Decor – Thanksgiving Table Decorations

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This season while shopping at the local craft stores I noticed that many home decorations featured different uses of burlap material.  So, this year I decided on a very different style of table for our Thanksgiving dinner.  Normally, I would set the table in a very formal style with our beautiful china, silver, crystal and lovely linens.  This year the table will be set in a more casual way with rustic decorations incorporating burlap materials  and softer colors, such as pale blue, sage green, ivory and brown.

The first of several layers of table linens was  an inexpensive ivory tablecloth.  Next, I added an overlay of burlap material in a lovely pale blue.  This unexpected color for the fall season goes beautifully with the chair pillows and other decorations in our dining room.  I was also creating a table centerpiece with artificial hydrangeas in a similar blue color which coordinated with the color of the burlap.  To finish the table linens, and too add a touch of softness, I added a vintage crocheted doily in ecru color.

The main decoration of our Thanksgiving table will be one of this month’s craft posts.  During the spring my husband/father-in-law were clearing out some of the trees in the forest next to our home and I had them save one of the logs for me.  I wanted to use the log as a base for a floral decoration and I thought Thanksgiving would be a great opportunity.  I used blue, gold hydrangeas and greenery to create the floral decoration and I found some inexpensive artificial mushrooms at the local craft store and scattered them among several candles placed on either side of the centerpiece.  I think the colors I used complement the table linens beautifully!  (Please check out the Craft Post, Rustic Table Centerpiece, for a supply list and instructions for the floral decoration)

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Next, I set each place setting with an ivory dinner plate, another smaller green plate, green salad bowl, silverware and glassware.  I used an ivory napkin with a green leaf napkin ring and placed a small burlap bag filled with candy into the salad bowl for a party favor.  It is always a good idea to have something special for your guests to take home after a luncheon or dinner party … of course for Thanksgiving our guests will also be taking home containers filled with leftover turkey, etc.!

To finish the table decorations I tied two colors of burlap “ribbon” to the dining room table chair backs.  I used the traditional brown color of burlap and a sage green color of burlap “ribbon” tied with green string.  This was the perfect way to finish the table decorations while adding another rustic element and also another way to incorporate burlap material into the table design.

The other decorations in the room included several glass acorn ornaments hanging from the chandelier on brown ribbons and the gold floral arrangement that is usually displayed on the dining room table throughout most of the year was place on the tea table across the room.  In the china cabinet, is a display of three Currier and Ives porcelain houses, small artificial pine trees and figurines set on a silver mirrored tray.

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Finally, I would like to mention three craft projects – the first two craft posts are Framed Floral Decorations and Glass Dome Arrangement which were posted in the month of August and one October craft post Jeweled Pumpkins.  The Framed Floral Decorations are hung above the side chairs on either side of the china cabinet, the gold roses and autumn leaves are the perfect decorative accent for the holiday.  The Glass Dome Arrangement now sits on the tall cabinet across the room and the rustic elements coordinate with the dining room table decorations.  The Jeweled Pumpkins are on display in the china cabinet.

Framed floral final    20131110_132455
 

Classic Jeweled Pumpkin on display in china cabinet

Craft – Glass Dome Arrangement

Glass dome arrangement final

One of the most popular trends right now in home accessories is the terrarium container.  I have been looking at these decorative terrariums in the local retail and craft supply stores all summer long.  I knew I had a glass dome container I had bought on clearance a few years ago with the thought that I would use it for a future craft project.  Now, I finally had the idea to create a glass dome arrangement with the container.  I found some additional items from my floral supply box and the only item I purchased was a small container of ferns from my local craft store that were on clearance.

Craft Note: Shopping the craft stores in my area weekly, I find items on clearance that I purchase for a minimum amount and then later finding a craft project that I can use them for.  This glass dome arrangement craft project is a great example of using items that I previously purchased and buying a few additional items to create a beauty decorative arrangement for our home.

Glass dome arrangement supplies

Glass Dome Arrangement – supplies

  • Glass dome with base or terrarium
  • Ferns and leaves, amount will be determined by the size of the container
  • A small pot for the ferns and leaves (Spanish moss for the pot is optional)
  • A few container accessories, amount will be determined by the size of the container
  • Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Glass Dome Arrangement – instructions

  1. Any type of glass dome with base can be used or any size of terrarium. If you are using a glass dome it is very important to have a matching base because this is needed to attach the fern or leaves and container accessories.  Using the glass dome with base, I hot-glued a small container with ferns that I had purchased on clearance from my local craft store.  (To add more fullness to the container I used several additional ferns and the contrast of the two different types of ferns looked great!Glass dome arrangement 1
  2. Next, attach the accessories to the base with hot glue.  (I had found several small mushrooms and snails that I had previously purchased)  Any type of container accessories can be used but the scale of the items should be relatively small.  I have seen items such as small fairies, miniature garden benches and trellis –there such a nice selection in the craft stores.
    Glass dome arrangement 2a Glass dome arrangement 3
  3. This next step can be tricky if you are using a glass dome, if you are using a terrarium or an open-topped container this next step is not required.  As you fit the glass dome onto the base, be sure to be aware of where the ferns and leaves are being placed.  (I used my fingers to move the ferns so that they were not blocking the view any of the container accessories)

This Glass Dome Arrangement craft project was very easy to do and only took about 30 minutes to complete.