Hot Hosting & Entertaining How-Tos « Hosting & Entertaining

How To: Save money on wedding invitations without skimping

One of the most expensive parts of a wedding is often the invitations. In this tutorial, learn how to order your invites the right way so that you save a ton of cash, but don't lose any of the quality.

How To: Steal a Kiss from Almost Any Girl You Want on New Year's Eve (Without Being Creepy)

The holiday season is almost over, bringing the year to an end, and what better way to end it than with some tonsil hockey from the dime across the room on New Year's Eve?

How To: Make a Coca-Cola Can Rose for Valentine's Day

This video shows a step-by-step guide for making a Valentine's Day rose out of an empty Coke can (or soda of your choice). All you need is an empty Coca-Cola can (or other soda can), a knife, and a pair of scissors.

How To: Make a bow using wired ribbon

Bows are so beautiful. They make a great accessory and an awesome accent to any gift. The bigger the bow, however, the more likely it is to flop and not look as beautiful as it should. This tutorial will show you how to make a beautifully large holiday bow using wired ribbon so that it doesn't wilt. Soon, your gift will be the talk of the party and no one will ever want to open it - it will be too perfect!

How To: Set up a hayride

Take a break from the city and treat your friends and family to some good old-fashioned fun. You Will Need

How To: Gift wrap a t-shirt if you don't have a box

If you find yourself running out of boxes with piles of clothes still left to wrap, have no fear. Just watch this tutorial and follow along as you're shown how to gift wrap t-shirts with pretty wrapping paper and ornaments. You'll amaze with your pretty wrapping paper skills.

How To: Forget Flowers—Give Your Sweetheart a Bouquet of Mini Alcohol Bottles on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is a day full of clichés. Roses, chocolates, and a nice dinner are always at the top of the list, and while there's nothing wrong with any of those things, how...boring. These traditions may be great for florists and the greeting card industry, but for those who want to break the mold, it takes some creative thinking.

How To: Create super hero cape party favors

In this tutorial, we learn how to create super hero cape party favors. First, take a plastic red table cover and remove it from the package. Next, open it up and fold it in half twice, so you end up with a rectangle. Then, take scissors and cut a large triangle shape out of the material. When finished, open up the cover and it will be in the shape of a cape! Then, cut out some "s" for Superman signs and tape it on the back of the cape. Then, tie string around the top so it can be worn and you...

How To: Make a $10 wedding dress from t-shirts w/Threadbanger

Weddings, and wedding dress especially, can be very expensive. This how-to sewing video shows how to customize and personalize an affordable option. This week, Rob and Corinne answer a viewer question and show us how-to make a $10 wedding dress out of tee-shirts.

How To: Make ribbon napkin rings

Here's a quick and easy way to make some napkin rings using ribbon. Follow our favorite gal from Pink of Perfection as she shows us how to create some great last minute napkin rings.

How To: Box a tablecloth for catered events

Boxing a table doesn't mean getting into the ring, but it does require a certain degree of skill to successfully complete. Boxing the tablecloth is a great technique for any occasion or party, and every caterer should know these moves.

How To: Fold a cloth napkin into the shape of a woman's bra

In this clip, the Napkin Lady shows you how to take an ordinary cloth dinner napkin and fold it into the shape of a brassiere. This clip is quick and easy and you will have everyone at the table laughing in just a few simple steps. This bra napkin design is also great for bachelorette parties, showers and anywhere else where you need a little lighthearted napkin folding!

How To: Make a diaper wreath for a baby shower

Notthecoolmom gives a craft lesson on how to make a diaper wreath for a baby shower. To make the wreath you will need the following materials: a package of 56 size 1 diapers (preferably with a design of some kind), a Styrofoam wreath, a spool of ribbon, and rubber bands (optional). Start by laying your diapers around the wreath to get an idea of spacing. Be careful not to make your wreath too full. You don't have to use all of the diapers it depends on the size of your wreath. To put the diap...

How To: Stuff balloons inside of balloons for party decor

An interesting party decor idea is to place balloons inside other balloons. This can be accomplished easily by first inflating a large balloon. Using a small stick, push a second, smaller balloon inside the larger one and then inflate the smaller balloon while it is inside the larger one. You can then tie up the second balloon, leaving the smaller one inside the large balloon. This can be repeated with multiple small balloons, so your balloons will have a unique and interesting look. This tut...

How To: The Veterans Day Guide to Free Food & Discounted Deals for November 11, 2014

Attention all veterans and active-duty military personnel—this coming Tuesday, November 11th, is Veterans Day, that time of year where the whole country thanks us for our service. For the most part, a simple thanks will do, but some folks like to go above and beyond and give us veterans free or discounted meals and discounts on merchandise in stores.

How To: Select a complementary wine for Thanksgiving

For many grown ups, wine is just as important as turkey on Thanksgiving. While turkey is the food centerpiece, wine offers that perfect splash of alcoholic goodness to offset the flavors of your turkey and side dishes.

HowTo: Top 10 Avatar Halloween Costumes

Below, 10 step-by-step instructional videos for transforming yourself into a Na'vi being this Halloween. Step 1: Choose your favorite Avatar look from the list below. Step 2: Apply your chosen look. Step 3: For the dedicated fans with (more than a little) time on their hands, learn the Na'vi language and your transformation is complete!

How To: Throw a Naked Sushi Party

The Japanese know how to party. Browsing the internet for my daily fix of Weird Asian News, I stumbled across this article on Cannibal Banquets.

How To: Fold cloth napkins into silverware holders

In this tutorial, we learn how to fold cloth napkins into silverware holders. First, grab a dinner napkin and take the end to fold it in half. Now, fold it in half again so you have a small square. Now, fold the corner down half way and fold it down again. Then, flip it over and repeat this. Then, fold the top over and flip it over again. After this, place your silverware inside of the napkin and you will be ready to set your table! This takes just a few minutes and makes the look of any dinn...

How To: Customize a pinata buster stick

In this tutorial, we learn how to customize a pi–ata buster stick. First, choose a couple streamer colors that match the theme of your party. Next, roll the streamer around the stick, covering the entire stick. Tape down the end on both sides so the streamers stay on. Next, wrap a different color streamer around the stick and tape that down as well. You can also add on ribbon around the stick to make it more decorative. When finished, make sure everything is taped down at the end and you will...

How To: Fold napkin roll-ups with silverware inside

Folding napkins takes precision, but a simple napkin rollup is the easiest of them all. You don't need to be a professional caterer or waiter to get this method down. Watch and learn how to make a nice, snug, rolled napkin with silverware inside. It's the most common way to present silverware at restaurants.

How To: Make a gorgeous spa pamper gift basket

Debbie Quintata shows us how to make a gourmet spa gift basket. By starting with a planter as a gift basket container you can start filling it with your pamper spa items fit for friends, family, co-workers or anyone who deserves a gift basket. Suggestions to fill your basket include a high quality towel, body spray, relaxing music, linen, a simple white tea cup, box of relaxation tea, candle, body bar of soap, and a engraved rock. Very simple and a great gift for anyone, including yourself. S...

How To: Celebrate your birthday all by yourself

Whether you've planned it that way or not, sometimes you wind up celebrating your birthday alone. This tutorial will help you feel less lonely and have a great birthday, even if you are the only person at the party.

How To: Remember what sides of the plate cutlery goes on

Rebecca Robeson shows you how to remember which side of the plate to put the fork, knife and spoon. To set a table the correct way, follow these steps: The word 'fork' has four letters, as does the word 'left'. So, the fork goes on the left. The word 'knife' has five letters, as does the word 'right'. So, the knife goes on the right. The word 'spoon' also has fiver letters, so it goes alongside the knife. Remember that the safe side of the knife, the dull side, faces out to anyone sitting nex...

How To: Make a towel cake for a bridal shower or event

Learn how to make a towel cake for a bridal shower with this video! To make a towel cake start by folding a towel into a flat square. Then take a second towel and fold it in half. Lay the half folded towel on the table. Lay the towel that is folded into a square on the middle of the towel folded in half. Fold one end of the half folded towel over the folded towel and tuck it under. Then take the other side of the towel and fold it over and tuck it under making a larger folded towel square. Ta...

How To: Crash a wedding

Learn how to crash a wedding. If you have a free Saturday, we have a way for you to score free food, free cocktails, free dancing—and maybe even a hook-up.

How To: Fold napkins into Fleur-de-Lis shapes

Give your dining room table an elegant touch by folding napkins like fleur-de-lis. Learn the art of napkin folding, perfect for entertaining guests!

How To: Fold a rose napkin

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. Fold a rose napkin.

How To: Make a lifesize Halloween zombie corpse prop

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.

How To: Make Decorative Napkin Rings for Any Season

Learn how to make decorative seasonal napkin holders for all four seasons in this free video series on entertaining and dinner crafts.

How To: Fold a napkin into a goblet fan

Learn how to fold napkin into a goblet fan with this tutorial. This is a perfect way to decorate your table when hosting a fancy dinner party. Impress your guests with your napkin folding skills with this easy and beautiful goblet fan.

How To: Arrange a buffet dinner

The American tradition of the buffet supper is shown in its simple preparation. A "must" for the homemaker or hostess. That any intelligent person would care enough about this subject and think it is so important as to make a film about it is astounding. Martha Stewart must have grown up on this.

How To: Address a wedding invitation to two married doctors

How To Address A Wedding Invitation To Two Married Doctors: This guide to traditional wedding address etiquette is extremely precise and delicate, so learn here with this video how to address a wedding invitation to two married doctors. Address a wedding invitation to two married doctors.

How To: Make whiskers for a mask or face painting

This is an amazing how to video on making fake whiskers using fishing wire and latex.

How To: Make a moving jaw for your werewolf mask

This is a visual demonstration of how to make a moving jaw for your werewolf mask. Watch Make a furry werewolf mask for some more ideas!

How To: Make a crystal wedding tree

In this video we will show you where you can find the perfect tree for your wedding centerpiece or table decor. If you choose to use a metal tree for your crystal floral arrangement, our video will show you numerous ways to decorate metal trees with crystals, flowers, orchids, candles and numerous other event styles and decor. The most often asked question is "How many crystals?". In this video of the Crystal Wedding Tree by Cristalier.com we will help you choose the design to fit your budget...