Getting Ready for the Feast

Looking for a fun new way to decorate the Thanksgiving table? Use uncooked corn to decorate cloth placemats! First, break an uncooked ear of corn into two pieces. Then, firmly attach plastic corncob holders to the ends of the corn. Pour a few shades of fabric paint onto paper plates and roll the corn in the paint. Then roll the corn across a cloth placemat (plain muslin cloth works well). Repeat this process to make overlapping patterns and different colors. Finally, you'll need to heat-set the painted placemats according to the manufacturer's directions (usually either with an iron or a short cycle in the dryer).

Your placemats can be washed after the holiday and are sure to be a keepsake for many Thanksgiving to come. (Disposable placemats can be made using the same technique with poster paints and construction paper.)