Pull Together a Gorgeous Thanksgiving Table for Under $100 with These Clever Dollar Store DIYs

You might remember Rachael's popular show $40 a Day where she traveled around the world on a budget, but now she has a new challenge called "$40 a Holi-DAY!"

She sent two of our top designers, Genevieve Gorder and John Gidding, to a dollar store to see what creative Thanksgiving tablescapes they could create with just $40 each ($80 total). Here are their clever tips for pulling it off with panache.

Husk Table Runner

Genevieve made a fun Thanksgiving table runner using corn husks (watch the video to see how she made it). It's easy to do and adds a lot of texture to your table. Just staple the husks in neat, overlapping rows on cardboard to get the look!

Thanksgiving Tree Centerpiece

The best tablescapes have centerpieces, so John takes decorative placemats and cuts out a section to glue over a piece of white cardboard for decoration (see how in the video above). So now, your guests have a beautiful card to write what they're thankful for on. When they're done, they can hang them on the tree at the middle of the table.

Scented Note Cards

Genevieve says to always try to incorporate food when decorating for Thanksgiving. In this case, she takes note cards, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves and twine to create note cards for your guests to write on. It'll get their appetites ready for what's to come!

DIY Runner, Napkins + Napkin Rings (from the bath aisle)

You'd be surprised what you can do with items found in the bath aisle of the dollar store. Using a fabric shower curtain, John was able to create a runner and matching napkins for his tablescape. But wait, there's more! He took the foam out of a loofah to create napkin ring holders. See how he did it in the video above.

Picture Frame Vase

If you don't have a large vase to use as a centerpiece, Genevieve suggests using a tri-fold picture frame filled with your favorite photos. Just wrap it around a small vase (or a coffee mug, whatever you've got). It's also nice to bring a little bit of photography to the table!

Happy decorating!