Thanksgiving decorations often get overlooked because the holiday is so close to Christmas, the king of holiday decorations. Don’t underestimate the fun of bringing the spirit of autumn into your home. Thanksgiving decorations are so easy to make yourself, and many of the materials you need may be had just by stepping out of your back door. Bring the holidays right into your home by making this super fun and easy Thanksgiving centerpiece. This festive centerpiece will add just the right touch of fall to your dining room table.
The finished product will be a beautiful fall scented pumpkin with candles on either side. This project is a three-step process that should not take more than an afternoon to complete. Some of it is even easy enough for children.
The first stage of this craft is to make the potpourri that will go into your pumpkin. This fall potpourri has a heavenly scent that is all natural and will make guests feel right at home. The main ingredients are dried orange peels, cinnamon sticks, star anise and cloves. Begin by drying the peels from four oranges. Once you have peeled your oranges, remove any white pulp that remains on the inside. Heat your oven to 150 degrees, and dry them slowly for three to four hours. Periodically open the oven to vent the humid air. Once you have dried your orange peels, combine them with the star anise, cloves and pieces of cinnamon sticks. If you like a hint of spice, add a few sprigs of rosemary to the mix.
The next step is to make your pumpkin potpourri holder. This is the messy part that kids love. You will need a small pie pumpkin and carving tools. Cut off the top of the pumpkin just below the stem and discard it. Scoop out all the insides. On a side note, oven roasted pumpkin seeds make a yummy snack. This is the point where you need to decide on a design to carve into the pumpkin. A pattern of diamonds all the way around the center looks very elegant. You could also cut out fall leaf shapes.
The last step of this project is making the candleholders that will complete the centerpiece. Find two plain glass votives and two pretty fall leaves. Coat the leaves on both sides with a clear varnish spray. After the varnish has dried, paint some glue on the back of each leaf, and press them firmly on the outsides of the candleholders.
Now it is time to put it all together and enjoy your new centerpiece. Pour your potpourri into the top of the pumpkin. Gather your favorite fall foliage from the outdoors or add a lovely bouquet of fall mums right in the center of the pumpkin. Pop some candles into your new fall votive holders and place them on either side of the pumpkin. You now have a stunning Thanksgiving centerpiece that smells amazing and sparkles with the colors of fall.
Allison Cooper is a writer and editor for Beyond Stores, a retailer of high quality furniture ranging from couches to dining room tables and much more! When not hard at work, Allison enjoys knitting and finding new crafts to try on the internet. Please let her know if you’ve found any great ones that she may not have seen!
