Remember pressing leaves when you were a kid? There is such simple joy in finding those colorful fallen leaves and putting them between sheets of paper carefully inside large books, weighed down with more books. Then leaving them alone until you’ve forgotten about them. What a fun surprise it is to look for those pages marked with the now flattened leaves, still holding their color. My 5 year old grandson and I found some huge maple leaves on a walk last year that we pressed just that way.
Here are 5 tips for Thanksgiving decorating, including a fun use for those pressed leaves…
1. Use pressed leaves on the table with personalized messages.
On Thanksgiving, I laid the leaves around on the table with a few markers. Everyone wrote on a leaf things they were thankful for.
Then the leaves with messages of thanksgiving were scattered through the remaining plain leaves. Simple, but still effective to get our heads thinking about all the things we have to be thankful for, instead of only how good the roasting turkey smells. 😉
2. Make a centerpiece by grouping natural and artificial items in a large wooden tray.
By mixing natural and artifical, you can get the color accents that artificial offers, but the natural items, like willow and moss balls, wood stumps, and hazelnuts keeps it real looking and offers texture that artificial seems to lack.
Speaking of hazelnuts…
They looked pretty in this ceramic covered ‘squash’ bowl on the built-in buffet too.
3. Use wood mini-logs to create height differences in a vignette.
I’ve used these little log chunks, my husband cut for me several years ago, in just about every display, from Christmas with many votive candles, to a lift for bunnies at Easter and now for the Thanksgiving decorating… I love the natural texture and charm they bring to just about any arrangement.
4. Start a turkey collection!
One year, a few years ago, I was on a search for turkeys. I bought just about every turkey I found at occasional sales, flea markets and anywhere I could find them. I think total I must have close to 20. Some are vintage, like the two you see in front with holes on top for plants or a floral arrangement. But some are just second hand…
The original year I bought most of them, I used them for a long centerpiece on the huge dining table we had at our former house.
Now, in our new 100 year old house, I scatter them around the house. Most of them do find their way into the dining room, but they’re not all together on one spot.
I love how this little vintage grey turkey looks sitting on top of the black plate cupboard.
Now for the last of these 5 tips for Thanksgiving decorating…
5. Use easel type picture frames to spread a meaningful Thanksgiving message.
I printed Bible verses off the computer, but you could hand print them too.
I selected gold or gold accented frames for the verses to be show-cased in. Get creative… I think simple wood frames with chalkboard inserts would be cute… Or what idea can you come up with?
I love decorating for the seasons, and I hope these 5 tips for Thanksgiving decorating will inspire you to add a new element to your Fall decor.
Happy decorating! If you think of it, comment back and let me know what you came up with!
Here are more fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving decorating ideas:
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This post is linked up at the following other sites: StoneGable, Yesterday on Tuesday, A Stroll Thru Life, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, The DIY Dreamer, Pocketful of Posies, Between Naps on the Porch, Chic on a Shoestring
Entertaining Women says
The thankful thoughts written on pressed leaves and the framed scriptures are both wonderful ideas for Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for inviting us for a peek at your inspiring ideas. Cherry Kay
Phyllis E says
It is so nice to see some attention paid to Thanksgiving! I love everything about Thanksgiving–the history of it, the meaning, the food (except cleaning up the turkey carcass, ha, ha!) and can’t understand why people seem to decorate more for Halloween than for Thanksgiving! I wish people put more emphasis on that holiday than on Black Friday. sigh–Thanks for the great ideas. You don’t see too many Thanksgiving decorations these days at stores. I am going to have to start hunting for vintage turkeys at flea markets–I think yours are charming.
Liz says
Thanks so much Phyllis! I totally agree with you!!
Mary-the boondocks blog says
I love using quotes in the frames. I have to try that. Up till now I’ve put cards inside of frames.
Liz says
That’s a good idea too, Mary. I have a vintage Thanksgiving postcard a friend gave me in a frame…
Donnamae says
Never thought about using pressed leaves in that way…very original! I’m not one to decorate for Thanksgiving…but I really enjoyed seeing your turkey collection. Never thought of collecting them. I have roosters though…does that count..lol? 😉
Liz says
Ha Ha, sure roosters work too! 😉
Evie says
You have got a great turkey collection! Sometimes, they can be pretty scary looking but you have a bunch of awesome ones. I love the idea of writing what you’re thankful for on the leaves, too!
Liz says
Thanks Evie! 🙂