How to make an Easy DIY Cornucopia Basket
My Favorite Shackets
October 30, 2021
Steps to Decorate a Christmas Tree
November 13, 2021The perfect Thanksgiving DIY Cornucopia Basket
Thanksgiving is a time to gather and give thanks. Make this DIY cornucopia basket which is a symbol of a bountiful harvest for your table.
If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to add some festive decor to your Thanksgiving table, look no further. This DIY cornucopia basket will add the perfect touch. With just a few materials and a little bit of time, you can make your version of this traditional harvest symbol. Let’s get started!
Table of contents
A little History of the Cornucopia Basket
When did the Pilgrims’ cornucopia become a symbol of abundance?
A popular story attributes its origins to Zeus and Amalthea. First, these two were nursing at her goat’s milk when he broke one horn off. He filled it with fruit from their harvest which then became known as the “Horn Of Plenty”.
Secondly, there is a myth that suggests that this same design was worn by Heracles. While he nursed his animals during battle – an act for which humans have always admired strength even if they do not know why!
But no matter what you believe about its origins (or if they even exist), we know now just what this beautiful object means: plenty!
You will need just a few supplies to get you going.
Supply List
- Chicken Wire
- Burlap material, about 1-2 yds. (This depends on how large you make your cornucopia basket)
- 1/4-1/2″ sisal rope
- Glue gun
- Scissors
- Wire cutters
- Whatever you want to put inside your cornucopia basket
Here are the Steps to How I Made my DIY Cornucopia Basket
- Cut a piece of chicken wire large enough to form a cone.
- Roll the chicken wire into the shape of a cone and attached the wire with the ends that you cut.
- I cut off about 8″ on the open end of the cone. You can make this cornucopia as large or small as you like.
- You want to bend the end of the cone into a shape of a cornucopia.
- Cover the entire cornucopia wire frame with burlap. I did this using a glue gun to attach the burlap to the wire. I left about 3″ of fabric on the edge so I could fold the raw edge into the cornucopia.
Wrapping the Cornucopia with the Sisal Rope
- To make your DIY cornucopia, you want to cover the entire horn in sisal rope., I am using a 1/4″ rope and starting at the tip of the horn and working my way down.
- See my images below, you want to stop the rope at the first black line and then start a new line of rope where you see the second black line. ( watch the video below as well)
- Then I cut individual pieces of rope and glued them into the space in between the two sections of rope, leaving 3″ on each end of the rope. Once I added all of the pieces I could into this center section, I frayed the 3″ ends that I left on the ends for a fun look on top of the cornucopia.
- I found this to be the best way to wrap the rounded edge. You may be able to use one continuous rope, however, my cornucopia was very large, so this was the best method I found to work and I love the frayed edge trim on the top of the basket.
Now you are ready to wrap it up and style your DIY cornucopia basket
First, I chose to use a blanket for my tablecloth instead of a traditional tablecloth. The texture and fringe of the blanket give the table warmth and character.
Start with some fresh pine greens(I picked off of the tree), added some dried leaves, pumpkins, pinecones, feathers, and a few rusty bells.
I hope you enjoyed this fun tutorial. Give it a try to add a beautiful centerpiece to your Thanksgiving table. Please be sure to send me a picture, I would love to see what you have created.
If you enjoyed this post, you will love these too….
- Fabulous Friday Link Party 12.2.22
- How to use Classic Christmas Decorations-Home Tour 2022
- Nine of the Best Christmas Tree Decorations 2022
- How to make wax Sachets
- Fabulous Friday Link Party 11.25.22
38 Comments
This is STUNNING, Wendy. I absolutely love it. I want to make a cornucopia for my Thanksgiving table this year and I’m going to use yours as inspiration. Pinned!
Thank you, Jen. It is fairly easy to make. However, I would suggest making yours a bit smaller than I did. Only because it became heavy from all of the rope.
Such a beautiful DIY! And I love learning the mythology behind the cornucopia!
Thank you, Missy. I hope you are enjoying the fall season and getting ready for the Thanksgiving holiday.
This is so inspiring! I love how you personalized your cornucopia! Thank you for sharing your beautiful decor ideas!
Thank you, Robyn. I always enjoy sharing with you.
Wendy, your cornucopia is amazing! I need to make one. Hugs to you.
Thank you so much Renae!
OK, this is really clever!! Definitely have to remember this one!
Thank you so much Jennifer!
Wendy, I think this is my favorite fall DIY, it’s so creative and classic. Thanks so much for sharing it!
Thank you so much Ann, I agree that the cornucopia is so classic and will always be in style. I hope you are enjoying that beautiful fall weather you are having.
The cutest ideas! I love your DIY cornucopia so much! So much fun to party with you!
Happy day!
KariAnne
Thank you KariAnne, It is always a treat to share with you too!
Wendy what a gorgeous centerpiece! It looks so beautiful! I want to make this one.
Thank you STacy, my advice would be to make it smaller than mine was as it was rather heavy, lol!
This is such a pretty DIY project! Perfect for Thanksgiving. Can’t wait to share it tomorrow. Pinned
Wendy,
This is such a clever idea and I’m so excited to share it tomorrow on the roundup
Thank you Rachel. The round-up was so fun and full of amazing inspiration for Thanksgiving.
Wendy this is stunning! Saving this for Thanksgiving! And I hope you will consider linking up on a link party I just started cohosting for a chance to be featured because I love this idea my friend!
https://www.ourtinynest.com/2022/10/05/wednesday-link-party/
Hi Nicole, I am so excited you love my idea and for sure I will be linking up. Thank you for letting me know and sending me the link. I hope you re having a great weekend.
Just popping in to say I love this DIY and will be featuring it this week on Farmhouse Friday! It’s seriously gorgeous and so clever! Thank you so much for linking up. Please link up again soon. Happy Fall! Pinned
Thank you so much Cindy, I am very honored. I appreciate you hosting the link party so much.
Wendy, your cornucopia turned out great!! I’ve thought of making one but haven’t got around to it. Maybe this year! 🙂 Enjoy yours decorated for fall and I’m happy that I was able to feature your post at Share Your Style #361 this week for you. 🙂
Enjoy your weekend and happy fall,
Hugs,
Barb 🙂
Hi Barbara, thank you so much and I apologize for getting back to you so late. I have been traveling. I was at the interest conference, and now I am at the Achieve conference with no internet. UGH!
Thank you for the feature, I so appreciate you sharing my blog post. Hugs rights back to you.
Wendy this is so clever! Love the cinnamon rust and your beautiful pumpkins.
[…] here!!! Wendy from WM Design House rounds out our features with this post sharing a DIY Cornucopia. Pretty and fun to […]
Thank you so much, I am so honored. Have a great weekend.
Amazing project, Wendy!! So creative with your materials!!
Thank you, Rachel. I have just discovered this fun way to make things look rusty, now I want to put cinnamon on everything, LOL.
Wendy, this turned out amazing! I love this idea! Please share at our Home Imagined Party (ends today, Thursday at 5pm). Great job! Hope to see you there.
Oh Man, I missed it, I will get there next week I promise. What day and time does your party start?
Great project! Your Thanksgiving table will be amazing!
Thank you Missy, I am looking forward to hosting Thanskgiving.
I love how pretty this turned out! I’ve always loved cornucopias! Great job Wendy!
Thank you Susan, It was a very fun project to work on, kept my brain going for sure.
Came out great Wendy! I like how the sisel is frayed. Nice decorative touch.
Thank you Kathy! I had to come up with an interesting way to cover that rounded bottom and the loose ends helped. It does add a nice touch.