scattering inspiration: cookie cutter garland

 Talk about easy! This took me all of ten minutes and two materials:

rustic twine and cookie cutters.

Thank you all for your prayers and get-well wishes for Khan yesterday! The "bug" seems to have passed and he's doing much better. We even went for a short jog last night.

scattering inspiration: last-minute thanksgiving table

The Internet is bursting with "table" ideas for Thanksgiving, and most of them flaunt simplicity with an air that seems to say, "Why would you try to be complicated?"

This "Thankful" tree could easily be created by pasting scrapbook paper to both sides of cardstock (for sturdiness). You would have to draw it, cut it out, and cut a slit in the bottom of one piece and the top of another. I wish I could find a template... it's do-able, don't you think?

(Okay, maybe this one isn't quite so simple... but the rest of these ARE!)

I love this combination of pumpkins and apples tumbling out of a basket that looks like it came from a Farmer's market and was filled with fuzzy peaches just a few short months ago,

(See? Very simple!)

These two involve a little shopping and crafting, but nothing complicated. Gold spraypaint for the first and an old navigating map glued into the shape of a cone for the second.

For the maps:

You can download and print one of these on tan or yellow cardstock

or here is an old map of the Americas that you can save and print on similar paper.

(I would use a printing store, since it will need to be a little larger than 8.5x11, or you can make a trio of smaller cones and use your home printer... to keep it simple :) )

Pears and grain centerpiece DIY here,

(This is my favorite!)

Or a casual tossing about of pumpkins and Fallish flora will do just fine.

(P.S. For the easiest placecards you'll ever make, click here.)

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with people (or pets) you hold dear, wherever you may be!

Photos via here, here, here, and here. 

scattering inspiration: for the thanksgiving table

Placecards,

Beverages,

Centerpieces.

Inspiration via here, here, and here.

scattering inspiration: gourd garlands

Another great November idea from Martha.

scattering inspiration: mayflower centerpieces

Get the how-to and templates for these Mayflower Centerpieces here.

Martha says this is a great activity for kids!

However, be sure you know the Indian perspective of Thanksgiving, too. There is a (somewhat shocking) piece here about the Myths of Thanksgiving, as understood in American Indian realms.

Here is another (much more gentle) link.

Here's my view:

When it comes to history no one really knows what happened or why. History is as much about human experience as the present-- and how easy is it to find unbiased news coverage? There are always (at least) two sides to every story, and the human mind is innately biased, subjective, and personal. So enjoy your Mayflower centerpieces, while knowing that today Thanksgiving is about family, sharing, opportunity, blessings, and nourishment for stomach and soul. Harvest the positive while being aware of the negative.

And please feel free to share your views and/or links in the comments section!

Happy November!

scattering inspiration: BOO!

I got the idea for "mummy vases" from a magazine I flipped through while in line at the grocery store.

(Now I can't remember which.) They used the plastic eyes that roll around, but I just made my own from cardstock. Then, I added the apple to help the scene unfold.

It might be fun to draw red squiggles shooting out from the pupils to make them look bloodshot. Or color the whites with yellow highlighter for a whole new, glowing effect.

It took 5 minutes to set up,
and it's like a story sitting on my windowsill, unfolding with every change of light and slight turn of the apple.

I usually look up at least once from washing dishes and just have to give a little chuckle :)

scattering inspiration: fall decor

  

Photos via here, here , and here.