Thanksgiving Decorations to Make

From LoveToKnow Crafts

Choosing a few Thanksgiving decorations to make can help set the mood for a festive celebration. While most people spend several weeks planning the menu for Thanksgiving dinner, decorations are often overlooked.

Get in the mood for the holidays with handmade Thanksgiving decorations.

Making a Fall Wreath

A colorful fall wreath is one of the easiest Thanksgiving decorations to make.

Supplies:

Nine CDs or DVDs
Assorted patterned scrapbook paper or wrapping paper in coordinating fall patterns
Mod Podge
Foam paint brush
Hot glue gun
Ribbon
Faux flowers, chipboard frames, or other embellishments (optional)

Instructions:

Cover nine scratched or otherwise unusable CDs or DVDs with patterned scrapbook paper or colorful fall wrapping paper.
Apply a coat of Mod Podge to each disc to seal and protect it.
When the discs are dry, arrange into a circular pattern.
Glue the discs together with a hot glue gun.
Add a ribbon bow to the bottom of the wreath and a hanger to the back.
Add other embellishments, such as faux flowers or chipboard frames with your family photos, if desired.

Decorating Candles

Decorated candles are fairly simple Thanksgiving decorations to make.

Supplies:

Pillar candles in white, ivory, or another light color.
Tissue paper
Repositionable glue stick
Cardstock
Computer and printer
Heat gun used for rubber stamping
Beads in fall colors
Craft wire
Wire cutters
Pliers

Instructions:

Using a repositionable glue stick, attach tissue paper to a sheet of cardstock.
Print Thanksgiving clip art or copies of family photos from previous holiday celebrations onto the white tissue paper.
Cut out your design and peel it away from the cardstock.
Attach design to your candle.
Go over the tissue paper design with your heat gun. As the wax melts, the tissue paper will seem to disappear. It will look like your design has been imprinted into the candle.
Cut a length of craft wire long enough to wrap three or four times around the base of your candle.
Make a loop at one end of the wire. String beads in the design of your choice and make a loop at the end to keep them from slipping off.
Wrap the beaded wire around the bottom of your candle for a pretty Thanksgiving table decoration.

Setting the Table

Stamping is a fun way to give plain table linens a customized look. You don't even need to purchase expensive rubber stamps for your project. The leaves from the trees in your backyard will work quite nicely to create gorgeous Thanksgiving decorations.

Supplies:

Leaves
Fabric paint
Paintbrush
Paper plate
Plain table linens in a light color, such as cream or beige

Instructions:

Pour paint onto paper plate.
Apply paint to surface of leaf. Stiff and smooth leaves with prominent veins are best for fabric stamping. If you're not sure your leaves will work well for the project, test them on scrap fabric before you begin.
Gently press the leaf onto the cloth.
Run your fingers over the surface to make sure the entire leaf has come into contact with the cloth.
Carefully peel up the leaf to reveal your stamped image. Avoid rocking or wiggling the leaf, since this will result in a blurred image.
Repeat as necessary to stamp your complete Thanksgiving design.

If you have small children at home, have them make napkin rings to match your new table linens. The LoveToKnow Crafts article Thanksgiving Napkin Ring Craft for Kids has tips to get you started. For party favors your guests can eat, check out our article on Edible Thanksgiving Crafts.