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Faizan
In November, temperatures dip, leaves fall from the trees, and a blanket of snow begins to fall as the world prepares for its winter slumber. It's also a time when warm colors and savory aromas beckon families to gather for Thanksgiving, one of the most celebrated holidays of the year. Make this holiday even more special by preparing homemade crafts that welcome guests into your home. Child-made crafts lend whimsy and charm to your decor, and adult-made items add a touch of thoughtfulness and sophistication to your table setting.
Place Card Holders
Place cards welcome guests to your table and tell them where to sit. They typically have the guest's name and a design element to add style. For Thanksgiving, children and adults can make place card holders with fall elements such as small pumpkins or gourds and colorful leaves.
Things You'll Need
Mini Styrofoam pumpkins, approximately 3-inch
Hole saw bit, 1 1/2-inch
Butter knife
Spray primer
Glitter spray paint
Tea light candles
Card stock
Scrapbook brads
Colorful fall leaves, real or synthetic
Crayons, markers or colored pencils
Step 1: Make a Hole in the Top
With the 1 1/2-inch hole saw bit, drill a hole in the top of the mini pumpkin for the tea light candle. Use the butter knife to scrape out any loose pieces of foam.
Warning
Only adults should handle the drill and hole saw bits.
Step 2: Paint the Pumpkins
Spray prime the pumpkins and allow the paint to dry. Then spray paint the pumpkins with glitter paint.
Step 3: Create the Place Cards
Cut the card stock to a 2-by-3-inch rectangle and write the guest's name on the front.
Children can create colorful place cards by writing guests' names in crayons, marker or colored pencils and coloring imaginative designs on the cards.
Adults can make more refined place cards by writing guest's names neatly with a permanent marker or printing names on card stock with an elegant font before cutting out the place cards.
Step 4: Attach the Place Cards to the Pumpkins
Attach the place cards to the front of the pumpkin with the scrapbook brad.
Step 5: Add Fall Leaves
Create a bed of two or three colorful fall leaves at each table setting and place the glittered pumpkin place card holder on top.
Decorative Table Centerpieces
Spend an enjoyable fall afternoon with the kids gathering twigs from the yard and use them to create a rustic centerpiece for your Thanksgiving dinner table.
Things You'll Need
Twigs in various widths
Twig trimming shears, 9-inch
Hot glue gun
Empty coffee can, 6-inch
Brown craft paint
12-inch length of ribbon, 2-inch
Floral foam cube, 5-inch
Artificial fall flowers
Wire cutters, 4 1/2-inch
Step 1: Trim the Twigs
Most 6-inch coffee cans are approximately 7 inches tall. Use the trimming shears to trim the twigs to 8 inches, or to a length that is 1 inch taller than your coffee can.
Step 2: Paint the Coffee Can
Paint the coffee can brown to prevent any of the original colors from peeking through the twigs. Allow it to dry completely before continuing to the next step.
Step 3: Apply the Twigs
Hot glue the twigs horizontally around the circumference of the can. Align the bottom of the twigs with the bottom of the coffee can, and allow the tops of the twigs to extend 1 inch past the top of the coffee can.
Tip
Don't worry if the twigs are not all exactly the same height. Variations in height only add to the rustic appeal of this project.
Warning
Only adults should handle the hot glue gun.
Step 4: Add a Decorative Ribbon
Tie a length of ribbon around the middle of the twig-covered coffee can. Tie in a neat bow.
Step 5: Arrange the Flowers
Insert the 5-inch floral foam cube into the coffee can. Trim artificial flowers to different lengths with the wire cutters. Arrange the flowers by inserting the stems into the floral foam. Place taller flowers in the center of the arrangement and shorter flowers around the edges.
Take-Home Treats
Even though everyone leaves with a full tummy after Thanksgiving dinner, send them home with a little treat to enjoy later as a thoughtful way of thanking them for spending this special holiday with you.
Things You'll Need
Waffle cones
Pencil
Small plastic treat bags
Small candies in fall colors, such as gummies, candy corns or M&Ms
Rubber bands
Orange ribbon, 1/2-inch
Construction paper
Crayons, markers or colored pencils in fall colors, such as brown, red, orange and yellow
Step 1: Mold the Tip of the Waffle Cones
Fill the bottom third of the waffle cone with warm water and run the outside of the cone under warm water for approximately 20 to 30 seconds to soften it.
Dump out the water.
Place the cone in the microwave for about 20 to 30 seconds to make it pliable.
Remove it from the microwave and immediately wrap the tip of the cone around a pencil to form the curved tip of the cornucopia. Hold it for a few seconds until it cools.
Warning
Only adults should handle the hot waffle cones after microwaving.
Step 2: Fill the Cornucopias with Treats
Fill the treat bags with candy and tie a knot at the top.
Insert the treat bag with the knot side down into the waffle cone.
Step 3: Make Tags
This is a step where you can involve children.
Cut construction paper into 3-inch circles or 2-by-3-inch rectangles.
Give the children a list of your guests' names, and have them write each name on a tag with red or brown markers.
Allow them to color and decorate the tags with the fall-colored crayons, markers and colored pencils.
Step 4: Decorate the Cornucopias
Affix a rubber band around the top of each waffle cone to keep the ribbon from slipping. Tie the ribbon with the tag attached around the rubber band.
Place Card Holders
Place cards welcome guests to your table and tell them where to sit. They typically have the guest's name and a design element to add style. For Thanksgiving, children and adults can make place card holders with fall elements such as small pumpkins or gourds and colorful leaves.
Things You'll Need
Mini Styrofoam pumpkins, approximately 3-inch
Hole saw bit, 1 1/2-inch
Butter knife
Spray primer
Glitter spray paint
Tea light candles
Card stock
Scrapbook brads
Colorful fall leaves, real or synthetic
Crayons, markers or colored pencils
Step 1: Make a Hole in the Top
With the 1 1/2-inch hole saw bit, drill a hole in the top of the mini pumpkin for the tea light candle. Use the butter knife to scrape out any loose pieces of foam.
Warning
Only adults should handle the drill and hole saw bits.
Step 2: Paint the Pumpkins
Spray prime the pumpkins and allow the paint to dry. Then spray paint the pumpkins with glitter paint.
Step 3: Create the Place Cards
Cut the card stock to a 2-by-3-inch rectangle and write the guest's name on the front.
Children can create colorful place cards by writing guests' names in crayons, marker or colored pencils and coloring imaginative designs on the cards.
Adults can make more refined place cards by writing guest's names neatly with a permanent marker or printing names on card stock with an elegant font before cutting out the place cards.
Step 4: Attach the Place Cards to the Pumpkins
Attach the place cards to the front of the pumpkin with the scrapbook brad.
Step 5: Add Fall Leaves
Create a bed of two or three colorful fall leaves at each table setting and place the glittered pumpkin place card holder on top.
Decorative Table Centerpieces
Spend an enjoyable fall afternoon with the kids gathering twigs from the yard and use them to create a rustic centerpiece for your Thanksgiving dinner table.
Things You'll Need
Twigs in various widths
Twig trimming shears, 9-inch
Hot glue gun
Empty coffee can, 6-inch
Brown craft paint
12-inch length of ribbon, 2-inch
Floral foam cube, 5-inch
Artificial fall flowers
Wire cutters, 4 1/2-inch
Step 1: Trim the Twigs
Most 6-inch coffee cans are approximately 7 inches tall. Use the trimming shears to trim the twigs to 8 inches, or to a length that is 1 inch taller than your coffee can.
Step 2: Paint the Coffee Can
Paint the coffee can brown to prevent any of the original colors from peeking through the twigs. Allow it to dry completely before continuing to the next step.
Step 3: Apply the Twigs
Hot glue the twigs horizontally around the circumference of the can. Align the bottom of the twigs with the bottom of the coffee can, and allow the tops of the twigs to extend 1 inch past the top of the coffee can.
Tip
Don't worry if the twigs are not all exactly the same height. Variations in height only add to the rustic appeal of this project.
Warning
Only adults should handle the hot glue gun.
Step 4: Add a Decorative Ribbon
Tie a length of ribbon around the middle of the twig-covered coffee can. Tie in a neat bow.
Step 5: Arrange the Flowers
Insert the 5-inch floral foam cube into the coffee can. Trim artificial flowers to different lengths with the wire cutters. Arrange the flowers by inserting the stems into the floral foam. Place taller flowers in the center of the arrangement and shorter flowers around the edges.
Take-Home Treats
Even though everyone leaves with a full tummy after Thanksgiving dinner, send them home with a little treat to enjoy later as a thoughtful way of thanking them for spending this special holiday with you.
Things You'll Need
Waffle cones
Pencil
Small plastic treat bags
Small candies in fall colors, such as gummies, candy corns or M&Ms
Rubber bands
Orange ribbon, 1/2-inch
Construction paper
Crayons, markers or colored pencils in fall colors, such as brown, red, orange and yellow
Step 1: Mold the Tip of the Waffle Cones
Fill the bottom third of the waffle cone with warm water and run the outside of the cone under warm water for approximately 20 to 30 seconds to soften it.
Dump out the water.
Place the cone in the microwave for about 20 to 30 seconds to make it pliable.
Remove it from the microwave and immediately wrap the tip of the cone around a pencil to form the curved tip of the cornucopia. Hold it for a few seconds until it cools.
Warning
Only adults should handle the hot waffle cones after microwaving.
Step 2: Fill the Cornucopias with Treats
Fill the treat bags with candy and tie a knot at the top.
Insert the treat bag with the knot side down into the waffle cone.
Step 3: Make Tags
This is a step where you can involve children.
Cut construction paper into 3-inch circles or 2-by-3-inch rectangles.
Give the children a list of your guests' names, and have them write each name on a tag with red or brown markers.
Allow them to color and decorate the tags with the fall-colored crayons, markers and colored pencils.
Step 4: Decorate the Cornucopias
Affix a rubber band around the top of each waffle cone to keep the ribbon from slipping. Tie the ribbon with the tag attached around the rubber band.
Posted in: arts
