Create a simple floral centerpiece.
To re-create the centerpiece you'll need:
A handful of cranberries
1 large, clear glass cylinder vase, such as an empty biscotti jar
1 smaller, clear glass cylinder vase, such as a pint glass
A pre-made bouquet or a variety of color-appropriate flowers - Gerber daisies, sunflowers and mums.
To begin fill a large vase about " full with water and add cranberries - they'll float on the surface. Add flowers to smaller vase and arrange according to your liking. Choose your tallest and widest flowers and arrange them in your container first. Add water to smaller vase and place inside larger vase. Surround the base of the larger vase with nuts and pressed leaves. Remember a perfect arrangement is all about what you like, so experiment a bit to get a look that appeals to you. Consider adding seasonal fruit or a baby pumpkin. Simply pierce with a wooden chopstick and insert into arrangement.
Quick tips on arranging:
Make low arrangements wider than their container.
Tall arrangements should be twice as tall as their container. Fill the base and lower part of the arrangement with the larger blooms.
Small blooms help to fill in the arrangement.
Click here for our Children's Table Centerpiece.
Create an edible centerpiece.
An edible centerpiece not only encourage guests to finish their dinner, but provides a centerpiece for all of the senses.
To create you'll need:
A set of stacking cake stands
Several pressed or paper leaves
Various desserts including miniature tarts, cakes and pies, fresh and dried fruit, a cheese sampling, chocolate and nuts. Don't hesitate to make it an easy process and purchase bakery-made desserts (or to display the edibles guests bring). Two or more cake stands offer more options, not only in the appearance of the centerpiece, but also the desserts offered.
Consider grouping desserts thematically, cakes and pies on the first level, cheese and fruit on the second, nuts and chocolates throughout. Don't forget about the bottom level, underneath the first stand; place larger items in this area. Construct the centerpiece the evening before and put food into place on Thanksgiving.
Fill in any bare areas with nuts or chocolates.
And when it's time for dessert guests can choose the treats they've had their eye on during the meal.
Click here for our Children's Table Centerpiece.
Your guests can play a crucial role in designing this fun and festive centerpiece. Invite friends and family to bring photos of the people, places and things for which they are thankful, and prior to the meal, insert them into the centerpiece. In addition to photographs, have guests complete a Giving Thanks note card and add to the centerpiece as well.
You'll need:
Several feet of 18-gauge silver tone wire
Round-nose pliers
Wire cutter
1 medium-size pumpkin
Various gourds, pressed leaves and small stones
Note cards or Giving Thanks cards
Before you begin, put pumpkin in place and surround with gourds, pressed leaves and stones. To create photo and note holders you'll need to make tight coils on the end of each wire. Cut a piece of wire between 7 and 9 inches in length. Use the pliers to make the coil, by feeding the wire between the heads of the plier. Rotate the pliers in a circular motion to form the coils. Place photos and note cards into coiled section of wire. Use back to back photos in each holder, so everyone has a view. Encourage guests to share their thankful thoughts and add to the centerpiece.
Click here to get the Giving Thanks Note Card - Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader
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