DIY Autumn Ideas

A DIY creative idea captured at the grocery store floral section. Besides this centerpiece being a Halloween treat the idea works for a birthday gift for that candy lover in your life.

The bottom of a a mason jar is filled about 1/4-1/3 full with Reese Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey Kisses. Candy bars are anchored to long plastic pics (ones you would find in floral section of a craft store. Arrange candy sticks in a mason jar. Clever gift :)  

So this idea inspired me to look for other interesting DIY ideas for Fall. 

How about a shot of glitter blast to turn an ordinary pumpkin or gourd into a stunning display. 

Quotation Napkin Rings 
Rev up table talk with a few quotes about gratitude and thankfulness. Print quotes on cardstock and cut out to fit in small vellum envelopes (available with card-making supplies at crafts stores). Write each guest's name on the blank side of the card and place in the envelope so the name shows through. Wrap a length of decorative paper or ribbon around the envelope and secure with double-sided tape. Ask guests to read their quotes aloud and let the conversing begin.

Mini Pumpkin Name Place card

Turkey Hand Cookies

Cook's notes:

Meringue powder is a dried egg white product containing a little sugar. You can find it where cake decorating supplies are sold.

I could not find the exact picture of this idea online so I took a photo from BHG magazine where the idea was listed. This magazine has a lot of recipes for the holiday season and can be purchased at your local grocery store. 

Mark each guest's place at the Thanksgiving  table with a gingerbread turkey cookie. Instead of labeling the cookies with the name of guest include a reason you are thankful for each one. Let guests circle table to read messages and decide which seat is meant for them. 
Recipe makes 1 dozen.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda 
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. allspice
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 egg yolk
• 1-1/2 tsp. white vinegar
• 1-1/4 cups flour

Directions:

• In a large bowl beat butter for 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking powder, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon and allspice. Mix well. 
• Add in molasses, egg yolk and vinegar and beat until combined. 
• Beat in as much as flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in remaining flour. 
• Divide dough in half. Cover with wax paper and chill about 3 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a cookie sheet. With a cookie cutter cut out shapes. Sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake until edges lightly browned. 6-8 minutes. 

• • This Thanksgiving place card is inexpensive and easy to make. Cut a small, narrow rectangle from light blue cardstock and embellish the ends by cutting out a triangle shape. In your best scrawl, write guests' names or special messages. Roll the cardstock to give it shape, and place on anapple charmingly tucked in each place setting.

  • Thanksgiving Dinner Menu Card

    Whet everyone's appetite for Thanksgiving dinner with a menu card set on the table. White ink on dark paper gives this card a sophisticated twist. Look for a white-ink calligraphy pen or chalk-ink marker.
    Editor's Tip: If your calligraphy lacks style, type your menu in a fun, festive font and print on heavy cardstock.

  • Fabric Flower Napkin Ring

    A goldenrod fabric flower adds a specialThanksgiving touch to this layered place setting. Make the flower by cutting folded circles of fabric into rough petals, stitching or hot-gluing their centers together, and tying with baker's twine.

  • Bundled Flatware

    Don't fuss over formal frills; let guests serve themselves. Bundle flatware settings with ivory ribbon, and stand them in a glass bowlfilled with uncooked white rice.
    Editor's Tip: Position the bowl of flatware in the center of the table within easy reach of all guests.

  • Quotation Napkin Rings

    Rev up table talk with a few quotes about gratitude and thankfulness. Print quotes on cardstock and cut out to fit in small vellum envelopes (available with card-making supplies at crafts stores). Write each guest's name on the blank side of the card and place in the envelope so the name shows through. Wrap a length of decorative paper or ribbon around the envelope and secure with double-sided tape. Ask guests to read their quotes aloud and let the conversing begin.

  Miniature Pumpkin Place Card

  Custom-made place cards add thoughtful touches to your Thanksgiving gathering and add style to your tabletop. Simple imagery and fanciful lettering marry on this business-card-size tag. Choose a fun font or fill in names by hand using a calligraphy pen. Pin each place card to a miniature pumpkin or gourd.
  • Our best Thanksgiving craft ideas

• Numbered Napkin Rings

  Whip up these fabulous Thanksgiving napkin rings in less than an hour without going near your sewing machine. From complementaryfall colors, cut two strips of felt or burlap: one 4x1-1/2-inch strip and one 4x1-inch strip. Use tacky glue to attach the narrower strip to the wider one, then glue the short ends to form a loop. Add a graphic number to an oversize button. Glue the button to thenapkin ring.

• Simple Place Card with Fresh Fruit

  This Thanksgiving place card is inexpensive and easy to make. Cut a small, narrow rectangle from light blue cardstock and embellish the ends by cutting out a triangle shape. In your best scrawl, write guests' names or special messages. Roll the cardstock to give it shape, and place on anapple charmingly tucked in each place setting.

• Thanksgiving Dinner Menu Card

  Whet everyone's appetite for Thanksgiving dinner with a menu card set on the table. White ink on dark paper gives this card a sophisticated twist. Look for a white-ink calligraphy pen or chalk-ink marker.
  Editor's Tip: If your calligraphy lacks style, type your menu in a fun, festive font and print on heavy cardstock.

• Fabric Flower Napkin Ring

  A goldenrod fabric flower adds a specialThanksgiving touch to this layered place setting. Make the flower by cutting folded circles of fabric into rough petals, stitching or hot-gluing their centers together, and tying with baker's twine.

• Bundled Flatware