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turn your thanksgiving table into a work of art
How to turn your Thanksgiving Table into an Affordable and Creative Work of Art
Decorating for the holidays doesn’t have to be a major undertaking. If you’re already cooking the feast for friends and family, adding décor to your list is going far beyond the call of hostess duty. So for you, feel free to bypass this content all together, yourself grab a glass of wine, and give yourself a big gold star.
But, if you’re a holiday overachiever like me and live for this sort of thing every year—game on. I’ve been cooking dinner for over 20 since I was in college; it’s in my DNA and every year I challenge myself to come up with a few new fun ideas. Below are some easy and affordable ways to turn your Thanksgiving table into a work of art.
Even if you’re not the most creative person, you can channel your inner Martha Stewart and present a beautiful, unique tabletop by simply rethinking the way you already use everyday items.
Natural place card ideas: I am a traditionalist and believe that on holidays we should all sit together at one table. One way to take that experience up a notch is to use place cards for seating. I don’t use place cards to force people to sit together or apart (although in some families this is necessary!) I mostly do this because I have so much fun making the place cards, and my nephew Jack has come to love his duty of putting the cards in place and telling people where to sit. Every year guests ask if they can take them home, which is great and tells me they also enjoy this tradition. Use fall finds from your local market.
Pinecone Place Card:
For added sparkle, spray paint the pinecones a metallic hue and let dry.
Slip a handwritten place card into a pinecone or try sliding in a green bean for added seasonal fun
Leaf Place Card:
Punch a hole into your place card and a leaf, and thread a pretty ribbon through both.
Tie on a handwritten card or piece of paper.
Walnut Place Card:
Print out or hand write guests names, cut to smaller size
Use a glue gun to attach place card to a walnut or almond
Put a dab of glue on a cranberry and stick to the place card.
Result is small, but mighty and perfectly seasonal
Holiday Centerpieces
During the holidays there are so many beautiful and natural alternative centerpiece ideas available. Rather than grab the standard consumer marketed “décor items,” take a chance and be adventurous—look for seasonal goods. If you shop away from the florist and big chain stores and stick close to your farmers markets and produce departments, you’ll also save quite a bit on décor this season. I am obsessed with pomegranates, anything in the gourd family and the random surprises I find on my morning walks with Milo. Our neighbors have a beautiful tree that is shedding gorgeous fall leaves—I have been placing them in a bag and will use them on the table. I love sprinkling bulk mixed nuts here and there on the table too.
Centerpiece Tips:
Height: never taller than your fist
Layer, group items, patterns
Use elements of the season: gourds, cranberries, pumpkins, and nuts.
For more minimalist or modern: use repeated patterns with one specific fruit.
Clever candleholders:
Candlelight makes everything look prettier and more formal. A quick trip to your produce department is the first step to fresh, innovative tea light holders. I buy the bags of tea lights in bulk from IKEA or Pier One Imports and always keep them on hand for last minute entertaining.
Pear and Apple Tea Lights
Outline circle of a tea light circle onto a piece of fruit, like an apple or pear
Cut out circle with a knife
Scoop out the fruit with a spoon
Insert tea light and you’re done!
Group the fruit together on a plate and place at the center of your table
Asparagus Candle Holder (great project to keep kids busy!)
Trim a bunch of asparagus to the same height
Put rubber band around the candle, this will be your anchor to hold asparagus
Tuck each asparagus one by one under the rubber band until entire candle is covered with asparagus
Add wide ribbon of your choice to cover the rubber band
Keep the centerpiece in the fridge before dinner to avoid drooping veggies!
Note: you can use varied height candles and be sure keep in fridge to avoid drooping veggies!
Send me YOUR favorite holiday décor ideas @TeamRickiSK
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