Christmas Tree Centerpiece Ideas

Christmas trees are not only fun to decorate with all your favorite ornaments, they can make great centerpieces for holiday parties! Check out these clever (and easy to make) ideas.

This pretty peppermint topiary from Anders Ruff is made from a Styrofoam cone covered in peppermints. How simple, and yet, so eye-catching!

This candy cane topiary from Pizzazzerie is also made from a Styrofoam cone. The cone is covered with Royal Icing and the candy canes are set in the icing, which hardens when it dries. The tree is attached to a candle holder using a floral tube. Check out this tutorial. 

Birdcrafts featured this snowy white trees in her Christmas Candy Land collection. These are  also made from Styrofoam cones covered in faux snow and set atop candle holders. 
She has a tutorial in her NEW online holiday magazine!!

Okay, so this isn't really a centerpiece, but it could be.

It also makes a great entryway display, from Real Simple magazine.

Here's a cone-iferous advent calendar from Family Fun, but you could easily modify the idea to use numerous paper cones to create a centerpiece.

Or how about these ribbon trees from Crafty Crystal? I love 'em!

How yummy is this gumdrop tree from make and takes?

Holiday Cookie Exchange Party

I'm attending a Cookie Exchange party this weekend, hosted by one of my dearest colleagues. I've been scouring the web for festive cookie ideas and thought I'd share them here, in case you are also attending one (or even hosting one) this holiday season and are also looking for ideas and recipes.

If you are hosting one, check out the great tips for hosting a cookie swap at Martha Stewart.

If you are attending one, here are some ideas.

Chocolate Peppermint Cookies from Martha Stewart.

Green Tea Christmas Tree Cookies from The Tea Chick

Classic Sugar Cookies from Alton Brown

Sugar-Dusted Lemon Bars from Family Fun

Original Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookies from The Very Best Baking

Gingerbread Cookie from Alexandra Guarnaschelli

Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti from the Joy of Baking



Holiday "Windownpane" Cookies from The Food Network

Raspbery Chocolate French Macaroons from Epicurious.com

Springerle Cookies from Delish.com

Linzer-style Tree Cookies from Delish.com

Yum! Now I just have to decide which to make! 

Thankful for Thanksgiving Party Printables

Still looking for table setting ideas for Thanksgiving dinner, but think you've waited too long to pull off anything really creative and elegant? Well, look no further because there are so many wonderful party printables collections out there to save the day. These collections really will save you hours of work, so you can focus on roasting that turkey! All you need is a color printer, white cardstock and a cutter/pair of scissors! Isn't that something to be thankful for?! And what's even more amazing, is that so many of the most talented and creative party goods designers around are giving away their Thanksgiving collections for FREE!! In this post, I've showcased many of my favorite Thanksgiving party printables collections that are free, but don't forget to repay your debt of gratitude by visiting their collections at other times of year and buying their party printables collections for all of your do-it-yourself party needs!

First off, my all-time favorite party printables designer and friend, Bird from BirdCrafts, offers up her Happy Thanksgiving collection.

Hostess with the Mostess is offering its Grateful Mod Thanksgiving collection in support of a great cause, Operation Give Thanks, which furthers the cause of Operation Shower. This is the collection I'm using for my "Traditional/Mod Thanksgiving".

TomKat Studio is also offering its Give Thanks collection in support of Operation Shower.

Catch My Party members can also get Thanksgiving Party Printables from Lindi from Love the Day, with an elegant grey damask design. How elegant!

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Set up this adorable Thanksgiving "kids table" with this Thanksgiving Collection from Paper Glitter.



Check out this colorful collection from Dimple Prints.



Anna & Blue Paperie's Thanksgiving collection features classic fall colors.

I love these Thanksgiving paper chains from Silverbox Creative Studio.

What a lot of awesome and talented folks to be thankful for!

Traditional/Mod Thanksgiving

Remember the "Mod" Thanksgiving Printables that I featured from Hostess with the Mostess? Well, as I said, I loved them so much, I had to incorporate them (and my son's acorns and leaves) into the Thanksgiving tablescape I'm planning for our Thanksgiving this year. Take a look.