Tuesday, December 13, 2011

A Martha Stewart Christmas

I have never been great at decorating our house or apartment for Christmas-- it always seems to sneak up on me, and I end up spending all of my pre-holiday time finding presents and sending them off to friends and family. Beyond some poinsettias and, of course, a Christmas tree, my decorating has always been, shall we say, limited.  This year we are hosting Christmas dinner, though, so I have been looking for some simple table decorations to help ease me into the world of tasteful themed decor.  And who better to turn to than Martha Stewart?  


These simple evergreen napkin ties are seasonal and so easy!  Just use some pretty wrapping ribbon or twine and trim some small branches from your Christmas tree, and you're finished.


These candle and flower centerpieces are simple but gorgeous, and I love how their low profile doesn't block your view of the guest sitting across the table.  Martha's instructions: Use candle wax to attach a small floral frog to the center of a shallow bowl.  Push a candle into the floral frog to secure.  Pour water into the bowl. Clip amaryllis blooms (or other large flowers) from their stems and arrange them in the bowl around the candle.  


And for an inexpensive, festive napkin ring, try this satin ribbon bow, either using a single color, two alternating colors, or even a whole range for a fun twist to your tabletop.  

Step 1: Start with a 45-inch length of narrow ribbon. Hold four fingers on one hand together, and wrap with ribbon, making certain it lies flat. The fullness of the bow will depend on how many times you wrap it around (we wrapped ours ten times; for larger bows, wrap ribbon around your whole hand). Slide the ribbon off your fingers, and pinch it together at the center. Cut a notch through all layers on each side. Tie a piece of string around the center of the ribbon, slipping it into the notches; pull string taut, and knot.




Step 2: To form the rosette, spread loops outward, and twist, shaping them into a fluffy ball.

Merry Decorating!

Liza

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