FALL HARVEST – UNEARTH FUN IDEAS!
By Dianne de Las Casas
Thanksgiving is a special time in the United States. It is a time we celebrate our bountiful harvests. Traditionally, that meant crops which kept families fed during harsh winters. Now it means all the blessings, big and little, we have to be thankful for. No matter what country you hail from, it is always the right time to give thanks! Here are some Fall Harvest ideas… unearth some fun! Have the kids help with holiday preparations.
Handprint Turkey Placecards
Trace your child’s hand on construction paper and create turkey placecards for the Thanksgiving table. The four fingers become the feathers while the thumb is the head and neck of the turkey. Simply draw the turkey’s features then have your child color the turkeys, feather, body and beak. Write your guest’s name on the turkey. Tape or glue a craft stick to the back of the turkey (you can do opposite hands and two turkeys back-to-back for a really nice effect). Pour salt or sugar in a small Dixie cup. Cover the salt/sugar with a thin layer of cinnamon. Place the stick in the cup. Voila! Not only is it super cute, it also lends that Fall fragrance to the air with the cinnamon.
11-17-10 Handprint Turkey Placecard
Cardboard Tube Napkin Rings
Forget expensive napkin rings! Using a paper towel tube, cut a ring off about 1 to 1 ½ inches wide. Glue gold ribbon around the ring, covering the entire ring. Glue a small acorn, leaf, berry or other fall decoration on top. Fold napkins accordion style and slip them inside. They will fan out. Pretty! This is an easy project for kids to help with!
11-17-10 Cardboard Tube Napkin Ring
Pumpkin Bowl Floral Arrangement
This is one of the prettiest arrangements. It always gets “ooohs” and “aaahs” from guests. Get a large pumpkin and scoop out the insides. Place a goldfish bowl with water inside. Fill pumpkin with fresh, fall colors.
Glittery Mini Pumpkin Tealights
Get several miniature pumpkins and scoop out the insides. Once the insides are scooped out, take the pumpkins in a well-ventilated area and spray with adhesive glue. Sprinkle gold glitter all over the pumpkins and allow to dry. Place a tealight holder and a tealight inside for instant fall glamour! Place on a doily to catch the glitter.
Learn Napkin Folding
Having beautifully folded dinner napkins is a wonderful way to make your guests feel special and welcome. Why, you went to all that trouble for them! Pick simple, but elegant napkin designs and have your older children help. They will enjoy the activity and you will have one less thing to do! http://www.napkinfoldingguide.com/
Fall Tabletop
I love table runners and have several in different colors. Instead of a dedicated table cloth, try layering several table runners in Fall colors. The result is a patchwork that looks like a carpet of fall foliage! So pretty!
11-17-10 Layered Table Runners
Pomander Power!
Once used in the Victorian era to mask odors, pomanders are now fragrant reminders of the holidays. A pomander is a citrus fruit studded with cloves. This is a craft that both of my daughters enjoyed. Get several oranges, lemons, and limes. Stud the fruit with cloves, covering the entire fruit or creating patterns. It is helpful to use a thimble or gloves when pushing the cloves into the fruit as they can be sharp, Place pomanders in a crystal or designer bowl and use as a centerpiece or attach a ribbon and hang in the doorways.
http://www.rightathome.com/Designing/Crafts/Pages/FestivePomanders.aspx
Have fun with fall and unearth some great ideas for bringing the holidays home!
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
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