oh -- and if you're stuck and need some ideas for inexpensive fun table decor for turkey day, watch for some tips on Tuesday Nov. 17 at 4:00 on 9News!

Jill J

momslikeme content contributor - watch for fun stuff for moms on 9News on TUESDAYS at about 4:20! Check out Jill's Corner under Discussions for information about past and upcoming tv segments!

My biggest tip is to watch for clearance items the days after Thanksgiving & put them in tots for next year.  But if you GOTTA HAVE IT NOW but are on a tight budget, I would suggest shopping trying the local Dollar Stores.  They have amazingly cute stuff.

Crafts for the kids?  Depends on their age but http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/thanksgiving/ has good ideas.....

Kids could use colored construction paper to trace out cookie cutter leaf shape on.  The write on each something they are thankful for.  Then glue the leaves together to make a wreath.  It might be night to have each attending person add to the wreath too.

Or they could just string the colorful leaves together to hang as decorations.  Familes LOVE to see your kids art work & crafts!!

Maybe have the kids make place cards for each person attending Thanksgiving diner.

Payden Javery's mom, Cinda

Great ideas Cinda! Watch today at 4 and I will mention some of these!

Jill J

momslikeme content contributor - watch for fun stuff for moms on 9News on TUESDAYS at about 4:20! Check out Jill's Corner under Discussions for information about past and upcoming tv segments!

There are always the hand print turkeys for the kiddos. Older kids can practice napkin folding, who doesn't love a beautifully folded napkin?
Also we usually get a bunch of the mini pumpkins and put a tea light in the center for the table decor. I have also gathered branches and leaves and set them around the table.

Shelly
mom to 2 boys: "Give Me Strength!!"
Riley (5) Kevin (2)

MLM 1000 Club

When my nices and nephews were younger we had them make place settings for the gamily. They would cut out feather shapes with a variety of colors, draw on them and then make head pieces or a turkey. It was a fun way to keep the kids entertained and decorate the table with kid art.

Site Manager Denver Momslikeme.com & Mom to a wonderful little boy!

A roll of white paper and colored pencils or crayons on the table for kids is always a hit. I have also done white paper placemats cut around the edges with fancy scissors you can actually laminate these later for Xmas gifts to Grandma/pa from kids, they love it!

For an adult table I've done tiny clay pots (they are usually on sale around 4/$1.00 at Hobby Lobby. I've stuck a piece of Oasis in the bottom or craft foam (a little ball is PERFECT!) done a holiday spray/pick, again, these go on sale at local craft stores 2/$1 or cheaper! Many times I'll do a piece of card stock with the person's name on a bamboo pick in the tiny pot with the holiday flower pick/spray (do you know what I'm talking about?). So you end up with a cute little pot of flowers/leaves/pumpkins/turkeys etc... with everyone's name.

Another sweet little idea is if you are like a lot of families you do a buffet style. We rarely do the "sit down" dinner anymore because there are so many of us and let's face it, football rules the house. So I will make a fresh + silk centerpiece out of a pumpkin. I usually will put a block of florists foam (oasis) in the bottom, then I go for leaves, mums, sun-flowers, floral picks/sprays mini pumpkins/gourds, berries anything that strikes my fancy and make a really cool centerpiece. I usually will bring one for my sister since she hosts a lot. I have a pumpkin set aside for her already this year. I am using fake leaves and cat tails also some berries and some mums, so far that's sort of rattling around in my head.

I just had a thought, perhaps for the wine drinking family... a cute beaded napkin holder that can double as a glass charm. Everyone's can be a little different so when you get up from the table with your wine you can tell who's is who's. Hum... that sounds fun for us, since we drink a lot of wine. (I know, shocking)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lisa

Holiday Wine Tours in Denver! See the Holiday lights while you drink wine, wassail, cookies and cheese! Family friendly! 2 tours each weekend night! Reserve yours now!

www.5280winetoursco.com

Facebook/ 5280 wine tour CO or twitter 5280winetourco

5280winetourco@gmail.com

It doesn't have to be a table full of seasonal dishes to have a festive touch!!

I grow those adorable Jack Be Little pumkins and decorative gourds in my garden most years...thrown in a glass bowl - maybe with a few ears of decorative corn (not expensive at Soopers). Last year I had a squirrel invasion, so I've also picked up a few fake pumpkins and fall leaves and stuff on sale at Hobby Lobby and Joann's - watch their ads and you can get them half off or better!   I also use the kids artwork from school and day-care. 

Ingrid S

 I have baskets and a horn of plenty that I reuse.  This year I waited until the gourds went on sale for $2-$3 for a bag of 8.  I tossed them in one of the baskets and I was done.  

We've all seen the candle holders filled with sand, sea shells, colored rocks, etc...
At Thanksgiving time, I fill mine with fresh cranberries for a seasonal effect (I don't light the candles, but I don't see why you couldn't)...You can also fill clear vases with cranberries and add silk flowers that match your decor...

For an easy, fun activity for the kids decorate pine cones...You can glue on eyes and feathers, use pipe cleaners for the feet, and make the beak and waddle out of felt...
You can also make mice out of walnut shells by stuffing the halves with cotton and gluing a small piece of fabric on to cover it.  Make a tail and whiskers out of yarn, use felt for the ears, and a Sharpie to draw a face on the shell...You can use the same idea to make reindeer heads out of the walnut shells for Christmas...