“Toast of the Town” Party Glasses and Confetti Poppers
If you are planning an intimate gathering, pick up some inexpensive champagne glasses and transform them into memorable toasting glasses with a little etching cream. If you are throwing a larger party and the idea of washing all that glassware is a little daunting, use plastic glasses and a little garland to create fanciful tinsel toasters. For extra party pizzazz, craft up some easy confetti poppers.
Along with these craft projects, here are a few tips on toasting. Be yourself and speak from your heart. Keep the toast articulate and humorous as well as appropriate and to the point. Be brief and end on a positive note. If you are stumped for the perfect toasting words, just raise your glass and a say “cheers!”
Etched Toasting Glasses
Supplies:
Champagne glass
Letter stickers or shapes
Glass etching cream
Paintbrush
Scissors
Rubber gloves
Sink
Steps:
1. Decide on a design plan. Cut around the letter stickers of your choice, leaving a space around the edge of the letter. Optional: If you want to use your own design, you can cut out a design from heavy-duty shelf paper.
2. Clean and dry glass thoroughly.
3. Making a stencil from the cut letter: Peel the letter from the cut piece and discard it. Make sure you keep any “inserts” from the letters (like the inside of an O). This will be the stencil.
4. Apply the stencil and any letter “inserts” to the glass. You can line them up straight or go for a more whimsical look by applying them randomly. You can use a piece of tape to help you line them up straight. Burnish the stencil into the glass using your fingers.
5. Applying the etching cream: While wearing rubber gloves and working on a protected surface open the etching cream. Using a paintbrush, liberally apply the etching cream inside the stencils. Remember that wherever the cream touches the glass will etch, so be careful not to go over the stencil.
6. Wait 5 minutes for the etching cream to react to the glass. Wearing rubber gloves, wash the etching cream off the glass and pull off the stickers.
Tinsel Toasters
Supplies:
Plastic champagne glass
Tinsel garland
Hot glue gun & glue
Steps:
1. Attach the base of the glass to the stem of the glass. If the glass feels flimsy, you can add a drop of hot glue to secure the base to the stem.
2. Wrap a 3-inch piece of garland around the stem of the glass and hot glue in place. (you can use a bamboo skewer to help hold the tinsel in place while hot gluing)
Confetti Poppers
Supplies:
Small plastic champagne glasses (bridal section of craft store)
Gold and black star shaped confetti
2” Gold notary seal sticker – Avery brand (office supply store)
Steps:
1. Fill the small champagne glass 3/4 of the way full with a scoopful of confetti.
2. Seal the top of the glass by centering the gold notary sticker over the opening of the glass and press down the sides of the sticker.
3. Punch the top of the seal with your finger and toss the confetti into the air.
Countdown Clock, Party Crowns & Tagged Glasses
Party Signs
Create a fun and welcoming sign with a small TOP HAT & some scrap book paper. I did a little embossing and added some fabby rhinestone letters. Perfect for on a bar or buffet table.
Craft a yard sign made from foam core board. Place it on your front walk so guests can easily find your home and neighbors can get in the New Year's Eve spirit.]]>This is a youtube video from a New Year's Eve Party segment I did on NBC's IVillage Live. If you are looking for quick nibbler recipes then check out this blog post. For more New Years Eve Ideas....Visit part 1, part 2 or part 3 of the New Years Eve posts.
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If you don't get DIY, you can check out all the segments on youtube by clicking the links below.
Video: peppermint bark
Video: infused vodka
Video: tomato cage trees
Video: felt bows and wreath
Video: glttered snowpeople
Video: kids dreidel game board
Project Instructions at DIY:
Tomato Cage Christmas Trees
Glittered Snowballs, Snowmen and Ornaments
Peppermint Bark
Felt Wreaths and Bows
Berry-Infused Vodka
Raspberry Martinis with Green-Sugared Rim
Dreidel Game Board

Click here to view all the blogs at once.
Reciepes:
Thyme & Cheese Appetizer
Roasted Veggies
Maple Sweet Potatoes
Cranberry Sauce & Leftover Ideas
Oven Bag Roasted Turkey
Cocktails:
Pumpkin Pietini
Table Setting:
Centerpiece Ideas & Copper Painted Table Runner
Fall Leaf Place Cards:
Simple Place Setting Etiquette
Thanksgiving Crafts & Activities:
Copper Mesh Tea Lights
Clove & Orange Candle holders
Delightful Doggy Bags
Things to do with family on Thanksgiving.
no mess: I love to use cooking bags for cooking the turkey, they are a “no brainer” way to cook a moist turkey and the clean up is a snap.
Too many cooks in the kitchen: The meal is ready and you need space to dish it out! Keep guests occupied out of the kitchen, make some funny trivia cards or have a camera on hand and designate a guest to take a fe pre-dinner pictures.
tight spaces: Carve the turkey in the kitchen and platter the meat with an additional side dish like stuffing.
small dishes: I like to use individual ramekins for making mini sweet potato casseroles (one for each guest). I make them the day before and just re-heat on Thanksgiving day. The ramekins can be placed right on to a guest’s plate and you won’t need any additional serving dishes on the table or space on a buffet table.
enlist help: Ask friends or family to bring extra side dishes.
no buffet no problem: You can create a buffet out of almost any piece of furniture. Just drape the furniture with festive fabric of a tablecloth and use protective trivets – and you got yourself a buffet.
cook early: Make as many dishes ahead of time as possible – like cranberry relish, sweet potato casserole rolls, salad & pies.
oven safe: Try to use serving dishes that are oven safe. You can prepare meals in advance and reheat in the serving dish.
pies: If you are not going to bake pies… just pick a few up at your local bakery. Just remember – you might need to pre order.
no table?: Don’t worry if you don’t have a traditional dining table, A low coffee table can be doctored up with a few floor cushions and a table runner. You can pick up folding tables and chairs at any discount store. If you don’t want to buy - most cities have rental shops that will rent additional chairs for $3-$5 each.
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Thanksgiving Thyme & Cheese Appetizer
Shopping List:
4 ounces cream cheese
small package of goat cheese
10 ounces grated Swiss cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons vodka - optional
1/2 cup chopped fresh chives
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
salt to taste wax paper
Combine: In a large bowl combine softened cream cheese, goat cheese, pepper, salt, vodka and half of the thyme bland until smooth and creamy.
Mix:
Add the swiss cheese and continue to mix. Place in the refrigerator for 3 hours.Spread:
Combine in a bowl the chives, remaining thyme and the walnuts. Place a piece of wax paper on your work surface and evenly spread the mixture onto the wax paper.Roll & Chill:
Roll the cheese mixture into 3 in balls (you should get about 3 balls) Roll each ball in thyme, walnut and chive mixture until the ball is top coated. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until you are ready to serve. ]]>
pumpkin pietini
shopping list:
2 parts Absolut Vanilla vodka
1 part pumpkin schnapps
cream
nutmeg
cinnamon stickOn the table runner the simple and modern shapes were created with low tack painter’s tape and FolkArt fabric paint. By combining the metallic bronze and chocolate brown this project is perfect for fall holidays.
Table Runner Materials
FolkArt Fabric Paint – 4429 Metallic Solid Bronze
Store bought cotton or linen table runner
Scotch painter’s tape corners – 2 rolls
Ruler
Foam paintbrush
Wax paper
Iron and board
Steps:
1. Iron the table runner to remove any wrinkles. Choose a work surface where the runner can sit for the duration of the project. Place the runner with a sheet of wax paper under it on the work surface.
2. Adhere the corner tape pieces to the runner in your desired position. (We made this design in blocks of 4 corners.) Press down on each piece of tape to ensure the edges are firmly against the fabric. If needed, use a ruler to help you center the pieces.
3. Pour a small amount of paint onto a plastic plate or palette, dab the brush into the paint and tap off the excess. You will want a semi-dry brush for this project. For best results, paint in an “up and down” fashion rather then side to side. Paint the entire runner.
4. All the paint to dry and allow to air dry for 24 hours. Heat set with a dry iron and a pressing cloth. Handwash only after 72 hours.
Fall Leaf Doggie Bags
We always make extra food so our Thanksgiving guests can take a little home to enjoy. Tin foil and take away containers are perfect for sealing leftovers, but a little boring to look at. We like to decorate kraft paper gift bags for each guest to take home their goodies in.
Fall Leaf Bags:
Use leaf shaped rubber stamps and metallic inks to decorate kraft paper gift bags. To add texture to your stamping, emboss with sanded embossing powder. For extra pop, tie silk flowers and paper clay leaves to the handles. Make guest place cards or thank you notes by stamping onto folded blank note cards.
Orange & Clove Candle Holders
Supplies:
thick-skinned oranges or grapefruits cloves paring knife mellon baller metal tea light
1. Cut a hole in the fruit that's slightly larger than the diameter of the tea light. Use a knife to gently trace and carve out the area where the tea light will sit.
2. Use the melon baller to remove bits of fruit and create a well for the candle to sit.3. Place a tea light in the well and press cloves into the skin to release the aromatic oils of the fruit and spice. If the fruit is thick-skinned, use a toothpick or a bamboo skewer to make the initial opening before inserting cloves.
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Steps:
2. Trace around the leaf templates with a pencil onto the dry pieces and cutout.
3. Layer 2 leaves on top of each other and attach with a decorative eyelet.
4. Create a printed-paper nametag by either printing one from a computer or making one with stickers. Attach an eyelet to the top of the tag.
5. Thread the tag and leaves onto a ribbon and tie with a decorative bow.
6. Place one at each place setting.
Optional: Leaf ornaments! Skip the nametags and just add a piece of looped ribbon for a hanger.
Download the picture for the templates

