Tropical fruits are naturally colorful.
Hawaii, the 50th US state, is known for its assortment of tropical fruits and vegetables. Pineapples, coconuts, bananas and other colorful produce provide a wide range of materials suitable for any craft project. Tropical fruits are particularly useful for creating do-it-yourself centerpieces. The cheerful and edible decorations add an attractive twist to a tropical, beach, pool or luau celebration.
Edible Bouquet
An edible bouquet made with tropical fruit is a colorful and tasty way to decorate a table. Slice pineapples into rings and use flower-shaped cookie cutters to create pineapple flowers. Scoop mango balls with a melon baller. Slide a pineapple flower, and a mango ball as the center, onto the tip of a wooden skewer. Create several skewer flowers, and arrange them into a rounded bouquet shape. Use a whole pineapple as the base for the bouquet or use a decorative pot filled with clay to secure the sticks.
Fruit Tower
Stacking tropical fruit into a giant tower provides a nod to Hawaii's abundant produce and lush landscape. Fill a large basket with craft grass, mounding the grass into the center and leaving a shallow dip around the sides. Place a whole pineapple on the grass mound, pushing the pineapple down gently so it sits securely upright. Pile assorted fruit around the pineapple, keeping the fruit near the basket rim low and adding larger items as you near the pineapple. Use an assortment of bananas, mangoes, papayas, guavas and lychee fruit to create a basic pyramid shape.
Fruit-Filled Vase
Add tropical fruits to a clear glass vase to create a Hawaiian table centerpiece with a modern style. Fill the bottom of the vase with a layer of small mangoes. Add alternating layers of key limes, baby papayas and small mangoes to the rim. Add cold water to the vase to keep the fruit looking fresh, and set the centerpiece on the table. Place several macadamia nuts or mini pineapples around the base of the vase as decorative accents.
Carved Coconut
A whole coconut doesn't have to be cracked open to provide a Hawaiian-themed centerpiece. Carve fish and seashell shapes into the shells of several whole coconuts. Position the coconuts down the middle of the table, alternating between carved coconut and votive candles, to create a long centerpiece for a rectangular table. Weave flower leis around the coconuts to give the centerpiece a splash of color.
Tags: small mangoes, tropical fruit, whole pineapple