| A unique and festive holiday tablescape can easily | | | | for holiday tablearrangements; the mirrors reflect |
| be created with someplanning, simple materials | | | | whatever is on them, adding even moredepth. |
| and your imagination. Just like dressing up | | | | Place red, green or white pillar candles in a bed of |
| forspecial occasions, little touches can make a big | | | | nuts and tinyred or green ornaments. Shiny beads |
| impact on how your tablelooks to your guests. | | | | in silver, gold, red and green are alsoperfect |
| One design trick to add height and visual interest | | | | touches to weave into these arrangements. |
| to your tablescape is touse a pretty cake stand | | | | Some hostesses prefer ablue, silver, gold and/or |
| as a focal point, or several of varying heights | | | | white color scheme for Chanukah celebrations. |
| ifyou have a large table. Cake stands are now | | | | There are a wide variety of greens, either live or |
| readily available in manydifferent styles, shapes | | | | artificial, to designwith: pine, holly, white pine, |
| and price points. A cake stand will make | | | | boxwood, cedar, berries and noble fir. |
| whateveris placed on them seem more important | | | | Consider using rosemary topiaries as well. |
| -- and this need not be a cake! | | | | A simple yet dramatic table statement can be |
| Hostesses now use cake stands to hold all types | | | | made by placing large, glassholiday ball ornaments |
| of foods -- hors d'oeurves,vegetables, cookies, | | | | on top of crystal candlesticks of varying heights. |
| pies or tarts. Besides presenting edibles, cake | | | | Wired ribbon tied on to and running between the |
| standscan also serve as a base for other | | | | candlestick bases is anothertouch for this elegant |
| centerpiece designs. Put out a selectionof candles | | | | arrangement. Be sure to use earthquake or |
| of the same color but differing shapes and | | | | museum waxto secure the balls to the |
| heights, or fill atiered stand with matching votive | | | | candlesticks to prevent them from being |
| candles instead of cookies to create | | | | knockedoff. |
| aneye-catching centerpiece. | | | | Using favorite collections are either great accents |
| Another favorite way to relieve the monotony of | | | | or focal points for acenterpiece. Holiday villages or |
| a flat tablescape is tocover your table with one | | | | various styles, colors and sizes ofdreidels or |
| tablecloth. Then place plastic or cardboard boxes | | | | menorahs work well for this creative idea. |
| (like ones for photo storage, or whatever you | | | | Some other general centerpiece hints are: |
| have handy) in a few differentspots at varying | | | | Consider have several smaller arrangements on |
| heights, one or two boxes high. Drape another | | | | your table rather than onelarge one. |
| tableclothover these boxes, and you have a much | | | | If it is for the dining room table, the arrangement |
| more interesting space to display yourdelectables | | | | should be either lowenough for guests to talk |
| on. You may either use a matching tablecloth or | | | | over, or high enough to talk under. |
| one in acontrasting shade and mold it around the | | | | If your centerpiece is going to sit in the middle of |
| boxes. Be sure the boxes aresturdy enough for | | | | a table, it must lookattractive from every viewing |
| the serving dishes or arrangements you place on | | | | angle. |
| top. | | | | Water any fresh flowers or plants used in your |
| Other table decorating ideas are to fill clear crystal | | | | centerpiece daily. |
| bowls or vases withone of these: candy canes, | | | | Centerpieces with fresh flowers and plants will last |
| peppermint candies, a dreidel collection orglass | | | | longer if kept awayfrom direct sunlight and heater |
| ornaments tied to a ribbon garland. Glass | | | | vents that may blow hot air. |
| creamers and footed bowlscan also be used as | | | | If you use candles in the centerpieces do not |
| containers for crab apples, mini-artichokes, other | | | | leave them unattended and besure the candles |
| freshfruits and nuts. Or put together some | | | | are not near any flammable materials in the |
| pinecones, cinnamon sticks andgreenery in a | | | | arrangement,such as ribbons. |
| pretty decorative bowl. | | | | Let your imagination soar as you capture the |
| Trays or mirrors also work very well as a base | | | | magic of the holiday season! |