Gourds and Pumpkins

• Pumpkins and gourds can create attractive centerpieces. Hollow out the middle of a gourd or pumpkin and fill it with apples, pine cones and nuts. Or make votive candles with mini hollowed-out pumpkins or gourds by placing the candles inside. Pumpkins can also become dazzling when you paint them white and the stem gold, then sponge red, yellow or orange paint over the white.
  
  

Indian Corn Vase

• A glass candle holder can create a rich-looking centerpiece when you attach Indian corn and tie a red or yellow velvet ribbon around it. You will need 16 Indian corncobs and 10-inch wooden barbecue skewers. Husk the cobs and cut off the bottoms so the cobs sit flat. Insert the skewers into the bottom of the cobs and spray with matte sealer. Let dry and remove the skewers. Put the candle in the vase and place it on a decorative plate. With a hot glue gun, glue the cobs vertically to the vase, making sure the bottoms of the cobs are level with the bottom of vase and the sides are touching. Wrap twine around the middle of the cobs, then cover the twine with 2-inch ribbon.
  
  

Autumn Floral

• This is an arrangement of silk flowers, small gourds and pumpkins, autumn leaves, wheat, small and large berries and burgundy sprays. You will need a 10-inch wooden box painted brown and floral foam. Glue the foam into the bottom of the box. Insert the flowers and the autumn leaves into the foam, spaced evenly. Then arrange the other items around them. You may need to use floral stems for the gourds and pumpkins.
  
  

Leafy Garland

• Drape this garland of silk leaves and tiny pine cones on your walls and fireplace or in your yard for an outdoor fall party. You will need an assortment of autumn color silk leaves, small pine cones, a hot glue gun and 10 yards of 1-inch-wide brown satin ribbon. Alternating the color of the leaves with the pine cones, glue them to the ribbon about two inches apart.