Your holiday table is an important part your Christmas decorating scheme, and making your own table decorations adds a creative and personal touch to your celebration. Since Christmas is a busy season for many people, it's difficult to spend a lot of time on these handmade table embellishments. Fortunately, there are many lovely Christmas table decorations you can make in between batches of holiday cookies and kids' Christmas concerts.
Snowy Lace-Embellished Placemats
Placemats are one of the first things guests will notice about your holiday table, and it's fun and easy to make your own. These blue and white placemats offer a new twist on the traditional, but you can also make them in red and gold or another common Christmas color scheme. There's no sewing required.
Things You'll Need
The following supplies will be enough to make six placemats, but you can purchase more or less of everything to suit your needs:
- One yard light blue felt fabric
- 12 yards metallic silver ribbon, about 5/8 inch in width
- Three yards wide figured lace trim
- One and half yards 3/4-inch ribbon in white and silver
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Spray adhesive
- Measuring tape
- Dressmaker's pencil
- Scissors
- Iron
What to Do
- Spread out the blue felt fabric, and use the measuring tape and dressmaker's pencil to mark six 18-inch by 12-inch rectangles. Cut them out.
- With the iron set to the appropriate temperature for your material, fold the 12 yards of silver ribbon in half lengthwise and make a long crease. Cut the silver ribbon into six equal pieces, each two yards long.
- Take one piece of ribbon, and put a narrow bead of hot glue inside the crease, stopping after about 18 inches. Press the long edge of one of the blue felt placemats into the glue, folding the ribbon around the edge and wiping off any excess. Allow the side to cool slightly. Then continue gluing the ribbon around the raw edge of the felt until the entire placemat is trimmed in silver. Cut off any excess ribbon. Repeat with remaining placemats.
- Carefully cut the lace trim to create individual snowflake-like embellishments. You'll need 12 lace pieces.
- Working in a well-ventilated place, spray the backs of the lace pieces with spray adhesive. Press the pieces in place on each end of the placemats and allow to dry completely.
- Tie the white and silver ribbon into 24 tiny bows. Use the hot glue gun to affix the bows to the corners of each placemat.
Christmas Berry Napkin Rings
These napkin rings are easy to make, and they should only take you a couple of minutes each. You can find all the supplies you need at your local craft store.
Things You'll Need
- Berry floral stems, enough to make the desired number of rings
- Spray adhesive
- Fine white glitter
- Empty wrapping paper tube
- Wire cutters
- Pliers
What to Do
- Use the wire cutters to trim the floral stems to a length of about eight inches each.
- Use the pliers to wrap each stem around the wrapping paper tube, tightly twisting the ends to create a ring. Tuck any sharp ends into the twist so they won't catch on linens. Leave the rings on the wrapping paper tube for easy transport.
- In a well-ventilated space, spray the berries with spray adhesive.
- Quickly shake the white glitter over the berries until they have the desired frosty appearance.
- Allow the rings to dry thoroughly, and then remove them from the wrapping paper tube.
Holiday Mosaic Votive Holders
Scattered across your holiday table, these pretty mosaic votive candle holders cast a cozy Christmas glow. Choose glass in shades of red and gold to enhance the effect.
Things You'll Need
- Clear glass votive holders
- Weldbond adhesive
- Stained glass chips or pieces of glass tile
- Tile nippers
- Goggles or other eye protection
- Dark-colored grout
- Sponge
What to Do
- Cut the glass or tile into small pieces, using the nippers. Be sure to wear protective eyewear as you do this.
- Apply a thin coat of Weldbond to the outside of the clear glass votive holder.
- Press the stained glass or tile piece into the glue, covering the entire outside surface of the votive holder.
- Allow the holder to dry completely, usually at least 24 hours.
- Mix up the grout according to the package instructions.
- Press the grout into the spaces between the glass pieces, giving a stained glass effect. Use a wet sponge to remove any excess grout. Allow the grout to dry before using.
Christmas Ornament Centerpiece
You can display favorite Christmas ornaments right on your table when you make this simple centerpiece. If you're feeling extra-creative, you can even make the Christmas ornaments yourself.
Things You'll Need
- Several Christmas ornaments
- Large pedestal bowl
- Floral wire
- Sprigs of evergreen branches
- Artificial berries on floral stems
- Fabric leaves
- Pine cones
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
What to Do
- Measure the base of the pedestal bowl, and form a few pieces of the floral wire into a rough ring shape to use as a base around it.
- Start by adding the evergreen sprigs, making sure each one points in the same direction. Use floral wire to attach the sprigs to the ring you made.
- Use more floral wire to attach the berries, trimming the stems so they don't stick out. You should have a fairly full wreath.
- Using the hot glue gun, attach the leaves and pinecones around the wreath. Allow them to dry thoroughly.
- Place the pedestal bowl in the center of the wreath and fill it with the ornaments.
Long Holiday Table Centerpiece
This long centerpiece is perfect for a big Christmas dinner with lots of family and friends. It will give your table a festive, frosty look. The directions are for a three-foot long centerpiece, but you can easily adjust the size to fit any table length.
Things You'll Need
You can find these supplies at your craft shop and home improvement store:
- Two and a half feet of two-by-four lumber
- Floral wire
- Three-dimensional star ornaments, or any other large ornament
- Silver leaf-shaped floral embellishments
- White doves
- Pinecones
- Silver spray paint
- Spray adhesive
- White glitter
- Pliers
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
What to Do
- Start by spray painting the two-by-four and the star ornaments silver. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly.
- Wrap floral wire in loops around the two-by-four. Twist the ends under using the pliers.
- Begin threading the leaf-shaped embellishments through the loops of wire until you've covered the entire two-by-four in foliage.
- Use more floral wire to attach the ornaments and doves.
- With hot glue, add pinecones to the silver foliage.
- Spray the entire centerpiece with spray adhesive. Before the adhesive dries, liberally sprinkle everything with glitter.
- Allow the glue to dry and then tap off any excess glitter.
A Holiday Table with a Creative Touch
No matter which Christmas table decoration you choose to make, you'll be proud to display your handiwork during you big holiday dinner. The creative touch and personal embellishments you add will be noticed by your guests and will add to the festive feel of your celebration.
