How to Create Your Thanksgiving Tablescape

In between preparing your shopping list, baking desserts and keeping your sanity, soothe your artistic appetite by creating a Thanksgiving tablescape. If you're anything like me, sitting down and submerging yourself into an arts and crafts project brings a bit of solitude to the chaos that envelopes the holidays.

This year, I took a walk around my neighborhood and collected leaves, pine cones, acorns and seed pods from Sycamore trees. I didn't have a clear image in mind as to how my final tablescape would look; I just knew I wanted to incorporate nature. The elements you use to create your own table setting need not match exactly; just use them as a springboard and make it your own.

Click through the photo slideshow above for step-by-step instructions.

There are two crafts I will walk you through in this article. Below you will find the essential elements and a few tips and tricks to help you along the way.

Project #1: The Perfect Place Cards

Essential Elements:

• small pumpkins, one for every diner
• metallic acrylic paint (I chose classic gold and copper)
• a sponge brush
• green card stock
• a wire hanger
• rub on letters or a black marker
• hot glue gun
• wire cutters
• a pencil
• pumpkin leaf template
• scissors

Tips & Tricks:

• Gather all of the essential elements in advance in an easily accessible location like a shoe box, basket or large Tupperware container. This way you will have everything you need at your fingertips.
• Line your workspace with paper for easy clean-up and to avoid damaging furniture or floors.
• Give yourself at least two hours to complete this project.
• Feel free to use floral wire in place of wire hangers.
• Have fun with paint colors. Mix it up so you have different metallic shades on your pumpkins.
• If your pumpkin is missing its stem, simply stick the wire directly into the top of the pumpkin.
• Make it fun. Consider using nicknames instead of formal names to bring a little whimsy into your project.
• Make sure pumpkins are clean and dry before painting.

Project #2: Waxed Leaves

Essential Elements:

• beeswax or old candles
• wax paper
• leaves
• a knife, if using old candles
• cutting board, if using old candles
• a medium sized saucepan
• water
• old glass jar or aluminum can

Tips & Tricks:

• Gather all of the essential elements in advance in an easily accessible location like a shoe box, basket or large Tupperware container. This way you will have everything you need at your fingertips.
• Line your workspace with paper for easy clean-up and to avoid damaging furniture or floors.
• Give yourself about one hour to complete this project. Melting the wax takes up the majority of this time.
• Use the waxed leaves as coasters for table glasses or as confetti for the table. They also make a great bed for the pumpkin place cards to rest on.
• Instead of purchasing new wax, use remnants of candles already around your home.
• Make sure to use dry leaves with stems attached. The stems act as your handle for dipping.
• When laying leaves down to dry, take advantage of the warm wax to shape them as you please.
• Add a few drops of cinnamon or vanilla essential oil to your wax.
• Use an old candle jar as the vessel in your double boiler. You'll have a perfect candle when you're done!
• Once your leaves are waxed, they are preserved. Pack them away to use again next year or string a garland out of them to bring the autumn indoors.
• Use a vessel that is disposable to you.

Final Touches

To complete the table, I incorporated natural foliage, produce and candles. Using different shaped glass containers filled with cranberries, pine cones, acorns and seed pods brings the outside in. I had some dried corn leftover from cornstalks that served as decorations for Halloween and filled an antique metal box with the golden cobs. A copper window scarf works perfectly to soften the edges and bring warmth the table. Finally I added some large pine cones, a couple of pumpkins and candles.