31 Days of Christmas Parties: Day 2 - Christmas Ornament Making Party

Martha Stewart Gemstone Glitter Set, on Amazon

CHRISTMAS PARTY ACTIVITY:

Martha Stewart Felt Ornament Kit, on Amazon

Gather together a few other craft-obsessed women, settle in at your dining table, and make your own homemade Christmas ornaments!

After you're done making fabulous ornaments with your own personal touch, you can swap the ornaments with other guests, keep your own ornaments to gift to friends, or immediately hang them on your own tree.

Since this is a weeknight/worknight party, keep the guest list kid-free; the party should end before 10pm.

Eat a simple meal (soup and salad, plus a crusty bread perhaps?) and nibble on storebought cookies as you work.

CHRISTMAS PARTY DECORATIONS:

Ornament Tree Platter, from Crate and Barrel

Ornament Coasters, from Crate and Barrel

Jeweled Ornaments Napkins, on Amazon

This is a worknight party, so keep cleanup simple by serving on paper plates. Try ornament-themed napkins and paper plates if you can find them.

No need to put up any special decorations for this party - your regular home Christmas decorations will keep the party festive.

Be sure to have your outdoor Christmas lights turned on when guests arrive!

CHRISTMAS PARTY MUSIC:

Christmas Wrapping, by The Waitresses, on YouTube

A crafty crowd will probably appreciate hip, folksy, or alternative Christmas music, plus some fun pop-styled Christmas songs. Put lots of female vocalists on your playlist. Think Christmas songs covered by famous musicians; Annie Lennox's new Christmas CD; the Christmas album by Cyndi Lauper, Destiny's Child's "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", Mariah Carey singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town, or soft holiday songs by Chris Isaak.

Annie Lennox Christmas Cornucopia, on Amazon

Perhaps your guests would enjoy listening to Harry Connick Junior's "What a Night" Christmas album while they work on their ornaments.

Depending on the demographics of your party guests, they might enjoy the Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album CD.

The "Maybe This Christmas Tree" various artists compilation has fun songs: Lisa Loeb singing "Jingle Bells," the Death Cab for Cutie version of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" and the Raveonettes performing "The Christmas Song."

2000 Miles, by the Pretenders, on YouTube

Buy the Pretenders "2000 Miles" MP3 on Amazon for 99 Cents

2000 Miles Cover, by Coldplay, on YouTube

CHRISTMAS PARTY APPETIZERS:

Cooking Nook's Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Pastry Pockets

Since this is a worknight party, I wouldn't stretch out the appetizer and cocktail hour too long - you need to get busy creating your ornaments! I might stick with just two nice appetizers plus a bowl of olives or cocktail peanuts guests can help themselves to.

Beet Tartare and Goat Cheese Rounds (Food Connect)

Mushroom Onion Tartlets (Simply June)

Parmesan Pita Crisps (Good Housekeeping)

Roasted Red Pepper Mini Pizzas (Busy Cooks)

Stonewall Kitchen "Key Lime Cheese Ball" Mix, on Amazon

CHRISTMAS PARTY BEVERAGES:

Moonstruck Classic Hot Cocoa, on Amazon

This is a party, so serve something fun and bubbly. But not too bubbly - people have to drive home tonight and get up for work in the morning! Instead of champagne, how about a sparkling white zinfandel, a sparkling syrah just for fun, a not-too-dry Riesling, or a deliciously sweet Asti?

For non-drinkers, serve hot tea, decaf coffee, apple cider, or something red and sparkly such as Izze sparkling pomegranate soda or your own homemade cranberry juice punch.

CHRISTMAS PARTY ENTREES:

Martha Stewart's Freeze-Ahead Lasagna Primavera

Since you'll be busy at work all day and crafting an ornament at the party, keep your entree simple. Make a lasagna the night before, for example, and quickly throw together a delicious green salad. Pop a loaf of garlic bread in the oven just before guests arrive, set out a dish of sliced cantaloupe or a bowl of grapes, and you're good to go.

Mixed Green Salad With Citrus Vinaigrette (Food Network)

Rachael Ray's Mile High Lasagna

Giada's Butternut Squash Lasagna Recipe (Food Network)

Barefoot Contessa's Portobello Lasagna Recipe (Food Network)

Freeze Ahead Lasagna Primavera (Martha Stewart)

CHRISTMAS PARTY DESSERTS:

Martha Stewart's Ultimate Chocolate Cake

The month is still young, so your guests will still be eager for rich, chocolatey desserts. (Later in the month they might feel bloated and sugared out!)

I suggest a nice rich chocolatey cake you can slice and quickly serve after your guests have finished with their ornaments. Offering tea and coffee with the cake is a social cue for the ladies to pack up their things and be ready to leave after dessert.

Bake the cake the night before, and leave it carefully covered under a cake dome so it doesn't dry out. You can always pick up a cake at the grocery store on the way home, but I prefer to put a little more handmade effort than that into my parties (even if I cheat and use a box mix).

Stonewall Kitchen Brownie Mix, on Amazon

Or mix up a batch of brownies quickly the night of the party. Your house will smell fabulous, and the brownies will likely disappear so you don't have to be tempted by leftovers the next day like you might with cake!

Chocolate Cake (Recipe Rifle)

Chocolate Cake With Buttercream Cookie Dough Frosting (District Chocoholic)

Guinness Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (La Mia Vita Dolce)

Peanut Swirl Brownies Recipe by Ina Garten (Food Network)