For an individualized and complementary Thanksgiving centerpiece, make your own cornucopia. The materials and construction are simple.

You will need:

One cornucopia. Get the size that best fits your table.

Styrofoam block or ball in a size that will fit about halfway into the horn.

Silk flowers or ornamental plants. You can get these in traditional autumn colors or make them fit your dining room decorating scheme.

Place the styrofoam ball or block in the horn and push it down so that it fits snugly about halfway. Next just stick the stems of the flowers into the styrofoam and arrange to your taste. The only requirement is that you use enough flowers to hide the sytrofoam and make sure they are of varying lengths, but that some are long enough to drape elegantly beyond the rim of the horn and onto the table.

As Thanksgiving approaches children are taught in school about the first settlers and the first Thanksgiving. Give them an insight into the colonial period by making simple dip candles.

You will need:

* Wax or other old candles to melt down

* Wick

* steel washers

* double boiler or a coffee can and a cooking pan

* coffee can full of cold water

* candy thermometer

* sticks

Melt the wax in your double boiler or place it in a coffee can in a pan filled with about three inches of water. Use a wire rack under the coffee can to avoid it being too close to the heat source. Heat the water in the pot on the stove. Be careful not to use a high heat. Use your candy thermometer to measure the temperature of the wax. 180 degrees is optimal. Do not let the wax reach temperatures over 220 degrees or it could burst into flame.

Cut your wick a few inches longer than you want your candle to be. You can use a steel washer tied at one end for weight or use a steel nut. Tie the other end of the wick to a stick so that your hands can’t accidentally come into contact with the hot wax.

When your wax is hot enough, dip the wick into the wax and pull it straight out again. Let the wax cool and harden on the wick. Dip the wick again and pull it straight out. This way you will be adding the wax in layers. As the layers get thicker with subsequent dippings, you can dip the candle in the pan of cold water to harden it faster. Continue to dip the candle until it is the desired thickness. Candles are then hung up to harden completely.

When your candle is done, you can use a sharp knife to trim the bottom end to make it even and flat. Trim the wick to about 1/4 inch.

You have made your own dipped candles, just like the pioneers of yesteryear!

Make a Thanksgiving Wreath or Candle Ring with a few simple supplies and a lot of imagination.

Materials
* wooden craft ring 12″ size
* pine cones
* cranberries
* plastic or fabric ivy from the craft store

You can spray paint the craft ring gold or paint it hunter green or any other color you like. Hot glue the ivy around the ring. Then using your hot glue gun, place pine cones and cranberries around the circle. You can also add some sparkling beads or any other fanciful item you can think of.

For a wreath, it’s a great idea to make a bow out of ribbon to attach to the top or bottom of the wreath. If you like, you can also place this on your table with a pillar candle in the middle for a centerpiece. If you plan to light the candle, be sure it isn’t too close to the ring for safety and employ all the usual candle safety rules.

Store bought costumes are bright, and colorful. They come with some accessories and make it easy to put your look together. On the other hand, they are unimaginative, are made of thin, easily torn material, are limited in designs and they are expensive.

If you’re going to be heading out to a Halloween party, whether it’s a work party, a social party or even just a neighborhood party, why not take advantage of some creative ideas and make a costume that is uniquely your own?

With a few simple items, some of which you may have around the house, some you can get at second-hand stores, you can make some one-of-a-kind costumes.

* Waldo - You will need a red and white striped shirt and blue jeans, a red or white knit cap and some round framed glasses. Add other accessories as you can find them.

* Old Man - You will need a button down shirt and some pants, both in a couple of sizes too large so you can wear a pillow under them. A vest is a nice touch and an old suit jacket. For the jacket, the tackier, the better. Use an eyebrow pencil to paint on whisker stubble and a can of white or grey hair color spray paint. Grab an old wooden cane if you have one. Be creative, cuff the pants, wear argyle socks, mismatch your socks and/or shoes.

* Old Woman - you will need a large shapeless dress or housecoat, fuzzy slippers or running shoes with support hose rolled half-way down and some rollers for your hair. Put a hair net or tie a scarf over the rollers. Creative touches might include horn-rimmed glasses or glasses on a chain round your neck.

* Bag lady - a variation on the above but add some nice touches with a large brown shopping bag full of empty cans, an old coat and scarf and a knit hat. Use makeup to create lines and wrinkles.

* Nerd - wear a pair of pants that are too short, loafers, white socks, white shirt and red clip-on bow tie. A pair of dark-rimmed glasses helps and don’t forget to put tape on them. Slick your hair back with gel or another appropriate prodcut. A pocket protector with pens is a nice touch. Use a red makeup stick to dot on some acne on the face. A fanny pack and an encyclopedia are other accessory ideas.

Raid your closets, second-hand stores and the dollar store for costume ideas and accessories. Be creative, have fun and enjoy your individualism.