How to Decorate the Front Door for Thanksgiving & Harvest

Trimmings from the landscape can make colorful wreath embellishments.

For many people, decorations on the door during the holiday season evoke a homey, welcoming feeling. In autumn, images of turkeys and pumpkins are as abundant as food on the Thanksgiving table, but they're not the only symbols of the season. You can use a variety of natural and manufactured items to create a door display that captures the spirit of the harvest season and says "welcome" to friends and family.

Things You'll Need

• Damp cloth
• Craft paper
• Scissors
• Marker
• Double-stick tape
• Removable hook
• 6-foot (approximately) leaf garland
• 12-inch (approximately) grapevine wreath
• Hot glue gun
• Dried wheat or other decorative items
• Bow

Instructions

1. Wipe away any dust or dirt from the door, so adhesives will work properly.

2. Cut out approximately two dozen leaves from craft paper with a seasonal design. Outline the leaves with a light-brown marker, and draw a center and lateral veins to further embellish them. Use approximately a third of the leaves to write down some of the things you're thankful for. Use only one word on each leaf, and write it large enough to be easily read. For example, instead of writing "I am grateful for my family," simply write "Family."

3. Apply double-stick tape to the back of a leaf, and stick it on the outer edge of the door. Repeat the process with all of the leaves, randomly mixing the blank leaves with the ones you've written on. When you're finished, you should have a complete outline around the door.

4. Place a removable hook in the center of your door at eye level. Use a hook that is the same or a similar color to your door to make it less noticeable.

5. Wrap a leaf garland around a grapevine wreath. Secure each end with a dot of hot glue. Embellish the wreath with small bundles of dried wheat, acorns and harvest-related decorative items from the craft store. Miniature pumpkins, ears of corn and plastic apples are typically plentiful during the fall season.Glue the items onto the wreath with hot glue. Glue a pre-made bow at the bottom of the wreath.

6. Hang the wreath from the removable hook.

Tips & Warnings

• Constructing and decorating the leaves is a great family project. Have everyone write some of the things they're thankful for. Very young children can tell you what to write on their behalf.

• Take the finished leaves to a copy center or mailing supply store, and have them laminated if you'd like to use them year after year.

• If you prefer, substitute a few ears of colorful Indian corn or a bundle of wheat for the wreath. Secure the corn or wheat with a rubber band, and tie a fall-hued ribbon it for decoration.

References

• Enchanted Learning: Thankful Wreath of Leaves