Re: So I want to be Martha Stewart Again...

I love the tree idea, Jen! Very original. I recall seeing a wire 'tree' in a magazine with place cards hanging off. It was all metal and probably super expensive, but I bet you could come up with a less expensive one. If it is a tree that can be sort of one sided, rather than round, I don't think it will be any more difficult than finding your name on a placecard in a sea of others. I can never find mine anyway!

Re: So I want to be Martha Stewart Again...

I don't know if this is an option for you, but I'm sure it would cost less than buying a tree.

My mom once worked with someone who was very crafty, who had this tree in his yard he loved, but was starting to die, so he had to have it removed. Anyway, he took one of the branches, removed the leaves, varnished it, made a little stand for it out of a piece of scrap wood varnished the same color and used it like a christmas tree, but decorated it for every holiday (valentines day, st. pat's, easter, thanksgiving, etc.)

The stand was just a square of wood that he routed the edges on, added some legs, and then glued the branch into a hole in the middle of the stand.

Oh, and couldn't you use those hangers for christmas tree ornaments to hang it on the tree, whichever kind you get?

Re: So I want to be Martha Stewart Again...

Matt and I were just talking about seeking out a nice branch from the yard. and making a base for it. We are going to investigate it tonight. I will let you all know how it goes tomorrow!