Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends to gather and be thankful for all they have. Simple Solutions Diva has a few simple ideas to add to the Thanksgiving festivities, keeping family and friends connected, and keeping the conversations going! Thanks to WTLV-TV/Channel 12’s First Coast Living for inviting me to share these ideas on air!

May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Father, we thank Thee for this food, for health and strength and all things good. May others all these blessings share, and hearts be grateful everywhere. — Traditional American Blessing, circa 1800’s

Thankful Tree

This project is very simple to make. You need the following items:

• Heavy vase or clean, outdoor pot
• Branches from trees in your own back yard, stripped of foliage and cut to the appropriate size for pot. You can paint the branches white or black, or you can leave them natural. I used white spray paint.
• Styrofoam block or floral dry foam block.
• Filler (I used nuts, but you could use fabric, autumn leaves, etc.)
• Blank tags with ties. I made my own with construction paper, and hole punch and natural cord/string.
• Pens

Place your pot on a flat surface. Place styrofoam or floral dry foam block inside pot; secure with tape if needed.

Insert branches into the foam block. Add filler material around the base of the branches to cover the foam block.

Place the Thankful Tree, tags and pens in a prominent place in your home and ask guests to write what they are thankful for and to tie it to the tree.

I found this thoughtful idea from Yesterfood.com – to see their beautiful post, click HERE.

Thanksgiving Conversation Starter Centerpiece

Keep the fun conversation going at the Thanksgiving table! For this project you can use many items from around your home. You will need:

• Large glass vase or decorative glass bowl
• Thanksgiving themed filler – you can use nuts, ornaments, ribbon, leaves, felt pumpkins. Basically whatever calls to you!
• Small blank cards or squares of construction paper
• Pens
• Stickers or other decorative elements – optional

Assemble your filler of choice in the vase or bowl. Write conversation prompts on the small cards and fold them (or roll & tie them). Place the cards into the bowl. Place bowl on or near the Thanksgiving table. Reach for the the bowl whenever the mood or need arises! Make sure you have at least one prompt per person.

Stumped for prompt ideas? Try some of these:

What life advice would you give a younger person?

What is your favorite holiday memory?

What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?

What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving?

How is Thanksgiving different today from when you were a child?

When you were a child, what were the popular toys everyone wanted for Christmas?

I found this great idea on CraftyChica.com. Here is the original post!

Turkey Day Table Runner

Let your guests get creative during the Thanksgiving meal!  Let them discover their inner artist! And most importantly, keep them at the table by giving them something to do between courses!

You will need:

Brown or white plain wrapping paper or white butcher paper. I used postal wrapping paper because it is a little heavier than wrapping paper and there is no gloss to it. It is also significantly cheaper – $4.99 for 75 sq. ft of paper, versus $4.99 for 45 sq. ft. of wrapping paper.

Pens, crayons, markers (no bleed).

Thanksgiving themed stickers or other decorations

Run the wrapping paper down the center of your table. Add your major table elements, like your candles, centerpiece, salt & pepper – whatever you plan to place on the table for dinner.

Add a few decorative elements to your table runner, to let people know they can write on it. Add stickers or other decorations. Or even use it to write out place cards for your guests!

Place markers and or crayons in small cups along the table within easy reach of guests. Be sure to let them know they are free to doodle!

Cornucopia Place Card Holders

This is a perfect project to get your kids involved in, but be sure to have plenty of the candy filler around!

You will need:

• Waffle cones
• A bowl of water
• A fat pen
• Candy filler – you can use the Harvest mix candies (they are like candy corn, but veggie shapes), or you could use Reese’s Pieces (they are perfect harvest colors!), or even use a nut based trail mix.
• Place cards (you can find a free place card printable at EleganceAndEnchantment.com.)

Take your waffle cone and soak the pointy end in the bowl of water for about 30 seconds (not too soaked – you don’t want it to get too mushy). Place cone in microwave for approximately 30 seconds, until the ends is just softened and pliable.

Remove cone from microwave and using the fat pen, flatten and curl the cone’s end up around the pen to create a cornucopia effect.

Fill cornucopia with candy or nut filler and lay at the place setting. Filler can spill out for effect, or you can wrap the open end in plastic wrap and secure with ribbon.

Lay the place card on the back end of the cornucopia.

This creative idea came from Squiddo.com.

Sugar Cone Teepees

A simple little craft to entertain the kids while waiting for dinner!

You will need:

• Sugar cones
• White frosting
• Black gel icing tube
• Harvest color edible decorations – Reese’s Pieces, sprinkles, etc., placed in dishes
• A flat, clean work surface safe for kids.

Smear white icing to cover the cones. Let the kids go to town decorating their teepees!