Thanksgiving Garden Crafts

The garden is winding down and getting ready for a long winter's rest. The last of the season's pumpkins and gourds are ready for harvest. Herbs are being brought in for the winter or left to fend for themselves outdoors. Use these items to make wonderful, homemade crafts for Thanksgiving.

Pumpkin Candle Holders

Mini pumpkins should be planted by everyone. They do not take up a tremendous amount of room in the garden and the small pumpkins are very versatile. Decorate your Thanksgiving table by making candle holders out of mini pumpkins.

You will need a marker, sharp knife, a spoon, a measuring tape or ruler, and taper candles. Use newspaper to protect the work surface. Start by measuring the diameter of the base of the taper candles. Mark a circle around the stem of the mini pumpkin just slightly smaller than the taper candle. If the stem is thicker than the candle, cut out the stem as close to the base as you can, holding the knife at an angle. Remove the stem.

Use a spoon to remove the seeds and any stringy flesh from the mini pumpkin. Place the taper candle into the pumpkin. It should fit securely. If not, hot glue a flat thumb tack to the bottom of the pumpkin. The thumb tack will hold the candle in place.

Herbal Wreath

One of my favorite things to make is an herbal wreath made from culinary herbs. The herbs should be dried. Use any culinary herbs you have growing in your garden and dry them in small bunches. Leave the herbs on their stems.

For this craft you will need a sphagnum moss wreath, floral wire, floral picks, and dried herbs from your garden. Use ribbon to add a decorative touch. A hot glue gun is useful to hold items in place.

Arrange the dried herbs in an attractive manner around the wreath. Once you have the arrangement the way you like it, wrap each bunch of herbs with floral wire and push into the wreath. Glue smaller bunches to a floral pick and attach to the wreath. Add ribbon to complete the craft. Hot glue it in place. Hang the wreath near the kitchen where you can snip off herbs as desired.

Herbal wreaths add a wonderful touch to your home. Not only do they add a decorative touch to your home, they add wonderful flavors to your meals.

Gourds

Use gourds to make candle holders as described above or use small gourds added to a cornucopia for a decorative Thanksgiving centerpiece. A cornucopia is easy to create. All you will need are some gourds, some decorative corn cobs, ribbon, hot glue and a cornucopia basket.

Arrange the corn and gourds in the basket. Hot glue items in place where needed. Add ribbons as a decorative finish.

Another use for gourds is to cut them into different shapes and use them as stamps. Use paint or ink to stamp placemats and place cards for the Thanksgiving table. It is a quick and easy craft that kids will love.

Handmade crafts from the garden add a special touch to your Thanksgiving decorations. Not only are they beautiful, they save you money too.

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