Christmas/Winter Tea

Christmas or Winter Tea
Celebrate the season or chase away the Mid-Winter blues!

Christmas and the winter season in general can be a lonely or difficult time for many, maybe even you. So, start a new tradition. Host a Christmas tea or chase away the winter blues in the company of friends, old and new!

Tablecloth Idea:
Cover table with a solid color tablecloth. Arrange paper doilies or handmade snowflakes on it. Cover the snowflakes with store bought net or tulle. This will keep the snowflakes in place. And it’s inexpensive!

Centerpiece Idea:
Place a flat mirror of any shape on table. Arrange pillar candles, sculpted candles or themed candles (like fruit, trees, etc) of different heights in your chosen color scheme on the mirror. Sprinkle table with some iridescent glitter. Or check out our Quick & Easy centerpiece ideas.

Tip: Look in bargain stores for candles.

Hostess Gift Idea:
A new ornament, a handmade Christmas treat, or a bubble bath gift bag made up of a scented votive candle, a packet of bubble bath, a tea bag and a piece of chocolate placed in a decorated paper sack.

You’re invited to click Teapots ‘n More and browse our newest selection of teapots, tea accessories, teacups, tea miniatures and elegant tea sets.

Good Neighbor Tea

A Good Neighbor Tea
How often do we get to know our neighbors? Here’s a great way to meet!

Invite your neighbors to tea and be sure to include anyone who is new. Ask them to bring something to share. Here are some suggestions: a great recipe, a decorating idea, cleaning or gardening tip, a memory to share, something to show from the last place they lived, seeds from their garden, a recommendation for a good hairstylist, orthodontist, etc, or…? You get the idea!

Be sure to start off with introductions and get to the tea pretty quickly. There’s nothing like sharing food to make you feel more comfortable. Share what you’ve brought while you’re around the table. And enjoy each other!

Tip: Don’t go all out to impress. The idea is to make your guests feel comfortable. And they will, if you’re comfortable with yourself.

Centerpiece Idea:
Something simple…A bouquet of flowers in a pretty pitcher, a basket of fruit, a shallow bowl with a low pillar candle in the middle surrounded by potpourri…or use something from our Quick & Easy centerpiece ideas.

Hostess Gift Idea:
A small package of homemade cookies with the recipe, a small potted plant, a tree seedling or a seed packet of flowers/herbs and a card with emergency phone numbers for your city and your phone number attached.

You’re invited to click Teapots ‘n More and browse our newest selection of teapots, tea accessories, teacups, tea miniatures and elegant tea sets.

Family/Friendship Tea

Family or Friendship Tea
“The Ties that Bind”

Invite family or friends (old and new) to tea. Ask them to bring a snapshot or story about themselves or their family to share at the tea. We grow closer together the more we know each other. “The ties that bind” become stronger with understanding, compassion, tears and laughter shared.

Centerpiece Idea:
Get several inexpensive, small frames of varying sizes. Take out any glass and backing. Glue the frames together in a slightly overlapping pattern to form a triangular or square pillar that is hollow in the center and about 2/3 as tall as the pillar candle you will slip into the center of the frames. Spray paint gold, silver or a beautiful color of your choice. Place your pillar candle in the center of the frame pillar. Place extra pillar candles of various heights on table with “framed candle”. The candles could be arranged on a shallow tray, a flat mirror or directly on the table. For fun, scatter gold painted acorns or fruits and nuts as if to say “the acorn (or apple) doesn’t fall far from the tree” or “every family (or group of friends) has its fruits and nuts…maybe it’s me”!

Hostess Gift Idea:
New Name/Address books with everyone present already entered in by you and an invitation to next year’s tea!

Tip: You could make the “frame” centerpiece by cutting out your own frames from cardboard of various sizes and shapes. Glue together and spray paint as above.

You’re invited to click Teapots ‘n More and browse our newest selection of teapots, tea accessories, teacups, tea miniatures and elegant tea sets.

Pressed Flower Plates

Pressed Flower Plates
Here’s a simple, cheerful decorating idea with endless variations!

Clear glass plates (2 of same size each place setting)
Flat open-faced flowers (try pansies, violas, violets, impatiens or vinca)
Additional decorations, if desired: leaves, rose petals, ribbons, pictures…anything flat

1. Arrange your decorations on a plate. Put flowers close together for a field of color, or
further apart to better appreciate the beauty of each bloom.

2. Place a second plate on top of first plate.

3. Use “sandwiched” plates at each place setting on your table.

You’re invited to click Teapots ‘n More and browse our newest selection of teapots, tea accessories, teacups, tea miniatures and elegant tea sets.

Quick & Easy Centerpieces

Quick & Easy Centerpieces

Roses and Cranberries: Get a clear glass vase with a mouth wider than the base. Fill it halfway with water. Add fresh cranberries. Add a large bouquet of flowers that are all one complimentary color such as white roses.

Amaryllis and Ornaments: Plant a flowering amaryllis in an attractive pot. Place
Spanish moss or small round glass ornaments (silver or gold) around the exposed bulb. Surround the pot with small gift boxes wrapped in color matching paper and ribbon. This is very attractive in a grouping of 2 or 3.

Color on Color: How about a white water pitcher and white roses, or red on red? Try your own combination.

Wreaths and Pillars: Place an attractive wreath on the table and place a large,
wide pillar candle in the middle. (Be sure to place a plate under the candle.)

Tiered gifts: Use a three tiered plate as your decoration. Instead of cookies and sandwiches, place small wrapped gift boxes and/or glass ornaments on it. Consider also a gold or silver fruit shaped candle or two on the top plate.

Potpourri Plate: Get an attractive large shallow plate or bowl. Place a wide pillar candle in the middle and surround with a great smelling potpourri that has large pieces of cinnamon stick, dried fruit, seed pods, berries, etc for visual interest.

Candle Plate: Or how about an attractive shallow plate, bowl or tray. Place in it 3 novelty shaped candles such as ornaments, Christmas trees, fruit, etc. Surround with some small pine cones of various sizes or greenery.

Fill It Up: Take a clear glass footed bowl, hurricane lamp style cander holder or large apothecary jar. Fill it with ornaments (either complementing colors or just one color). Or you could fill it with gold or silver painted nuts, pinecones or fake fruit. Tie a coordinating bow
to the stem of bowl or around bottom of candle holder.

Unmatched Stemware: An unmatched cluster of second hand stemware of
different heights, etc, with votive candles or some with floating candles, some with floating flowers. Add a bit of ribbon tied around the stems or surround with some greenery. Look for stemware in thrift or discount stores or flea markets.

You’re invited to click Teapots ‘n More and browse our newest selection of teapots, tea accessories, teacups, tea miniatures and elegant tea sets.

Glowing Luminaries

Glowing Luminaries

White paper bags (different sizes)
Sand
Votive Candles
Pencil
Small sharp nail
Iridescent glitter

Draw a simple “dotted” design on the folded bags such as a snowflake. Use the nail to poke holes through the folded bag at each of the “dots” so that design is created on both sides. Carefully open and fill with 1-2″ of sand. Fold down the top of bags a few times to help keep it open. Place a votive candle in center of sand in each bag. Arrange large and small bags at different angles in center of table. Sprinkle table with iridescent glitter.

Tip: Use a long fireplace match to light the votives so as not to burn your hand.

Be careful whenever you use lit candles in paper bags.

Don’t leave candles burning unattended.

You’re invited to click Teapots ‘n More and browse our newest selection of teapots, tea accessories, teacups, tea miniatures and elegant tea sets.

Tea Party Ideas from Teapots ‘n More

Welcome!

You’ve found our special corner for TEA PARTY IDEAS from Teapots ‘n More.

We hope these thoughts spark your imagination and inspire your hospitality! Feel free to leave comments and your own great suggestions.

To explore, just select any catagory from our list.

Enjoy,

- Teapots ‘n More

Flowering Pumpkins

Flowering Pumpkins
An impressive make-ahead centerpiece…

A small pumpkin
6″ potted autumn flower
Spanish Moss
A small, shallow basket

Cut hole in top of pumpkin large enough to fit potted flower. Clean out pumpkin and
place potted flower inside. Fill in with Spanish Moss around the flower. Put pumpkin in basket with lid of pumpkin resting against the arrangement if desired. Make this centerpiece the day before your event and keep refrigerated if warm outside. Don’t forget to water the flowers.

Tip: Try adding some miniature pumpkins, squash, gourds or Indian corn plus some greenery or fall leaves arranged around the basket.

You’re invited to click Teapots ‘n More and browse our newest selection of teapots, tea accessories, teacups, tea miniatures and elegant tea sets.

Candles and Autumn Leaves Centerpiece

Candles and Autumn Leaves Centerpiece
Simple and Inexpensive!

Non-matching Candlesticks of varying heights
Candles to fit color scheme
Fall color leaves

Arrange candlesticks in center of table with candles.
Scatter fall leaves at base around and among candlesticks.
Add some nuts, acorns or fall berries if desired.

Other ideas:

Spring/Summer: Scatter rose petals around candlesticks.

Christmas/Winter: Arrange evergreens and gold painted
pinecones or fruit around candlesticks.

Tips: Try Glass or Crystal candelsticks.
Don’t leave candles burning unattended.

You’re invited to click Teapots ‘n More and browse our newest selection of teapots, tea accessories, teacups, tea miniatures and elegant tea sets.

Simple Moss Covered Topiary

Simple Moss Covered Topiary
An easy, make ahead table decoration!

Clay flower pot
Fairly straight stick, 1/2″-1″ thick
Styrofoam ball/cone a little larger than your pot
Spray glue from craft store
Spanish moss
Plaster-a-paris, sand or gravel

Spread out newspaper. Spray glue generously on styrofoam and press moss on glue a section at a time until form is covered. Be sure to leave a small spot uncovered for the stick. Let dry several hours. Determine length of stick needed and cut to desired length. Push stick into covered styrofoam. Prepare pot using plaster-a-paris, sand or gravel. (Be sure to cover hole in bottom of pot with something like cardboard or heavy duty tape first. If using plaster, work quickly.) Push stick into prepared pot. Cover plaster, sand or gravel with more Spanish moss.

Tip: This is an especially attractive centerpiece when grouped with other topiaries of different sizes and heights. You could also change the covering from Spanish moss to over lapping silk leaves or petals.

Bows, birds or small nests can also add interest.

As a bonus, you can send these centerpieces home with guests, use as raffle prizes or use again!

You’re invited to click Teapots ‘n More and browse our newest selection of teapots, tea accessories, teacups, tea miniatures and elegant tea sets.