Freeze Frames
Giving Thanks
Happy Thanksgiving. One of my favorite holidays. Food, family, fun and football!
Your Thanksgiving dinner table is the perfect occasion for using picture frames as place mats or chargers. Rustic, earthy tableware complements a big, hearty meal. If your celebration is anything like ours, your meal is big and filling. It’s gotta be big so we have the yummy left-overs!
I’m using the same frames from my Halloween dinner for my Freeze Frame series.
Rich coppery colors are perfect for your Thanksgiving feast.
This time I painted them a warm copper color. Spray paint is the only way to go if you can find a color you like.
I removed the black felt and inserted a shimmery copper and gold fabric. You can use whatever you have on hand or coordinate with your table or dishes.
I love the texture and contrast of a grapevine wrapped plate.
I am also using the same white dinner plates. Once you invest in white, you can supplement your collection with colors and patterns that suit your theme or holiday décor.
Rings of grapevine add an organic texture to the setting. It tones down the formal look of copper and gold. I will probably remove the vine before dishing out food to make eating easier. Enjoy the wow factor when your guests come into the dining room.
Gather leaves from you backyard.
Instead of investing in a salad plate in earth tones, I “made” my own. Arrange a trio of oak leaves (these are preserved, but you can collect pretty leaves from your yard).
Design your own dinnerware with leaves and clear salad plates.
Place a clear salad plate on top. Voila! Instant new dinnerware! I am not a fan of clear dishes. For some reason I just cannot drink coffee from a clear cup. Weird. But clear salad plates are OK. They are also very versatile. They will go with any place setting, casual or formal.
Sometimes the best ideas are accidents. I love the Pilgrim buckle.
I painted the little rectangle frames I used for my Halloween table the same color as the frame place mat. I folded the black napkin and was thrilled when it looked like a pilgrim shoe or hat buckle! How perfect for the day.
My Halloween table also used frame place cards. You can reuse the idea for Thanksgiving (painting them first of course) or have your family write what they are thankful for this year.
Reuse your mini frames as place cards or express your gratitude.
Place them on the table or on the plate.
If you don't use leaves under the plate, set the napkin front and center.
You won't want to cover up your original dinnerware, so perch the napkin on an angle.
If your table starts to get too crowded, layer everything on the plate!
For the centerpiece, I painted a wood candelabra and added tall off-white tapers. Add more grapevines and reuse the same gourds and pumpkins from Halloween for a rustic, earthy table.
Continue the theme with your centerpiece.
Use more grapevine and the same color.
I wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving. It’s time to celebrate your good fortune, health and abundance. Remember, life is short, hug your kids and to enjoy the day.
This is such a fun idea…would definitely spruce up the table. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today:) You keep up the good work too…you have a lot of fabulous ideas!
Julie xo
Hello Merri,
to use framed fabric is really a gorgeous idea. Maybe I copy that once. I love how you have set the table. That is simply great.
Greetings, Johanna
VERY creative! Love the use of the repurposed frame as part of your placesetting! Have a Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for sharing over at Susan’s BNOTP link party!
😀 Lynda
I love the use of the frame as a charger plate, very unique.
Such neat ideas using a variety of frames. I was just getting ready to give a bunch of old frames away, but I think that I’ll hold on to them and try some of your techniques. Thanks for sharing them. Cherry Kay
I love this idea!! What a fun place setting and I love the frame idea, never thought of that before. So many great ideas on your blog, keep up the great work as well 🙂
What a great idea! I love the twining grapevine!
How did you like Blogging Your Way? I got extremely busy right after it started and wasn’t able to be as involved as I wanted to be, but found it a great class!
Cheers,
Jennifer