DIY Soda Fountain Table Centerpieces

Ingredients: 

• 11 White Carnations (Full Size)
• 8-10 Purple Carnations (Mini Size)
• 1 Medium-Sized Vase
• 1 Paper Straw (purchased at Target) 
• 1 Decorative Cherries
• Purple Water Beads  (see note below)
  
• White Water Beads

Directions: 

1. Hydrate water beads 12-24 hours before needed. Just pour the beads into the bottom of a clean trash can or storage bin and fill it with water. No exact measurement of water is necessary. Just make sure you fill the container pretty full with water so that there will be enough for the beads to expand (they grow as they take on the water). For the packs of beads I used, I probably used about 10 gallons of water each. It might be a good idea to do a practice run with a few beads beforehand so you get the hang of it prior to your event.
2. Fill vase with water beads using a plastic cup or scoop. Layer colors as desired. (Don't try to cut corners by mixing the colors evenly. We tried it and it ruined the Ice Cream Soda effect.) You will need to fill the vase nearly to the top.
3. Cut stems of 8 white carnations to about 3 inches below the flower and put them in the vase around the outside edge.
4. Cut the stems of the purple mini carnations to about 5 inches below the flowers and place them above the white carnations around the circle. Make sure their stems extend into the water beads or they will wilt after a few minutes.
5. Cut the stems of 3 white carnations long enough to extend into the water beads and bundle the flowers tightly to fit into the small space left above the purple carnations. 
6. Make any arrangements necessary so that the purple flowers show and everything is lined up nicely.
7. Nestle the fake cherry between the cluster of 3 carnations in the center.
8. Shove the straw in between flowers at an angle.

We placed these centerpieces atop a single record for my daughter's 50's themed wedding.

Simple. Cute. Effective.

People raved about them all night long!

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FYI: A few water beads go a LONG way! Each one of the above packs of water beads filled a tall kitchen trash can once hydrated (2 trash cans total--one for purple, one for white). I didn't know exactly how much I would need, so I hydrated them all. But I barely made a dent in them to fill 22 vases. Seriously, once all the vases were filled, I could hardly tell I used any! And they are the coolest thing ever! They feel really cool in your hands. I'm told they can also be dehydrated again after use and you can re-use them over and over again.