Babes in Toyland

Favorite family toys do double duty on this Christmas table.

1. Cover your table with the tablecloth.

2. Arrange the toys in the center of the table.

3. Write guests’ names on the chalkboard sides of the small wooden boxes. If your boxes do not have chalkboard sides, you can paint one side of each box with chalkboard paint. Let them dry, and then write the names on the boxes. Fill the boxes with gumballs.

4. Set out the place settings with the dinner plates, the napkins, the salad plates, and the flatware. Place the boxes, with names facing the guests’ chairs, on top of the salad plates.

Materials Needed:

• Textured red tablecloth
• Assorted toys and other collectibles, such as a carousel tin, gumball machine, sock monkey, wooden soldier, child’s tea set, small doll, sets of jacks
• Small wooden boxes with chalkboard front (from craft store), or wooden boxes and chalkboard paint (from home goods store or craft store)
• Chalk
• Gumballs
• White dinner plates
• Green and white dotted or checked napkins in assorted patterns
• Red salad plates
• Flatware
• Green stemware