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" Nothing brightens the atmosphere at a holiday party like a beautifully set table topped with a dazzling centerpiece, but you don&amp;#039;t have to hire an expensive florist to set a festive mood. Some of the most colorful and interesting ingredients for a vibrant holiday arrangement can be found at a reasonable price at your neighborhood grocery store or local nursery\u2014or even for free in your own backyard. Here&amp;#039;s a collection of easy-to-make, easy-on-the-wallet holiday centerpiece ideas that&amp;#039;ll add cheer without breaking the bank.  Rustic Mix Give an autumn table setting a jolt of rustic warmth by topping it with a mix of small and large arrangements in mismatched terra-cotta pots. Or keep it simple with just a single vessel filled with a mass of vibrant blooms. Insert a plastic container into the pot, nestle stems of wire vine or floral foam inside, and add a mix of flowers in an array of autumn hues, such as gerberas, miniature calla lilies, ranunculus and roses. Folded ti leaves were used in these arrangements, but any autumn leaves will work. Add a few Billy Balls (a.k.a. Craspedia) as a playful finishing touch.  Citrus Zest For an ultra-easy yet super-vibrant centerpiece, simply layer a mix of navel oranges, kumquats and lemons on a wooden or ceramic platter and feather in lemon leaves or other sprigs of greenery. Add extra color by topping each napkin with a stem of kumquats and wrapping with a strand of red kitchen twine. And add a fresh scent by adorning chairs with a star anise-studded star orange in a mesh fruit bag tied with a ribbon. Photo by Kate Sears.   Pinecone Party Favor  Perk up place settings in no time\u2014and at virtually no cost\u2014with cute party favors crafted from backyard basics. Cut and press a block of floral foam into copper or ceramic bud vases\u2014or even paper cups. Push in the rounded end of a pinecone, securing it in place with a spot of glue. Then ring the base of the cone with sprigs of pepper berries, small twigs and greenery. Your guests will appreciate the takeaway\u2014and remember you in the days ahead for as long as the petite arrangements last in their own homes.  Photo by Jennifer Newbery Mead.   Natural Beauty  Brighten a sideboard or console with a collection of flowering bulbs, such as paperwhites or amaryllis, which are easy to force into bloom in winter. Just follow the bulb seller&amp;#039;s instructions for planting in potting soil or on a layer of stones to coax the bulbs to blossom in less than a month (go to WomansDay.com/Paperwhites for growing tips). Set them in vintage vases, sugar bowls or creamers, and gather in a grouping to add fragrance and color to a room. Cover the soil or stones with Spanish moss or hazelnuts for extra warmth and texture.  Photo by Jennifer Newbery Mead.   Woodland Tablescape Birch branches bring an earthy edge to an elegant arrangement for a dinner or coffee table. Use a 1 to 1\u00BD-inch router bit to drill wide 1\u00BD-inch-deep holes into the ends of slim logs (about 2 to 4 inches in diameter) cut to various lengths (from 3 to 6 inches). Set the logs on end on top of a round mirror or flat tray to use as holders for taper or pillar candles. Enliven the mix with various clear or colored bottles and glasses filled with pepper berries and evergreen sprigs. Scatter a smattering of chestnuts, hazelnuts and rosehips about the bases of the bottles and branches as a finishing touch.  Photo by Jennifer Newbery Mead.   Family Tree Festive arrangements can turn demilune or occasional tables into eye-catching focal points, too. Placed in a crock or glazed pot, a tiny evergreen tree dressed with handmade ornaments can bring an extra touch of holiday cheer to a sunroom or den. Cut circular shapes from felt as frames for photos of family members. Glue a loop of ribbon to the top of each and suspend from the branches. Top the tree with a bright red bow.  Photo by Laura Moss.   Mini-Bouquets In lieu of a large centerpiece, why not line a long table with a band of tiny floral arrangements? Simply fill a collection of cut-glass or crystal water goblets with sprigs of boxwood or cedar, and paperwhite blossoms or rosebuds. Position one in front of each place setting as sweet grace notes of color and fragrance.  Photo by Laura Moss.   Tiers of Cheer Bring a forgotten hall table to life with an attention-grabbing arrangement of tiered bowls laced with poinsettia blossoms. Stack vintage milk-glass pedestal bowls\u2014readily found for a song at tag sales and thrift shops\u2014one inside the other and secure them in place with hot glue. Fill the bowls with florist&amp;#039;s stones or hazelnuts and insert a poinsettia blossom into each. Since real poinsettia blossoms fade quickly when cut, silk blossoms were used in this arrangement. If you prefer to use real poinsettias, keep the cut blossoms looking lively by inserting the stems in florist&amp;#039;s tubes filled with water and preservative, then hide the tubes beneath the pebbles or nuts.  Photo by Kate Sears.   Simply Swedish  Give a casual kitchen a boost of seasonal energy with a big, bold arrangement of Swedish-inspired flowers and aromatic greens. Insert a block of floral foam into the base of a vintage breadbox, then spike it with airy sprigs of baby&amp;#039;s breath, vibrant Hypericum berry branches and fresh-scented boughs of cedar. Add to the Scandinavian spirit with other classic Nordic flourishes, such as red-and-white checked napkins, striped ribbons or painted wooden trays or cake stands.  Photo by Michael Partenio.   Country Bounty Enrich a country dinner table with a simple yet dramatic centerpiece. Place a container full of aromatic paperwhites into an antique ironstone tureen and corral the stems with a strand of raffia. Surround the container with cut blocks of florist&amp;#039;s foam and insert sprigs of ivy, eucalyptus leaves and Hypericum berries. Wrap napkins with loops of red yarn topped with berry sprigs to enliven the table with extra shots of color.  Photo by Michael Partenio.  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/home/crafts-projects/how-to/a1152/10-diy-holiday-centerpieces-101184/>