Irish-Inspired St. Patrick's Day Decor

Basic candles wrapped with green ribbon are simply perfect for St. Patrick's Day. Secure the ribbon with decorative pins. Be sure to monitor the flame so it doesn't get too close to the ribbon, and never leaving a burning candle unattended.

Large-scale medallion and border stencils, available at crafts and home improvement stores, create this pretty Celtic pattern. Secure a tablecloth to a flat surface. Use medallion stencils on the corners and align border stencils along the sides, then fill in the stencil designs with fabric paint.

These intricate looking pieces of art are easy to make and display for St. Patrick's Day. All you need are stencils (available at crafts and home-improvement stores; we got ours from Stencilwerks.com), watercolor paper, and paint. Lay the stencil on watercolor paper and fill in the design with paint. Adhere the design to crafts paper and frame.

Dress up a side table in honor of St. Patrick's Day with flowers in a petite green vase. Pick flowers with pretty green leaves and little blooms to maximize the holiday's color-of-honor.

Rough twine, raffia, cording, or ribbon makes an appropriately rustic napkin ring for an Irish gathering. Embellish with a real (or artificial) shamrock leaf.

Display little pots o' luck for St. Pat's Day by planting Oxalis plants (commonly called shamrocks) in jars, cups, or bowls.

A collection of smooth river rocks and votive candles in rustic clay pots evoke the rocky shores of the Irish coast and its companion lighthouses. Place votives in a shallow dish and surround with rocks of various sizes. Tuck in bits of moss for a hint of green. Expressing a seasonal wish is the stone etched with "blessings."

Gather a collection of green glass for an easy centerpiece. We've adorned our bottles with knots of copper wire, but you might also use the bottles as vases for stems of white flowers with tall grasses.

Long stems of Bells of Ireland in a white vase create a beautiful, classic St. Patrick's Day touch.

This topiary is a perfect addition to your St. Paddy's Day decor. Made from Bells of Ireland, jingle bells, and a silver cup, this festive tree is easy to assemble. See the next two slides to learn how.

Insert flowers trimmed from a Bells of Ireland plant into a florist's foam cone.

Randomly scatter jingle bells secured with twisted chenilled stems over the tree.

Simple green ornaments displayed in clear glass vases shine with a touch of the Irish. The arrangements work great for a centerpiece or tabletop decoration.

For an easy and effective centerpiece, try stacking shiny green apples in a bowl. If time allows, hollow out a few apples to use as votive candleholders. Coat the cut edges with lemon juice to keep them from turning brown.

Make a striking tablecloth from chartreuse raw silk or cotton. Basic white plates and inexpensive green glassware complete the look. For an added touch of color, wrap white napkins with squares of green netting or sheer organza before tying with ribbon.

Create fresh napkin rings using long, slender spike leaves wrapped around white linen napkins. No leaves? Try a green satin or grosgrain ribbon or a length of raffia to tie each napkin.

A sweet baby's tears plant makes the perfect bedding for this tin lamb centerpiece. Any low container filled with baby's tears would work as a festive centerpiece.

Any room of the house can have a touch of the Irish. Look for green accessories -- pillows, blankets, curtains, or rugs -- and use them to create Irish-inspired surroundings.