  |
An All–Star Party
You
can always find a reason to throw a party, but come spring and summer,
baseball’s the ticket to a good time. Of course, sports hit close
to home with me. Growing up with brothers and being Aunt Sandy to five
nephews, I learned early on that food and sports are a winning combination.
This colorful tablescape combines America’s favorite pastimes
into a summertime tailgate. Play out a patriotic palette with red and
blue dishes sandwiched between a picnic plaid tablecloth and matching
napkins with wristband napkin rings. “Go” and “Win” pennants
spell fun, when arranged in a football helmet with pompoms to make
an All-Star centerpiece. Athletic accessories become clever décor,
with baseballs pinch hitting as place cards and red and blue candies
scoring points for creativity 
served in a glass bowl or helmet. Toss
in a fresh, fruity beverage and you’ll have a tableful of fans.
Complete the lineup with a down-home cherry cobbler – and maybe
a pickup game out on the sandlot – and your guests will have
a ball.
Show Your Team Spirit
This eye-catching tablescape makes good use of things you already
have or can easily borrow. Autographing baseballs with your guests’ names
turns them into place cards; just nest them in baseball mitts to round
out your place setting. Snapshots make a picture
perfect MVP.
Team them with a bowl of balls, and they become a fun focal point.
How to Make the Sporty Napkin Rings
Bright colors and locker room accents put a game face on a tailgate
tablescape. Jaunty sports patches make the napkins part of the team.
- Buy athletic wristbands in colors that coordinate with your tablecloth and napkins.
- Attach baseball stickers or patches to the front of the wristbands using a hot-glue gun or hobby glue.
- Slide the decorated wristband over a rolled-up napkin.
