It's the time of the year when family and friends gather round the table to enjoy each other and the holidays. Parties highlight days on the calendar and there are company dinners held to celebrate the year's end.

Although some may view assigned seats as a control issue, some hostesses like to be able to put friends near each other at the table (or keep enemies apart) with placecards.

Placecard holders can double as favors for your guests. Create a fun mirrored box that also serves as an ornament for the tree. Write the guests' names on a Christmas ball with metallic marker and the guests can take them home for their own trees.

For the Thanksgiving table, create a rustic placeholder out of some paint, tree branches and leaves.

Coordinate your holders with your table's decor and color. Think ahead and plan accordingly. Buy in bulk: The star boxes, pictured, came in a set of 9 for $2.50. A little paint and craft wire transforms them into a fun holder. Paint each star differently, and nobody has the same one to take home.

For the mirrored place holder, you will need four 2- by 4-inch mirrors and one 2- by 2-inch mirror, ribbon, a hot glue gun and a paint marker.

Glue the four 2- by 4-inch mirrors together to form a box. Reinforce the inside of the seams with the hot glue. Glue the 2- by 2-inch mirror to the top. Tie a ribbon around the sides of the box and write the name of the guest with the paint marker on one side.

For the star placeholder, you will need a small paper star box, paint, an awl, 22-gauge craft wire and a hot glue gun.

Paint the box the desired colors and design. Poke a hole in the top of the star with the awl and insert a 6-inch length of coordinating craft wire through the hole. Create a loop at the end of the wire inside the box to keep it from sliding through the hole, and place a dab of hot glue on the loop to anchor it to the inside of the box.

Twist the other end of the wire, creating a big loop. Curve it around several times to create a place where you can stick the namecard.

For the twig placeholder, you will need two small tigs, metallic paint, hot glue, two leaves and a paint pen.

Paint the twigs with the metallic paint and allow to dry. Glue the twigs together, close enough so there is a little space between them through which to insert the leaf. Glue one of the leaves to the underside of the twigs. Write the guest's name on the other leaf and insert it in the two twigs.

E-mail: cesbenshade@lnpnews.com