This is the last of 3 posts from the recent “Garlands & Gatherings” event to raise funds in support of Hope Haven of Cass County.
This final tablescape for the Christmas-themed fundraiser was casual with a lot of natural elements to celebrate the season. This table for 6* would work well for any holiday event from Christmas dinner and other seasonal parties to rehearsal dinners and December adult birthdays.
(Click on any photo, then click again to enhance/enlarge it.)
Classic tartan is back this year in a big, big way (thank you, Ralph Lauren, King of Classic!), and it plays a big part in making this table stand out. I started with a hunter green full-length tablecloth from LinenTablecloth.com. Dark green, like black and some purples, has a nasty little habit of absorbing everything on it, so I used a pair of tartan flannel ribbons as a dual runner to add color, texture and pattern to awaken the eye. (TIP: Layering fabrics in winter adds to the look of “warmth” for your tablescape.) Wood slice chargers (craft wood from Michael’s and Hobby Lobby that, with a coupon, cost about $9 each compared to $25 at places like Z Gallerie) anchor the place settings, topped with a bright holly red dinner plate. Hunter green napkins are embellished with a length of tartan ribbon and tucked beneath the plate.
Menus were created on my home computer using hunter green, red and cream cardstock. To carry on the natural theme (and hide the staple used to keep the layers together! 😉 ), I hot glued a cinnamon stick to the top.
The centerpiece started with a sad little beat up candleholder I found on clearance at Pier 1 after Christmas last year. It had greenery, some bay leaf and pine cones with a few woodland animals wired in. In the center I placed a bark-covered vase filled with fresh, fragrant greenery. I jazzed up the base with clusters of brightly-colored berries and a bit more of the fresh greenery, then added antlers for more dimension and light.
The centerpiece is extended down the length of the table with bark-covered vases filled with natural elements like star anise, acorns, cinnamon sticks and buckeyes.
(Other elements you might use: chestnuts, rose hips, coffee beans, sweetgum balls, hypericum berries, cotton boles, bay leaves, pine cones, whole cloves, nuts in the shell, feathers, fake snow, unpopped popcorn, grain. To see a more complete list of accessories for detailing your winter tablescapes, click HERE or on the “Winter” tab above and scroll to the very end of the posts.)
I bought these burlap-wrapped votive holders last year. They’re OK, but they needed a little extra pizzazz. I bundled cinnamon sticks – that kind of look like logs AND repeat the element from the menus – with a length of green raffia and tied them onto the votives. As the heat from a candle burns, the fragrance of cinnamon fills the air!
The final touch was to add wine bottles to the table dressed in fun Christmas sweaters and Santa hats from Tuesday Morning. This bit of whimsy furthers the theme of being out in the cold on a wintry day. (Every time I look at these sweaters, I think of the Johnny Mathis and Andy Williams Christmas specials!)
*The table used for this demonstration is only 30″ wide and therefore tends to crowd the tabletop elements. Your table at home is likely 42+” wide which would provide at least 12 additional inches of space.)
More Christmas tablescapes on this site:
Tartan on the Tee
Confectionery Christmas
Christmas Progressive Dinner
Black, White & Red All Over
Frosty the Snowman
Checkered Christmas
March of the Penguins
Woodland Men’s Tablescape
Contemporary Christmas – Fire & Ice
Pink & Purple Chocolate Christmas
Black Friday Luncheon Tablescape
Winter Dinner
Christmas Through the Red Door
Sugar High
Celebrating the Season
Roman Holiday
Winter Cardinal
Merry & Bright
Kaleidoscope Christmas
Cranberry Christmas
Cranberry Christmas – Squared
Get Me to The Church On Time
Noel Progressive Dinner
Christmas Fiesta
Warm Metal Christmas
Christmas Coffee
Winter Brunch
White Hot
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Progressive Dinner
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!
Tuscan Holiday
I’ll be back next week with another traditional Christmas tablescape!
I’m linking up this week with:
Christine at Rustic & Refined for Table It!
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday
Tablescapes at Table /Twenty-One 
Pier One should hire you as their centerpiece doctor…great renovation! I love the plaid. I definitely plan to pull mine out at some point this holiday. Always love the shreds on a table…can’t say why…just do. Thanks for inviting us for a peek. Cherry Kay
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Oh…and my walker and I will be trolling the Hob Lob for those tree slice chargers. Never thought of them as a resource. Duh! Cherry Kay
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About 30 minutes ago, I just placed a wood charger on my cocktail table and wouldn’t you know I come here and you stole my idea! LOL Michael’s prices are reasonable, but mine was free! We used some logs that were left over when we cut down some small trees a couple weeks ago.
You know me of all people appreciate this tablescape. The natural elements and how you put them together is so creative. The cinnamon is a brilliant touch Alycia, both on the votives and menus! (I think linentablecloth.com should be giving you a kick back, not to mention Pier One!)
xxx
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Hey Alycia,
This table is beautiful..I love the combination of things you have used..I hope you are doing well. I don’t have much time to visit in blogland anymore but I miss visiting with you…
Happy Thanksgiving..
Love,
Mona
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What really struck my fancy on this table are the wood chargers, the centerpiece with the squirrel and I loved the menu. It is just so inviting and homey and yet, it is a setting outside in the woods. Perhaps I like this so much because I lived in the northwoods of Wisconsin for 20 years, and spent my childhood summer days there, also. I actually got the scent of balsam pine while I was studying it. You paint one lovely picture, my friend.
Ginene
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Love love love! So glad you gave your secret for those chargers. Love that look but not at $25 per! The mounded spices in the birch bark vessels are such a nice touch Alycia. You have been busy!!!! 3 outstanding tablescapes, all so different, in such a short period of time. I have one of those bottle cozies. So adorable! Hipe you can put up your feet and relax for Thanksgiving!!! Happy Thanksgiving. I am grateful for your support and blog world friendship. 🙂
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Ohhhh…my friend Ar is gonna love this one! I’m still diggin’ the RL inspired tartan. Cinnamon sticks the perfect touch. Adds a little additional fragrance to the greens (if one were to use fresh of course). LoL to the bottle sweaters and the vintage TV Christmas specials. 😀 Those little woodland creatures made me think of the squirrel flying out of the tree on Christmas Vacation! 😀 Once again a beautiful table. Well done Alycia! Happy Thanksgiving!
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Loving the Christmas in the woods…so cozy and comforting. The tartan adds the color to this unique table. What cute little bottle sweaters. The natural elements and the wood slices are wonderful additions. Happy Thanksgiving Alycia.
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The aroma must smell divine! Love the wine bottle covers. I have always liked the look of the wood slice chargers. I can see this setting in a mountain lodge retreat, ceiling to floor windows overlooking snowcapped mountains, a oversized fire place with a crackling log fire. (I’ll stop, I’m a dreamer…what can I say). Another beautiful setting Alycia. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Now there ya go, dressing your wine bottles in little sweaters and hats! You’ve found a new place to showcase knitting! Lol! Love the Christmas in the Woods theme. Have a happy Thanksgiving! xo
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Ooh Alycia, another winner with pretty tartan and rustic elements. I love the touch of cinnamon sticks and antlers, with all the nuts, too. Those little wine bottles, named Johnny and Andy, look so festive in their Christmas sweaters.
Thanks for another inspirational table.
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How wonderful this table is, Alycia! All the woodsy decor looks fabulous with the tartan plaids. The colors are very rich and masculine. I love how you filled with bark-covered vases with natural elements. Those chipmunks are so cute, and the antlers are a great addition to make the entire table more “in”, even with the “in” tartan. The cinnamon sticks added here and there probably add the perfect scent to the table, too. Your table is filled with woodsy winter wonder!
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Love your use of natural elements. Such a beautiful way to incorporate items that can be found right outside our door.
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I have a dream to own a log cabin style home and this speaks to me as the kind of decorating I’d want to see in it! I love tartan plaid and how well it works with either a more glamorous look or this kind of woodland look. Funny I was thinking of how a squirrel would be in his glory feasting at the bowls filled with their kind of food! The center arrangement looks fabulous. Love the antlers- they really add a great touch! All your tables were fabulous- I’m sure the donators were highly impressed!
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A beautiful table that also smells good! Thank you so much for the layering tip and how it adds warmth. I never thought of it that way. Using the ribbon was a wonderful idea. Very economical, and I love the way you carried it through to the napkins. Sometimes patterned tablecloths can cost an arm and a leg. The squirrels look like happy little campers and who wouldn’t be at this table! Hope your Thanksgiving is happy and peaceful.
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Love your theme Aylcia, the plaid brings your woodland warmth, and all the natural elements you’ve combined are just wonderful. I especially like the acorns, spices etc in the bark bowls and the antlers and greens in your centerpiece~ You have created 3 very beautiful and different tables, I know it must have been so much fun!
Jenna
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Amazing! You always know how to put things in the right place. Everything looks to good to touch.
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Another fantastic table! What an event this must have been. Wished I’d been able to attend, and what a great charity it supported!
This table is great for adults or those more masculine diners. Great idea using the wood chargers from Michaels and HL. WOW! And you’re right, that tartan plaid is everywhere. You’ve done a beautiful job starting with the hunter green, then spicing it up with the tartan ribbon.
Thanks for sharing these three tables. You’ve given us lots of great ideas for the upcoming holiday seasons. Have a very blessed Thanksgiving!!
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Beautiful table. Love all of the plaid and the chargers!
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Dear Alycia….Beautiful tables with all the green and red touches. I really love the bottles with the pull overs on them. So cute. Love all the tables and the spice table is something different . Happy Thanks giving day to you and your family. Special wishes to your darling mom. Love sujatha:)
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Very pretty, Alycia! I love all the natural elements. Happy Thanksgiving to you and the whole family!
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Hi Alycia – I love the tartan plaid and the rustic vibe of this table. And especially for a good cause! You are the best! Hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Hugs, Holly
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This post’s adorable Alycia! Wooden things are a must in Christmas, they give that warm and rustic air, what a nice idea!
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Oh my goodness, Alycia, do you know just how fabulous you are!!? I’m certain you do. Every element of this table is just sublime. Love, love, love!!! The tartan of course caught my eye; the cinnamon sticks, the rustic logs, sweaters……perfection! You are an inspiration! When are you writing a book? 🙂
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Hello, Alycia! Another great table, and I chuckled when I read about the cinnamon stick on the menu–perfect solution! We can’t have a staple showing!! 🙂 All the natural touches, along with the plaid,really give this table the nice, cozy feel you were going after. I’d say you could post this again in late January when us northerners will appreciate it all over again! Thanks for the inspiration, Alycia. ~Zuni
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You knocked it out of the park, Alycia!! Very classy. I love the cute idea of glueing cinnamon sticks on the menu.
Loving the tartan plaid and natural elements.
Sounds like a great fundraiser.
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Oh gosh, I just love the plaids! I’m also really loving the nature bits – the acorns, the bark, those fabulous chargers and best of all – the little squirrel peeking out! I’m also enjoying the cinnamon sticks and the burlap votives. I feel like I can smell the wonder winter aromas coming from this table. Wel done!!
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Oh I am delighted to see this post, I love this natural look and all things tartan. I plan to do my Christmas Day dinner in tartan and a natural woodsy theme. You are such an inspiration in all you do Alycia. I am taking notes!
Happy week dear girl………….
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