Casino Night

You don’t have to vacation in Vegas to love this deal: the chance to come to a party where the whole table goes home a winner. Whether guests play Poker, Bridge, Five Card Draw or Crazy Eights, a casino-themed tablescape will be a hands-on favorite.

The palette is reds, blacks and greens, with card-motif serving bowls moonlighting as table décor. Echo the colors in your munchies to tie food and decor together. A red and blue fruit pizza feeds a full house, while dessert doubles as a centerpiece atop an ornament-filled pedestal bowl. When it comes to place cards, hold ‘em, don’t fold ‘em. Personalized playing cards invite guests to take a seat and grab some chips, while a game wheel invites guests to take a spin. Pour the drinks, pass the dice – and the pizza – and double down on a round of fun.

Join the Clubs
Even if you’re playing for a nickel a hand, a card game is a sure-fire conversation starter. Pairing up people who don’t know each other well is an instant icebreaker, especially when you show ‘em their seats with playing place cards. Just write each guest’s name on a different playing card and tuck it in a silver cardholder perched atop two decks of cards.

How to Created the Decked Out Greenery
Greenery wreathed in poker ornaments, cards and dice pair with playing card party favors to make a good time a good bet.

1. Wrap the light fixture over the table, or a nearby lamp, with faux greenery or a faux green wreath.
2. Buy two standard decks of playing cards and 10-12 pairs of small and large dice. Pick up King, Queen or Jack holiday ornaments from your local craft, party or discount store, if desired.
3. Open a deck of cards and punch the top of each card with a paper punch. Dangle the cards from the greenery with red or gold cord.
4. Cut spades, hearts, clubs and diamonds from red and black construction paper, using the appropriate color for each shape. Dangle the shapes from the greenery with long ornament hooks or red or gold cord.
   
   

Terrific Tip: Let the good times roll with a suite Poker Party Centerpiece. Turn a large card-motif serving bowl upside down, set a smaller bowl on top and balance a black plate on top of it; stack red and black snack bowls, jumbo foam dice and playing cards on the plate to make a fun focal point.