Thanksgiving Tablescape with a Twist from the Traditional

The past few weeks I have been up to my elbows in modge podge, glitter and Polystain.
It all started with the realization that my little table, although it worked for everyday dinners...would not fit all the family for the holidays.  My first thought...since I'm still on the "I can build it kick" was to build a farmhouse table.  Afterall, I did a good job on my first project (my little console table).  But I put that thought quickly out the window since Thanksgiving was less than a month away.  THen one day after work it hit me...just expand my current table.  By adding 3 feet to it would make it the perfect size!  It was not as simple as I thought, but $70 later I had just the perfect table for my holiday dinner.

This year since I will be hosting dinner on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, so I decided to do a twist on the "traditional" by adding red to the decor.  I love the way the red pops against the cream damask tablecloth.

 

In the mist of "construction" project I went into DIY mode.  Simple Styrofoam pumpkins were purchased at Dollar Tree, Walmart and Hobby Lobby ($1.00-$3.75) and then painted with metallic acrylic paint, modge podged and sprinkled with gold, copper, silver glitter and sequins.  Pine cones (free from Mother Nature) then brushed with modge podge and sprinkled with glitter as well.  Glass votive holders filled with corn kernels and a vanilla tea light add a little ambiance lighting.

 

I found a set of 12 mini pumpkins on clearance at Marshalls.  Brushed them with modge podge and sprinkled with gold and copper glitter.  DIY napkin rings were made from unfinished wooden napkins rings purchased at Hobby Lobby (8/$2.99).  I painted the outer rims with gold acrylic paint, then wrapped them with chocolate brown velvet ribbon and added a couple of berries tied with a copper orange satin ribbon.  Each place setting is anchored with deep red chargers ($.98 at Wal-Mart) and my mom's gold flatware.

Table set for ten.  Red adds a non-traditional twist to this very traditional setting. 

 

 Since I have about 20 people invited to dinner, I plan on setting up another table in the living room with a similar décor.

Happy Holidays!!!

Sharing this post with Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursdays

Dining Room Decor: COMPLETED

One of the goals for this 100 day challenge is completing unfinished projects.  One of my uncompleted projects was my dining room decor...namely the centerpiece.

It all started with the orchid flower arrangement I saw a few years ago, which eventually evolved into the idea of doing the red orchids with the peacock feathers to tie my dining room colors (blue and tan) and living room colors (red and gold) together.  I've had the flowers and the peacock feathers for about a year, before I finally found a bowl that I liked.  Now this is what has been sitting on my dining room table for the last few months, patiently waiting to be completed.

And I have a blank wall that needs "something" but I could never quite figure out "what"...so in the meantime I re-purposed an iron wall hanging from out of my office to the dining room.

Linking this post to this weeks Tablescape Thursday with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch