Instructions to Make Christmas Table Decorations

Decorate your Christmas table with handmade centerpieces, candle holders and embellished cloth napkins. Many table decorations can be made with leftover ornaments from your Christmas tree or scrap fabrics from your other holiday crafts or sewing projects. Remember that sometimes less is more and be sure to leave plenty of room on your table for your holiday meal and Christmas treats. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Christmas Ornament Topiaries

1

Insert a wooden dowel three quarters of an inch in diameter into a Styrofoam ball. Consider the desired size of the finished topiary to choose the correct size ball and length of the dowel for your decorating needs.

2

Paint the wooden dowel and ball with acrylic craft paints in the color of your choice.

3

Attach small Christmas ornaments to the Styrofoam ball with a hot glue gun when the paint has dried to cover the surface of the ball.

4

Fill a votive candle holder or a small flower pot with modeling clay. Insert the wooden dowel into the modeling clay.

5

Tie a length of ribbon into a bow at the base of the ornament-studded ball.

Christmas Napkins

6

Trace Christmas-themed cookie cutters onto scraps of fabric or felt.

7

Cut the shapes out of the fabric with scissors and apply them to the corner of a plain, cloth napkin with fabric glue.

8

Outline the fabric cut-out with fabric paint to secure the edge of the fabric to the napkin. This also will prevent the unfinished edges of the fabric from fraying.

9

Add finishing touches to the napkins by gluing on small bows, sequins or buttons.

Apple Candle Holders

10

Purchase large green and red apples that are free of blemishes and bruises.

11

Place each apple upright on a small plate. Cut a small slice from the bottom of the apple to create a flat base if it will not stand up straight or if it wobbles. A wobbly apple candlestick may tip over and could be a fire hazard.

12

Scoop out half of the core of the apple with the smaller end of a double melon baller. Start at the top and scoop down at least 1 inch or halfway through the apple to create a hole just large enough to place the end of a tapered candle inside the apple.

13

Brush the inside of the hole with lemon juice to prevent the apple flesh from becoming brown.

14

Place a tapered candle inside the hole in the apple. Repeat the steps with the remaining apples to create candlesticks for your holiday table.