Easy on the Budget Jolly Holiday Brunch

Foiled Place Settings

• Make designer holiday place mats and place cards using heavy foil gift wrap. For place mats, cut gift wrap into 18x12-inch pieces. If desired, use a little glue to attach doilies to the center, or decorate with glitter paint or stickers.
• For place cards, cut gift wrap into 4x2-inch pieces, and fold in half so they stand up. On one side, glue a piece of plain paper and add each guest's name, then attach a sparkling snowflake made from paper or a purchased ornament.
• Roll silverware in napkins, and tie with metallic ribbon or foil-wrapped wire.

• Cut thin slices of butter into pretty holiday shapes using tiny cookie cutters in star, tree and bell shapes. Or place softened butter in holiday ice-cube molds.
• Freeze, then pop out the shapes and refrigerate or freeze in a single layer.
• Look for these holiday cutters and molds at kitchen and home stores.

• A few sprigs of fresh rosemary or frozen cranberries are lovely dusted with powdered sugar to look snowy.
• Or cut shapes from slices of bell pepper with those little holiday cookie cutters to garnish quiche.

• There's no need to buy holiday dishes or glassware to set a festive table. Just decorate what you already own. Tie holiday ribbons with jingle bells or a keepsake ornament around napkins to make napkin rings.
• Decorate the base of stemmed water or wine glasses with ribbons or metallic cord.