A Grinchmas Christmas Brunch Tablescape
My daughter and her partner hosted a Grinchmas Christmas Brunch and they borrowed several of my tablescaping items for their party. She is my guest editor this week.
Sara’s guest post: This past weekend, I hosted a seated "Grinchmas" themed brunch for 22 people with one of my good friends. I grew up watching the 1966 version of the cartoon version, and I have always wanted to do a Grinch-themed brunch, so when my friend saw my mother's blog, she suggested we host one together so she could bring her Grinch-themed cookies, and I was all in! I made the invitations on Canva, my favorite easy-to-use graphic design program and then I just texted them out, since the idea for the party was fairly last minute.
It was quite the puzzle to see how to fit everyone in, but I knew I really wanted to try so that I could borrow from my mother's fabulous tablescaping collections rather than use paper goods in an informal setting. I tried switching table setting colors and patterns for every other seat, but then I decided just to match all the side settings, and switch out the heads of the table to keep a more coordinated look. In addition to our dining room table, which seats eight, we set up 4x6 collapsible plastic craft tables and borrowed an assortment of folding chairs from friends. In the future, I might consider renting the foldable white event chairs or chair covers to make it look more uniform. The green tablecloth probably came from HomeGoods several years ago. The Surmente red polyester tablecloth on the other table came from Amazon.
Since my mom usually collects most of her flatware, plates, goblets, and napkins in sets of 6 or 12, I knew we would need to mix and match to have enough for 22 people. Mixing and matching place settings creates a more whimsical and "creative" look, perfect for a festive brunch. We selected the key colors of Grinchy green and a true, bright Christmas red. In the dining room, we set the table with a green tablecloth with a peppermint and green theme.
We tied all the elements of the two table areas together by choosing two different sets of 12 striped napkins with just slight color variations. You could do the same with other patterns. For napkin rings, I used this package of 24 bendable plastic grinches that my mom ordered from Oriental Trading online. I just bent their arms back and had them hug the napkins from behind. It wasn't tight, but it worked. Having an affordable option with 24 included, also tied the two rooms and theme together really well. The red and green striped napkins came from HomeGoods several years ago.
My mom can’t remember where she found the peppermint striped napkins, she has had them for several years now.
My mother has had these peppermint quilted placemats for some time, and they are getting worn, but they were a great choice for this tablescape.
On the other table I used foam green placemats. My mom has had these placemats for many years now and she can’t remember where they came from.
For the dinner plates, I used a combination of red and white polka dot plates and red peppermint plates. They are both dishwasher safe, though they were both too tall for my dishwasher, so I ended up washing them by hand. These red with white polka dots dinner plates were made by Maxwell & Williams Designer Homewares and the pattern was called Sprinkle. My mom can’t remember where she bought them.
These peppermint design dinner plates are labeled fashion plates Ultra Durable Fine China and the pattern was called Tuxedo Rouge. My mom can’t remember where she found these plates either.
The three salad plate designs (or many people just used the smaller plate for the meal and the dinner plate as a charger) were a porcelain Grinch salad plate from Williams Sonoma and a Grinch melamine set of Grinch faces and Who Hash that my father found at Hobby Lobby.
This green flatware that I used is called Madeline Green and my mom bought it at World Market several years ago.
This Milano Red flatware is Ginkgo International LePrix. My mom has had this set for years and she is not sure where she bought it.
My mom bought these green acrylic goblets at Pier 1 many years ago.
My mom bought these green acrylic goblets a couple of years ago online at Home Depot. They are made by Certified International and they come in other colors as well.
The centerpieces included a big Grinch cookie jar my mother got at HomeGoods several years ago, some of her Raz Imports Cone Peppermint Trees that she bought on Amazon a few years ago, and a couple of green furry trees that I ordered on Amazon.
In the background, you can see a Grinch cutout head and hands that I purchased from Amazon. We actually stuck much of the decor up with hot glue; I find it sticks well and peels off the paint when done slowly.
This year, my fiance gifted me with another artificial Christmas Tree, and we placed it in the dining room so I could decorate it with a Grinch theme.
I found a perfect felt garland at Hallmark this year, took the Grinch faces off the red cord, and put hooks through them to make ornaments.
My mom found several felt Grinch designs on Amazon that could be used as ornaments or decor.
The Grinch Tree also has Grinch ornaments from Hallmark that I have collected over the years.
The tree topper is a Grinch hat I bought at CVS a few years back, and I stuffed it with paper so that it stands up.
The animatronic Grinch underneath the tree is light and sound activated or just button activated, and he crawls forward with a loud narration about how he's slithering and slinking to steal all the gifts! I found him on sale at Party City for a deep discount. (RIP Party City, no idea what I will do when they go out of business!)
The Grinch on the wall was actually handmade by me with a permanent black marker back in my college days when we had a dorm decorating contest!
The menu included two Christmas Quiches, introduced to us by my Aunt Karen, and they were a big hit, even from at least three people who thought they didn't like quiches. We also had waffles with toppings, donuts, and pastries from our local bakery, and, of course, "Who Hash" (Corned Beef Hash).
We have a local bakery that makes cakes and custom bakery goods and they had special Grinch donuts.
We also made these "Grinch" snacks from an idea online.
And of course, Grinch Cookies, that my friend and co-host brought.
Some additional decor included a Grinch chalkboard sign that I got on sale at a non-chain shop in our local mall, a tall Grinch that lights up that I found at CVS, a squishmallow Grinch that was sold at both Vons Grocery store and Hobby Lobby, and other assorted figurines from CVS and Michaels.
My dad found this tray at HomeGoods.
My mom found the Grinch coasters on Etsy.
After Trivia games, Grinch bingo from Hallmark, and a gift exchange, the party was deemed a success! All in all, a good time was had by all!
To see over 270 different tablescapes that my mom has created please click here. If you are on Facebook, join her Tablescape and Table Settings Ideas Facebook group for lots of tablescaping inspiration! Just click on the Facebook Search box at the top of the page and type in Tablescape and Table Settings Ideas or click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2553689988183392
For lots of other Tablescaping DIY tips and tricks click here: https://www.whispersoftheheart.com/tablescapehowto
If you live in Southern California join our Facebook tablescaping group Southern California Tablescapers BTS Group, click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/440356398581157 We are planning a gathering for tablescapers in January in the Los Angeles area..
My mom puts a new tablescape on her blog every week, please check back!