When you're entertaining for the holidays, don't forget that children can and often want to help, but their contribution need't be limited to setting the table. As Martha's young friends Phoebe and Sam demonstrate, with a little imagination, kids can transform pinecones from the backyard into whimsical turkey place settings. While it keeps young guests busy and entertained, this project serves another purpose -- a card hung around the neck of each turkey will mark each guest���s place at the table.

Tools and Materials
Plump, round pinecones work best for this project. You can substitute maple or oak leaves for the corn husks.
Scissors
Corn husks
Pinecone
Craft glue
Twigs, pieces of vine, or gourd stems
Tacky glue, such as Magna-Tac
Twine or string
Place card
Hole punch

Making a Pine Cone Turkey How-To
1. Using scissors, cut small feather shapes from corn husks. Dip the stems into craft glue, and insert them between the scales of the pinecone, attaching feathers to its base in several rows so that they fan out like a turkey���s tail, with the lighter colored feathers in front.

2. Twist, shape, and trim a twig, piece of vine, or gourd stem to form the turkey's head and gobbler; gnarled gourd stems make interesting and distinctive faces. Apply tacky glue to its end, and secure onto the front of the pinecone.

3. Write the name of a guest on a place card. Punch two holes into the upper corners of the card, and thread a piece of twine or string through the holes. Knot the ends, and hang the card around the turkey's neck.