it's fair to say that each one is unique — and deconstructing doilies for the purposes of this DIY only enhances their appeal. To that end, start this project with at least one large doily that you're willing to cut up and remake. Yet another way to create a gorgeous table centerpiece using an unexpected kitchen essential (like a metal colander), with two or more doilies, your design capability grows exponentially.

The DIY calls for a package of balloons. Round ones are best for this. You'll need a bowl that can hold a blown-up balloon — plus a pair of scissors; Mod Podge Gloss Sealer, Glue, and Finish; a second small bowl; and a paint brush. Finally, look for a pillar candle like the HUTIP Boho Pillar Candle that's visually interesting in its own right. That, combined with the beauty and elegance of the retro doily, will make this craft a showstopper.

If you've ever done papier-mâché, then you understand how to use a balloon to a create a three-dimensional form. Just like the paper you might wrap around a form to make a vintage papier-mâché Jack-o-lantern, in this DIY, the doily takes its shape from the balloon. Because the balloon is round, the doily should also be circular or at least have the capacity to create a round form once you plaster it onto the inflated balloon. For example, a five-sided star-patterned doily can be wrapped around the balloon with the help of a little Mod Podge mixed with water. (It's easier to work with the balloon if you set it in the small bowl.) Brush the glue onto the doily until it's covered with the Mod Podge, and you've created a star-shaped bowl.

You're free to add details to the basic "doily-mâché" bowl. For example, you can paste extra pieces from the doily you're working with, onto the bowl. You can also cut pieces from a different doily to introduce new patterns. On a related note, working with a second or third doily also allows you to introduce new yarn colors to your creation. Finally, once you're satisfied with the design of the doily bowl, allow the paste to completely dry, and then pop the balloon. Stand the candle inside the doily and light it up.

As is, this doily bowl doesn't sit on a base. It basically becomes a cup for the candle. However, you can introduce some height and visual interest if you mount the finished doily bowl onto a Black Metal Pedestal Candle Holder from Dollar Tree. Your best bet is to glue the doily directly onto the base with a hot glue gun. This could become quite a dramatic centerpiece if you fill the doily cup with a contrasting, spherical candle. You'd then have a centerpiece that stands on a tall, black base with a light-colored doily topper and a moody candle nestled inside the doily bowl. The juxtaposition of dark and light makes this display memorable.

For a bigger display, create doily cup centerpieces at varying heights. For example, you could make one that sits on the table (following the original instructions for this DIY). Another piece in the display could feature a doily bowl on a pedestal candleholder. The final bowl could sit on one of Dollar Tree's Porcelain Pillar Candleholders. The triple-candleholder design taps the rule of three, a common display technique in interior design. The rule basically calls for items to be grouped in threes, (though five to seven objects also happens) to create more visual interest. Implement the rule of three with candles and candleholders of different colors and heights to make one stunning — but still budget — DIY centerpiece.