reader question of the week:"I spend Thanksgiving with my husband's extended family, and I'm not much of a cook so I never really contribute anything to our meal. This year, I offered to make place cards and maybe a few other decorative items, and the host is thrilled (plus I'm glad to finally be contributing something). I won't have a lot of time to set up when we arrive for the holiday, so I am hoping to come up with a few cute ideas that will travel well and be easy to throw on the table before everyone arrives. I am a graphic designer so I don't have any problem designing/printing things, but I wanted to see if your readers had any ideas for adding some festive "Thanksgiving-y" touches on a small budget. Thank you! -Brooke"
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I made cute garlands that I put all over my house that took no time to make: go outside (best to do at night when things are damp) and gather different sized and colored fallen leaves. I also cut small pieces of sage. Get a colored yarn, I used dark and light brown, and cut a good length off, a few feet should be good. Then using a regular sized hole punch, punch one hole on each leaf. String, in no order, the leaves onto the yard. I left a lot of room in between the leaves on my garlands and in random spots tied on bunches of sage. Its super easy and looks great!
Hi Brooke, here's a place card idea: http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/09/yarn_quilled_paper_place_card.html
Happy Thanksgiving!
Since you are a graphic designer you could make picks that are either tucked into the napkin, sit in the drinking glass or lay on the dinner plate with a name tag glued to the "pick". Your name tag could be anything Thanksgiving-turkey, leaf, etc.. If you made name tags that go in the drink, you could use those adorable paper straws--I know there are some here--http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34614725
every year i reuse this little "give thanks" banner that i made with yarn scraps and paper. we also do a thanksgiving tree, which is a fun interactive decoration! the first thanksgiving tree was made of paper, so if you did it on a roll of paper you could unroll the paper and hang it as soon as you arrived.
How about mini pumpkins for place cards. Write the names on a paper leaf and attach it with some copper wire....
Or a piece of Bittersweet with a paper scroll for names around the branch....
I made gingerbread cookies and cut them out with alphabet cookie cutters using my families initials...I am going to use these for our place cards!
Maybe bring a wooden or glass bowl full of gourds and stick in some mini pumpkin shaped candles to decorate the table. Simple & elegant.
Thanks for all the wonderful ideas! Now the wheels are turning! :-)
Here are a few table settings that I've done... very easy to take with you and throw together once you arrive. Good luck!
http://oneluckycouple.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/table-setting-ideas
here's an idea for a centerpiece:
http://sarahnielsen.com/2009/11/tutorial-tuesday-autumn-centerpieces/
you could also do it on a smaller scale - ie acorns in a glass votive or baby food jar with the names tied to the jar with twine. good luck!
Paper and Cake has awesome downloadable tablescapes and have a free Thanksgiving one on their blog. http://paperandcake.blogspot.com/2009/11/paper-cake-giving-thanks.html
You could have it all printed at home and ready to go in a suitcase with minimal effort once you arrive.
S-
Useful tips shared. Quite beneficial post shared on Thanksgiving. Keep sharing good work.
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