Ideas for natural Thanksgiving centerpieces

Thanksgiving centerpieces can be simple or elaborate, handmade or store bought. They can be made by the hands of a small child or an expert florist. A natural Thanksgiving centerpiece is a reflection of your relationship with friends and family. You've come together to enjoy a celebration of good will. Here's five ideas to make your Thanksgiving table memorable.

Mini pumpkin tea lights

Supplies:

Miniature pumpkins
Tea lights
Glass plate
Tools for carving
Several Thanksgiving themed picks or sprays

Directions:

Carve a tea light sized hole from each pumpkin. Place a tea light in each one. Stack and scatter the tea light pumpkins randomly on the plate. Fill the gaps in with the picks and sprays. Light candles just before dinner.

Silver and gold gourds

Supplies:

1 can each of silver and gold spray paint

Pedestal cake plate
Gourds in a variety of sizes and shapes
Artificial fall leaf sprigs from a craft store.

Directions:

Spray paint half the gourds silver, the other half gold. Let dry. While they're drying, spray paint your leaves lightly with gold. Let the natural color show slightly. When the leaves are dry, scatter them randomly on the plate Let the edges hang over. Now place and stack the dry painted gourds on the leaf bed.

Giving thanks log book

Supplies:

Wrought iron book stand
Guest book
Pen
Assorted fall floral picks

Directions:

Wrap the exposed areas of the book stand with the floral picks. Glue in place if needed. Set your book stand and guest book with pen on the table. Each year at Thanksgiving dinner, your guests can sign the book with a note about what they are thankful for. In time this will become a delightful reminder of the good things in your lives.

Friends light the way

Have each guest bring a glass with a fall colored candle in it. Do not specify shape, size or color. You should end up with a wide variety of shapes, sizes and heights of glasses. Scatter the glasses randomly in the center of the table for an unusual lighted display. This display symbolizes and celebrates the differences in our friends and family. It shows how we all come together on Thanksgiving.

Spilling edible harvest

Supplies:
Mixed nuts in the shell
4-5 apples of different types
4-5 pears
Medium sized basket
Wide fall themed ribbon

Directions:

Fill the bowl randomly with the apples and pears. Place some of the nuts in the spaces between the fruit. Pour the rest gently over the fruit, letting some tumble onto the table. Tie a large bow on the handle of the basket using the wide ribbon. Let the ends of the ribbon fall loosely onto the table, among the nuts.