Holiday Craft

Now that Thanksgiving is upon us I am trying to finish the last minute things that I need to do to make it a great day for not only my family and our friends but also for me so I can sit,(ok maybe not sit) but relax and enjoy. I went searching for the great Thanksgiving craft that I can have the children do while waiting to enjoy all our wonderful and tasty dishes. I figured that there would be enough of them that they could tackle this one on their own. Plus with help from the older children this should be a lasting memory to add to our collection. Also what a great centerpiece for the children's table (if you were to have one).



CRAFT MATERIALS:
Large brown paper bag
Piece of corrugated cardboard
Paper plates
Stapler
Mod-Podge glue
Colored paper
Orange or red balloon and googly eyes
Glitter, stickers, or other notions
Craft clothespins
Tacky glue







**For thorough directions an how to assemble please take a look at

family fun.com


http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11307

Pretty Napkins

If you're throwing a dinner party in the near future, you can add a great decorating piece with a few napkin-folding ideas. If you fold your napkins in a fancy or creative way, you can add another level to your place settings and the appearance of your table. Proper napkin folding, involves more than just a creative flair. So many designs, precise measurements and materials are needed for the best results. With a few creative napkin ideas, your next dinner party can be the talk of the town.

Here is one from the back of the Cookies For A Cause, Divas In The Kitchen First Annual Cookie Book.

The Fan, pretty on a plate.

1. Fold top and bottom edges to center

2. Fold top and bottom edges to center a second time.

3. Pleat firmly from the left edge. Sharpen edges with hot iron

4. Spread out fan. Balance folds of each side on table.

Well-starched napkins will hold shape.

There are so many more designs to pick from. Here's a great website http://www.napkinfoldingguide.com/

The Perfect Thirst Quencher

How you serve your beverage is almost as important as what you serve! I like to find new and creative ways to serve drinks at my parties.

You can do anything from the classic punch bowl and cups to something more trendy like the apothecary beverage server.

You've got your carafe, your pitcher, your decanter, even your kettle. You've got crystal, silver, pewter, gold and the list goes on and on!

I like to tie my beverage service in with the theme of my party. For example, if I'm doing a springtime luncheon, I may use a nickel bottom cold beverage server.

If I'm doing a dinner party, I may use a pewter decanter for the wine, and follow it with a baroque style tea and coffee server with dessert...

It's fun to explore your options. A wonderful source for beverage displays is Crate & Barrel.

You can find a wide selection of beverage serveware at an economical price.

Putting thought into the way you serve your guests really makes a special touch and can be a conversation piece at your affair.

The Perfect Dish!

There's no question that delicious foods will be a hit with your guests, but how you serve it should be equally important!

Often we spend hours planning the perfect menu, cooking, decorating and getting our home ready for our guests, but how often do we think about what we're serving our food on?

Of course, you may have considered how many plates you'll need, but have you really thought about what they'll look like??

I never really thought about it until a couple of years ago I went to a friend's wedding in upstate New York. She kept telling me the reception was going to be extremely causual, and in fact, they had cleaned out their old barn and were going to host the reception there!

An old barn? What????? I couldn't imagine that after having an elegant ceremony in the Cornell chapel, they were having everyone come back to their old barn for a reception! But they did! And what I saw when I entered that barn took my breath away (and not because of any leftover animal smells!)

She had decorated the barn with chandeliers and oriental carpets! There was silver trays and candleabras! It was exquisite!

What really caught my attention, however, was the massive (and I mean massive!) collection of shabby chic china that had been in her family for years! While they each had a different pattern, each had a delicate pattern and unique charm - and collectively, they made quite a presentation!!

She chose a shabby chic look because it fit with the theme of the barn, and it lent a simple yet sophisticated flair to her event!

Since her wedding, I have begun collecting my own set of shabby chic plates, cups and saucers. I scour antique shops and flea markets for these little gems! I have toile, floral, patterned and polka dots! I use them every chance I get!

I have also found some great sites that you may want to visit if you're looking for the perfect dish! Some are china, melamine and paper:

Royal Albert Patterns.com