Decorating a Candy Party Table

When the theme of your party is candy, there is no limit to the colors, shapes and activities that can be included. The table itself, always a focal point, holds the cake, the favors and a place setting for each guest. The first thing that you have to decide is the color scheme. Either choose the favorite colors of the honored guest or pick a kind of candy and decorate the party using that candy's colors.

Cover the table with a solid-colored paper or plastic tablecloth that you buy from a party supply store. Weave a topping of crepe paper streamers on top of the tablecloth. Use two colors that coordinate with the tablecloth. Use double-sided cellophane tape to secure the streamers to the center of the table. Sprinkle small pieces of colorful hard candy, which won't melt like confetti over the top of the table.

Create a candy bouquet instead of flowers for the candy party centerpiece. Use bamboo skewers for the stems and colorful pieces of soft candies like marshmallows, gum drops and chocolate-covered cherries for the flowers. Put a piece of floral foam into a large, solid-colored vase. Then arrange the skewered candy so that the vase is filled. Vary the heights of the candy flowers using the same care as when arranging flowers.

Personalize a place card for each guest using large, round lollipops with flat candy surfaces. Get tubes of icing from the cake-decorating section of the grocery store. Print the name of each guest in the center of each lollipop. Tie a bright ribbon into a bow around each lollipop stick and place the lollipop, name up, in the center of the plate at the place where that person will be seated.

Buy solid-colored paper plates, plastic utensils, napkins and cups. Decorate the outside of the cups with stickers. These can even be the colored dots you buy at an office store. You can also find stickers in the shapes of popular pieces of candy at most teacher-supply stores. Fold the napkin around the plastic utensils and secure the package with a candy bracelet.

Place large crystal bowls of assorted pieces of candy on top of the table. Put a scoop in each bowl. You can even make the scoop look festive by tying a ribbon around the handle. Give each guest a plastic bag that he can fill with some of the candy. Provide wire bread ties and ribbons to close the bags so that the guests can easily take the candy home for later.