Navy Thanksgiving table
Courtney RussellWe have a full menu of Thanksgiving decorating ideas for your table that you can mix and match to suit your family's needs. They're very simple and sweet -- a refreshing departure from formal traditional table centerpieces -- and the kids can help.

As you'll see below, here we move away from the traditional autumn colors and let blue take the unexpected spotlight, giving your table a sophisticated modern look. But don't worry, nuts and leafy stamps keep everything feeling down to earth.

More Thanksgiving Recipes and Tips:


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Courtney Russell
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Go Nuts

Display painted nuts en masse for a modern centerpiece. Have your kids paint them with white craft paint (and introduce your young artists to the idea of artistic limitations), or spraypaint them for an adult-only shortcut. When thoroughly dry, arrange them in a rustic wooden bowl.

If you want flowers in addition to the nuts, keep it simple with white and one other color. We used lime green, but goldenrod would work nicely too. Use small containers you have on hand such as creamers; skip fancy vases.
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Courtney Russell
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Put in Your Place

To make the place cards, cut 5" x 5" squares of card stock (we used "night," $3.75 for a pack of 10 sheets at Paper Source) and fold in half. Stamp a leaf using a white inkpad (Color Box frost white inkpad $5.95 at Paper Source; olive branch stamp $8, also at Paper Source), then add your guests names with a white colored pencil.
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Courtney Russell
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Put a Ring on It

To make the napkin rings, cut 2 1/2" x 8 1/2" strips of card stock (see above for source) and punch the long sides with a scalloped edge punch ($11.95 at Amazon). Wrap the paper strips around a gathered napkin and secure with double stick tape. Trim any excess paper.
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Courtney Russell
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Run With It

To make the table runner, cut matte navy wrapping paper (we used "night," $5 per roll at Paper Source) 18" wide and the length of your table plus 1' for the overhang. To add the dot pattern along the edge, use an unused pencil-top eraser as a stamp and create a pattern of your choice with a white ink pad (see above for source). No worries about imperfections -- the handmade quality adds to its charm.