With Fall in full swing, pumpkins are popping up everywhere! Although they look festive, they're not exactly inexpensive if you're looking to pick up more than one or two. Instead, try using apples for a less pricey option that still says fall — and save the orange decor until Halloween!
I ran across this small candle holder idea over at Woman's Day and it started the wheels a turning about using apples in more of our seasonal decor. It makes financial sense since pumpkins aren't exactly cheap these days, plus there's a better chance you can take use of fallen fruit in your neighborhood as well.
Try using them on the table just as they are, place them in a bowl — or on sticks to make a "bouquet" in a vase. They could be also be placed in a vase and then covered with water for a pretty effect or just set out as decor that gets to be eaten at the end of the meal!
Pumpkins are fabulous in their own right, but saving them for Halloween means we're won't be sick of seeing them come Thanksgiving!
Do you use apples in your decor? Share your thoughts on display below!
Image: Kate Sears for Woman's Day
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They're cute...but it seems like a waste of perfectly good apples. Carving pumpkins, on the other hand, aren't good eating like regular pumpkins are.
Apples are especially beautiful at this time of year, and provide a great seasonal accent.
And enjoying apples like this is not wasteful at all...
http://www.etsy.com/listing/54556022/vintage-garden-apple-botanical-autumn
Carve an apple - then sit back and watch it's flesh oxidize into ugly brown within minutes, and turn to a mealy pulp within a day or two.
There's a reason folks use pumpkins - They last longer.
Love the idea, but probably not good for long term decoration like pumpkins. Probably best just for a single evening's party -- dip it into lemon juice to prevent browning.
I like this idea a lot! I may not make the cut candle holders, but it's so simple to use whole apples in other ways like you suggested. I'm not a big orange fan anyhow, so I've been craving other fall decor ideas, thanks!
Pumpkins > apples. I am obsessed with all things fall and orange though, so I can't give an unbiased opinion on this.
But I concur with bepsf... don't these turn brown like, instantly?
Not all apples turn brown instantly and yes lemon juice will slow oxidation. Browning occurs almost instantly with Macs, not so fast with Cortlands, for instance. And this year in the NE we've got a bumper crop of massive apples...conditions have been superb, better than in at least 20 years. So there's a glut and they're priced lower than ever, in local farmer's markets and stands anyway. I'll do the candle in apple thing for a dinner party Monday night using LEDs. Thanks for the tip!
We used apples as decor at our wedding 8 years ago, October 5th. Nothing fancy, just bowls of apples with bows tied on the stems for any and all to take. They looked nice next to all the home-made pies.
We used apples at our wedding a few weeks ago, and soaked them overnight in Fruit Fresh & water before they were placed on the tables.
We used this, which was a good investment since we had to do so many of them: http://www.coolstuffexpress.com/store/p/637-Tea-Light-Fruit-Candle-Carver-Tool.html
Before the wedding, we did a trial to see how long they would last without browning, which was several days. A precise cut helps.
I dunno, Halloween is in just a few weeks, at this point (Oct 8th) there's no need to "save" pumpkins...'tis the season!