Celebrate the new season with place cards that resemble tufts of grass. Cut a 3-by-4-inch rectangle from green card stock. On 1 short side, fold under 1 inch to create a base. Stamp or write a name on the place card. Using scissors, cut a series of grass blades, as shown, stopping about 1 inch from the bottom. To finish, make angled cuts along the top.
From the Sunflower State of Kansas, here's a way to welcome guests to the table with a great big hello. Trim sunflower stems short, so they fit into juice glasses. Cut paper into petal shapes and write guests' names on them. Then add the extra petal to the flowers with dots of tacky white glue.
Marguerite plate, $71, johnderian.com
Direct guests to their seats with name cards topped by leaves that look like they just blew in. To make each card, fold a piece of brown cover-weight card stock in half. Write guest's name with a white gel pen. Cut 1 or 2 notches (about 1 inch wide) in card, at an angle. Slide fallen leaves -- fresh or dried and pressed -- into each notch.
In addition to displaying the main seder plate, incorporate some of the symbolic foods of Passover into individual place settings. (Carafes of wine can double as place-card holders.) With everything in reach, guests will have what they need during the reading of the Haggadah, keeping the passing of the seder plate -- and the risk of spills at the table -- to a minimum.
Welcome guests to a spring meal with little pots of moss. Covered with a glass, each looks like a mini terrarium. Fill a 1 1/2-inch terra-cotta pot with moss, insert twig in center, and glue a name tag to twig. Cover with a glass, which can be used for drinks.
Sources:
Marta cooler, 18 oz., cb2.com. Birch large plate, in Salt n Pepper, dbohome.com.
Giving red envelopes filled with coins is a custom at Chinese New Year (which starts January 26), designed to bring good fortune to the recipients. Here's how to share the luck with dinner guests.
1. Rubber-stamp a red envelope with a New Year's greeting -- in any language -- using a gold-ink pad.
2. Fill it with change, and then lay it on a folded napkin wrapped with a band of patterned paper.
3. Tie in back with gold cord.
