11/25/10

The prettiest place setting for your Thanksgiving feast is also a free one: leaves from the yard. Pluck autumnal leaves and use a permanent marker to write your guests' names on them. You can also use them at a buffet to identify side dishes and appetizers. You could mark "veg friendly" dishes for vegetarian guests, too.

11/24/10

One of the easiest ways to make a centerpiece for a dinner party is to reuse the tin cans you opened while creating the meal. Many cans are imprinted with charming, vintage-looking designs that not only look great as vases on the table, but also help tell the story of how you cooked the meal. Mix supermarket flowers with vegetables to create a bountiful centerpiece and mix up large and small cans to create height and dimension.

11/23/10

Here's a simple and easy decorating idea when you need a large tablecloth for a party, but don't have time to make one or run to the store: Just raid your linen closet. A large flat sheet -- a thick one such as flannel works best -- looks great on the table, usually comes in a neutral, solid color and is machine washable after the party.