Budget Entertaining: Light the room

So I'm sure we have all had evenings when a friend or guest somehow invites them self for dinner..or out of the kindness of your heart you ask them to stay even though the tablecloth is filthy, the laundry is hanging on the chair and nothing is in its place.

Even 'better', relatives have announced their arrival in town and the house just has nothing going for it. Well, this has all happened to us at least once and money is tight these days, so we don't particularly want to go out and buy pretty things for a dinner- not to mention their is usually no time to run to the stores!

A few months ago, I was designing a layout for a church event and came across this affordable and rather clever idea. I hope you like it just as much as I do, I call it wine glass candle holder because...that's exactly what they are ;)


1# Place a tea light candle in a wine glass. Drop in some pebbles, dried flowers or even rock salt for a cool effect. Mix and match different sized and shaped glasses for a shabby chic feel.

2# Turn your wine glass upside down and place any sized candle on top- make sure it won't be knocked off. Try placing the glass on a coloured dish or place a pretty object underneath. Flowers work really well and so do wishing pebbles or beads.

3# For a slightly different feel (or to add colour) try placing a plastic cup on top of the wine glass. Make sure you only use battery candles underneath the plastic cups or else you could cut your evening rather short ;) Different coloured cups will act as a mood lighting for a room and create a rather special feel.

 4#And for those of you who actually want to use your wine glasses for dinner and not for display, try a large jug or mason jar :)