Creating an at-home "concession stand" is easy and well appreciated by guests when it's stocked with traditional show-time treats.
However, class up the candy by placing it in a display of martini glasses and clear vases. Instead of passing around a bowl of popcorn, give guests an opportunity to create their own customized popcorn blend with premade individual bags of kernels festively dressed in a black tux. Provide melted butter and flavorful toppings: finely crushed dried herbs and spices, salt and pepper, grated Parmesan cheese, garlic salt, even chocolate M&Ms; and Milk Duds.
Click here for the PDF template.
Provide an award-winning napkin fold.
Mimic the look of the winner's envelope with a folded, white cloth napkin, a store-bought cookie and a snippet of ribbon. To ensure crisp folds, press with a hot iron after each step. Place the napkin on a flat surface; fold the sides in to meet in the middle. Bring bottom portion of napkin up to just over middle point of napkin. Fold upper left and right corners down and to center, forming a triangular shape. Fold pointed end over to form envelope shape. Don't forget to make one of your guests a winner by inserting a movie-theater gift certificate into one of the napkins.
And the award for best performance in a game goes to...
Every awards show has its lulls (musical performances, anyone?), so when one hits, pull out the party games. Create a list of movie titles for a few rounds of charades, or use this one. It's the perfect party game, especially during the commercials (built-in timer).
Upon their arrival, have guests vote for their picks using the SFGate Academy Awards ballot. Keep track of winners throughout the evening and award prizes for the most correct selections, as well as the least.
Hollywood 20 Questions lasts all evening. As guests arrive, pin on each one's back a cutout star with the name of a different member of the Hollywood elite. Instruct guests that they are allowed to ask only yes and no questions, and give prizes for correct guesses.
Click here for a list of Charades suggestions.
With everyone focused on the TV, why not give it a fast and fashionable makeover? The following instructions were created for a 21-inch screen television. For help constructing the curtain and exact measurements, print this PDF diagram. To create a curtain facade, you'll need about 2 yards of fabric, several feet of cardboard and about 2 yards of wide, color-coordinated ribbon.
For larger televisions, adjust measurements based on the size of the TV. Cut and construct cardboard frame, which rests on front plane of television. Create two cloth panels that will cover and hang from each side of frame. To ensure an elegant drape, use a generous amount of fabric. Next, create a scallop-edged valance for top portion of frame.
To create finished edges on fabric, use a hot-glue gun to "hem" them, fold and glue edges into place and press fabric until glue sets. Punch two holes, one on each side of cardboard frame, and attach two pieces of ribbon longer than the depth of TV. Tie ends of ribbon behind TV to hold frame in place. If necessary, you can also use double-sided tape. Use leftover ribbon to create sashes for curtains, or embellish with store-bought rope and tassels.
Click here an instructional PDF.
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