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Show L I X 1 f 7 x J - , I """11113 orget the place settings with three forks, three knives, two spoons and an army of wine glasses. Turn your back on the black tie bash for 30. Gracious entertaining 2I3 has taken on a whole new look for the nineties. U "Today's heart-of-the-home entertaining is less formal and more spontaneous than ever before," says Ann Sulkowski, partyware expert at Hallmark Cards, Inc. That's good news, since Americans are enjoying the pleasure of each other's company more often than ever. Statistics from Hallmark show that more than half of all Americans entertain at least once a month. And 30 percent entertain even more often. These party-givers prefer small, intimate get-togethers over large parties. And they enjoy the party right alongside their guests, thanks to time-saving products and appliances, such as microwave ovens, deli and restaurant carry-outs and elegant paper partyware. I Tips and techniques for the perfect party from I experts at Hallmark Cards. MiX AND MATCH I The days of all-paper or all-china entertaining I are past. Feel free to use one of the colorful new I paper napkin designs with your fine china. Or, I use paper products to extend your good china. I Try paper dessert plates for appetizers or desserts. I No need to stick with the same paper pattern I from salad to dessert. Be adventurous in mixing I several patterns with solids for a fresh new look. I One rule of thumb: make sure the patterns are complementary and share the same color palette. Use a small, repetitive pattern to pull solids and larger patterns together. r ' "1 After a long absence, j doilies are one of the I I hottest new table I . . I decorating items. I V. - I White paper doilies I I accent a feminine I , i 9 ,-' I mood, while gold leaf V 1 doilies proclaim k , j casual elegance. Use L . j them wrapped around I I ' t j napkins, lining j , - J dessert plates or ." I accenting a bread I ' j basket- I KNOCK XM DEAD NAPKINS Roll a paper napkin into a loose cone, top with a medium-stemmed silk flower in a coordinating I color, then slide a paper napkin ring over both. I I For a baby shower, fold napkins into the shape I I of diapers; use a large new diaper pin to hold the I I folds in place. Send the pins home with the I prospective parents as an additional gift. I Keep napkins firmly anchored at an outdoor I buffet by wrapping them around cutlery, securing I -1 them with a colorful ribbon and standing them I upright in a decorative basket. I I a If your menu includes finger foods, your guests I will appreciate an extra paper napkin or two. I Choose contrasting colors and fan them under I the forks. Or create a rainbow effect by wrapping them around the cutlery, slipping on a napkin I ring and folding down the top corners. m Fold an entire "-s napkin using an f accordion pleat f and set in a paper I S napkin holder. I -- You've created a J fan effect which is II a look sure to win KJ you compliments. Make star flower napkin coasters: Unfold a dinner napkin and place on table, pattern side down. Bring corners to center; crease along fold. Bring newly-formed corners to center; crease along fold. Bring corners to center yet again; crease along fold. Turn folded napkin over so that folds are against the table. Bring corners to center; . ( , crease along - folds. i While 1 ' holding the , newly-made center points " t secure with r ' one hand, reach under - the napkin and pull 1 center points from underside out to corners. Continue to hold center secure with one hand, and gently pull remaining center points from underside out and up over the sides of the square. This lifts each of the points and creates a petal effect. LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT Help guests remember the party long after it's over by presenting them with individual favors. Place a tiny vase with one or two fresh-cut flowers at each place setting. Or, if you have snapshots of your friends, mount them in small decorative frames and set one at each place setting. These personal favors will add to the beauty of your table. A miniature willow basket filled with a sealed package of potpourri makes a thoughtful gift for friends attending a tea. Scatter bouquets of silk and dried flowers with long streamers of curling ribbon around the table. Accent with colorful votive candies in clear glass holders. Use silk ivy and tall tapered candles to decorate your table; then place a tiny pot of living ivy at each guest's place. Other possibilities: tiny herb plants or cacti. Write the name of the plant on the guest's place card. : DlNNtR WITH MOTMER...NATURE Outdoor gatherings sometimes include unwanted winged visitors. To keep bugs away, set out lots of citronella-scented candles. Use heavy glass holders that won't tip, or anchor with the spikes available in specialty stores. Remember to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Use insulated containers for hot dishes and set cold foods on a bed of ice. Be prepared to move the party indoors in the event of stormy weather. ' , J Photo courtesy of Hallmark Caida candles in clear glass holders on a mirror to easily make a shimmering centerpiece. Create a party pantry, too. Find one or two no-fail dessert and appetizer recipes which can be made in minutes, and keep their ingredients on hand. Or stock up on your frozen favorites. classic video party Dinner and a movie. It may be the classic date. Give it a nineties twist by inviting friends over for a classic video party with an Oriental flavor. Take-out Chinese food will set the stage for the event which could feature partyware in a blue-and-white Chinese motif. Coordinating chopsticks are available with Hallmark's "Party Expressions" partyware for the adventurous eaters in the crowd. Choose a movie with an Oriental theme such as "The Last Emperor" or "Chinatown." A tea-tasting fits right in with the evening's events. Try a fruit-flavored tea such as tangerine or raspberry and one flavored with liqueur such as amaretto. Include a traditional breakfast tea, for the more conservative palates. When you serve the tea, indicate the variety on matching place cards set beside the teapots so guests will know what to select. 'till we meet again The face of the ol' gang can change as swiftly as a kaleidoscope with today's mobile society. Host a standout going away party for special friends spotlighting what makes your group unique. Try a "favorites" dinner party for this occasion. Assign guests to bring dishes which have been favorites of those who are leaving. Ask each cook to include a copy of the recipe for the dish, so that a little bit of home can follow them to the new location. Have a non-cook in the crowd? Assign that person to provide partyware, beverages or condiments. If backyard barbecues are your group's hallmark, then stoke up the grill for this one last bash. Prefer an evening indoors with cards or board games? Make this ifiesy of Hannah cads a game night extravaganza. More of a i i 11 T t : uni the after-work break Time is usually at a premium when preparing for an after-work gathering. Plan ahead and serve simple food. "Limit yourself to two or three simple deli dishes. Serve a light meal of a make-ahead soup or entree with bread accompaniments and premium ice cream with fruit for dessert," says Sulkowski. "Let others do some of the work for you. Order a beautifully garnished fruit tray from the grocery store. Select ready-in-a-moment vegetables from the salad bar and a variety of bread and rolls from the in-store bakery." Make a to-do list for the weekend before, the night before and the night of the party. If you have a co-host available, divide your night-of-the-party responsibilities in advance. That way, one of you can pick up the fruit tray and rolls while the other puts the finishing touches on the soup or entree. More importantly, you won't forget any jobs like making coffee," Sulkowski added. Set the table the night before. Use a bit of raffia accented with dried flowers to tie paper napkins and repeat both the dried flowers and ribbon in a wicker basket centerpiece. Finish the table with place cards for an extra-special touch. coordinated paper napkin rings. Scour attics or flea markets for lace-edged doilies and napkins, or purchase paper ones. Use them under your centerpiece, as placemats or as runners down the center of the table. Antique serving pieces are a natural here. Mousse can appear in delicate stemmed glasses (they don't have to match). Petit fours will delight the eye as well as the palate when served from a doily-lined doily-lined wicker basket. unexpected pleasures Being prepared for the unexpected might seem like a contradiction in terms, but taking a few steps now will make facing drop-in visitors all the easier. You'll be able to create a festive entertaining atmosphere at a moment's notice if you stock up on the patterns of paper party products that you enjoy, Sulkowski says. Check card shops for pretty paper napkins which complement your favorite china. Then keep a supply of them on hand. Add matching dessert plates to your stash of entertaining products to be used for spur-of-the moment appetizers or desserts. Stock up on coordinating candles to create an instant entertaining atmosphere. Choose tapers or votives in coordinating colors. Place five or six votive Photo cot Photo courtesy of Hallmark Cart; ' r - i celebrate friendship The return to home that has made intimate inti-mate gatherings so popular has signaled a return to honoring special friends, as well. But you don't have to wait for a birthday or retirement to celebrate with someone special. "Try entertaining your best friends with a garden party," suggests Sulkowski. These are special people, so go all-out with your party decor and menu. She suggests a contemporary tablesetting using bright, bold designs accented with fresh-cut flowers and easy-to-make napkin coasters. Mix patterns with solid colors to ' express your own personal flair. Wrap napkins in paper doilies and tie with a narrow satin ribbon for a special effect. Try pleating napkins like an accordion for a fan effect. Or use Hallmark's new sports crowd? Try playing "Bloopers" or "Greatest Moments In..." videotapes. Be sure to allow plenty of time for socializing. Going away gifts should reflect your group's interests without posing a packing problem. Try a subscription to your local newspaper for the current events fans. A framed photograph or poster of a local attraction will serve as a constant reminder of the place they've left behind. Or, give them a supply of a favorite coffee, tea, beer or wine made in the area. A most useful gift might be a meal-in-a-box. Pack canned or shelf-stable foods to create the first meal in their new home. Include the paper partyware and utensils needed for the meal so they don't have to search out can openers or cutlery. Then relax and enjoy.. .the pleasure of their company. |