Thanksgiving Tablescape, Corn Husk Flowers and a Linky Party!

October 25, 2012

Like many people, having family spread out across the country means

we often have to combine our holidays or celebrate them “off season”.We may be totally confusing our children but at least we have the memories, right?
On a side note, one time I took my then 3 year old son to visit my parents before Halloween and dressed him up in his little train engineer costume, had him go out their back door, walk around the yard to the front door and ring the doorbell so that he could “trick-or-treat” at Nonna and Poppa’s house.

We have no shame.

Often, Thanksgiving and Christmas wind up being combined at our house which could make it easy to just skip right over this lovely day set aside for gathering together and giving thanks.

But, I’m determined to keep it special and to help my kids remember what it’s all about.

I know at many homes, the children sit at the “kids’ table”.

But, at our house, the added mayhem of having them at the “grown-up table” is what makes Thanksgiving so special.

Even the occasional escaped “toot” is forgiven when we are all hopped up on Turkey!

One tradition we are starting this year is the making of our

“What Are You Thankful For? Table Runner”

The only supplies you will need for this simple craft are:

A roll of Butcher Paper

Leaf Cutouts

Pencil

Crayons

And here is how you make it:

Don’t forget to put some crayons on the table so that your guests can add to it!

Who knew that a butcher paper table runner layered over a burlap tablecloth could look so elegant?

Another tradition I cherish is using heirloom pieces in my table settings.

The glasses are part of a set that my grandmother (my mom’s mom) began collecting for Heather and myself when we were young and added to over the years.

She passed away right before Christmas last year and every time I see these they remind me of her and her love for all things “vintage”.

The silverware belonged to my husband’s grandmother and was given to us as a wedding gift.

I love having both sides of the family heritage represented on one table.

Last year, I found myself thrilled by the endless uses for Corn Husks and some of you may even remember my Corn Husk Wreath.

Well, believe it or not, I still had some corn husks left over and I still wasn’t about to actually use them to make tamales.

So, I decided to try my hand at making a

Corn Husk Flower Napkin Ring

Here’s how to make these:

1) Gather your tools: curling iron, scissors, corn husks, hot glue gun

2) Take a small, narrow piece of corn husk and twist and wrap into a “knot”

3) Cut petal shapes out of the corn husks

4) Glue petals around the knot to resemble a flower

5) Use curling iron to curl back each corn husk petal

6) While curling corn husk petals, wonder if your hair will forever smell like tamales

7) Take a wider corn husk piece and dampen with water to make pliable

8) Roll into ring shape and glue ends together

9) Using hot glue gun, attach flower to ring

10) Wrap a small piece of corn husk around the base of the flower to cover where it attaches to the ring and glue it in place.

Keeping things simple and natural are the name of the game this year.

Glass Dollar Tree plates were decoupaged with images from The Graphics Fairy and then topped with a little grapevine wreath, also from Dollar Tree.

An old tool caddy filled with autumnal (don’t you love that word?) goodies and mercury glass votives rests on a bed of branches.

A sweet twiggy pumpkin sits on top of a small urn.

And real pumpkins on top of mercury glass candlesticks add just the right finishing touch.I think I can safely stop worrying about my kids sitting down for Thanksgiving someday with their in-laws and asking if they are going to open presents after dinner!

The only thing that could possibly make things more special, is if we were celebrating this Thanksgiving with my beautiful sister, her wonderful family and a glass of this
Pumpkin Pie Latte she shared yesterday!

pumpkin, pie, latte, coffee, Thanksgiving

We’re so excited to be sharing both of these posts as part of this awesome celebration of Thanksgiving Traditions!

How do you celebrate Thanksgiving?
Do you have special recipes, decor, traditions, crafts?
We want to see them!Link up here to join in the fun as we travel from the North, South, East and West celebrating together!Here are the rules for linking up!

.…and here are the fabulous projects already shared by the hostesses:Settings for Four…Tablescape and Maple Acorn SquashA Cottage Industry-Thanksgiving Leftovers PrintablesMrs. Hines Class-Pork Tenderloin in Raspberry Chipotle Sauce and a Fall Mantel
We’ll be featuring our favorites…so link up!

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