VIDEO - How to decorate a buffet table for a Christmas party

It's always best to use levels when you are setting up a buffet table. It creates more visual interest and it allows you to put more bowls and platters in a smaller space.

In the article and video you'll find here, you'll see the basic principle for creating levels for your buffet using sturdy items and an extra cloth. In the article and how-to video you'll find here, you'll see how the table was decorated. While that video was geared toward creating a wedding-related buffet, the principles still apply. Just simply swap out the wedding decor for Christmas decor and instead of fresh vines, use seasonal garland.

In the video you'll see at the end of the article, you'll learn another way to create the same visual interest using decorated Christmas boxes as your risers to create levels. You can use this same trick for any type of event. Just decorate the boxes to suit the occasion and use appropriate decor items.

You also can use footed platters and bowls to create more visual interest to your buffet.

However you do it, you can take a plain buffet and turn it into something spectacular.

Thanks to Over the Top, Inc. for use of their beautiful cranberry crushed satin tablecloth.

Photo - Flickr.com/Susie's Cakes

How to Decorate Your House for a Christmas Party -- powered by eHow.com

Video: How to Make a Christmas Centerpiece in Under a Minute

As you'll see in the video, it's easy to make this Christmas centerpiece in under a minute because you'll use items you already have on hand.

You can use whatever assortment of glasses you have or, like the photo, you can use a collection of candlesticks to create a similar effect. Just try to keep the materials all the same. If you're using glass, then they should all be glass. If you're using wood or silver, it should all be wood or silver.

Just vary the size and shape of the holders and ornaments.

Keep playing with the arrangement until it suits your style. It only takes a few seconds to make changes and you'll have a centerpiece that sparkles and shines without expensive flowers or even candles.

Put it on your dining table, coffee table or kitchen counter or island.

Thanks to Over the Top, Inc. for use of their beautiful cranberry crushed silk table cover.

It's fast, easy, elegant and free! How's that for a Christmas present to yourself?

Photo - About.com



How to Make a Christmas Centerpiece -- powered by eHow.com

Videos and Links to Great Christmas Ideas

Here's a collection of Christmas ideas you can use even at the last minute as the holiday season rapidly approaches.

25 Last-Minute Gifts You Can Pick Up on the Way to the Party
Here's a collection of last-minute Christmas or holiday gift ideas you can pick up at the supermarket, drug store or even your local convenience store.

Video: How to make a Christmas or Hanukkah Centerpiece in Under Two Minutes

Phyllis Cambria's Examiner.com column
While many of the articles are geared toward brides-to-be, the majority of the articles are filled with great ideas you can use for any type of entertaining, party or event you have to host or plan. A number of them come complete with photos and how-to videos.

PartyPlansPlus.com
Our site, as you know, has a collection of holiday theme parties and products that you'll find helpful during the holiday season for this year and next.

Happy Reading and Viewing!

Video: How to make a Christmas cone party favor with a twist

Paper Christmas cones are a traditional and very Victorian decor item. In this video you'll find a way to use a simple wire Christmas tree that I found at Dollar Tree and used it to turn it into a Christmas cone that doubles as decor and a Christmas party favor.

These cones can be filled with candy, popcorn, small soaps or tiny ornaments and used as decorations for your Christmas tree. They also can be filled with birdseed and berries and hang them from an outdoor tree to feed your feathered friends. Or hang them from your fireplace mantel or banister.

Get a couple of sturdy branches, put them into a pretty vase and then hang the Christmas cones from the branches as a centerpiece for your Christmas table. At the end of the meal, give the cones to your guests as party favors. Or gather them into a basket and give them to guests as they leave.

Take a photo of your guest and cut out the figure, mount it on cardboard, insert into the cone (as you can see in the photo) and hang from the backs of chairs as place cards.

Using these wire Christmas trees in a new way is an adorable and easy twist on the traditional Victorian Christmas cones. Plus they're much faster to make and just as decorative.

Thanks to Over the Top, Inc. for use of their lovely cranberry crushed silk tablecloth.

Happy Holidays!


Photo - Flickr.com/Iva's Creations


How to Make Christmas Goody Bags -- powered by eHow.com

Video: New uses for Christmas garland

Christmas garland is traditionally used to cover a fireplace mantel or to hang over a door or window. But who says you can't use garland in less traditional ways?

In the video, you'll see how to decorate a basic pole lamp. But there are other things you can do with garland that will dress your nest.

• Drape garland around your Christmas buffet table like you would fresh greenery.
• Use suction cup hooks and drape your bathroom mirror.
• Hand garland around your framed artwork.
• Cut pieces of garland and use it to encircle your charger plates on your dining room table.
• If you don't have a mantel, hang garland along the top of a wall unit or bookcase.
• Weave garland around your chandelier and wrap it around the chandelier's chain.
• Scallop and pin garland to your tablecloth's edge.
• Wind garland around a wreath form.
• Use garland to form a Christmas tree outline on your door.
• Swag it from your curtain rods.
• Use it to create a table runner down the center of your dining table. Tuck in ornaments and battery-operated candles for a charming display.
  
• Wrap it around staircase banisters.
  
• Use garland instead of ribbons to decorate packages.
  

You can buy plain garland at discount stores and dollar stores like Dollar Tree and then embellish it with ornaments, flowers, ribbons, bows, twinkle lights and so forth.

It's an easy and fast way to turn your house into a holiday home.

Merry Christmas!

Photo - Flickr.com/Wyscan



How to Hang a Christmas Garland -- powered by eHow.com

Video: How make a Christmas centerpiece with flowers

You can make a floral Christmas centerpiece easily and affordably with the tips you'll learn in this video. Plus it will be much less expensive than one you'd buy from your florist and much more personal.

I used a combination of fresh pine sprigs that I got for FREE from the local tree lot, real and silk flowers and ornaments. Since poinsettias can be poisonous to pets and small children, I used realistic-looking silk ones. When they are combined with fresh materials, the centerpiece looks like they're all fresh flowers.

You can easily add taper candles to the arrangement as well. Use an apple corer to create holes for the candles if you can't get them to easily slip into a soaked piece of oasis.

In case you're wondering I put the Spanish moss in first to raise the height of the oasis. Normally you would add the moss after the arrangement had been completed.

You also can secure the oasis to your basket with floral tape if necessary.

I made the arrangement two weeks ago and only needed to replace the fresh flowers a couple of days ago. Just make sure you keep the oasis wet.

This arrangement cost under $20 including the silk flowers, decorative ornaments, bow, fresh flowers and oasis. A similar one from a local florist would have cost more than $45 not including taxes and delivery charges. And it only took a few minutes to assemble.

Even in these tough economic times, there's no reason you still can't create a beautiful and festive atmosphere on a budget.

Thanks to Over the Top, Inc. for their beautiful cranberry crushed silk tablecloth.

Happy Holidays!

Photo - Flickr.com/CHMeredith



How to Make a Christmas Floral Table Centerpiece -- powered by eHow.com

VIDEO: How to make a professional looking gift basket

Making a professional-looking gift basket is fun, easy and can make the most inexpensive items look expensive.

You can find the shrink wrap gift basket bags as shown in the video at Dollar Tree. The packs come with a pull bow, but if you want to make a really professional looking presentation, use a decorative ribbon (also available at Dollar Tree, JoAnn Fabric & Crafts, Michaels or any big box store) and something like the poinsettia you'll see in the video. It can be a sprig of flowers, an ornament, a toy for a child's basket or baby shower or, if you're handy making bows from wired ribbon, you can use that. To make the best impression, find something more interesting than the standard pull bow you will find with the shrink wrap bag.

It's generally easier to work with a basket that doesn't have a handle. Taller items should go in the back and smaller items in the front.

If necessary, use basket shreds, Spanish moss, or tissue paper to fill in the empty spaces. If you need to raise the height of your items, fill the bottom of the basket with a heavyweight paper. Tissue paper is too soft. So use parchment paper or newspaper on the bottom and cover that with shreds.

A pretty basket, a few supplies and a few minutes is all it takes to make an ordinary gift look extraordinary.

Thanks to Over the Top, Inc. for use of their lovely cranberry crushed silk tablecloth.

Photo - Flickr.com/Basket of Candles


How to Make Christmas Gift Baskets -- powered by eHow.com