Thanksgiving Table Setting Challenge

Nichole challenged the Senior Design team to make a Thanksgiving Table setting using the First Fruits stamp set that released on the 15th. I thought it sounded like fun and since I've never done anything like that, I decided to play along, too. My ensemble consists of a menu, invitation, place card, and a favor. There are so many great stamps in this set, but I decided to focus on my favorite, the pineapple. Be sure to click on the photos to see a larger version with more detail.

My favorite part of my table setting is the little favor basket I created. I used one of the 8 oz clear top tins. I started out by cutting the strip of paper of white cardstock to go around the bottom of my tin and stamping it with the pineapples. I sponged summer sunrise ink on the stamp and then sponged the edges using SU's pumpkin pie ink. I love those two colors together and I love how every pineapple is unique using this inking method (called rock n' roll, though I sponged mine for a little more control). (If only, I had thought to cut the pineapple like Nichole did. Isn't that amazing?!?) I wanted to carry on the look of the top of the pineapple, but since it wouldn't fit on my stamped paper, I sponged the edges of the spring moss twill instead with jardin moss ink. I attached the twill to the top of the tin. Next, I created my handle by layer summer sunrise satin ribbon and dark chocolate twill. I use my atg to stick them together. This made a stronger handle that wasn't floppy like it would have been with just the satin ribbon plus it carried out my color scheme. I punched holes in the tin using my crop-a-dile and threaded my handle through and secured it with glue dots. Then, I punched a couple holes through my handle and tin and added the silver brads for even more stability. I wanted to line the inside of my tin so I cut some summer sunrise cardstock and stamped the egg and dart image repeatedly using summer sunrise ink and lined the inside of my tin. Last, I filled my favor with dinner mints.

Here's a close up photo of the tin. I hope you can see the lining cardstock with the subtle pattern. Wouldn't these look cute sitting out on a Thanksgiving table?

I created my Thanksgiving menu by typing everything up on the computer, changing the fonts and color to a brown similar to Dark Chocolate and printing it on linen vellum. I love the texture of this vellum! I cut my layers for my invitation and added my two ribbons (again layered). Then, I stamped a pineapple on white cardstock and cut it out and added it to the corner of the menu. I used the rock and roll technique throughout making all my pineapples like I described earlier. I also used spring moss and jardin moss inks for the stems of the pineapples. I think creating the menu made me hungry for some oven roasted smoked turkey! I have a great brine recipe for smoking a turkey and can no longer eat plain old turkey! lol

For my invitation, I wanted something simple yet elegant. I started out by embossing my rectangle on white cardstock using a nestability die. (Nichole has a great tutorial here explaining how to do this.) Then, I stamped my pineapple and sentiment (using Warm Hospitality). Last, I added some layered ribbon to the top. I adhered the dark chocolate twill to the summer sunrise satin ribbon on all my creations. It gave me stability when tying them and kept everything just where I wanted it. I love the look of these two colors layer together.

My place card was very simple as well. You want something simple yet pretty when you're making lots of them for a dinner party. I started out my stamping my pineapple. Then, I added the name using the Trajan Monogram stamp set. I used Becky's name as a tribute to her for seeing her wonderful idea come to fruition. Congrats, Becky!! It's such a wonderful and versatile set!

I hope I inspired you in some way with my Thanksgiving table setting. I can't wait to see what the other designers came up with! Be sure to check out all there creations: Amy, Debbie, Heather, Lauren, Lisa, and you can see them all together on Nichole's blog.

Recipe for all items

Stamps: First Fruits, Trajan Monogram, Warm Hospitality (Papertrey Ink)

Cardstock: white, summer sunrise, dark chocolate (Papertrey Ink)

Patterned Papers: (hand stamped)

Ink: summer sunrise, dark chocolate, spring moss (Papertrey Ink), jardin moss (Palette), pumpkin pie (SU)

Accents: summer sunrise satin ribbon, dark chocolate twill, spring moss twill (Papertrey Ink)

Other: Linen vellum, 8 oz clear top tin (Papertrey Ink)

Tools: crop-a-dile, sponge daubers, rectangle nestability die