How To: Hops and Barley centerpiece with Votive Candle

How to make a hops and barley centerpiece with a votive candle:

First, where to find your materials:

Glass Vases:

You can find glass vases at AC Moore or Michael's for a dollar or two a piece, at the thrift shop, the dollar store, or ask your Mom/Aunts/Newlywedded friends if they have any to get rid of. Seriously! Glass vases tend to accumulate like dust, and if your family is anything like mine, they have some they will want to pawn off on a broke bride like myself (and possibly yourself). 

Votive Candles:

Interwebs, craft store, Craigslist, or a former Bride willing to unload her half used stash. I got mine from my sister, who had half burned candles leftover from her wedding just taking up space in her apartment (or maybe our Mother's basement?) 

Bottlecaps, Hops and Barley:

We got ours from the Brewery at which we had the wedding, Yards. Thanks, Yards Brewery!!! You can also order online or pick up in a local home brew shop. They come in a variety of colors and textures, which is great for layering!! Remember, it never hurts to ask. 

Putting it all together:

1.) Fill the bottom 1/5 with sand or rocks to weight the vase and take up space. This should be enough so that the next level will be just below the center of the vase.

2.) Line the perimeter of the vase with bottle caps, pressed firmly into the sand and leaning against the inside of the vase.

3.) Layer on the barley (the grain)

4.) Layer in the hops (the green leafy stuff)

5.) Barley again, perhaps a different color grain

6.) Press and wiggle the candle into the barley. Don't sink it in too deep, as the votive can get hot and crack if it is nestled too far into the barley.

And there you have it, folks!