8 Festive Touches Friends Will Never Forget
Here are some simple ideas that will make your get-togethers rock and leave your friends with memories to treasure.
Gingerbread houses might be a bridge too far in your opinion, but it doesn’t have to be a whole house! Try Christmas trains, sheds and huts. Make sure you’ve assembled the objects beforehand, as the decorating part is the most fun. You’ll be surprised how seriously some friends will take the decorating challenge!
Friendly festive favours Party bags don’t have to be just for kids. In this gorgeous table setting each guest receives a beautifully wrapped gift. A simpler (and cost-effective) approach would be to use brown paper lunch bags tied up with festive red and white string. Fill them with some yummy edibles (shortbread stars, individually wrapped chocolates, popping candy elves) and whatever else takes your fancy. Include some small hanging bells (buy them in bulk) or a handmade ornament from a developing country (try Oxfam stores). Make a tag out of upcycled old Christmas cards/paper. Place the filled bags in a bucket tied with a bow at your front door. This simple touch will send your departing guests home with a smile.
3. Delicious Christmas food Nothing says WELCOME as much as food. Your hair may be a mess and your laundry basket overflowing, but if you have a table set with gorgeous festive fare, you will always be the host(ess) with the most(est)!Warning: Ginger and spices create warm seasonal smells that cause instant hunger and happiness.
Storing Christmas treats in eye-popping ways not only looks wonderful, but is an easy way to decorate kitchen and living room surfaces.Decorative jars and glassware create a sparkle of their own. Use your favourite china in snowy whites, with gilt edging or a riot of colour (vintage or new depending on you). If the kids are around, jars with tight lids are recommended.
4. Thoughtful place cards For those brunches, lunches and dinners you’ll find yourself hosting, individual place cards show your friends that you care. Check out free printables online to make an artistic flourish, or go DIY with metallic pens, stamps and stickers. Kids handwriting can be cute too and no one will mind if there’s a spelling mistake. Always have some pre-decorated blank cards for those who turn up unexpectedly. If your little do has gone viral, you may need several hundred.
5. Nostalgic Christmas books Fill a basket with Christmas tales to encourage happy nostalgia. Both children and adults alike will be eager to find their favourites among the stories that find their inspiration in the Christmas season. Try to include some classics and some new titles: How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr Seuss; The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen; the Holy Bible; Little Women by Louisa May Alcott; A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens; The Clown of God by Tomie dePaola; and Letters from Father Christmas by J. R. R. Tolkien.
6. Show-stopping photo gallery Gather your best and funniest memories from Christmas’ past. Create a photo wall or shelf display. If you’re nervous about layout, try this fabulous looking luna frame for your favourite christmas pics. You can intersperse your photos with Christmas cards, carols and quotes to fill out your christmas-themed wall. This seasonal decorating tool also gives your guests a great focal point and conversation starter (while you’re preparing the egg nog).
Set up your own photo booth for guests. You’ll need: A festive backdrop (try a red or white sheet, or a piece of sparkly fabric)A large ornate and/or rustic frame (frame style will determine look of photo)Large and small wreaths (for framing faces)Assorted Santa hats and beards; reindeer antlers and glowing nosesBattery-operated fairy lights. Have a polaroid camera and chosen photographer on hand to snap your friends in festive poses. The results will be priceless!
7. Creative Christmas cards displayDo you still receive any? Sending cards is increasingly rare these days – but I for one am sad they are diminishing in popularity, and have been known to display favoured cards years after they first arrived (surely I’m not the only one?). There is so much wonderful stationery out there – the mini-artwork deserves to be on show!Get in first and send some cards. Then wait and see how many friends reciprocate. Snail mail is the new black! If you don’t get any, there’s nothing to stop you from buying yourself a few favourite cards – string them across a mirror, stick them to a wall with coloured washi tape, or place one you love in a gilded frame.
8. Crafting stationHave a pile of Christmas-themed scrapbooking paper on hand and the possibilities are endless. This 3D bauble-shaped bunting looks so cute, but so would pennant-shaped flags or even paper chains. Hand out the scissors and glue sticks and your friends will have a ball.TELL USDo you have other ways to make your Christmas do’s with friends extra special? Let us know in the Comments section.MORE13 Dinner Party Deco Ideas for Out-to-impress HostessesShow us your Christmas HouseWhat’s Your Christmas Decorating Style?8 Decorative Touches for a Christmas Outside
1. Meeting icebreakerI’m not saying your parties are boring, but some people’s get-togethers seem to lack focus. If you’re bringing friends together who may not know each other, an icebreaker may be just what’s needed.THINGS TO DO: Food stationHave a large quantity of gingerbread biscuits in simple shapes (bells, stars, etc.) stored in air-tight containers. Place them on a plate in the middle of a table with an array of icing and confectionery on trays. Give each guest three biscuits each to decorate. Aprons on hand are a good idea too. Use paper or cellophane bags to package up the finished items, and tie with a ribbon.
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