Loraine enjoys making crafts and sharing the projects she’s developed. Her crafts include pictured, step-by-step tutorials and templates.

Homemade plant picks can change a fall centerpiece into a Halloween-themed centerpiece by using the witch picks, or a fall and Thanksgiving centerpiece by using the angels.

You can make an outstanding Halloween centerpiece from a purchased, basic flower or fruit centerpiece by just adding a few homemade picks that you have crafted yourself.

This article is a how-to on making angel and witch picks. We start out with simple supplies: peg-style clothespins; Halloween-print orange, black or green fabric; chenille strips; floral moss; ribbon; and maple leaves on a stem (buy them at the dollar store, 10 for $1).

Supplies Needed

For one angel or witch:

• 1 peg-style clothespin
• 12" x 12" piece of fabric
• 1 chenille strip, cut to 4"
• 1 gold glitter chenille strip, cut at 4"
• 9" piece of 1/4" ribbon
• Floral moss, for hair
• Maple leaf on a stem
• Glue gun and glue sticks
• Scissors
• Black Sharpie

Making the Dress

Draw a 7" diameter circle on the back side of the fabric.

Arms and Sleeves

Cut a 3"x 6" piece of fabric for the sleeve. Fold over the short ends and lay the 4" piece of chenille strip on one end between the folded ends. Fold the opposite long edge to the inside, and then fold the chenille strip inside the fabric, bringing the folded edge over it. Glue the fabric to form a sleeve over the arms.

Cut the Neck Hole

Fold the circle in half and then in half again. Cut an 1/8" tip off the corner made by folding.

Glue Around the "Neck"

Run a bead of glue around the "neck" of the clothespin.

Glue on the Dress

Slide the "head" of the clothespin through the hole in the center of the 7" diameter circle and press in place around the neck of the clothespin.

Tie a Ribbon at Waist

Tie the 9" piece of ribbon around the clothespin, about 1/2" below the head. Make a small bow.

Glue on Hair

Use a nickel sized ball of floral moss for the hair. Apply glue to the top, sides and back of the clothespin head and press the floral moss over the glue.

Make the Halo

Using a 4" strip of gold glitter chenille strip, shape one end into a dime sized circle for the halo.

Bend and Glue Halo

Bend the strip at the circle to make a square corner. Apply glue to the bottom 1 1/2" of the halo stem and glue the halo to the back of the head and body. The halo should extend a bit above the head.

Apply Glue to Maple Leaf

Apply a line of glue down the center of the maple leaf.

Glue Angel to Leaf

Glue the angel to the leaf over the line of glue. Put a dab of glue at the back bottom of the clothespin and glue to the inside back skirt.

Add Eyes....or Not

With the black Sharpie, draw dots for eyes. This is optional: draw a mouth also or leave the face blank.

Finished Angel Pick

Your angel pick is ready to dress up an existing arrangement, plant or wherever your imagination takes it. Glue the leaf to a clip clothespin, glue a magnet to the back and attach to the front of your refrigerator and use it to hold pictures or notes.

Cutting the Witch's Hat

With a few changes, you can make a witch using the same basic instructions. Instead of a halo, cut a 1 1/2" diameter (size of a poker chip) circle from a piece of black fabric for a witches hat brim. Cut a 2" x 3" piece of black fabric. Measure in 1" on each side of one 3"edge and mark. Cut from that mark to 1/4" above the other side. Refer to the picture.

How to Glue the Hat

Apply a thin line of glue along one slanted edge, shape a hat crown and glue to opposite slanted edge. Cut the bottom edge so it is flat. Run a line of glue around the bottom of the hat crown and glue to the center of the circle. To put a dent in the crown, apply a dot of glue and shape as you wish.

Witch's Hat

The finishes witch's hat with a dented crown.

Witch Pick

To finish the witch pick, refer to the directions for the angel. But glue the witch the opposite way on the maple leaf pick. Cut slits in the maple leaf and fashion a broom bristle end.

Examples of Halloween Angels and Witch Picks

Super easy picks to make.

© 2011 Loraine Brummer

Would You Make Halloween Picks? - or leave a comment

anonymous on October 02, 2012:

Very nice lens! Even I, who often feel challenged in the crafts department, think I could make one of these by following your clear, step-by-step directions.

anonymous on September 30, 2012:

Now this is a DIY done so very right for sure...first you show us the beautiful results and then provide every detail from supplies needed to personal instructions so everyone can have success...beautifully presented!

Marika from Cyprus on September 28, 2012:

A great how to lens on making these cute picks. Blessed.

ShineRita on September 28, 2012:

Cute, cute! The photos make the steps easy to understand. Thx!

Onlinemum3 on September 28, 2012:

Love these! Thanks for the great step by step instructions.

HouseBuyersOfAmerica on September 28, 2012:

Your step by step description is awesome. Thanks for sharing this lens!

HouseBuyersOfAmerica on September 28, 2012:

Your step by step description is awesome. Thanks for sharing this lens!

bossypants on September 26, 2012:

These are adorable! You're very clever and your photos make the steps easy to understand. I'm adding a link to this lens to my Handcrafted Halloween lens. If you prefer I don't please let me know.

cassieann on September 25, 2012:

Very cute with great directions. Nice lens.

purpleslug on September 25, 2012:

So cute and simple = ). Thanks for the great lens!

Essentially Ind on September 24, 2012:

aaha.........beautiful tips for creating halloween stuffs. It's amazing Lens for me.....:)

hijess on September 24, 2012:

The tiny witches hat is too cute!

JoshK47 on September 24, 2012:

These are so cute - thanks so kindly for sharing! Blessed by a SquidAngel!

thememorybooksh1 on September 24, 2012:

Nice , I live your art.

Mary Norton from Ontario, Canada on September 23, 2012:

I was impressed at the final product. It is beautiful.

hbrummer on October 31, 2011:

Grandma I love these! too cute :) love Haley

Melody Lassalle from California on October 31, 2011:

Excellent ideas and instructions. Very easy to follow!

JoyfulReviewer on October 31, 2011:

How crafty ... nicely done. Congratulations on being a Happy Halloween Contest finalist!

'Vikk Simmons from Houston on October 31, 2011:

Very detailed instructions, so detailed I might even be able to follow them--and that's a miracle. Great job. And congratulations on making it to the top 50 in the Halloween contest.

justholidays on October 21, 2011:

Fantastic, excellent, marvelous! Now I just want to go to the store buying everything I need to make my own Halloween picks! Thanks for this outstanding tutorial!

lasertek lm on October 20, 2011:

Yes of course! Thanks for sharing.

anne mohanraj on October 20, 2011:

A very creative lens!

ErHawkns7100 on October 17, 2011:

Great photos. Very clear and easy to see what you have to do.

anonymous on October 17, 2011:

I would and I am actually, enjoyed reading your lens this morning, here's a 'thumbs up' from your reader.

iWriteaLot on October 12, 2011:

Too cute! And this looks really easy to do. Thanks for all the great pics!