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Creative Décor for Holiday Entertaining
(ARA) - When the weather turns cooler, our thoughts turn indoors -- to guests,
food, entertaining, decorating and holidays to come. Of all the times of year,
home entertaining is most popular during the Thanksgiving and winter holiday
season.
Are you looking for new ways to show your holiday spirit this season? Think
you're ready to host a holiday bash this year -- on a budget? These simple
decorating ideas can transform your home into a winter wonderland, without
breaking the bank.
Find New Uses for Everyday Items
Look around your house for everyday items, such as glasses, plates and candy.
Use your imagination with ordinary items and create a festive decor. Here are
some ideas from Libbey, a prominent glassware producer in the United States, to
get your creative holiday juices flowing:
* Fill glasses or coffee cups with decorative stones, marbles or beans, then
place a tealight candle inside.
* Use goblets as blooming parfaits. Unpot miniature poinsettias just before they
bloom, wash the potting mix off their roots and pack them into glasses or cups.
* Build your own multi-story centrepiece with glassware and plates. Fill centre
glasses with cranberries, kumquats or potpourri. Trail an ivy fountain off the
elevated plates.
* Go vertical with your food, tucking a wrap sandwich inside a short beverage
glass, or serving pretzel rods in a pilsner glass.
* Use patterned glasses for impromptu vases, creating centrepieces or table
displays with an assortment of styles and sizes.
* For one-of-a-kind cookies, press interesting designs in dough using the
pattern on the sides or bottom of your favourite glass.
Light up Your Tabletop
Holiday lights aren't just for trees -- try this simple decorating tip found in
the Libbey Entertainment Guide and illuminate your upcoming party. You'll need:
Short strands of battery-powered clear or colored lights
Small gift boxes to conceal the battery packs
Clear glass dinnerware
Sheer fabric napkins
Lay napkins folded or flat on table and place dinner plate on top. Wind a circle
of lights under each napkin, following the curve of the plate. Arrange the bulbs
so the tips of the lights extend slightly beyond the edge of the napkin. Run the
cord from the lights to a small gift box beside the plate and place the battery
pack inside.
Create a Winter Wonderland Centrepiece
One of the easiest ways to liven up your dining room table is with a festive
centrepiece. Think beyond expensive flowers and candles though, and look
straight to your kitchen cabinets. Create an adorable snowman centrepiece from a
few simple plates, a mug and candy. You'll need:
Matching white plates in two or three different sizes (dinner, dessert, saucer)
Brightly colored oversized coffee cup
Assorted holiday candies for decoration
Arrange plates largest to smallest to create the circles of the snowman's body.
Place the coffee cup sideways above the smallest plate to make the snowman's
hat. Have children create a face, scarf, buttons and accessories using their
favourite holiday candies.
Add Shine to Your Tabletop
Make your tabletop glimmer and glow with this simple centrepiece idea using
Libbey's Metropolis martini glasses. You'll need:
Martini glasses
Silver BBs (one box for every glass you fill) or small glass decorating marbles
White tealights
Fill martini glasses with BBs or marbles, leaving 1/2 inch at the top of the
glass. Place a single white tealight in the centre of the glass, making sure
it's level and secure in the BBs or marbles. Place glasses on the table in lieu
of traditional tapers or votives.
Serve an Old Favourite -- with a Twist
Though most parties centre around food, serving gourmet meals can be expensive
and time-consuming. You can still impress your guests by serving special holiday
drinks at a fraction of the cost of a full meal. Try this recipe for an eggnog
latte -- a new twist on an old holiday favourite. You'll need:
2 cups dairy or canned eggnog
1 tablespoon light-colored rum
1 tablespoon bourbon
1 cup hot brewed espresso
ground nutmeg
Heat eggnog in small heavy saucepan over medium heat until hot, but do not boil.
Stir rum and bourbon into hot espresso. Transfer half the eggnog and half the
espresso mixture to a blender. Cover and blend until frothy. Repeat with
remaining mixtures. Divide evenly among coffee cups. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Makes
5 (6- to 8-ounce) servings.
For more great seasonal decorating tips and ideas, order Libbey's free
Entertainment Guide. Filled with creative serving and home decorating ideas, as
well as tasty theme-based recipes, Libbey's Entertainment Guide will make your
next entertainment occasion a success. In addition, tips on choosing the right
glass or setting the perfect table make the guide valuable year-round. To
receive a free Entertainment Guide visit www.libbey.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content |
