IKEA Hack Birthday Centerpiece With Botanical Doodle
One of my greastest pleasures is DIY birthday decorations, and depending on how much time I happen to have, the decorations might be something altogether new, or possibly a mix of new and repurposed from previous birthdays or holidays. And of course, since IKEA is my personal go to for props, these birthday displays may very well include something from my favorite big box Swedish store, since we have one just an hour from our home in Northen Israel. I try not to go there unless absolutely necessary, as I end up buying a whole bunch of things that I just “need” and you know how that goes! I’m shopping deprived, and I love it, but can make the trip to IKEA a bit difficult. Lest I digress, back the the birthday decor!
My daughter’s birthday which in on the last day of the Jewish month of Tammuz is during summer vacation, and we have often celebrated away from home…..2 years it was just my husband and daughter and I n a little cabin on the shores of Lake Siljan, with a wild flower bouquet that was beyond! I was scampering around the garden trying to cut flowers without her noticing! You can check out that wildflower birthday bouquet here. This year despite being incredibly busy I knew I had to put in a few hours at least to make something from the heart, so I figured I’d add a black and white botanical doodle number like the ones here, to the growing collection. But then I made a big smudge on one of the numbers and realized I had no choice but to try something new, like adding color! I do love the festive results, and am grateful for that smudge! (Keep reading, I documented it!) Want to try one too, keep on reading, you can do it!
You’ll Need:
- one glass bottle or vase, mine is a water bottle from IKEA
- a large faux philodendron leaf, mine is from IKEA
- a flat bamboo skewer and tape or hot glue
- a botanical birthday number, or even a number cut out of cardboard in a pinch!
- watercolor paint, the pink is called “opera pink” and is a tube watercolor from Daniel Smith, I just had to have it!
How To: Put the philodendron into the bottle and then make a birthday doodle number to sit just in front of it. Basically you lightly draw a number in pencil, and then doodle right up to the pencil line. If you are inexperienced, so go ahead and draw the botanicals in pencil first too, though I did not. No perfection needed here! You erase the pencil line and voila a doodle botanical birthday number is born. If you decide from the get go you want to do a colorful version, you don’t need to erase the pencil lines, rather go over them with a fin permanent ink black pen, then add watercolor or gouache, you decide.
See that smudge on the number 1? That is the smudge that made me go with color, thanks smudge!
Have fun with this, and do remember to have a good distribution of contrast, tiny black leaves and both light and dark colors, enjoy!
