BHG: Leaf Place Cards

Yes, I held out as long as I could in decorating for autumn, and yes, that means I left it until just about the last minute to set up my table for Thanksgiving this year as well. But, with a few simple touches, I was able to whip up a stylish backdrop for dinner just in time for guests to arrive!

Luckily I had the major stuff down:

• table cloth - check
• chargers - check
• utensils - check
• plates and bowls - check

But I needed a little more oomph. A few of the usual fall staples make great ingredients when you're in a pinch to adorn the table with that little something extra: pine cones, mini pumpkins, and best of all - leaves!

First thing's first, you've just got to get a centerpiece together. For my natural focal point, I grabbed a large bowl and arranged some apples, pine cones, and moss inside and jazzed it up a bit with some faux branches around the base. Having just made a trip to the pumpkin patch (that morning!) I added a few mini pumpkins to the display. Some bright yellow flowers embellished with a bright green satin bow added a real pop to the table.

Apple and pine cone centerpiece

OK, centerpiece done and done.

Next comes the seating cards. While these can be completely unnecessary (especially if you have a small family like I do), it can be a nice touch to create your own place markers - especially using leaves like in my inspiration shot above from Better Homes and Gardens.

These are so easy to make; just select a few nicely shaped/coloured leaves - either preserved, like I have used, or found for FREE from autumn's bounty outside - then grab a pen and start writing!

I used a gold pen with a bit of shimmer to it. Just remember to use a darker ink on lighter coloured leaves so that your guest's names appear prominently on the leaves.

Leaf place cards

I finished off the place cards by affixing them to napkins using a plain canvas ribbon. Super fast, super easy. NEXT!

I just love how these place cards turned out

Leaves make another appearance on my table to style up some plain glass coasters (actually, these are candle holders from Ikea doing double duty!) Just drop a leaf on the table and set that glass "coaster" right on top of it. I am on a roll!

Leaf coasters

As a final touch I broke out some mini autumnal cookie cutters my mum had given me and crafted mini leaf and acorn shaped butter (another {BHG} inspiration). You can use either miniature sized cookie cutters, as I did here, or the larger sized ones, as featured on BHG.

Leaf and acorn mini butter

I think this turned out just adorable - and my family was swooning over them! It's the little things, after all ;-)

They are almost too cute to use!

Despite being rushed to get things set up for Thanksgiving I think I did a pretty decent job overall with the things I had on hand, and best of all my family did appreciate the effort. It's the least I could do since I'm certainly not the chef of my household!

Thanksgiving tablescape

Now, on to thinking AHEAD for Christmas dinner! (Yeah, right!)

Be honest...


I would like to send out a very special

THANK YOU!!!

To the wonderful Cassity and Justin of {Remodelaholic} for featuring my tablescape on their amazing blog!!! You can find that post {here}.

I am also linking this tablescape up to In My Own Style. Please do drop by and check out all of the other projects on both of those great blogs!

For my Canadian friends, how did your Thanksgiving decorating go? What were some of your favourite table features this year? And to our American cousins, are you all geared up for your Thanksgiving celebrations? Please feel free to share some of your past or present tablescapes!