Christmas Morning Tablescape

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

Christmas morning is so special.  What a day to celebrate God's love and blessings.  For us, Christmas morning is a time for a very special tradition.  Not only do we make the kids' favorite meal of the year, we spend a lazy morning opening gifts, but a time to reflect on God's gift to us, His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Today I am setting the table for Christmas morning breakfast.  Before we get started, I wanted to show you the garland that my 14 year old son put up as one of his Christmas decorating projects this year.  He gave this garland a lot of thought and it took him forever...but it was so worth the wait.  I am so impressed...maybe I am biased, but I can't help it.  Man, I love that boy.  {There is no way I could have done this at his age.} 

So back to the table.  I gathered up a few things to get started and don't forget to get rid of those chairs while you are setting the table.  A clear path makes it so much easier to set the table.  I also have to bribe the dog to take her nap somewhere else.

I am using a simple tray for my centerpiece.  A piece of garland went in next and then a pile of colorful, glass balls went on top. 

I made sure to pull a few evergreen sprigs through the sides of the tray to give it a more natural look.  Also, I tucked a few pine cones and glass balls down a bit lower so there was some interest when you were looking at the tray from the side.   

The tablecloth is another homemade special {Thanks Mom!} from fabric that I found at JoAnn Fabric.  I love the polka dots.

Placemats...

Red Chargers...

Everyday Plates...

Our Fun Christmas Dishes {A closer shot of them is coming up!}...

Everyday Silverware...

Napkins...

And Glasses. 

I love the polka dot napkins layered over solid green napkins.  {Thanks for the napkins too, Mom! :-) I LOVE them.}

Don't be afraid to drink wine for breakfast.  Just kidding!  Don't be afraid to let your wine glasses do a little multi-tasking to bring a little fun or elegance to your table.  Hubby and I are using wine glasses for orange juice.  It's just a special touch to a special meal on a special day.   

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!

I am linking to Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday. Check it out to see tons of great tablescapes by talented bloggers.

I have bad news.  My camera is having some problems.  I have my fingers crossed that the Camera Doctor can fix her up.  If you want to cross your fingers with me, I would be okay with that.

I had planned on showing you some of my favorite holiday party recipes like my Shrimp Cocktail Recipe and Mini Rubens.  Also I wanted to show you all the pretty lights we strung outside.

I promise to be back as soon I can be. I hope you are enjoying a beautiful Christmas season.  Here is my only picture from outside before my camera bit it.  

 I strung a piece of garland around the rocker and added fresh greens to give it a bit of added dimension.  Then I wired the red ornaments onto the garland and finally strung the ice skates on so they would not blow away.

Visions of Sugar Plums Danced In My Head

I have a cherished nutcracker collection.  I though it would be fun to decorate the library based on ETA Hoffman's Nutcracker.  I started with a generic list of items or themes from the story.  It was a short list.  Sugar Plum fairies, Clara, Drosslmier - the clock maker, tin soliders, nutcrackers and of course a prince and princess.  Great list, but not exactly something that easily translates into a decorated Christmas tree.

I decided that a sugar plum fairy would be a great project, but I don't have time to make her right now.  I cut it down to making sugar plums, which I thought I could handle.   

So, I have never had a sugar plum.  I have never even seen a sugar plum in real life. I did a search on sugar plums and decided I could recreate a pretty good imitation with a Styrofoam ball, a couple coats of brown acrylic paint and a few spritzes of spray glitter.  I also cut up some shrink wrap to wrap the sugarplums in. 

Start with a Glue Dot on the sugar plum.  The glue dot is going to hold the shrink wrap in place.  Shrink wrap is slippery.

Attach the glue dot to the center of one side of the shrink wrap. 

Roll the 'sugar plum' up in the shrink wrap.  And add another glue dot to keep the shrink wrap in place. 

Viola!



I used a couple of pieces of ribbon to tie the end shut. 

Tie the other end and trim the excess shrink wrap.  I am so pleased with the way this turned out.  This will be perfect on my Nutcracker Christmas tree.  Stay tuned to see how that turns out.  If anyone that has seen or eaten a real sugar plum happens upon this would you please let me know how this compares to a real sugar plum?  I really want to know, so you can be honest.