Thanksgiving is just around the corner! Why not help out by making an unusual centerpiece and, perhaps, even place markers for the dining table! The Autumn Bouquet starts with a walk outdoors. You can even make your walk a game by seeing which of you and your pals can collect the most (or first) of the natural supplies. Come home, make the bouquet and the Placemarkers, and then top your activities with the crafty Games which follow!

Materials

A seed head that looks like an umbrella; shaped in a circular pattern; that sticks to your clothes; A stalk that is rough and tough; that seems fragile (but isn’t);that looks like wheat; that has dried “ferny” leaves; that look “grassy”; and any other interesting grasses and weeds that you can think of. Look for different heights, thicknesses, colors, textures, etc. NOTE: BE SURE YOU DON’T COLLECT ANY POISON IVY OR OAK.

Self Hardening Clay (Homemade: 4 parts flour to one part salt. Mix well. Add water in small amounts, kneading constantly, until you have “clay”)

A few pebbles or small stones that seem unique. Scissors

Procedure

1. Pinch off a handful of clay. Shape into a mound.

2 Trim any extra leaves from bottom of seed and weed stalks with scissors.

3. Insert stems into clay. Put the tallest in the center, then the next tallest, etc, ending with the small ones around them. As you work, look at all sides of the arrangement, making sure it looks nice from all sides.

4. Stick a few stones here and there for interest. Let arrangement dry.

NOTE: Sometimes it helps to put a little white glue on the stems before you insert them into the clay. Do the same for the rocks.

Melani Roewe is a former news editor, Girl Scout Leader and Adult Trainer and K-12 educator who enjoys alpine wilderness hiking, birdwatching, fishing, snow- and water-skiing, swimming, and camping. She directs her church's Youth and Adult Choirs and lives in Oklahoma with her husband and two children. She is also owner of the Glass Carver.