19 Fast Holiday Ideas

Throwing a holiday get-together is a breeze with these 19 recipes and decorating tip. Just don't forget that holiday cheer!

Author:: Rachael Ray Every Day
Publish date:: Nov 13, 2013

Edible Igloo

Can you guess what's underneath this igloo's Cool Whip coating?

Edible Igloo

Snowball Garland

Create your own snow-like decor! Thread cotton balls on clear plastic twine, spacing them a few inches apart and securing each with a knot on either side as you string.

Designer Dishes

Add festive flare to classic dishes. Cut wrapping paper to fit a serving tray or cake stand and secure to the inside of the dish with double-sided tape.

Monogram Cookies

Hard candies create a stain-glass window effect for these beautifully personalized sugar cookies.

Monogram Cookies

Cookie Packet Gifts

Write "to" and "from" gift tag messages on strips of ribbon and glue to the corner of paper CD sleeves. Decorate ribbons with snowflakes or other holiday-themed paper cutouts. Tuck patterned tissue paper and a cookie inside each sleeve.

Cheese Pinecones

Creamy Boursin cheese mixed with earthy rosemary and studded with sweet candied pecans turns the traditional cheese ball into a crowd-pleasing holiday appetizer.

Cheese Pinecones

Flatware with Flare

Paint handles of disposable cutlery one color. After drying, create a pattern with painter's tape and paint again with a metallic color. Let dry, then remove tape.

Merry Berry Lightbulbs

You may not want to wrap these delicious lights around your tree, but you'll definitely want to admire them.

Merry Berry Lightbulbs

Tannenbaum Toast

Wake your family up with this artistically delicious take on French toast.

Tannenbaum Toast

Stamped Wrapping Paper

Stamp a roll of kraft paper with a holiday pattern using a standard stamp and ink pad. Create fun patterns and layers as you stamp. Allow to dry, reroll and use as holiday gift wrap.

Soap on a Rope

In a small pan over low heat, melt bars of glycerin soap. One melted, pour a thin layer -- about 1/2 inch -- into a parchment-lined baking pan and let cool for 2 hours. Use a metal cookie cutter to cut into holiday shapes. Poke a hole through the top with a needle, and thread soap with string.

Tricolor Trio

Here are three different holiday-colored crostini to try this season.

Tricolor Trio

Feather Wreath

Wrap a feather boa twice around a 12-inch metal wreath frame. Every 3 to 4 inches, secure the boa with floral wire. Accessorize with ornaments or fun faux birds.

Tin Can Votives

Paint the inside of tin cans in holiday colors. Let dry, then stencil a dotted design on the outside in marker. Lay can on its side, placing a stack of heavy books at both ends to keep it steady. Hammer a nail through dots to make holes. Add a lit candle to let light glow through.

Santa Hat Glass

Thread string through a jumbo white pom-pom or cotton ball and tie it around a martini glass stem. Rub a lemon wedge around the rim, then dip rim in sugar.