Quick and Easy Handmade Table Setting Decorations for Christmas

Christmas dinner is an important annual event but it can contain, quite often, an element of chaos. One way to make the event a little less hectic and a little more enjoyable is to decorate the table with some easy and fun accessories that you've made yourself. For a centerpiece, you want something that isn't so tall as to prohibit the exchange of dishes and a friendly chat.

What you'll need:

One shallow china or glass dish, something wide but not too deep

One piece of fabric large enough to line the inside of the dish

Pine Cones and other assorted seasonal naturals

Line the dish with the fabric, trimming any excess if needed. Fill the dish with pine cones of assorted sizes, mixing in a few other seasonal items as you go. You can get these from hobby and decorating stores if you don't have any suitable in your yard. Small faux poinsettias trimmed near the base of the flower would look beautiful as an addition. I would not recommend real poinsettias as they can be poisonous and would also wilt as the night went on.

If you have a large guest list, one way of adding some flair to the table, without taking up much space, is by including place cards. This is one way of making these and you can even reuse supplies from Christmases past.

What you'll need:

Precut cardstock place cards (you can get these at hobby stores such as JoAnn)

Christmas wrapping paper, new or gently used

Gluestick

Hole punch

Colored thread or string

Fine tip marker or pen

First, gather together your supplies so that you can work on these in an assembly line style - it will make the work go much faster. Use one of your precut place cards as a template, cut out wrapping paper rectangles of the same size and shape of the cards. Apply the gluestick generously to the back of the wrapping paper, adhering each rectangle to the wrong side of the place card.

Once the glue has had time to dry, write each guest's name on the side of the card that is still blank. Include a note such as "Christmas 2008" or "Happy Holidays." Hole punch the top left corner of each card and tie a piece of thread so that you have a loop, large enough to fit around the flatware and/or napkin that you'll have at each seat. Slip the loop around the flatware and set the whole thing in the center of the plate.

Lastly, for a really quick project that will have a large impact, make pillar candle wreaths.

What you'll need:

2 medium sized pillar candles, unscented or lightly scented

1 large pillar candle of the same kind

Tree garland, festively colored ribbon, or strands of beads in holiday colors

String or floral tape (twine would also work)

Taking the trim of your choice, cut it so that it's long enough to wrap around the pillar candle at least twice. Wrap it around the candle attaching it to itself with either string, floral tape, or by trying it together in a bow. You can also tie twine in a bow around each end to attach them for a more rustic look. After your garlands are finished, set the larger pillar candle in the center of the table and one medium sized candle on either end of the table.