Hosting & Entertaining: Page 7

Are you the one scraping sticky marshmallowed yams and congealed gravy off the dishes every Thanksgiving? Shame someone else into doing it this year. Avoid doing the Thanksgiving dishes.

Fashioning a napkin into a tidy envelope shape is one of the easiest ways to make each table setting look first class. Learn the art of napkin folding, perfect for entertaining guests!

Embrace your inner Martha Stewart - and impress friends with your stylish panache at your next dinner party - by folding your napkins into a silverware pouch. Not only is it an easy and beautiful way to present your silverware, but it is also a nice way to avoid having to place silverware all perfectly on the table.

Set a table that's tres chic by folding your napkins French style. Learn the art of napkin folding, perfect for entertaining guests!

No time? No problem! Setting an impressive dinner table for guests can be faster and easier than you think! Entertaining expert Sebastien Centner shows you how. This is critical for hosting dinner parties in style.

Buffet's are the easiest way to feed a crowd or host an informal party. Make it divine. Setting the buffet takes special skill and attention.

This tutorial video shows you the process of lighting and launching sky lanterns. These are common in Asia during holiday celebrations. Lighting them is a simple but delicate process.

Tired of hearing, "Is that my glass?" at gatherings? End the confusion by creating simple charms that will help everyone hang on to their own drink. Check out this Howcast video tutorial on how to make wine glass charms.

March Madness—the period when college basketball teams compete for the championship—is a perfect time to throw a party. Learn how to throw the best March Madness party around with tips from Howcast.

To start the year off right, Meg shows us how to keep all of our friend's and family's birthdays in one neat place. Plus, the crucial elements needed to throw a killer DIY b-day bash!

This video tutorial shows you step by step how to fold a cloth napkin into a chicken. No, it's not a live chicken, it looks like one you would buy at the grocery store. Just grab your napkin and follow along to impress your friends at the dinner table.

This week, Etsy How-Tuesday presents Virginia Griswold. Today we're going to learn how to make ornaments out of teacups, or any kind of small porcelain object you can find. Use recycled porcelain to create holiday decorations. You'll be drilling through the cup with a dremel.

Ok, it's not the biggest problem in the world, but an ice bucket full of water is a not-so-subtle hint that the party's over. Make your cubes last until the final guest has had their fill. Watch this Howcast video to learn how to keep ice cubes frozen longer. You will need boiled water, large ice trays, insulation, like bubble wrap or cloth, and muffin tins.

Watch this video tutorial to see how to make a wedding centerpiece with pink silk flowers and candles. This DIY (do-it-yourself) silk flower wedding centerpiece is lovely and includes three tea lights that add that special romantic mood. Every bride should look into centerpieces like this, since they're cheap and efficient, not to mention suitable for engagement parties, rehearsal dinners and anniversaries as well.

Originating in Harlem in the 1920s, a rent party is a fun way to stave off eviction. You will need a place to party, food and drink, musical entertainment, paying guests, party flyers, a hat to collect donations, and lots of beer. Fact: The going rate for a Harlem rent party admission was usually 25 cents, plus extra for the homemade concessions sold in the kitchen or hallway.

Buying a diamond ring is one of the biggest investments you'll ever make, so get the most bling for your buck. Watch this video to learn how to buy an engagement ring. You will need input from the bride and loved ones, knowledge of the 4 C's (Carat, Cut, Color, Clarity), a grading report and negotiating skills. Optional: membership to a warehouse store like Sam's Club or CostCo.

How to create the puppy dog pumpkin, Good Boy. It's not very difficult, just saw off the top gourd stem and turn the bottom pumpkin upside down. I used some toothpicks to help level the bottom pumpkin. Carve out the eyes, mouth and legs. Gouge the rind off but leave the rest of the flesh on the dog's chest, eyes and tongue. Paint areas if desired. I used a button nose held by straight pins and funny eyes glued on. The ears are attached by toothpicks into the head pumpkin. Just look for...

A very quick and easy project to dress up some yummy candy canes. A great Christmas craft to do with kids. I 'cased' this idea from Marelle Taylor http://www.marelletaylor.com/ and thought they were cute and just had to give them a go! Watch the process and follow along with the text guidelines. These cute candy cane covers make a great party favor!

"Twas the week before Christmas and all around the house, no decorations were outside, my wife called me a louse. The columns though pretty, were tall, white and bare, it soon became clear that candy canes should be there."

Need to spruce up (or wreath up) your trailer for the holidays? For this Christmas in your trailer park, let Jolene Sugarbaker show you how to make a classic trailer park Christmas craft... the wreath. This video will show you how to turn ordinary dryer sheets into a festive holiday wreath.

Happy New Years! Learn how to make this New Year's Eve countdown kit. New Year's goody bags filled with fun party favors are a great way for kids to count down to the new year.You will need:a large boxcolorful papersmall bagsscissorstapea markerparty favors

Learn this fun holiday craft that's great for kids! This pinecone placards make a great Thanksgiving decoration for the table. Follow along to learn how to make Martha Stewart's cute Thanksgiving turkey pine cone placards. All you need are pinecones, corn husks, and stems of gourds.

Learn how to make a fairy Christmas ornament to place on the top of the tree.

Homemade cookies are a terrific gift. With a simple bakery box and some ribbon, the package will be as pretty as the contents.

This how-to video shows a way to create a pretty fairy look to use as part of a Halloween costume. The demonstrator used these cosmetics: Mac Studio Fix Fluid Foundation, Makeup Forever HD Powder, Mac Emote Blush, Airbrush Stencils, 88 Shimmer Palette, Flat Head Stippling Brush, Ben Nye Final Seal, Benefit Lemon-aid, 88 Shimmer Palette, Mac Uppity Fluidline, Mac Blacktrack Fluidline, Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in "Zero," Ardell Enchanting Lashes, Duo Lash Adhesive, NYX Lipliner in "Rose," and...

It's true, Halloween is basically the time for girls to dress slutty. Check out this how-to video for a sexy pirate look. The demonstrator used these cosmetics: Mac Studio Fix Fluid Foundation, Mineral Veil, Nars Laguna Bronzer, True Gold e/s, Mac Blackground Paintpot, Black Ruby e/s, Rapture e/s, True Gold e/s, Retro e/s, Mac Gesso e/s, Mac Blacktrack Fluidline, Diorshow Mascara, Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in "Zero," Mac Quartz Lipliner, Mac Viva Glam I Lipstick, and Mac Cult of Cherry...

Recreate the Tinker Bell friendly look in this how-to video and win "prettiest costume" this year. Makeup artist Gregory Arlt demonstrates the shimmery, glittery, makeup used to put this fairy princess look together. Watch this video makeup lesson and learn how to apply a twinkling fairy look for a Halloween costume.

Whether you're dressing up as a snow queen, maybe from Narnia, or just going for some sort of wintery look, this how-to video shows a way to make some stunning costume makeup. The cosmetics used to create this look are Coty Translucent Setting Powder, Matte Texture Cream, Sugar, Brows: Platinum Plus Pro Lash Mascara, MAC Pixel Paint, MAC Silver Fog Pigment, MAC, Dovefeather Eye Shadow liner, MAC Facsinating Eye Kohl, Dovefeather Eye Shadow, Platinum Plus Pro Lash Mascara, Makeup Forever White...

This how-to video series shows how to make a Scary Skull, just in time for Halloween. Starting with a Linberg skull kit, these steps will help you transform the new-looking model skull into a creepy rotting pirate skull. Check out these video holiday decorating tutorials and learn how to make a scary skull for Halloween. It's a great addition to a Halloween lawn display or haunted house.

David Neilson of Monteiths Bar shows a simple way to fold a rose napkin in this how-to video. Follow along with the step-by-step instructions given out in a delightful Scottish accent to replicate this fancy napkin fold. Add a little bit of class or ornamentation to a table setting. Watch this video table preparation tutorial and learn how to fold a napkin into a rose shape.

This "how to" video segment from the style channel shows how to throw the perfect Halloween party and how to make a special holiday cocktail. Halloween is fun for kids, but can be a great party time for grown ups too. It's a great time to serve some fancy drinks, like the black widow (mixed with black vodka, pomegranate liquor, and cranberry juice). Watch this video hosting tutorial and learn how to throw a great Halloween party and make a black widow cocktail.

This how-to video shows a quick and easy makeup application to transform you into a corpse for Halloween. The right tips will help you create a creepy undead look. Watch this video costume-making tutorial and learn how to create a zombie corpse makeup effect for Halloween.

Setting up a haunted house for Halloween doesn't have to be expensive. This how-to video offers some tips for adding spooky touches to your haunted house. Instead of buying everything from a Halloween store, thrift stores and tag sales are a great place to pick up decorations to modify yourself. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to get props ready for a Halloween haunted house.

The spooky Halloween prop in this how-to video is a great addition to a haunted house or a front lawn display. Scare kids and trick-or-treaters with this surprisingly life-like for the undead looking zombie corpse. This prop may be a little time intensive, but the finished product is worth the effort. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to make a zombie corpse for Halloween.

Want a easy way to create some scary ambience for your Halloween party? This tutorial teaches you how to decorate a china ball paper lamp with creepy bugs and spiders. You will need double sided tape, and black foam. Watch this how to video and you will be able to create a scary Halloween lamp.

You don't have to spend a lot of money to get a cool and scary costume for Halloween. This tutorial teaches you how to create a mummy and witch costume with old clothes and just a little bit of fabric. For the mummy costume you will need long johns, muslin, black, gloves, black craft paint in a spray bottle. For the witch you will need a women's blouse, a black broom skirt or any black layered skirt, black paint, gray dye, and a cheap black witch hat. You can decorate the witch hat with trim...

Start this Chanukah off with a spin and learn how to make an awesome Milk Carton Dreidel, like the one in this how-to video. You will need a small milk carton, blue paint, a paintbrush, glue, a pencil, scissors, gold glitter, a styrofoam ball, a table covering, amd a plastic plate. Follow along with this video holiday activity tutorial and learn how to make a dreidel for Hanukkah out of a milk carton.

Get ready to brighten up your Chanukah celebration with some homemade Menorah candles, like in this how-to video. You will need paraffin wax, a double boiler (metal coffee can set on top of a wire screen in a large pot of boiling water), a wooden spoon, a bowl filled with cold water, a wick, a utility knife, a candy thermometer, and blue crayons. Follow along with this video activity tutorial and learn how to make candles for a Hanukkah menorah.

Get ready to gore it up this Halloween with some gruesome make-up, shown in this how-to video! In no time you'll have some bloody scars that are sure to give everyone a fright! You will need tissue paper, corn syrup, spirit gum, a rubber scar, some make up (to match skin tone), make up sponges, fake blood, a cotton swab, and the step-by-step instructions in this video Halloween prep tutorial.

There's no bones about it, the Halloween party decoration in this how-to video is a real scream! You will need black construction paper, six white packing peanuts, white crayonglue, and googly eyes. Follow along with this video Halloween decorating tutorial and learn how to make a skeleton picture.