Make an Inexpensive Thanksgiving Centerpiece

A Thanksgiving centerpiece helps create a warm atmosphere in your house and at your Thanksgiving table during this very special time when families get together. The Thanksgiving centerpiece ideas listed below are so easy that your children can help you make it. Then watch their faces beam as everyone sits down at the Thanksgiving table and compliments them on doing such a great job.

Here are some ideas for making an inexpensive Thanksgiving centerpiece, table decorations, and mantel decorations:

Natural Centerpiece or Mantel Decoration

Search for natural material in your area. Some natural materials you can use in your Thanksgiving centerpiece are seed pods, leaves, pine cones, acorns, and lightweight twigs. Of course, don't use live branches - or anything live, for that matter.

Pick up a few items at the grocery store such as walnuts in the shell, apples, squash, decorative gourds, corn, and colorful vegetables. Remember, Thanksgiving celebrates the harvest, so food items fit right in with the theme. If you don't live in an area where pine cones and fall leaves are easily available, pick up some inexpensive versions of them at a dollar store, crafts store, or floral supply shop.

Select one to three types of natural materials to highlight in your Thanksgiving centerpiece, such as pine cones, gourds, or apples. You don't want your centerpiece to look jumbled and overwhelmed with too many different items.

Next, choose something for the base of your Thanksgiving centerpiece. You can use a natural branch, low profile basket, tray, glass vase, or glass plate. Then add the natural material you've selected, and glue it in place using a hot glue gun (if you have one). Add some ribbon in a fall color to complete the centerpiece.

Thankful Thanksgiving Table Runner

Buy or make an inexpensive table runner in a white, off-white, or light cream color. Provide indelible markers and have each person write down something they are thankful for, signing it when they're finished. After Thanksgiving, carefully store the Thanksgiving table runner until next year. Over time, it is interesting to see what each family member was thankful for at Thanksgiving each year.

Apple Candlesticks

Choose some apples from the grocery store that will stand up straight with the stem directly on the top. Core each apple, making sure your hole in the apple is vertical. Stick a tall candle in each cored apple. (Note: if the core isn't perfectly straight, you can compensate for it by stuffing a bit of waxed paper in the hole.) Put a couple of candlesticks beside or on opposite ends of your Thanksgiving centerpiece.

Autumn Leaves

Take a walk and gather some freshly fallen autumn leaves, or buy some inexpensive silk fall leaves. Save-On Crafts sells 25 autumn silk leaves for $2.99; you can also buy inexpensive silk leaves at a craft store. Put the leaves around the house - on the mantle, on tables, in the bathrooms, and in your Thanksgiving centerpiece.

Candles

Buy some cheap candles at a dollar store and place them strategically around the house. Don't place them too close to any dried natural material, such as real autumn leaves. To save some money, buy candles that are a color you can use around Christmas time as well, such as white, gold, yellow, and dark red. Place some of the candles on small mirrors you pick up at dollar or thrift stores.

One final note on your Thanksgiving centerpiece and table décor: if you aren't that creative or simply don't have the time to get creative, you might try looking at online flower delivery services for ideas. FTD has Thanksgiving centerpieces for as much as $180. You can duplicate (or come near it) their centerpieces for much, much less using silk or artificial flowers from a dollar or craft store. 1-800-Flowers has some centerpieces that might give you ideas as well.

Once you have decorated the house with a Thanksgiving centerpiece, candles, and natural materials, sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor!