Get Creative with Pumpkins and Wreaths - Decorating Ideas for a memorable Thanksgiving!!

The festive season is in the air, and as Thanksgiving and Christmas, the two most important occassions are around the corner, the din-and-bustle of arranging for parties, sending out invitations and planning for family events has already begun! And the one fruit that wins the glory of attention in this season is the Pumpkin. Right from Halloween, pumpkins find their ways into homes, and as thanksgiving approaches, these spooky-pumpkins evolve and transform into lovely centerpieces and decoration items. The fall colors like Orange, Green, Amber, Red and Yellow adorn every household, and so do the Wreaths that act as a "Welcome" sign on the doors. Pumpkins blend with these colors and family traditions to add their own charm into the bountiful spirit of these celebrations! So I thought I'd share with you some lovely ideas about what you could do with pumpkins and wreaths that is not only fun, but can even add a touch of glamour to your decorations. And with this post, I am also introducing you to a new section on this site dedicated to Entertaining Tips and Party Planners, where I'll try to compile and bring to your notice some beautiful creations, tips and planners for organizing an event, innovative ideas about how to play a perfect host and how to get the most out of your entertaining experience!

So, starting with Thanksgiving, here are some wonderful ideas that can motivate you to start getting creative yourself! With some basic knowledge of carving, aesthetics and a vision for blending colors, you can come up with stunning creations that will add more warmth, a personal touch and elegance to your home and win you a place of honor in the hearts of your guests!!

Lighted Chandeliers - You can use a large wreath and stick a heavy cardboard base to it. Paint the bottom of the cardboard (visible from below) so that it looks fancy. Now take 3 wires, pass them through small holes on the cardboard and form a triangle. Merge the 3 wires at the top and pass through a metal hook to hang from a bar or the ceiling. Take 3 small small pumpkins hollowed out,and carve small slits on the outside. Place tea-light candles in them, and then hang it from a hook to form a colorful chandelier.

Carved Pumpkin Lamps - This would need a steady and artistic hand, so that you can carve pumpkins in a spiral fashion and put candles inside to form flickering hanging lamps or orbs.

Pumpkin Sconces - This is one of my favourite ideas as it looks amazing and is sure to win you tonnes of compliments! Carve the pumpkins in any shape you want, hollow it out and place candles inside to form wall sconces.

If one of these ideas has motivated you enough and you are longing to implement it on your own, check out the instructions here.

Wreaths or garlands are a traditional thanksgiving decoration and you can either make fresh ones yourself from flowers and leaves or buy the ones from the market. You'll find a wide range of wreaths, all in Autumn colors. Even Dollar stores and art and craft stores like Michaels have a vast collection ranging from a couple of bucks to 30-40 bucks. Combined with candles, they form alluring centerpieces or a mantelpiece on the side.

Mini Berry Wreath - These are small wreaths with fruits or berries, generally made of metal. Just place one thick candle in the center to form a simple yet elegant setting.

Garden Wreath - You can even make your own wreath by taking a few pieces of wire, twining them around each other, then add artificial flowers/leaves garland that you get in the stores, or add fresh flowers. Adorn with some plastic fruits or dried maple leaves, Place colorful candles of different heights to create a beautiful centerpiece.

Metallic Wall Wreath - These are a bit more expensive, but act as brilliant wall sconces and work well for a soft romantic setting.

If you are game for spending some time on making a beautiful wreath on your own, Michael's has some interesting ideas and interactive demos on how to make these. Check them out here.

I'm sharing this with the readers over at Kelli's Blog who's hosting a Thanksgiving Week! Hope this article gives you a head-start on your Thanksgiving preparations! It's just 9 days away, and there's plenty of work to be done!!! Next in line will be articles about Thanksgiving Table Settings and Delicious Recipes, so revel in these beauties while you wait for more ideas. Get ready to say "Thanks" in style!!