If you have been following along with my crafting journey, you know that I have a very special mission this year: Keeping Christmas Alive. Why wait until December to get into the festive spirit when we can create a stunning, professional-looking holiday table one month at a time?

I am so excited to share my March update with you. It is all about repurposing, being resourceful, and adding those little touches that make a dinner party feel truly magical.

The Story of the Giant Tablecloth

It all started with a beautiful, old fabric tablecloth I have had for years. It was massive—big enough to seat twelve people! Since there are usually only two of us now, that poor tablecloth was just sitting in storage. I decided to give it a new life by breaking it down into smaller, coordinated decor pieces.

In January, I cut into that lovely fabric to create drawstring bags for our napkins. Then, in February, I stayed with my “tree” theme by crafting delicate beaded trees. Spilling beads on the floor is just part of the creative process, right? Now that we are in March, it is time to move on to the next layer of the table: the plate bases!

The March Mission: Sweet Dessert Plate Chargers

I have seen those beautiful flat circle bases on YouTube that you place under your plates to add a pop of color, and I knew I wanted that look for my Christmas table. I headed to the dollar store to find some supplies. While I couldn’t find the exact size for a full dinner plate, I found something even better—small pressboard circles with cute happy face cutouts!

They were the perfect size for a dessert plate, and I knew I could transform them into something sensational.

How to Make Your Own Festive Plate Holders

If you want to follow along and make these yourself, here is how I did it. It is a fantastic way to use up old scraps and protect your table at the same time!

1. Moisture-Proof Your Base

Since these circles are made of pressboard, any moisture would cause them to bubble and ruin. To fix this, I raided my “old stash” of plastic binder dividers. I cut circles out of the plastic and glued them to both sides of the board. Now they are completely protected from spills!

2. Crafting the Fabric Covers

Next, I went back to my trusty old tablecloth and some pillowcase linings. Here is a little tip: measure your circle and then extend the fabric by about an inch and a half. I sewed the covers together, turned them inside out, and added a nice stitching line around the edge.

3. The Secret to Longevity

Instead of using elastic—which tends to disintegrate and lose its snap over time—I used basic string to gather the fabric around the base. If the cover ever gets dirty, I can just cut the string, wash the fabric, and re-insert a new one. It is much more durable!

4. The Professional Finish

To make these look like they came from a high-end boutique, I glued felt circles to the back. This hides the gathered fabric and the string, giving the whole piece a clean, finished look. Now I have four beautiful, decorated dessert plate holders ready for action!

Upcycling at its Best: Scraps and Surprises!

I always say: don’t throw anything away! I still have plenty of tiny bits and pieces left over from the tablecloth. My next project is going to be creating square coasters using little triangle “trees” cut from the scraps. I plan to quilt the edges and create a cozy spot for a glass of iced wine to sit right next to those new dessert plates.

See You in April!

I am having so much fun building this Christmas table piece by piece. Even though Easter is right around the corner and Christmas might take a backseat for a few days while we celebrate, I can’t wait to see how the whole table looks when December finally arrives.

Thanks for joining me on this journey. Remember to enjoy the process and keep that holiday spirit bright!