I am going to let it snow on my Christmas dinner table this year in the form of paper snowflake place mats.
I am trying to keep things simple this year and my holiday table setting is no exception. I went in search of something easy and found the white cardboard snowflake cutouts that I used as place mats at U. S. Toys/ Constructive Playthings. It is a store filled with lots of teacher supplies. They come 4 in a package.
There are 4 different snowflake designs – I just placed one under each plate. No fuss – no sewing, cutting, ironing or washing! The manufacturer: The Beistle Co. The Item: Snowflake Cutouts # 22934
You can purchase them here: Large Paper Snowflakes
If you would prefer to make your own snowflakes, you will find an easy tutorial here.
They are the perfect size and look so festive with glass dinner plates on top. My plates came from the thrift store, but I know the dollar store and Walmart sell glass dinner size plates, also.
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I am such a “tweener” I like a little bit of glitz and a little bit of nature on my holiday table – so I mixed them together. Burlap style cloth, shiny ribbon, glittered wine glasses, pine twig and a sparkly earring for the place card. Simple, festive… do-able. I created the place cards in Microsoft Word using the font CAC Champagne. I cut them out and folded them into a tent to place over the pine twigs.
The candle holders in the middle are Kosta Boda Snowballs. I love and collect them and use them all over my house during the holidays. I am not big on napkin rings – what do you do with them when you put your napkin in your lap? They just end up cluttering the table or the hostess has to get up and gather them. I just simply fold the napkins.
I got the idea to glitter my wine glass stems when I was at the the National Christmas Museum in Paradise, Pa. Martha Stewart Living featured the museum in this month’s magazine. A few weeks ago I went out to the Pottery Barn outlet to shop for some bargains. As we were coming home, my friend, Toni suggested we stop since we were passing right by. It was like stepping into a Christmas time warp with all the old-fashioned decorations and toys. It was late in the afternoon and we didn’t stay very long, but in the gift shop I saw stemmed glasses with glittered stems for sale. I knew the minute I saw them that my green stemmed wine glasses that I haven’t used in years would be seeing the light of day once again.
Martha Stewart Living December 2011
How to Glitter the Stem on a Wine Glass
1. Make sure the glass is clean and dry.
2. Use a small paint brush to cover the stem with an even coat of tacky glue.
3. Hold over a tub of glitter and sprinkle the stem with glitter until it is covered. Shake excess off. Let dry. Don’t put the stem in the glitter – it will get all thick and globby. Use your fingers to pick up the glitter and sprinkle it over the stem.
Place on your table. If you want to keep the glitter on after use – hand wash. If you submerge them in water for a bit, you can remove the glitter and your glasses will be back to normal.
Have you planned out your holiday table yet? You can find more inspiration over at the Lettered Cottage. Layla is hosting a Tablescapes for Christmas Link-up.
More Holiday Table Setting Ideas:
Just lovely!
Re: researching softer burlap – Rough Burlap has
some fabulous looking linen that looks like burlap, but doesn’t have the smell and
gnarly texture. Or perhaps you could luck out and find something linen-like in the fabric store
that would be an affordable, acceptable product to try? Good luck everyone!
Hi there! Quick question that’s completely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly?
My web site looks weird when viewing from my apple iphone.
I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might be able to resolve this problem.
If you have any suggestions, please share. Many thanks!
Great ideas, Diane (as ALWAYS). Some of this stuff can be found at the dollar store… ideas ideas!
Diane – I just adore this table setting. It’s everything I love – a rustic elegance with the burlap and elements of silver. Perfection! Cheers!
Oh your table looks gorgeous!! I have used pine cones for place cards before but had not thought of using the pine itself. It looks great and I think I am going out and cut some of our pine and use this idea. Thanks!
HI Alicia-
That is exactly what I did. It was as easy as going out my side door with a pair of scissors. I cut the tips of the branches to get the nice fanned out shape.
love the simplicity of the snowflakes and the glass plate. so perfect!
Very pretty! I read on another blog that if you coat your glittered item after it is dry with a coat of gloss ModPodge, it will remain sparkly, but the glitter won’t shed all over the place. I’m going to give it a try.
Hi Bettsi. –
Great tip! I have some gloss Mod Podge and will try it – wonderful stuff. Thanks for sharing it. XO
Those snowflakes are perfect placemats. I love the burlap on the table, very traditional.
I’m loving your blog and links so much I get lost.
Paula (UK) xxx
Thanks Paula –
It is nice to hear. When I started blogging the navigation around my site was easier. I am in the process of categorizing and trying to make things easier to find now that I have many posts and more content.
Diana – getting lost around your blog and its links is a good thing, believe me. I’ve enjoyed so much of the content – you see I’m a card maker and those are the blogs I tend to follow, look at… but one thing led to another when I started watching ‘My Craft Channel’ on the web. I looked up some of the guests on there – and then I got to ‘Todays Creative Blog’ with Kim. Followed links from the and here we are… I’ve really enjoyed the journey but the destination is fabulous!!!
I just wish we had some of the same stores over here in the UK! I’m loving some of the budget finds you have on here… I’ll have to improvise (hopefully on the cheap!)
Hugs
Paula x x x
Please tell me about your “burlap-style” fabric. I love the look of burlap in all the decorating I’ve seen lately, but I can’t stand the smell of real burlap.
Hi Judy-
That is one big fault of using burlap. It does smell. I wish I could tell you the source of the cloth. It is a small cloth that my mom used on her table. I don’t know where she got it , but it is at least 20 years old. It is burlap-like, as the ends are fraying on one edge, but it has a coating or fixative on it that must mask the smell and makes it very soft. I have searched myself, but have had no luck finding anything like it. It is a small cloth and I would like to have a much bigger one to use on my table top extension. I am going to challenge myself to see it I can come up with a way to take the smell and roughness out of regular burlap. If I am successful – I will post about it. :)
Oh, I love your table. Everything is so perfect and as you said, “Simple, festive – do-able”. And without breaking our budget’s. Not only can we keep up the the Jones’…. we can impress them.
Thanks Sheryll :)
This table is so cute! I love the snowflake placemats with the clear plates – such a good idea! I’m really big into snowflake decorating around Christmas, so I’m really loving what you did.
Hi Sarah –
Thanks. Like you – I enjoy using them around the holidays and all winter long. The fact that they are white makes them easy to add to just about any color scheme, too. They are perfect in many ways. :)
What a beautiful and “snowy” tablescape! I love your snowflake “chargers” … your glittery glasses are gorgeous, too … such a great idea!
Hi Becca –
Thanks. I was so excited when I saw them at US Toys. It was like they were made to use as place mats or chargers. I also used one to hang in my foyer that I will post about on Monday.
Hey :)
I thought you all might like to know that there are Costa Boda snow balls for sale in Bloomingdales (at least they are for sale in the San Francisco Bloomingdales!). If I remember correctly they are kind of hard to find but I just saw them there yesterday!
Hi Kelly – I have 8 so it is a nice even number. They were probably normal price at Bloomies. I have found most of mine at Marshall’s for $7.00. See ya soon xo
Ah….love the simplicity. The name tag with the spear of greens is just delightful! What time is dinner? ;)
Beautiful, simple table. The snowflake and glitter idea are fabulous. Love the whole look:)
forgot to say….I have the same Kosta Boda Snowballs. Do they still make them? I love to use mine every year. I only have six left.
Hi Rita –
I have 8 of the Kosta Boda snowballs and would love a few more. They do still make them. My daughter is in San Fransisco and said she saw them at Bloomingdales. I found a few of mine at Marshall’s for $7. Martha Stewart Living just did an article in the December 2011 issue about Swedish glass and they were included. I leave them up all Winter. They are one of my favorite things.
I love your table. Those are wonderful ideas. I love the natural and silver combination. I love, love the place card holder! I have been saving lone earrings to use in projects. I once decorated a tiny tree with vintage earrings, I’ll use those. Isn’t it very satisfying to repurpose beautiful things? I have pinned this!
You are good. VERY GOOD. I love both of these fabulous ideas!!
That is such an amazing idea…great thinking! It looks good:)
I love your snowflake theme table!