Christmas Tree Trimming Party

You don’t want guests walking in on a bare tree! Give it a little foundation and sparkle for all to build upon.

• Shape your tree if necessary with clippers and trim stray branches.

• Level the bottom tree stump if this wasn’t done where you purchased the tree.

• Secure the tree upright in its stand..

• Put your Christmas lights on the tree and illuminate them.

Don’t wait for guests to arrive before remembering that your ornaments are stowed behind a bunch of boxes in the attic.

Be prepared so all guests have to do when they enter the party is grab a cup of eggnog and start decorating.

• Unpack ornament boxes and open them up to check for breakage.

• Replace basics, such as gold or silver balls, if necessary.

• Stage the decorations on a nearby table out of the way of the trimming.

• Think about a plan for the little ones who can’t handle fragile ornaments. Candy canes are the perfect tree hangers for tots!

• Plan for tree-trimming traditions like the first ornament or whose turn it is to put the star on top of the tree.

• Consider having a group of older children set up the
  decorations under your tree such as trains that run through a village
  or a nativity scene.

What better way is there to say thank you to guests for helping to trim

your tree then by giving them a personalized ornament for their tree?

If you’ve never been to a craft store during the holiday season, now is the time to go!

Not only will you find kits to make your own ornaments, the many aisles

of Christmas accents are sure to inspire ideas for personalizing these

party favors.

Personalize ornaments with:

• Adhesive scrapbook letters made out of crystal rhinestones or embossed metal squares.

• 3-D paint that comes in an easy-to-use bottle with a writing tip.

• A string of letter beads that spells your guest's name and can also function as the ornament hanger.

• Light a log in the fireplace or find a video Yule log to play on your TV.

• Whip up a few batches of eggnog. Check out our article with five fab eggnog recipes!

• Keep the food simple with prepared deli items or sandwich meats accompanied by artisan breads and gourmet spreads.

• Start your holiday baking early and make cookies or cupcakes for a sweet ending to the evening.