The Oscars are this weekend so I'd like to share a few quick & easy ideas that you can whip together at home before Sunday evening if you're planning on entertaining friends for the show, which is always a fun excuse to get together! Here goes:

1. Pick an awards-appropriate theme.
For example: Old Hollywood Glam, Modern Hollywood Glam, "Best Picture" (basing your decor off one or more of this category's contenders), a kitschy Tabloid/Paparazzi theme, or a color palette like "Oscars Black & Gold" or "Red Carpet Splash".

2. Decorate vases with images pictures of actors, actresses, and movie scenes.
Find images online to print from your computer, or cut them out of magazines, calendars or inexpensive picture books - the kind that are always on sale in the "special deals" section of Barnes & Noble or Borders. (I found a few books to use for the Hip Hostess Series Old Hollywood Glam event earlier this month that were as little as $7 - $10 each and had TONS of images!)

Use large pictures to completely surround cylinder shaped vases (see image above). You may need to use 2 or more images, depending on the diameter of the vase.  Square or rectangular vases look great adorned with silhouettes of the movie stars that have been cut from their backgrounds.

Embellish the pictures with subtle accents like adhesive rhinestones, craft gems, or beading to bring them to life. For example, place the rhinestones on top of a necklace or ring that an actress is wearing in one of the photos.

3. Use ready-made rhinestone stickers that feature words like "fabulous", "star", and "celebrate" to dress up vases. These look especially great on top of a wide band of satin ribbon. (You can find these stickers at craft supply or scrapbook stores.)

4. Display more photos in picture frames throughout the party. "Borrow" frames that you already own or purchase inexpensive versions from discount stores and decorate the edges with beads, rhinestones, and marabou craft boa.

5. Go Metallic! Use metallic silver or gold spray paint (available at craft supply stores) to dress up manzanita branches, picture frames, & vintage urns and pots to use as vases. For extra shimmer, dust the paint with fine glitter while still wet, or hang crystal beads and ornaments from the branches.

The image of the gold tree above was created by a professional florist, but you can definitely gather inspiration from this to do something similar on a smaller scale at home.  Pick up a few small branches from a craft or floral supply store  (or even your backyard!) - and give them a couple quick coats of metallic paint. Display them in vases that you already own, using floral foam to help secure them in place if necessary. 

To decorate the metallic tree, snip the stems off of red roses and attach them to the branches with floral wire or floral tape, then add some acrylic crystals or beads for sparkle! (Mardi Gras beads also work well and are always an inexpensive option. Just choose a color that matches your theme and cut the necklaces up into a few individual strands.)

4. Use feather boas to decorate table surfaces and smaller marabou craft boas to dress up stemware. Simply tie a small piece around the base of the glass - no glue required!

5. Provide "movie star props" for guests to don in photos.
Items like feather boas, fedoras, long gloves, over-the-top costume jewelry, and movie star sunglasses all make for great photos!

6. Ballots, Please.
Type up the nomination list for the main awards categories {or download it from oscar.com} & send it to your guests before the party. As them to arrive with their completed ballots, and give a fun prize to the guest with the most accurate picks at the end of the night.

7. Serve a signature drink that matches your party theme - like a Red Carpet Splash for a "Red Carpet" theme (recipe below)  - or a Ritz 75 for a black & gold theme.

Red Carpet Splash
1 1/2 oz. Vodka
1/2 oz. Chambord
3 oz. Lemonade

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a tall glass. Garnish with fresh berries or a lemon.

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Are YOU hosting a get together for the Oscars on Sunday? If so, what kind of theme are you going with and what types of things are you planning to do to help play up the theme?

{images Courtesy of Pamela Masters Photography and luxedeluxe}