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Clough · Nov 13, 2007, 01:37 AM

If you celebrate the American holiday of Thanksgiving, I am wondering if you have any decorating ideas that you might be willing to share with others here? :) They could be do-it-yourself type crafts or even how you decorate the table and in and around your home for this holiday.

Pictures of your decorations; areas that have been decorated and even instructions for making certain types of decorations would also be great!

If you celebrate a holiday that is also about giving thanks of some kind, please feel free to post decorating ideas concerning that.

The more ideas and ways to decorate that we can see, do and think about, the more that we will all be enriched!

Thank you! :)

rpg219 · Nov 13, 2007, 03:10 AM

I made photo place mats last year. Take a family/animal/self portrait.
Get... 11 x 17 or smaller construction paper, glue stick, leaves, pictures, fingerpaint and markers.

Paste photo in center of construction page. Dip leaves in fingerpaint and press on construction page in random pattern around photo. Let dry. Add optional thoughts of thanks with markers. Laminate. Put on table.

It was a fun family project. I got it off familyfun.com last year... I think I'll go back and try a harder one this year :)

Clough · Nov 13, 2007, 03:43 AM

Sounds like an excellent, fun family project! Thank you also for providing the link! :)

rpg219 · Nov 13, 2007, 03:46 AM

Sure thing... I love it when you do decorating threads. I'm not the most creative, so it gives me lots of ideas.

Clough · Nov 13, 2007, 03:50 AM

Originally Posted by rpg219

Sure thing...I love it when you do decorating threads. I'm not the most creative, so it gives me lots of ideas.

Those reasons are exactly why I started this thread! Thank you! :)

shygrneyzs · Nov 13, 2007, 05:14 AM

You know those General Foods International Coffee (various flavors) containers? I take them and wash them out and use them to make placecard decorations. Using wide Thanksgiving (works for any holiday actually) themed ribbon and some hot glue, glue the ribbon to the can. I take some florist foam and place inside the can and put some fall themed decorations in it - flowers, leaves, nuts - whatever jumps out at me when I am shopping at Hobby Lobby or Joanne's Fabrics. When that is all done, I take a placecard and put the name on it and just lightly tack it the ribbon.

I use the family fun site too - have done that to make birthday treats for my son's school - his birthday is nov. 25th. One year I made little turkeys out of oreos, crème drops, candy corn and frosting. Easy to do and cute.

Clough · Nov 13, 2007, 05:25 AM

It seems to me that the General Foods International Coffee (various flavors) containers would be the perfect size for this purpose! :)

shygrneyzs · Nov 13, 2007, 08:06 AM

I like easy and inexpensive things to do - emphasis on easy. Lol. I have two black thumbs when it comes to decorating. Look at Martha Stewart's Living magazine. There is usually a section of not too expensive things to do, often even templates. One year she had a turkey centerpiece and matching turkey placecards - all downloadable.

shygrneyzs · Nov 13, 2007, 04:34 PM

There is also a pretty neat site with fun decorating ideas - FamilyCorner.com Magazine | Your online source for free family fun, craft projects, parenting advice, and more..
I just got their email newsletter and thought you might be interested.

rpg219 · Nov 13, 2007, 05:51 PM

Just checked it out... thanks shy! The site is great.

Clough · Nov 13, 2007, 06:01 PM

Thank you too, shy! :)

jrebel7 · Nov 13, 2007, 11:04 PM

Craig, this post is not for the formal dining experience at Thanksgiving but just a little craft children can make. I cannot take credit for the idea but did paint and make these for gifts for family. Easy to make, inexpensive but not really "Thanksgiving" but more just fall. Hope it is OK to post it.

Clough · Nov 14, 2007, 12:00 AM

Thank you for posting an image, Jan! :)

So, what did you use to make those?

jrebel7 · Nov 14, 2007, 12:16 AM

Originally Posted by Clough

Thank you for posting an image, Jan!! :)

So, what did you use to make those?

Little green gardeners gloves, leaving one of the fingers stuffed inside the glove so you have two legs and two arms stuffed with polyfill, just a little wooden ball painted as you wish, that is glued to the opening of the glove (the neck), miniature straw hat, gardeners tools, glued to hands (so to speak!! :) dried moss for hair under the hat, cut little squares pf material out for knee patches with fall colors and glue on (knees). The ties are made of... ah... I need someone's help on this... the name of it has left me tonight... raftan?. sorry... don't think that is correct. That is about it.

All items can be found at Wal-mart or local craft store. :)

Clough · Nov 14, 2007, 12:30 AM

Thank you for the information, Jan! Do you ever do anything with cornucopias?

jrebel7 · Nov 14, 2007, 12:41 AM

Originally Posted by Clough

Thank you for the information, Jan! Do you ever do anything with cornucopias?

The only thing I have ever done with cornucopias is using real fruits and or vegetables in it to sit on my stove counter (center island) for daily use by family and friends but not for display or creativity. How about you? You are creative and entertain so I am sure you have some great ideas. When are we going to see some of your creations for the Thanksgiving Holiday?? ;) Hope to see you post at least some photographs of your Thanksgiving décor!! :p :confused: :)

jrebel7 · Nov 14, 2007, 12:43 AM

We are still getting ripe tomatoes, green bell peppers and some that have turned red, and also egg plant from our garden. Very unusual for this time of year so more to add to the cornucopias along with market fresh fruit! :)

Clough · Nov 14, 2007, 12:50 AM

Originally Posted by jrebel7

We are still getting ripe tomatoes, green bell peppers and some that have turned red, and also egg plant from our garden. Very unusual for this time of year so more to add to the cornucopias along with market fresh fruit! :)

I'll bet that you are still getting vegetables where you live. I am an avid flower and vegetable gardener. Although, because of timing, weather and other things that needed attention, I didn't do squat this past season. That was the first time that I haven't had a vegetable garden in many years.

Clough · Nov 14, 2007, 01:04 AM

Originally Posted by jrebel7

The only thing I have ever done with cornucopias is using real fruits and or vegetables in it to sit on my stove counter (center island) for daily use by family and friends but not for display or creativity. How about you? You are creative and entertain so I am sure you have some great ideas. When are we going to see some of your creations for the Thanksgiving Holiday??? ;) Hope to see you post at least some photographs of your Thanksgiving decor!!! :p :confused: :)

Thank you, Jan! :) I don't really have examples of what I have done for Thanksgiving. It has been a holiday of many mixed feelings for various reasons. This thread was started in order to give others ideas and to also share about things that they could do concerning decorating for this event.

But, when we get around to Christmastime, that is when I really like to entertain and decorate! I have many pictures of those events! I will be starting a thread concerning Christmas and other holidays that occur about the same time as Christmas when the time is ripe! :)