Patty Schaffer is sharing a tutorial today and tomorrow for the perfect Thanksgiving mantel display or centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table. Patty’s Burlap Cornucopia and Burlap Pumpkins are the epitome of fall decorating. The combination of burlap and cotton fabrics are seasonally rustic, and I think you could also use flannel or wool, or even a little lush velvet.

Burlap Cornucopia & Burlap Pumpkins by Patty Schaffer.

Patty made the cornucopia from a STAK Tree, a shape that’s hard to find in the stores but you can easily order online from The Craft Place. I love this shape, and you can make some fun and different projects with it. I’m always bummed that more retailers don’t carry it. But, I’ve ordered STAK Trees from The Craft Place before, and I can tell you that their service is excellent and they’ll ship it quickly. (And to see more of Patty’s designs, check out her etsy shop, P.S. it’s in the details.)

The STAK Tree comes in a small box and looks like a square of STYROFOAM Brand Foam. However, numerous stacking rings are cut into the square and when pulled apart, they create a STAK Tree.

To make a Burlap Cornucopia, you’ll need:

• STYROFOAM™ Brand Foam: 12” STAK Tree®
• 1 yard burlap
• Coordinating cotton fabric (a fat quarter is more than enough)
• Spanish moss
• Acorns
• Green patterned papers
• Green ink and sponge applicator
• Low-temp glue gun glue gun
• Tools needed: Scissors; 7/8” beading pins

To make a Burlap Cornucopia:

1. Separate the rings of the STAK Tree. (Cool, isn’t it?)

The fabric piece for the largest ring should be cut big enough to tuck inside the cornucopia, hiding the insides.

2. Cut pieces of burlap or other fabric large enough to wrap around each ring, with extra to tuck into each end. Cut the fabric or burlap for the widest ring large enough so that you have several extra inches to tuck inside the cornucopia. This will help to hide the inside of the STAK Tree.

3. Wrap fabric pieces around the STAK Tree pieces, spot glue, and use pins as needed to secure.

4. Glue the sections together to create a cornucopia shape.

Assemble the cornucopia by gluing the rings together.

5. Glue Spanish moss and acorns into the opening.

6. Cut leaves from green patterned paper. Crumple the leaves, then flatten and ink the edges and the wrinkled surface. Glue in place.

Back in 1974, Mangelsen’s, a craft chain that’s no longer in business, published the book Create a Wonderland with STAK Tree® Shapes. I found another centerpiece idea in the book, in which the cornucopia serves as baby shower centerpiece.

A vintage baby shower centerpiece made with a STAK Tree.

Here’s one more project you can make from the STAK Tree — A Christmas Ornament Tabletop Tree. You can also make a beautiful Ornament Topiary with a cone of STYROFOAM Brand Foam. With a STAK Tree, however, the finished tree is more full. The Ornament Tree uses an 18” STAK Tree, and instructions are on StyrofoamCrafts.com.

Tabletop Christmas Ornament Tree made with a STAK Tree.

I’ll share Patty’s Burlap Pumpkins tomorrow.

Have you ever seen the STAK Tree? Have you crafted with it?

Happy crafting!

Sharon