One of my favorite parts of entertaining is decorating my dinner table. I have spent countless hours on my tables over the years, but when I look through my old pictures none of them capture the tables very well. So, I'll share my Thanksgiving table with you - and it could double as a Christmas table if you'd like!
Here's my older sister Kristen and I carving the Turkey at Thanksgiving!
To decorate my table, I bought 12 jar candles for $1 a piece at Walmart. I also purchased 4 red scarves for $5 a piece from Walmart (there are more than 4 in the picture because I was decorating 2 tables). These scarves doubled as favors for the ladies to take home!
First, I laid the scarves out and then I placed the candles on and in between them, careful to be sure I didn't light fire to any of the scarves lol!
Then I used red chargers (bought at Walmart $1 each) and red cloth napkins I already had. And VOILA - a pretty table with party favors included!
I caught my mom and sister on the way out the door in their scarves!(And you saw me in my $5 scarf on the December Peace On Earth Challenge Video.)
If you need more ideas to inspire you - here's a few beautiful ones that I found on Digsdigs.com.
I love blue for the holidays. I have done a snowflake theme in the past using silver tinsel as my table runner. I saw tinsel for $1 a pack at Walgreens today. Lay some ornaments and candles on it and you are set!
These tables are earthy. Simple beauty.
I love the ornaments in the glass bowl on the left. I have done this many times using different assortments - it's easy, elegant and affordable.
I love the simple red and white - so clean. I have used ribbon in the past to roll my napkins also.
Look at that chandelier - {swoon}!
And again the ornaments in a glass bowl. This is one of my favorite ways to decorate at Christmas. It's a delicious bowl of beauty!Remember that God, the ultimate artist, has given you the ability to create! So create to the glory of God!
Walk with the King!
I am linking up to: Finer Things Friday, Raising Homemakers, Hip Homeschool Hop, Holiday Haven and Works For Me Wednesday.
Your post was a great reminder on how to use ornaments in a class container for decoration. We didn't put everything out this year since we will have it on the market but I can definitely use some of the decorations in a different way like that!
ReplyDeleteMmmm. Some gorgeous ideas there. But now to choose which route to take! Lovely!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to use scarves to decorate with and then hand them out as favors! Might have to borrow that idea for our Christmas party! Thanks for the inspiration and have a wonderful weekend :)
ReplyDeleteWendy
Great post. I love it! Remember I commented on that beautiful scarf too? You look good in red.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you shared this cause I do not have a decorative bone in my body I dont think!! I get my ideas from everyone else then make them mine!!! Thanks again this gives me a ton of ideas to work with!!! hugs
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas! Thanks for sharing. I love the scarf idea. Fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI love what you did with the scarves and candles. I think I will be trying that one.
ReplyDeleteLove all these ideas! With a toddler, I can't do much. For fall I bought some fake, inexpensive, small pumpkins and pinecones to fill a decorative bowl on my dinner table. As I was putting them away last week I noticed small bite marks in almost all of the pumpkins!! Last year I filled that same bowl with peppermint candies and oranges and it was so simple and pretty! I'm thinking about going with the ornaments this year, but buying the shatterproof!! HA! ;)
ReplyDeleteI like all the ideas!!!! I love read this time or the year! Remembering that is the birth of our savior and with His blood (hence the red) we are save. Weird how my mind works sometimes!
ReplyDeleteI love your table with the scarves and candles! Inexpensive, simple, yet elegant. That's what I'm all about. :)
ReplyDeleteI love your blog! I found it while looking for pics on google images.
ReplyDeleteI'm following you now!
You can find me at:
www.homeward4.blogspot.com
www.homeschoolercafe.blogspot.com
Blessings,
Janet :)
We're so doing the nativity coloring idea from yesterday. I'm also doing my "25 Days" scrapbooking project (altering a chipboard children's book to become our 25 days of Christmas book. I take a single photo each day to represent that day and then create a simple page for that day. I love displaying an old 25 days book each year.) Another decorating idea I love is to pull out our old Santa framed photos and put them on the side of our stairs, alternating with a few decorations. Great way to display the past. The scarf idea is fab!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Toni
Beautiful!!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas.
Merry Christmas!
WONDERFUL IDEAS GIRL! I love the scarf/favor idea!
ReplyDeleteThanks :-)
Love,
Traci @ Ordinary Inspirations
This is lovely but what about the food?
ReplyDeleteIs it on a side table or do they fix their plates before sitting down? Just how does the food service work with these pretty tables?
Great question - I always do buffet in the kitchen - which is why there are only chargers on the table. The plates are in the kitchen with the feast. They fill up their plates and head to the table. :-)
ReplyDeleteCourtney
Some WONDERFUL suggestions! Think I'm going to steal the scarf and candle and the tinsel and ornament ideas!!
ReplyDeleteCourtney, I only wish I had your heart and focus when I was your age! I'm not too much older than you but I'm always inspired by your posts. Bless you!
ReplyDeleteall lovely. I do some of them too. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI love to decorate for Christmas -- the transformation is so lovely. I too, like to hang baubles from my chandelier and use glass bowls and vases to showcase lovelies. So fun! I like your idea of using something your friends can take home at the end of the night. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tables, beautiful idea to use the scarves as favors. I am loving all of your wonderful posts. Thanks so much for linking to the Christmas party!
ReplyDeleteComing from the Hip Homeschool hop.....
ReplyDeleteLOVE the decorating ideas...but I am quite partial to red....
Following you from lil-LIZ-bits, lil-bits from my Navy Wife Life Mom-prenuer adventures. Love to see you on Facebook too!
these are beautiful. my heart breaks as i look, though, as we have still not been able to even decorate our home since we have moved in 2 years ago, as my husband lost his job last year. i am working on finding joy in my home, but at times i just wish i could make it look the way i have it pictured in my mind for my family (curtains, photos, molding, etc.). i do love your ideas and will be sure to look back in the future years :)
ReplyDeleteOH Lisa - it is so fun to look at and imagine! But this stuff never really makes one truly happy anyhow. If you have Christ you have everything you need - and these other things are truly just a cherry on top of an already blessed life.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy what you do have in Christ - these other things are wasting away. We really start living in heaven - imagine how beautiful the tables must be there!!!
Courtney