Harvest Table

The first step is searching for leaves. Kids like to help with this part. The trick is finding leaves with the best color and shape. To preserve the leaves, layer them between newspaper with a paperweight on top (figure A). You can also use a telephone book. Press them for about two weeks.

Placemats: Use round pieces of cardboard, which you can get from a pizza shop. Make sure they're clean and unused. Spray-paint the cardboard gold. (You may want to go outside for better ventilation.) Brush the lower half of a leaf with white glue diluted with water, and gently place the leaf on the outer edge of the mat. Go around the mat overlapping with each leaf (figure B). Come back with the glue and secure the leaves that are overlapping.

Place Cards: Pick up some small paper mache boxes from the craft store. Spray-paint the outsides gold. Put glue all over one side of a leaf and glue it to the bottom of the box. Use the same procedure to add a leaf to the top of the box (figure C). Let it dry thoroughly. Use a calligraphy pen to write the name of the guest on the top of the box. Then fill the box with nuts, mints or candy.

Centerpiece: Take a pie-size pumpkin and spray-paint it gold (again, outside for ventilation). Slice a piece out of the side and stuff it with berries and grapevines (figure E).

Figure F shows the completed fall-themed table setting, ready for a warm harvest dinner with family and friends.