Eye-catching holiday centerpieces

Thanksgiving is a time when families gather together around the table so you will want to create an eye-catching centerpiece that will add that extra touch to your holiday table. Here are some ideas to ado rn your table or foyer made from natural materials there are abundant this time of year.

• Pumpkin vase - Making a pumpkin vase is simple; all you need is a tall skinny pumpkin and some fresh or dried fall flowers. Take your pumpkin and cut the top off, then you need to clean the guts out. This will make a perfect vase to put your fresh or dried fall flowers in.

Tip: Available flowers in the fall include; roses, sunflowers, chrysanthemums, carnations, hydrangeas, cattails and oak or maple leaves. When you are choosing these flowers keep in mind that fall colors are red, maroon, yellow, gold, orange, brown and bronze.

• Indian corn candles - Here is an idea you can add to your

centerpiece that is functional as well as beautiful. All you need is a

couple of pillar candles

(any color or size), some half-size Indian corn (10 to 12

ears depending on the width of your candles), a hot glue gun

and some glue sticks. Take your Indian corn and run a strip

of hot glue down the center of the corn , then stick it to the side of your

candle (dried husks pointing up).

Repeat this step all the way around the candle. For added decoration tie a ribbon, twine or raffia at the base of the husks.

Tip: When burning this candle pull the husks away from the wick and never

leave it unattended.

• Putting your centerpiece together - Now that you have completed your pumpkin vase and your Indian corn candles, it is time to put your table together. First you'll need to

choose a table runner for the center

of your table; this is a basic

element for your centerpiece arrangement. Then place the pumpkin

vase and flowers in the center of your table and put your Indian corn on either side of your vase. For finishing touches add some natural materials such as pinecones, small

gourds, nuts and fall leaves throughout the table runner. This is a natural

and beautiful way to display the harvests of fall. - Courtesy Essortment.com