Sweetie Pie's

Here are just a few entertaining tips I picked up along the way.  Your guests may not notice a plain table, but they'll definitely notice if you add some special little touches.

• Table cover - you don't need to buy a new tablecloth - you can use an old favorite and dress it up with either solid or print cloth or decorative paper napkins by placing them over your tablecloth, under your serving pieces.

• Large buffets - don't feel bad about using plastic utensils - just buy a heavier quality, you're sure to find your color scheme, but instead of putting them on the table, separate them and place them in crystal wine goblets.

• Buffet set up -  Instead of laying all your platters flat on the table, give some height to your table.  Create a pedestal by  turning over a flat bottom bowl or box and covering it with a napkin and placing your platter on top of it - taller in the back, shorter in the front.

• Don't have a tiered cake plate - you can turn a crystal or decorative vase upside down and place it on a round platter and place a smaller one on top, creating a two tier cake stand. If you use doilies on your platters, it won't matter if they match or not.

• Flowers for the table - Flowers bring elegance to any table setting.  You can create the perfect little bouquet for your table by bundling the flowers in your hand, just the way you them to look in the vase - maybe creating a round dome, or the taller ones in the back/shorter in the front - secure them tightly and place an elastic around the stems - cut the bottom even and then just place the secure bundle in your vase.

• The hottest phase in desserts for the past couple years has been Cupcakes!  But recently the next newest phase is serving cupcakes in a delicate sleeve of paper lace.  Many cake decorating stores and suppliers are now selling these lacey sleeves, but they don't come cheap!  12.95 for 12!  You can make these little charms yourself.  Buy a package of 8 inch paper doilies with the lace look you like best - cut into the center of the doilie and then cut a circle, leaving a 1/2 inch of paper below the lace.  Adjust it to fit around your paper cupcake holders and mark where to cut it - you want it to be slightly coned around the top of your cupcake - tape it in place.  The finished side should be inside.  Use this one as a template.  It now looks like an elegant adult dessert.