Nancy's Thanksgiving Pages ~ hundreds of ideas for a wonderful holiday ~

Welcome! On these pages you will find a virtual cornucopia of wonderful tips, crafts, recipes, and ideas for a unique or traditional Thanksgiving holiday. Table of Contents: Thanksgiving Recipes, Fun Fall Crafts, Thanksgiving Day Activities, Darling Decorations, Turkey Day Traditions & History, Dinner Party Tips & Tricks, Prayers & Poetry links to more nice Thanksgiving pages. and live help- holidaze chat with Nancy!

 

Crafts & Decorations

 

 

 

For Thanksgiving a few years ago, my neighbor and I made a great centerpiece out of "morning glory" vine he had taken down earlier, and placed in a circle in a large tub. It had dried nicely by Thanksgiving, and we added other dead foliage from around the yard and created a fabulous centerpiece.

We also like to make wreaths, simply from the dead plants & flowers from around the yard, adding only a few autumn colored fresh flowers at the last minute.

This year, I was given a neat arrangement of flowers for my birthday in October, and I already pulled out the yukky stuff, but I saved the cattails, odd twigs and other cool looking dead stuff that was left in the basket. I'm going to add some more foliage this week before turkey day!

 

Cornucopia Centerpiece
for Thanksgiving Day
by: Candee Stark
As we enter into the month of November my thoughts turn towards Thanksgiving and everything that this wonderful holiday has to offer. It is a time for spending time with family and friends and for counting the many blessings the past year has brought to us.
Like most people I like to decorate for the holidays, and Thanksgiving is no exception. Indian corn, pumpkins, gourds, wheat, fruits, nuts, and anything that symbolizes a bountiful harvest are at the top of the list for things I like to include in my decorating scheme. The best way to incorporate all of these items it to design a cornucopia centerpiece for Thanksgiving Day.
What is a cornucopia? Cornucopia is a Latin term derived from two words, cornu meaning horn and copia meaning plenty. The horn of plenty, as it is also known, is shaped like a horn or cone. It is usually shown overflowing with nuts and fruit. (Freeman, Morton, S. The Story behind the Words. Philadelphia: Isis Press, 1985)
This everlasting symbol of abundance is easy to create and will become another important tradition you will want to share with your family each year.
Cornucopia Centerpiece:
Materials:
* cone-shaped, store bought cornucopia basket
* assortment of fall fruits and vegetables (small pumpkins, apples, gourds, Indian corn, nuts, and berries)
* dried leaves, wheat, and other natural fillers
* newspaper
* raffia
* thin sheet of plastic or plastic tray (to protect table)
1. Stuff newspaper into cornucopia basket (less harvest items will be needed with the appearance of more!)
2. Cover newspaper with a thin layer of raffia or other natural fillers.
3. Place basket on plastic
4. Place larger fruits and vegetables in basket.
5. Continue adding smaller items allow them to spill out on the plastic (Remember, bountiful harvest!)
6. Fill in small places with berries and nuts.
7. Use leaves and other natural items to fill in the spaces; make sure protective plastic is totally covered.
Happy Thanksgiving!
About The Author Candee Stark Please visit me at http://www.flowers-and-garden.com/ if you would like to see a picture of the cornucopia I created or you would like to read about other decorating or garden ideas. http://www.flowers-and-garden.com/cornucopia-centerpiece.html

 

 

Handprint Turkey

Trace your kid's footprint *with shoes* twice on brown construction paper for the turkey body. Trace kids hand and cut out of red, yellow, tan, orange or any earthtone construction papers. Cut seven hands total. Glue body together and the handprints become the "feathers" in the back. Cut scrap paper pieces for the beak and neck waddle. Paint eyes, or attach wiggle eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

PlumParty is more than a party supplies online catalog. It’s a great source of inspiration, a home site for entertaining, a truly user-friendly place for learning and perfecting "the art of celebration." Actual products may vary - Visit website for current selection.

 

 

Click on the image above for a very nice computer wallpaper - especially if your PC is in the living room! :-) PLEASE DO NOT LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS IMAGE, SAVE IT TO YOUR COMPUTER - THANKS I like to "clear off" my computer desktop for parties by placing all my desktop icons into a folder called clean-up, then after the party, I take the icons back out, and delete the clean-up folder... I'm thankful for the generous artist that posted this nice image on the web. Also check out .Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Wallpapers - images of balloons and floats.

 

 

Leaf Collage

Send the kids outside to gather lots of pretty fall leaves - preferably fresh soft leaves in a variety of colors.
Let them glue the leaves onto posterboard or construction paper, and overlap them until the paper is covered. Use wide strips of cardboard instead, connect them and create a wall border around the room covered with crisp fall leaves!

Womans Day Crafts- Turkey Ornament

 

Dover "Fun With Thanksgiving" Stencils

 

Simplicity Fall Holiday Memory Card

 

PINE CONE TURKEYS

 

We've made turkeys out of pine cones. The shorter, fatter type work best. Ahead of time, hot glue a pine cone to the center of a paper plate for each child. Also, cut red heads out construction paper for each one. I have used both feathers bought at craft stores in assorted colors or again precut feathers in assorted colors out of construction paper.(depending on how much you have to spend) Have each child draw an eye on each side of the head. Glue to front or narrower end of pine cone. Pick out several different colors of feathers and glue into back ridges of pine cone(fatter end). It doesn't have to be perfect, let the kids be creative. Then, glue pieces of unpopped corn kernels to the paper plate scattered around the turkey. It really looks cute. I found a nice version on Martha Stewart's website (see photo), with real feathers used for the tail - lovely.

 

Cork Trivet

Collect wine bottle corks, or use new ones if you have a supply.
Standing the corks on end, arrange into a pattern (eg. circle, diamond, square, etc.).
Glue the corks together into the pattern, trying to keep glue off the top of the trivet.
When cool/dry, the trivet may be painted if desired. Cut the corks in half if you don't have enough.

 

 

 

Decoupage Stain Glass Effect Candles

Purchase tall clear glass candles at any grocery store (the tall religious type, without artwork - also available in shorter sizes)
and cut up pieces of colorful fall color tissue paper, and glue the pieces to the outside of the glass.
Cover with a sealant (or an extra thick layer of glue) once its dry. A lovely addition to your thanksgiving tablescape.

 

Thanksgiving Craft: DIY Leaf Napkin Rings By Lata Tokhi These classy looking autumn inspired napkin rings will add the perfect touch to any Thanksgiving feast. As an added bonus they are very easy to make and cost next to nothing. What You Will Need 1. Salt 2. Flour 3. Water 4. Rolling pin 5. Cutting board 6. Cookie sheet covered with aluminum foil 7. Golden yellow paint or some other autumn color. 8. Fine tipped paintbrush 9. Ribbon in a dark autumn color such as maroon. 10. Leaf button or small leaf stamp 11. Sharp kitchen knife 12. Fake autumn leaves (these can often be found in the craft section of most stores) 13. Hot glue gun Directions: 1. First you will need to make the salt dough. 2. In a medium bowl mix: 1 Cup salt, 1 Cup flour and ½ Cup water. 3. Knead the dough until it reaches a clay-like consistency. If it is too sticky add more flour. If it is too dry add more water. 4. Put a small amount of flour on the area where you will be rolling out the dough and spread it evenly so that the dough will not stick. 5. Roll out the dough with the rolling pin until it is about a ¼ of an inch thick. 6. Use the button or stamp to make an impression in the dough. 7. Use the knife to cut a rectangle or square around the impression. 8. Place the pieces on the cookie sheet. Make sure you place them on the sheet with the indent facing up. 9. When you have made as many as you need. Turn the oven to warm and put the pan in the oven. 10. The amount of time it will take to dry the pieces depends on the oven. So check them constantly. It will most likely take about 2-3 hours for them to dry completely. When they are done they will be hard, light and make a hollow sound when tapped on. 11. When they are done, paint the indent with your chosen color. 12. Allow the paint to dry. 13. Plug in the hot glue gun. 14. Cut the ribbon into four inch long pieces. 15. Choose leaves for the napkin rings and remove stems if necessary. 16. With the hot glue gun, put glue on the back of a salt dough piece and attach it to the front of a leaf, so that the piece is slightly slanted. 17. When the glue has dried turn the leaf over and put a small line of glue towards the base of the leaf. 18. Attach the ribbon so that it forms a ring. 19. Use as you would any other napkin ring. Article © Dot Com Women. For more Thanksgiving craft and decorating projects, visit http://www.dotcomwomen.com/crafts/thanksgiving.shtml Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lata_Tokhi== http://EzineArticles.com/?Thanksgiving-Craft:-DIY-Leaf-Napkin-Rings&id=95499

 

 

Thanksgiving Blessings Village Accessory Set Collectible Fall Village Accessories! Figurine Accessory Set Adds Thanksgiving Spirit to Your Village Collection - As summer ends and Thanksgiving nears, the Farmer's Market in the village square is bursting with the delicious fruits of the harvest season. Gazing upon the bushels of red apples, squash, walnuts, Indian corn and orange pumpkins, one can't help but pause to give silent thanks for this generous bounty of the earth. Now, you can accessorize any of your Hawthorne Villages with a 5-piece set of handcrafted collectible fall village accessories. Add the bounty and blessings of Thanksgiving to your Hawthorne Village collection with a 5-piece village figurine accessory set. Brisk demand is expected for these hand-painted collectible fall village accessories that bring touches of seasonal charm to your favorite village collection. And you won't find a finer value anywhere. Order now from Bradford Exchange!

 

Thousands of Lovely Thanksgiving Decorations - vintage and modern- are Ready for your Bid at eBay!

 

Danielle's Place has lots & lots of cute easy craft ideas for Thanksgiving and other holidays too - click here or on the screenshot -->

 

Thanksgiving for your Backyard Birds

Birds that stay in places all through the winter need food. One craft that kids can do is to make a pine cone bird feeder. Simply cover a pine cone in peanut butter and dip it in bird seed. After tying a bit of string to one of these pine cones, it can be hung up on a tree outside. These pine cone bird feeders do not just feed the birds, they act as beautiful ornaments for an outdoor tree.

 

 

Thanksgiving Crafts

 

 

I recently put out a request for craft ideas and recipes for this page- they are starting to come in now. If you have a craft, activity, tradition, or recipe you'd like to share, send it along to me, along with your city and state, and I'll post it on this page! Thanks so much!!

 

T hanks for time to be together, turkey, talk, and tangy weather. H for harvest stored away, home, and hearth, and holiday. A for autumn's frosty art, and abundance in the heart. N for neighbors, and November, nice things, new things to remember. K for kitchen, kettles' croon, kith and kin expected soon. S for sizzles, sights, and sounds, and something special that about. ...That spells THANKS for joy in living and a jolly good Thanksgiving. - Aileen Fisher, All in a Word

 

AllBrands.com Gift Ideas for Sewing, Vacuums, and Household Appliances.

 

 

 

Holiday Decorating Tips: Thanksgiving,
A Time For Gratitude And Giving
by: Jeanette Joy Fisher
Get new holiday decorating ideas for Thanksgiving and Autumn. Start a new family tradition. Your home will look fabulous and your guests will love you. Turkey and Cranberries! Yeah! Before you dig into that turkey, take a moment for each person to say one sentence beginning with... "Today, I am grateful for..." You will be surprised at what children say, so keep a notebook handy to write down the gratitudes, or, better yet, record the event.

Thanksgiving Decorating Tips

"Welcome to Our Home" Ideas

• Holiday decorating isn't just for Christmas! Door wreaths welcome all to your home and set the stage for celebrating.
• Make a simple wreath to hang on your front door with Thanksgiving colors--brown, russet, olive green.
• Use tree branches from your garden; attach a few gourds, nuts, and ribbons.
• Place a gorgeous mum by your front door. You can plant it later and get flowers next Thanksgiving to use inside. It just takes one bright spot near your front door to attract the eye of arriving guests.
• Wrap your front door with gift wrap appropriate to Thanksgiving.
• Make a "welcome to our home" banner. Add your ribbons and fall leaves.
• Group vines, pumpkins, and mums for display impact near the front entrance. Adjust the vines to add height and movement.
• Fall Leaves make great interior and exterior decorations. Be sure to hose off any bugs!

Interior Holiday Decorating Tips

• Tie ribbons around your candle bases and around your floral arrangements. Set fall-color leaves under your decorations. Safety Tip: Keep leaves separated from melting candle wax. Extend your flower arrangements with fall tree branches. Just one flower package makes a huge impact when you divide and spread it around.
• Use copper, bronze, and gold spray paint to dress up plain gourds. Fill a glass or crystal bowl with the gourds, oranges, and nuts.
• Display vegetables and mini pumpkins on a tray. Fill in any gaps with fall leaves, moss, straw, or wheat. If orange clashes with your home's interior, use green apples and spray paint the mini-pumpkins.
• Did I already say leaves? Here's another way to add fall color: Place the leaves in your green potted-plants.
• One beautiful way to kick off your holiday season: Wrap tiny gifts in gold foil; top off with brown and russet ribbons, and place the gifts on the dinner plate.
• Your table will look fabulous and your guests will love the thought.
  
  Happy Thanksgiving!
  © Jeanette Fisher
  About The Author Jeanette Joy Fisher Free holiday decorating teleclass "Interior Design Secrets to Glorious Holiday Decorating" and more holiday decorating tips: Joy Holidays Decorating http://JoyHolidays.com

This cute idea was sent in by a reader... thanks!! My daughter made this neat craft in sunday school. Take a large solo plastic cup, poke a small hole through the bottom, and place a piece of string with a knot at the end, through the hole. (so it passes through the cup) cut paper feathers, eyes and a beak. the eyes are towards the bottom of the cup. with the string dangling through the cup towards the floor, take a small damp sponge, pinch the string and slide it down the length of the string, it makes the sound of a turkey. do jerky movements and it sounds even more like one. kids love it. Have fun! Scott Chelberg

 

7 Ways to Decorate A Thanksgiving Table on a Budget! By Kathleen Wilson Thanksgiving is traditionally a day when we invite our loved ones into our home and give thanks for all we have. But with Christmas and other holidays looming just around the corner, it sometimes can be tough on the budget to put out a beautifully decorated table. No problem, The Budget Decorator is here to help you create a tablescape for your home that represents your creativity, and gives you yet another thing to be thankful for....money saved! 1.Develop a theme. A natural for this time of year, is, well...natural! Use the beauty of nature and the harvest as even our ancestors did to provide a beautiful and delicious theme for your Thanksgiving feast. 2.Provide a backdrop to your table setting. You don't need fancy tablecloths for this day. Layer simply flat sheets, old bedspreads or quilts, and pretty fabric placemats all on the same table. Keep a solid color between each pattern, and it will shine! 3.Go all out setting your table! I DON'T mean run to your nearest department store and buy the best china. Nonsense. This day is about simpler things than that. I do mean use what you have, all of it, even if it doesn't match. Set out plates and salad dishes and soup bowls. Use all your glassware. Bring out separate forks for salad and main dish. Fold pretty fabric or paper napkins and place at each setting. Go to a craft site and find a little place card you can make out of materials on hand. Here's a secret: The more generous you are with your table settings, no matter what the nature of the plates and cups and silverware, the more festive and lavish the room appears! 4.Create a shimmering centerpiece out of natural materials! Bather 2 or three ceramic bowls, and fill them with nature finds...fir cones, acorns, nuts or seeds, even old potpourri! Nestle a pillar candle in each bowl, and set in the center of the table. Add a few pressed or silk fall leaves to the table around the bowls, and viola! Simple, elegant, and except for the candles(which you may have in your cupboard already) free! Never leave the candles unattended, and always make sure they will not burn down to or be blown into anything flammable. 5.Use a small pitcher from your cupboard to bring fresh flowers or branches of fall leaves to the table. Use in the center of your candle arrangement for height and interest. 6.Display pumpkins and gourds in the corners of the room, piled as they would in a barn. Add a few baskets to hold apples and pears, or smaller gourds and corn. 7.Invest in one roll of fall hue ribbon for your tablescape. Tie a bow to the back of each chair, wind ribbon over the table through the centerpieces. Even use it as tiebacks for the curtains! Use what you have, bring in the bounty of harvest, and enjoy your loved ones without stealing from that holiday fund! Kathy Wilson is an author, columnist, and editor of The Budget Decorator. For hundreds of free budget decorating ideas and to sign up for her free newsletter and ebook, visit her at http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com or http://www.DecoratingYourSmallSpace.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathleen_Wilson http://EzineArticles.com/?7-Ways-to-Decorate-A-Thanksgiving-Table-on-a-Budget!&id=361339

 

Sculpted Rooster Candles - 3-Pc Tealight Set from CandleBay

 

 

Thanksgiving Music from amazon.com

 

 

 

Decorate yourself on Thanksgiving day! or have the kids entertain you with a Thanksgiving Play! get them now at buycostumes.com!
Pilgrim Boy Child Size	Lil' Feathers Child size	Shoe Buckles, Colonial Silver Silver	Pilgrim Bonnet	Running Brook Adult Plus Size	Running Brook Child Size

 

 

Paper Thanksgiving Decorations are fine for a more casual party, and affordable.

More Thanksgiving Links

Free Original Clipart at Designed to a T

Clipart.com. Unlimited access to more than 2,500,000
clipart images, animations, photos, fonts, and sounds!

Anne's Thanksgiving Page

Valerie's Thanksgiving Page For Families includes Christian reflections on the holiday

Happy Thanksgiving From Linnie Bug

Thanksgiving sites - Full website reviews

Star*Dreamer's Autumn

Thanksgiving Background Set by Mary

Thanksgiving E-Cards

.Thanksgiving Clip Art

Gifs For Thanksgiving Animated and non-animated gifs for Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving ! Greeting Cards From 123Greetings.com

Thanksgiving on the Net

Autumn, Fall: October, November, December - Quotes, Poems, Sayings, Wisdom

Images on this page were not created by me, I got them from the web several years ago.
Thanks to all the great artists who created them!!! They have been a great pleasure to me!!

 

Make any event special with personalized MY M&M’S® Candies. MY M&M’S® candy personalized with words, colors, faces, logos - Order Now!