Creative Ideas for Thanksgiving Centerpieces

Fall is a wonderful time of year. As the temperature begins to cool and the leaves start to turn, people begin looking towards the upcoming fall and winter holidays. Thanksgiving, in particular, is a warm and fuzzy holiday where people of all ages get a nice reprieve from work and school in order to spend time with the ones they love. The best Thanksgiving centerpiece ideas incorporate the warmth and festiveness of the impending holiday season. A great way to capture the essence of the holiday is by using natural items found during the fall season. Below are two creative ideas for Thanksgiving centerpieces using fall items, most of which can be found within your yard.

Enlist your small children, if possible, to help you with these ideas. They'll get a kick out of using colored chalk and spray paint.

A Creative Thanksgiving Centerpiece Idea: Leaves

People travel great distances to watch the colors turn. Some leaves, particularly those filled with greens and reds are pretty enough as their own centerpiece. However, one idea to spruce them up, particularly those fall leaves that didn't turn into those luscious colors, is to color them yourself. Collect large, full leaves from around your yard, preferably intact, though not necessary. Using colored chalk, trace along the veins on the leaves. Colored chalks, such as baby blue, pink or light purple, leave a subtle, pretty effect. If you don't have colored chalk, one idea for an alternate is to use markers. Light colored markers, in particular, still result in a neat effect. Place within a glass bowl or on top of a gold platter. Toss in a handful of faux or real cranberries.

A Creative Thanksgiving Centerpiece Idea: Acorns

There's an Australian series of kid's books about two, chubby little creatures named Snugglepot and Cuddlepie who wear acorn tops as hats. If you stop to look at them, acorns are actually pretty interesting looking. Plus, as fall approaches, they're everywhere, which is why they are a great idea for a natural Thanksgiving centerpiece. Collect one or two dozen acorns of various sizes. Spray paint them orange, red, green, brown, and yellow to recreate your favorite fall colors. Put them into a clear vase or bowl and place atop your favorite platter. Another idea is to place them along the bottom of a glass candle holder. Top with a thick, pumpkin spice candle.