‘Tis the season to be fashionably frugal and Carley Roney, Editor of The Nest, delivers chic ideas for cheap holiday parties. The holiday issue of The Nest magazine is out November 17th.





Party Tips to Start With:

1. Pick a theme
2. Assess what you already have
3. Buy in bulk
4. Keep it simple!

Party Theme: Winter Candyland

INVITES: Buy bulk and embellish

• Pick up some heavier bulk paper and envelopes on the cheap. Fold each 8 1/2- by 11-inch sheet in half. On the outside half, use thick markers to write in caps..."A PARTY..." on the inside use the marker to again write..."SWEET!" Use glue or frosting (you can use the frosting for other desserts) to attach one wrapped red and white mint candy or a licorice roll next to the word "sweet." Handwrite the details.
• Save a tree. Sites like Evite.com and Smilebox.com let you create invites that you can send from your PC without paying for postage.

DECOR

• Fill glass containers from around the house with candy in your color scheme. Gathered together at the center of the table, the grouping makes a beautiful centerpiece that becomes the favor. Stamp bags and have scoops nearby for guest to fill their goody bag.
• Peppermint stick frames. Glue together four peppermint sticks, overlapping ends to create a frame. Set a simple place card in each rectangle.

DRINKS

• $10 B.Y.O.B.
• Assign guests a region or challenge your guests to find the best bottle for under $10 from a class, like Merlot, Cabernet, Shiraz, Pinot Grigio, etc.
• Prosecco (which costs less than $10 a bottle but tastes like champagne), colored with a splash of cranberry juice and sugared rim

MENU: Keep it small & simple

• All the ingredients are inexpensive and will go a long way. Try to overlap ingredients to make them even more economical.
• Make little finger sandwiches from cucumbers and feta, tuna and olives, roasted potato slices with sour cream and herbs and egg salad.
• Go the comfort food route with toasted minis like grilled cheese, mushroom and bacon, spinach and onion.

DESSERT: Go Retro

• Make some favorites from days of yore made from inexpensive ingredients OR just showcase store bought in a cute way! Rice krispy treats, shoe fly pies (marshmallow fluff sandwiched between to chocolate cookies), Twinkies (lady finger cakes with cream filling), and cupcakes made to look like hostess cupcakes with chocolate frosting and the white squiggly line.

MUSIC

• Check out CDs for free at the local library.
• Invite all your friends to bring a CD.
• Play free from Internet Radio.

FAVORS

• Think of it as double duty. Candy Centerpiece as favor
• Recycle paper towel and gift wrap tubes by cutting to size (about 12 inches), painting or wrapping in paper, then filling with cheap candy treats. Wrap ends with cellophane and tie with ribbon.

Party Theme: Winter Wonderland

A SINGLE STAMP GOES A LONG WAY: Invite, Napkins, Place cards and napkin rings:

• Stamp a star in silver or gold ink in the center front of white heavy paper stock (you can buy in bulk at a craft store like Michael’s), fold it, write your details inside.
• Stamp stars onto beverage napkins and leave by the bar.
• Use the ornament as a favor for your guests, as well as a napkin ring.
• Add the guests name for a place card.

FREE DÉCOR IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD

• Gather branches & pine cones, paint or spray them with canned snow (kids can help). Set them in pretty vessels and hang glass crystals, sequins, handmade ornaments. Set candles for a reflective sparkle.
• Set pinecones in bowls as an alternative to expensive flowers.

Raid Your Closet

• Forgo the flowers & go with candlelight: find every crystal candlestick you have OR buy in bulk at the Dollar Store to make an aisle of light on your table
• Fill glass jars, vases or pitchers with water and add a few drops of food coloring. Float candles or sprigs of greenery, or single
• Have leftover fabric batting or white felt? Create a runner for your table so it looks like snow.

Create a Seasonal Mantel

• Use cotton fabric batting from the craft store (it looks like snow)--$1.69 a yard--and take all of your silver frames with pictures of you and your guests from the years. You can also frame words like peace, joy, love etc. in fancy fonts that you print out from your computer. Finish off with pinecones, poinsettias, and candlesticks from your closet.

DRINKS: Simple & Elegant

• Keep ice water in pitchers flavored with lemon, mint, or cucumber.
• White sangria: Use inexpensive white wine, a sweetener like sugar or honey, some brandy, triple sec or other spirit and then use a small star shaped cookie cutter to add shaped fruit slices like apples, pears, peaches, oranges.

DINNER: A Cheap Theme Buffet…. One ingredient, three ways

• One big bag of beans= three types of chili: turkey, veggie & meat.
• Pasta Bar can feature different sauces
• Veggies three ways: grilled with balsamic, lasagna & roasted

DESSERT: One cake will suffice

• Cheap pound cake becomes a spectacle with easy-to-make icing flavored with maple syrup.
• Whip up a fruit sauce from frozen mixed berries & a little sugar. A dollop of whip cream.

FAVOR: Popcorn Bar

• Everyone’s used to stringing popcorn on the tree—but serve this delicious CHEAP delight as an impressive parting gift! Put out varieties—even from a microwave box—from kettle corn to extra butter and toppings -- Try a Cajun spice mix. A cinnamon sugar mix, three cheese mix. Then let guests scoop into bags & shake up to flavor them.

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