The holidays are upon us once again and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. If you haven’t decorated for the big day just yet, then never fear because we have several sophisticated and simple eco-friendly fall crafts that can be put together in a snap.

Who doesn’t enjoy a quick, high-impact project that will have your house looking fall-worthy in a matter of minutes? I know I do! So grab those glue guns, scissors, fabric, supplies, and whatever else you might need (hint: it starts with a “W” and rhymes with “mine”) and let’s get crafting!

1. Glitz and Glitter

There aren’t many things that won’t benefit from a dusting of glitter, and your autumn décor is no exception. Fortunately, with a few materials from your craft bin and some foliage from your backyard, you’ll have several adornments that will fit right in this fall.

Scour your backyard for acorns, pinecones, and leaves. Coat them with a layer of Mod Podge, or watered down glue, and sprinkle with glitter – golds, reds, and any other warm hues would signify the colors of fall. Gather up some clear glass display jars for the acorns and pinecones and try attaching the leaves to a strand of ribbon for a simple and festive garland for your mantel.

2. Deck the Walls

If you have some metallic paint or gold leafing lying around, then set aside a few outdoor leaves – odd groupings are best – and coat them thoroughly with the pigment. Once dry, pop them into frames for instant wall art for just a few bucks.

Bust out some hot glue, paint, an old mirror, or picture frame, and put all of those extra wine corks to good use. Create a cork board for your kitchen reminders in a snap by laying the corks flat inside the empty frame painted in the color of your choice. Get creative – try out a chevron pattern for an extra cute touch.

3. Tabletop Trimmings

Set the table in style with some whimsical and handmade cake plates. Combine unused or thrifted tapered candle holders with a decorative platter or plate and some really strong glue like E-6000. Flip the plate and candlestick over, center your candlestick, apply glue, affix the candlestick to the bottom of the plate and, once dry and upright, you’ll have instant appetizer and dessert serving stands.

Vary the height of the candlesticks to create visual interest, or replace the plate with a bowl for a really fun way to serve candies. Clear candlestick bases look great with solid plates and bowls on top. Have fun with color and patterns for a customized table setting.

Use a paper punch on backyard leaves for some of the cutest holiday confetti ever. Slip the leaf in the punch just as you would paper. Butterflies, leaves, trees, circles, stars, or whatever else you have would make for a really sweet smattering on your dinner table.

If you have pinecones in your backyard and a hacksaw in your garage, then you’re already two steps ahead for these pinecone place cards. Let your guests know who will be sitting where when you create these elegantly simple table markers. Collect pinecones from your yard, and after debugging them, carefully use the hacksaw to make a slit about ¾ of the way down from the top to toward the center of the pinecone. Slip in a handwritten piece of cardstock with your guests’ names and you’re all set.

4. Pumpkin Spice

Spread some holiday cheer by whipping up an ultra-cute, ultra-classy monogrammed pumpkin. If you think traditional pumpkin art looks a tad tacky, then don’t worry because this project hinges on the simplicity of color and embellishments.

Coat the orange part of your pumpkin thoroughly with white or off-white paint, find your initial online and print it out to make a stencil. Trace it on to the pumpkin, and after it’s been painted white, carefully brush over the transferred letter with glue. Sprinkle on some glitter, cover well, and you’ve just completed a monogram pumpkin in time for Thanksgiving.

Use mini pumpkins as votive or tapered candle holders. Grab your drill along with a spade bit that matches the circumference of the candle you intend to use. Carefully drill into the stem portion of your mini pumpkin. Apply gentle pressure here and stop when you’ve created enough space within the pumpkin to just cradle your candle – be sure not to drill all the way through. Pop in a candle, light it up, and it’s just that simple.

With a few simple eco-friendly fall crafts in your arsenal, you should be well on your way to holiday bliss. What’s your favorite holiday decoration or tradition? Let us know on the EcoSalon Facebook page!

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Image of Craft Supplies via Shutterstock

The post 4 Simple Eco-Friendly Fall Crafts Just in Time for Thanksgiving appeared first on EcoSalon.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and with it the holiday season. It’s hard to believe how fast the year has gone by. While we spend at lot of time planning our holiday menus, simple Thanksgiving centerpieces are often an afterthought yet they add so much charm to the meal. And if your meal falls short, at least the table will be pretty.

1. Winter Lush Spread

This centerpiece is simple and can carry you through until Christmas. Simply place pine branches across the table and meticulously add pomegranates, apples, and clementines around candles and votives. This will add warming cheer to your table.

2. Simple and Sweet

Image: ProFlowers

All you need is a few metal bowls, votive candles, and sweet peppermint candies. If your table is long, place votives in sets of three in various places along the table.

3. Modern and Eco-Friendly

Image: Maegan Tintari

Succulents rock because you hardly have to water them. This simple Thanksgiving centerpiece is a good fit in the warmer, drier parts of the country. Place your succulents and then sprinkle white beads and Christmas balls (even if there’s no real chance for a White Christmas).

4. Give Thanks with Citrus

Image: Neeta Lind

A few placed flowers amongst a slew of citrus is all you need for this simple Thanksgiving centerpiece. It’s bright yet warming and simple to pull together.

5. Heirloom Pumpkin Varieties

Image: Maegan Tintari

I love this centerpiece because it uses varying levels to place heirloom pumpkins along with greenery and a few candles. A stemmed cake plate is all your need to add height and texture.

6. Southwest at Thanksgiving

Image: Maegan Tintari

I do not recommend hurting any animals for the making of this centerpiece (obviously) but if you can find fake antlers or find them reused this can be a cool centerpiece to pull together. It has a southwest feel that’s slightly modern.

Related on EcoSalon

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top image: ProFlowers

The post 6 Chic and Simple Thanksgiving Centerpieces (That Won’t Break Your Budget) appeared first on EcoSalon.

Thanksgiving can be either a gluttonous extravagance, or one of the greenest holiday feasts.

Here’s why: One of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gasses is livestock production. Turkey is faster growing than cows, so it’s more efficient from a resource input point of view. Plus, turkeys don’t emit methane.

Another big contributor to greenhouse gasses is food waste. After Thanksgiving, we tend to eat our leftovers, using every spare scrap of food.

Other than the turkey and the cranberries, most Thanksgiving dishes are seasonal, plant-based foods that can typically grow anywhere. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, pumpkins, apples. See what I mean?

From an energy use perspective, we tend to use our ovens to capacity at Thanksgiving, which is much better than cooking small amounts of food.

You can enjoy your Thanksgiving guilt-free as long as you don’t waste any food. And this recipe will help you with that task!

Two-in-One Mashed Potatoes

Serves 6-8

2 pounds russet potatoes
2 pounds garnet sweet potatoes
3 whole garlic cloves, peeled and cut in half
1 teaspoon mustard seeds, lightly crushed with a mortar and pestle
2 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
1/2 cup half & half
1/2 cup creme fraiche (divided equally into two portions)
4 tablespoons butter, softened (divided equally into two portions)
Salt and pepper to taste

Peel the potatoes and sweet potatoes and cut them into 2-inch chunks. Bring two pots of salted water to a boil. Add the potatoes and the garlic to one pot and the sweet potatoes to the other. Boil both until tender.

Meanwhile, place the mustard seeds, cardamom pods and half & half in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for one minute. Turn off the heat and set aside.

When the potatoes and sweet potatoes are tender, drain them well and place them in separate bowls. Strain half of the half & half into each bowl and then add half of the creme fraiche and butter to each. Add some salt and pepper to each bowl and mash the potatoes and sweet potatoes well, keeping them separate. If you like smoother potatoes, you may run them through a ricer or food mill. Taste each mixture and adjust salt and pepper.

To serve, place them side by side in the serving bowl and swirl them together in a pretty pattern.

Use organic, locally grown ingredients whenever possible.

Recipe Copyright Vanessa Barrington 2009

Each week here at EcoSalon, the editors choose a post from the archives that we think you’ll love. This original post can be found here.

Image: Dr. Hemmert



The post Greening Thanksgiving with a Doubly Good Recipe for Potatoes, and More! appeared first on EcoSalon.

Thanksgiving can be either a gluttonous extravagance, or one of the greenest holiday feasts.

Here’s why: One of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gasses is livestock production. Turkey is faster growing than cows, so it’s more efficient from a resource input point of view. Plus, turkeys don’t emit methane.

Another big contributor to greenhouse gasses is food waste. After Thanksgiving, we tend to eat our leftovers, using every spare scrap of food.

Other than the turkey and the cranberries, most Thanksgiving dishes are seasonal, plant-based foods that can typically grow anywhere. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, pumpkins, apples. See what I mean?

From an energy use perspective, we tend to use our ovens to capacity at Thanksgiving, which is much better than cooking small amounts of food.

You can enjoy your Thanksgiving guilt-free as long as you don’t waste any food. And this recipe will help you with that task!

Two-in-One Mashed Potatoes

Serves 6-8

2 pounds russet potatoes
2 pounds garnet sweet potatoes
3 whole garlic cloves, peeled and cut in half
1 teaspoon mustard seeds, lightly crushed with a mortar and pestle
2 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
1/2 cup half & half
1/2 cup crème fraîche (divided equally into two portions)
4 tablespoons butter, softened (divided equally into two portions)
Salt and pepper to taste

Peel the potatoes and sweet potatoes and cut them into 2 inch chunks. Bring two pots of salted water to a boil. Add the potatoes and the garlic to one pot and the sweet potatoes to the other. Boil both until tender.

Meanwhile, place the mustard seeds, cardamom pods and Half & Half in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for one minute. Turn off the heat and set aside.

When the potatoes and sweet potatoes are tender, drain them well and place them in separate bowls. Strain half of the Half &Half into each bowl and then add half of the crème fraîche and butter to each. Add some salt and pepper to each bowl and mash the potatoes and sweet potatoes well, keeping them separate. If you like smoother potatoes, you may run them through a ricer or food mill. Taste each mixture and adjust salt and pepper.

To serve, place them side by side in the serving bowl and swirl them together in a pretty pattern.

Use organic, locally grown ingredients whenever possible.

Recipe Copyright Vanessa Barrington 2009

Image: Dr. Hemmert

The post Ecosalon Recipes: Greening Thanksgiving with a Doubly Good Recipe for Taters, and More! appeared first on EcoSalon.