Tree Trimming Party

Trimming a tree is always fun and a lot of work, especially if you have a large tree! A great way to get lots of help trimming your tree is to have a tree trimming party. Invite your family and friends (with tree or ornament shaped invitations) to help you decorate your tree this year. Have your tree already set up (or assembled if using an artificial tree) and the lights and garland already strung on the tree (no one wants to spend half the party testing lights!) You might wish to have a smaller tree set up (if you have a large enough area) for the children to have their own tree to decorate.

Activities
A great activity to go along with this kind of party (besides decorating the tree, that is) is to have some "make your own" ornaments available on a large work table (cover with craft or butcher paper to keep paint, glue & glitter off your table). There are a wide variety of kits available, or you can make your own using a salt dough recipe or plaster of Paris and molds (please note, both must be made ahead of time and completely dry to paint). A great online source (they provide catalogs too) is the Oriental Trading Company. You can also have a big bowl of dehydrated cranberries ready for stringing. Dehydrating makes stringing oh so simple lots more fun!

Refreshments
Yummy treats are welcome at any party and for a tree trimming party you want to think finger food. This way you can have a buffet table set up and guests can serve themselves as they wish. Some cute ideas for your buffet table are finger sandwiches cut with cookie cutter in shapes of gingerbread men, ornaments and stockings. Use cookie cutters with a simple shape and no detail for sandwiches for the best effect. You don't have to stop at just ham & cheese with these either! There are a wide variety of breads out there try cinnamon raisin with a cream cheese filling or honey wheat berry with thin slices of roast beef and smokey cheddar cheese. Have your meats cut at the deli on the thinnest setting availabe that is not to the point of shaving the meats. Your cookie cutters will go through easier and the meats will stay in the sandwiches better if they are not shaved. Other good ideas are a meat and cheese platter (make your own or buy one from the deli) and a veggie tray with dip (can be served in a hollowed out onion or bell pepper). For extra pizzazz, try making a vegetable wreath by covering a large foam wreath with aluminum foil. Take parsley springs and attach them (using floral wire or tape) to floral picks. Stick skewer or long tooth picks into your favorite veggies, broccoli, cauliflower, bell pepper strips or chunks, radish roses, baby carrots or carrot curls, green onion blossoms (slice the green part of the onion in long thin strips still attached to the white end-do not cut them off and let set in ice water; the long strips will curl up to make blossoms) mushrooms (fresh are best here) cucumber slices or sticks and small tomatoes are great (grape and pear tomatoes have a wonderful flavor but you can use cherry tomatoes as well).

Guest Goodies
If you have a table of make your own ornaments guests can take these home with them (have plenty so they can make one for you too!). Another good gift is to make a batch of Cinnamon ornaments and string with pretty ribbon. A small gift bag filled with these and some pretty tissue is a perfect "thank you for coming" gift.