10 Easy Holiday Party Ideas to Steal This Year

"Set up a cocktail bar and drink menu before guests arrive, and let them play mixologist," suggests Katie of Meyers Styles. "Having guests serve themselves is a conversation starter and it frees you up from refilling glasses all night!"

"I wire my fragile ornaments to the tree using floral wire," says Traci of Traci Zeller Designs. "That way, they are nearly impossible to knock off."

"Fill a glass vase or jar with tiny red hot candies (they're so festive!) and let the kids guess how many are inside," suggests Christina of Celebrations at Home.

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"Celebrate the twelve days of Christmas with this craft that does double duty as a fun holiday decoration and a meaningful activity," says Dawn of Party Blueprints. "Decorate envelopes with pictures or old holiday cards, and place a good deed for your child to do inside each envelope."

"When setting your table, keep it simple and use what you have," says Kristin of My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia. "Make sure to keep décor on the table low and open so guests can chat comfortably. If you have any items above eye level remove them before guests sit down."

"Plop fresh cut evergreens and put them into vases for instant holiday cheer (and that amazing scent)," says Perfectly Imperfect's Shaunna West. "Don't have any evergreens in your yard? Ask a neighbor or head to your local tree farm. Chances are they'll have clippings you can have for free."

"Give the kids something sweet to take home," says Christina of Celebrations at Home. "Fill clear plastic ball ornaments (available at crafts stores) with small candies like M&M's, and tie a ribbon to the top."

"Send your guests home with a fun, family activity by giving them the dry ingredients for your favorite cookie in a mason jar," says Kristin of My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia.

"Give a flocked tree a try," says Shaunna West of Perfectly Imperfect. "It looks more expensive than what you'll actually pay for it and an added bonus—it looks fully decorated with fewer ornaments!"

"Add festive pops of color and some unexpected elements to your table," says Katie of Meyers Styles. "Let the kids get involved and ask them to help tie a cinnamon stick or a fresh sprig of rosemary onto each napkin."