Joyful Joyful #7: Christmas Simplicitea

I had the privilege of being on the planning committee for my church's annual womens Christmas event. This year's theme was "Sweet Simplicitea": a cozy tea with lots of sweets that focused on how to simplify Christmas time. I was in charge of the decor and the program and was so happy with how it turned out.

This was a larger scale Christmas party that happened at a church, but many of the ideas can be used as decor for a small home party or just even general decor for your house. The design plan was: simple, clean, modern and fun.

For the entry way, I hung lanterns with bows tie on top to resemble ornaments. Using my cricut, I cut out  a "sweet simplicitea" banner using Paper Source's delicious red glitter wrapping paper.

The first hour (what I kept referring to as the "cocktail hour" even though I realized that was not a very appropriate title for a church event!) was held in the lobby. There were different tables set up, each with a different theme: a chocolate table (notice how I listed that one first. Guess where I spent the most time), an all white table (mostly cookies), a christmas themed goody table, and a coffee and tea table. I was not responsible for these tables- we had wonderful women from the church volunteer to take the reigns on each table. They decorated each table in the theme. To tie them together, I made matching banners for each table and pinned them on with pearl pins:

Each of the signs used bakers twine. I am very much in love it this year- you'll see more in upcoming posts. We also hung ornament lanterns all throughout the lobby and those were hung using bakers twine as well.

An action shot:

A few of the ladies' details:

The program was held inside the sanctuary. We transformed the rows of the chairs into cozy U-shaped pods.

My sweet friend Nikki painted the great backdrop on the stage.

Now, on to my favorite detail: the centerpieces!

Do you remember my repurposed formula cans from our fall party ? They made an appearance again, this time covered in the cutest wrapping paper (from Target!). I filled them with monochromatic flowers: some mixed blooms, some all the same.

How fun are these? I don't even know what they are called, but the flower mart had a ton of them, spray painted & glittered in either red, green, silver or gold.

I will let you in on a secret. I do not like carnations- I try to avoid them at all costs. Usually my clients feel the same way, thankfully. However, when they are grouped tightly together, they really look great and are very inexpensive. They almost take on the feel of a hydrangea and even have a little peony texture to them. All together, I think each of these arrangements probably cost me $2: The tins were free (use what you've got: soup cans, water glasses, etc), the wrapping paper was $2.99 for the roll (and I only used about 1/3 total!), a touch of ribbon and then the cheap carnations. The mixed arrangements with roses and berries were more, but still easy to pull off for your home or party on a budget.

Half of the small tables had the flower arrangements and the other half had vases full of ornaments.

This is one of the easiest Christmas centerpiece decorating tricks out there. Again, just using what you have got.

We made fun little luminarias out of white lunch sacks and our wrapping paper and ribbon scraps. I am going to reuse them this week for a Christmas party at our house (as long as it is not still raining!).

As a fun element, we had a couple of demonstration tables for the ladies to get simple, easy holiday ideas. One was on napkin folding and the other on creative gift wrap.

You'll see more of those gift wrap ideas soon!

A few more details:

It was a great evening and a wonderful way to kick off the Christmas season. I had a wonderful team of ladies helping me with the decor and I want to give them a huge thank you. (I know you are reading this Laura and Barbara!).

Also, the wonderful Abbey Party Rentals donated linens for our small round tables- thanks Melissa! Another huge thanks to my sweet friends Jenetta and Cassia for taking pictures for me.

Finally, a shot of me with my lovely girls: