Thanksgiving | A Joyful Riot

October 13, 2016

12 Gorgeous Ways to Incorporate Fall Leaves in Your Next Party

At about this time of year I start to freak out that the gorgeous colors of fall will leave before I get to fully enjoy them. And fall is too pretty to not fully enjoy! I try to go on as many pretty drives as I can, visit pumpkin patches and apples orchards every weekend, and go on many walks. And every time I take a walk I make sure to keep an eye out for pretty fallen leaves to take home and incorporate in my next project. Today I am showing you 12 of those projects that can be added to your next party to give it an added dose of autumn beauty. So whether it is a baby shower, brunch, dinner party, or the main event at Thanksgiving there should be something for everyone.

1. Fall Leaf Backdrop – stunning as a photo backdrop but it would also work behind a treat table.

2. Glitter leaf garland – add glitter to anything and it is instantly better!

3. Copper leaf garland – copper spray paint + leaves make for a gorgeous garland.

4. Autumn leaf geronimo balloons – I’d be remiss if I didn’t include one of our favorites from last year!

5. Autumn leaf fairy lights – I definitely want to make these and keep them up in my living room all fall.

6. Gold Dipped Leaf place cards – I think these simple place cards might just be the perfect thing for this Thanksgiving.

7. Autumn leaf backdrop – Ok, maybe I am sharing more than one of our own posts but who can blame us? All you need to do for this one is tape leaves on a wall!

8. Leaf photo display – how cute would this be at a bridal shower or birthday party to display photos of the couple or child?

9. Painted leaf place settings – another perfect addition to a fall dinner table.

10. Branch and leaf escort cards – these would also work as place cards or even your invitations.

11. Hanging leaves – just stunning above the table.

12. Leaf confetti – this idea is pretty amazing.

October 3, 2016

DIY Gold Embossed Pumpkins

A lot of our posts this Halloween season have been whimsical or party-themed. But we also love having some more traditional/fancy autumn decor in our homes as well so this week our pumpkin projects will be geared toward that style. First up, embossed pumpkins!

Lately I have been somewhat obsessed with embossing and exploring all the fun uses for it. I am sure a lot of you have been embossing for years and I am just late to the game. I think I always associated it with scrapbooking which I was never very skilled at. However, I am learning it can be used for so much more! So after finally buying some embossing supplies last month I decided to try it on pumpkins. And I am happy to announce that it totally works and the result is super pretty!

Materials

Pumpkins (I used real ones but plastic is probably better) //
Embossing ink or pens (I used this ink and these pens) //
Stamps //
Embossing power (I used this one) //
A heat tool //
Optional: embossing magic

You can totally see the shine on the pumpkins – it even looks a little bit like gold foil which I have been crushing on lately. It is not perfect (this one is stamped) but it is gorgeous just the same.

November 21, 2015

Simple Leaf Napkin Rings + Place Cards

We wanted to get in one last fall/Thanksgiving post in before we go full-on Christmas over here! PandaHall recently sent us the prettiest gemstone pendants and I wanted to incorporate them into Thanksgiving decor – I mean how gorgeous is the jade color next to autumn orange? Head on over here for more of their pendants!

Leaf //
Gold Pen/Marker //
Twine //
Napkin //
Gemstone Pendant //
Scissors //

Also, in case you are wondering what to do with your kid’s while you are finishing up your mashed potatoes, this would be an easy craft for them to help with!

November 14, 2015

DIY Mini Gourd and Leaf Place Cards

To be honest, as I am sitting here typing these instructions to this autumnal craft I am seriously wondering why I am spending my time posting about a Thanksgiving place card. I really am reeling from the tragedy in Paris and other heartbreaking and stressful events that have happened over the last week and a half. If I am posting a fun little DIY does that mean that I am not properly acknowledging what has happened? How can I possibly be posting about something so meaningless? Am I allowing my regular activity and desire to get my projects done interfere with the need to fully process things and work through my anger and pain?

Frankly, sometimes I just want to scream “Why are we pretending like life is the same and that things are ok when they clearly are not?!” And lately I have felt the urge to scream much more frequently. This is mainly because I have felt pretty powerless and I hate that feeling. Who doesn’t? Well, my early New Years resolution is that I am going to come up with ways to make an impact, however small, and help increase the light in the world. I am not sure how I will do that yet but I am committed to making sure that the routine of life doesn’t cause me to forget recent heartbreak.

For now, I will share one of my favorite quotes of all time:

Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

And for those of you who came to this blog today to just see the latest craft, please click below for instructions on how to make these fall place cards!

November 7, 2015

Autumn Leaf Geronimo Balloons

Oh Autumn, you’re so pretty!

I am seriously not loving the cold weather coming in. Everyday has been cloudy and rainy and Thursday we saw our first snow in Utah :'( BUT. I cannot deny that the trees here are really in their prime right now and it literally takes my breath away!

While I love each gorgeous colored leaf that falls from their branches, a bunch of leaves all grouped together is even more beautiful. Have you ever noticed how a tree can look so crazy, vibrant, pretty red and only when you get closer do you start to see that a lot of the leaves are not red, but a combination of colors and there may even be plenty of green left? It’s this nice little mirage of color that draws you in and makes you appreciate the colder weather (a little).

Well it’s no secret here that Malissa and I are big BIG fans of crafting with autumn leaves, who can deny that gorgeousness?! And, possibly the best part? It’s totally free! Crafting and party decorating can get expensive! So we love anything that includes a nice walk and no dollars. Last year we did this autumn leaf backdrop and these fabulous leaf and flower mobiles so this year we decided to incorporate leaves into one of our favorite party supplies, balloons!

You know the typical (and amazing) tassel garlands always attached to geronimo balloons?! Well this is our warm-colored, autumn spin on those and I couldn’t be happier with how they turned out. They were free (except the balloons and helium) and SO easy to make. Click through to see the pictures and steps, can’t you just image this by your Thanksgiving table this year?! I’d die.