Last-Minute Homemade Thanksgiving Decorations

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

26 Nov 2008 09:48 PM

You have everything to make your Thanksgiving feast, but you just realized that your dining room table has nothing to complement the holiday spread. Now what?

All is not lost. Simply gather a few items from around your home to make these easy last-minute seasonal decorations:

LEAVES

Fill a galvanized container with oversized leaves (such as magnolia). Make sure the stems aren't all the same length. The arrangement should mimic the natural, free-flowing form of the leaves themselves.

CANDLES

Collect several small glass jars or vases and fill them with dried corn. Then, nestle fall-colored candles of differing heights into each vase and place around your home.

NAPKIN RINGS

Fill cloth or thick paper napkins with utensils, roll and secure with artificial wired berries. Then, place some of the same berries around your table centerpiece so the napkin rings act as accents.

FLOWERS

Single Flower Centerpiece. Simple centerpieces can add plenty of pizzazz to your Thanksgiving table, especially if you are short on time on Turkey Day. To keep it easy yet elegant, consider placing a single flower (such as an orchid or protea) in a vase on a silver tray surrounded by votive candles.

Multi-Flower Centerpiece. Another approach to keeping centerpieces simple is to use what you have in your backyard--literally. Head outside and gather colorful autumn leaves and seasonal blossoms, such as mums. Place the bright leaves and flowers in vases of assorted colors and heights and use them to decorate your holiday table.

FRUIT

If your backyard is bare look in your refrigerator for inspiration. This centerpiece features fruit and flowers and can be put together while your turkey is cooking.

Materials:

Large pedestal bowl

Plastic liner to fit in bottom of bowl

Block of florists' foam

Wooden toothpicks

Assorted fruit -- apples, oranges, peaches, grapes, pears, etc.

Greenery

Fresh flower-roses, carnations, calla lilies, etc.

Directions:

Place plastic liner in bottom of bowl.

Cut florists' foam to fit liner.

Thoroughly soak foam and place in bowl.

Insert toothpicks into fruit and stick them into foam starting with largest pieces of fruit and ending with the smallest.

Fill edges of arrangement and spaces in between fruit with greenery.

Insert flowers between fruit and greenery.

Related Articles:

Thanksgiving Boredom Busters for Kids

Kid-Friendly Thanksgiving Art Projects

Homemade Thanksgiving Decorations Courtesy of Mother Nature

Fun Ways to Keep Your Kids Entertained on Thanksgiving

Keeping Kids Busy on Thanksgiving

More Easy Thanksgiving Pumpkin Crafts

Thoughtful Thanksgiving Centerpiece

Thanksgiving Pumpkin Crafts for Kids

Fall Art Projects Featuring Squash

Decorations Using Acorn Squash

Fall Fun for Kids: Acorn Art Projects

Fun Fall Crafts for Preschoolers: Homemade Trees

More Ways to Have Fun with Fall Leaves

Autumn Crafts for Kids: Fun with Leaves

How to Make a Unique Fall Wreath with Your Kids

Seasonal Decorating-Getting Your Home Ready For Fall

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger