Decorate for Thanksgiving with Nature
Make a beautiful Thanksgiving table with nature-inspired crafts.
Materials:
Can, short such as a tuna can
Card stock or cardboard
Elastic band
Fabric – a strip that fit around the can
Flowers
Glass or vase, same height as pumpkin
Glue, bottle or glue gun (optional)
Leaves
Paper bags from grocery stores printed with fall or harvest themes
Small picture frames
Pumpkin, tall and thin
Rubber stamps and ink (optional)
Scissors or Exacto knife
Wire photo holder (optional)
Step 1
Gather colorful leaves.
If you have a simple wire photo holder like this one, you can display the leaves instead of photos.
If you have a simple wire photo holder like this one, you can display the leaves instead of photos.
Step 2
Make a flower vase from a pumpkin.
Choose a tall, thin pumpkin with a steady base. Carve and empty it as usual. Find a glass or vase that fits inside it comfortably. Put water in the glass or vase.
Choose a tall, thin pumpkin with a steady base. Carve and empty it as usual. Find a glass or vase that fits inside it comfortably. Put water in the glass or vase.
Step 3
Display the flowers in your pumpkin vase.
Step 4
Gather small frames.
Cut cardstock or cardboard to fit inside the frames. Decorate with a few small leaves. Write or stamp the names of your guests on the cardstock.
Cut cardstock or cardboard to fit inside the frames. Decorate with a few small leaves. Write or stamp the names of your guests on the cardstock.
Step 5
Put a placecard at each person’s seat at your Thanksgiving table.
Step 6
Make placemats from fall-themed brown paper shopping bags.
Many local grocery stores print fall or harvest messages on their bags at this time of year. Just cut out the sides to make a place mat. Decorate by gluing leaves in the corners or at one end.
Many local grocery stores print fall or harvest messages on their bags at this time of year. Just cut out the sides to make a place mat. Decorate by gluing leaves in the corners or at one end.
Step 7
Make a cute container from a recycled can.
Clean out a short can, such as a tuna or pet food can. Make sure the edges are not sharp.
Find a piece of fabric in a strip that wraps around the can. Hold it in place with an elastic band.
Tuck a few leaves under the elastic band all the way around.
Step 8
Set your table.
All your combined decorations make a colorful and welcoming site!
Here’s a few more Thanksgiving craft ideas that are not necessarily made from nature objects, but can add to your decor. They are great for smaller children.
After your celebration, consider doing an outdoor activity. Search our Nature Find tool for local nature opportunities.