Easy Thanksgiving Decorating Ideas

Inexpensive Thanksgiving Decorations for the Home

Nov 3, 2009 Carol Rzadkiewicz

When decorating their homes for Thanksgiving, people can save money by using natural materials to create beautifully original wreaths and table ornaments.

As Thanksgiving approaches, stores and shops across the nation offer a wide variety of seasonal decorations, some quite costly, from cute feathery turkeys to ceramic pilgrims to pumpkin-shaped vases filled with silk cattails, bittersweet, and mums. This year, however, people might consider saving money by creating their own original decorations from natural materials, most of which are free while others are quite inexpensive.

Homemade Thanksgiving Decorative Wreath

Bittersweet is perfect for creating an attractive wreath to hang on the front or back door, over the fireplace mantel, or on a dining room or kitchen wall. For one, the berries are seasonal colors (shades of orange, gold, red, yellow, chestnut, amber, etc); two, the suppleness of bittersweet’s stem makes it easy to twist into various shapes.

Some homeowners might have bittersweet growing in their flower gardens, but for those who don’t, bittersweet is widely available this time of year at most florists, nurseries, and craft shops. Either way, though, whether homegrown or store-bought, bittersweet is the perfect natural material for making an inexpensive but attractive Thanksgiving wreath.

How to Make the Thanksgiving Wreath

Materials needed for the wreath:

Two 3-foot long branches of bittersweet (If a larger or fuller wreath is desire, three to four branches may be used)
Floral Wire
Roll of 2-inch wide fabric ribbon in seasonal color or colors
Snips or florist scissors for trimming branches

Directions for making the wreath:

Cut a section of ribbon as long as the branches.
Hold the branches side-by-side, with the cut ribbon between them, and then twist them all together in one direction to form a circle.
Secure the ends of the branches with floral wire then attach branches to one another in several locations.
Use snips or scissors to cut off protruding limbs that detract from desired effect.
Use remaining ribbon to make a bow and attach it either at the top, bottom, or side of the wreath, whichever is preferred. (Family Circle, 2008)

Homemade Thanksgiving Table Decorations

People can make attractive table decorations by using gourds, which are relatively inexpensive; wildflowers and twigs from surrounding fields; and seasonal flowers and shrubs from their yards.

Gourds have relatively hard shells, which make them easy to carve, unlike squash or pumpkins, which are softer and, therefore, messier. Moreover, since gourds are durable, decorations made from gourds can be made well in advance of Thanksgiving Day and, once dried, can be preserved almost indefinitely. (About.com)

Two especially attractive and creative table decorations are the Bountiful Bowl Centerpiece and the Set of Curvaceous Vases, and all are made from gourds.

How to Make a Thanksgiving Bountiful Bowl Centerpiece

Materials needed for the centerpiece:

One large round Cinderella pumpkin (Other varieties will suffice)
A selection of ornamental gourds in various sizes, shapes, and colors
Grease pencil or erasable marker
A sharp knife or craft saw
A large spoon

Directions for making the centerpiece:

Place a large bowl on the top of the pumpkin.
Trace a circle around the circumference of the bowl.
Scoop out seeds and pulp.
Fill the bowl with ornamental gourds. (Family Circle, 2006)

How to Make a Thanksgiving Set of Curvaceous Vases

Materials needed for the vases:

At least three narrow-necked Speckled Swan gourds
A small craft saw or sharp knife

Directions for making the vases:

Cut or saw off the tips of the gourds necks.
Use a slim knife to scrape out the seeds and membrane at the very top of the gourd (Do not try to scrape out the entire gourd since it will split).
Pour some water into each gourd.
Place a few small flowers (not too tall), one especially attractive flower, and/or a few sprigs of bittersweet in each gourd (Lilies look especially attractive in these containers, but other flowers do as well). (Family Circle, 2006)

These decorations are not only affordable and easy to make, they will also add just the right seasonal atmosphere to the home—one of nature’s beauty and bounty—for the Thanksgiving holiday.

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References:

Family Circle, Autumn Awakening, October 17, 2008, p. 24
Family Circle, Gorgeous Gourds, November 1, 2006, p. 26-27
Gourds: Ornamental Gourds, retrieved October 5, 2009 from about.com

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