eta: Linking up to my first party--ever! This post may be from last year, but I plan to use the decorations again this year☺
We are hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year for 14.
More like 13 for the main course, Ebby's not much of a fan of Thanksgiving food save for rolls.
This weekend I completed two Thanksgiving decor projects. One exciting thing about both these projects (as least to me) was that I was inspired by my supplies and materials to create them. I read so many blogs and browse so many books and magazines it seems sometimes it's hard to feel like you're being creative and (somewhat) original.
Project #1: Napkin ring placecards
This project came about when I decided we should have cloth napkins this year. I went to the fabric store and bought all that was left on the bolt of the green & white polka dot fabric. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite enough to make generously sized napkins. But I was going to make it work. I cut, ironed and pinned the first napkins and brought it to my sewing machine. My sewing machine did not feel like making napkins. It felt like make birds' nests. And by birds' nests I don't mean cozy little twig and grass abodes for winged creatures. I mean the thread tension was messed up and the bottom thread was way too loose, making a mess and using a ton of thread. I tried to fix it but then gave up.
Next morning it was on to plan B. I used the fabric still, but in a different way. I cut it in strips and wrapped the strips along cut pieces of a wrapping paper roll I had brushed with tacky glue. While those were drying, time to stamp. I stamped the acorn image with black ink (I think I need a new black ink pad...) and then colored it with colored pencils. Next, I punched the acorn images out with a handheld scallop circle punch. I mounted the acorns on squares of dark brown paper using foam tape for some dimension.
Then came the part where I cut individual letters out of 3 different vintage books to spell everyone's name on each individual tag. I highly recommend tweezers and insanity for this part of the project. Of course I found it oddly relaxing. I used my Crop-A-Dile (awesome tool, btw) to punch a hole in fabric covered napkin ring and then tied the tag to the ring using a $1 spool of ribbon. Finally, inserting a cloth napkin (that you happened to find in a set of 12 while cleaning your dad's basement) and you're good to go!
Project #2: Thankful tree
This project was inspired by a few things including my Jenni Bowlin thankful stamp, a yard full of twigs and the empty white thrift store vase that was sitting on top of the bookshelf. Taunting me.
I knew I wanted to make a mini 'Give Thanks' flag to put in the vase. 
I usually like to stitch around the edges but whereas my sewing machine and I aren't currently on speaking terms, I just inked the edges with VanDyke brown ink. I had some floral foam in stock in my art area and cut a few pieces to fit in the bottom of the vase. Next I went outside and gathered a bunch of branches. I worked on the deck table and stuck the twigs in the floral foam while trying to create somewhat of an organic, sort of but not really balanced shape. I stuck the Give Thanks flag in the foam and headed to my workshop.
To create the 'thankful' tags, I stamped onto cream colored cardstock in a few different colors. I trimmed off the excess and then mounted the stamped image onto Autumn Splendor paper (Making Memories, on clearance at Michaels for $1.39). I used my Crop-A-Dile again to put eyelets in the top and then tied some ribbon in a knot for some softness. In order to be able to hang the tags all over the tree I used earring wires I had stockpiled from a wine charm making phase a few years ago. I was thinking myself quite clever when that worked out. 
I'm hoping that come Thanksgiving I can convince people to write something on the tags--something they're thankful for would be great, but also just their name (sort of like a guest book tree) or a quote or some random words of wisdom or humor. You never know what you're going to get with this crowd ;-) 
There you have it, my handmade Thanksgiving decorations. All that's left to do now is make the handmade food to go with it.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
