How to Make a Thanksgiving Cornucopia

Often called the "Horn of Plenty", a thanksgiving cornucopia has come to be a symbol of giving and sharing. It is a cone-shaped ornament, centerpiece that signifies a good fall harvest. Cornucopias make excellent centerpieces for your Thanksgiving table decorations.

•  While you can always purchase a ready-made cornucopia, it's more fun to make your own. Buy one that is ready to fill at your local arts and crafts store. You can even buy a cone-shaped basket. Steam the narrow end of the basket and bend it slightly so it resembles the horn of a goat.
• Place the cornucopia on a flat tray or basket on the table. This way the whole arrangement becomes portable.
• If you have any autumn leaves from your yard, gather them up and clean them off and place them on the tray. If you don't want to do that, buy some colorful fabric that has leaves printed on it. Cut out the leaves and place them on the tray or flat basket.
• Straw, excelsior and raffia are excellent to use as filler in the back of the cornucopia. You want the vegetables and fruits to have a bed of some kind to lay on. This will also cut down on the number of fruit and vegetables you will need to fill the cornucopia.
• Place the largest vegetables and fruits to the back to serve as the backdrop. Layer smaller ones in front. Choose fruits and vegetables with "waxy" surfaces. They will last longer.
• Here is a brief list of fruits and vegetables you can use: pomegranates, gourds, miniature pumpkins, small apples, artichokes, peppers, dried ears of Indian corn.
• Don't overpack the cornucopia, but put enough in so that some of the fruit and vegetables "spill out" onto the tray or flat basket, on top of the leaves.
• Now sprinkle some nuts and berries over the whole arrangement. Cranberries are nice and hardy and help fill tiny cracks and spaces.
• To finish, tuck extra leaves in amongst the fruit and vegetables.
• Your creation should last a good week or two.

Quick Links

How to Make Thanksgiving Decorations
Decorating Wreaths and Trees
Decorating the Children's Thanksgiving Table
Decorating Elegant Christmas Trees
How to Buy a Turkey
How to Roast a Turkey
How to Carve a Turkey

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