Sweet Christmas Treat Tray

I have to admit, I have a sweet tooth and this time of year I might indulge it a bit more than the rest of the year. In the past I have put out a hot cocoa tray for the holidays. But, I now keep a tray out year-round with tea and honey and cocoa. It tucks under my kitchen counter, out of the way and gets used regularly. So, this year I decided to put together a sweet treat tray to set on my kitchen bar counter so I could practice my willpower 😂. 

This tray uses many of the same tips and ideas for creating a cohesive vignette that I shared in yesterday's post. Keep reading to see what I did to make this match my Christmas theme or decor for this year.

I started with a wood tray from the thrift store. This tray was the one that I used for this spring and summer vignette HERE. The blue has been put away for the winter. I am not using all of my white Christmas decorations this year, the snowflakes, etc., and have replaced the white with tan and brown and wood. I am also decorating with greens, bits of red, and antiqued gold--warmer colors that feel organic and natural.

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We use cloth napkins daily. I have a drawer full, most from the thrift store. I took a single tan napkin I had and decided to stencil it using the Retro Star Stencil from Funky Junk's Old Sign Stencils (BUY HERE). 

I decided the retro star was perfect for Christmas and much preferred over stenciling green snowflakes. I used a green craft paint and ironed it with a pressing cloth to set the paint.

I always like to add height to my trays and vignettes so I used a brass candlestick with a large candle holding space to hold four Christmas dessert plates. The plates can be used as saucers for cups of cocoa or for a dessert such as a brownie or cookie that may need a bit of candy with it too. I tied a velvet ribbon to the candlestick.

A brass pitcher (that you might have seen in my fall centerpiece) holds candy canes. I added a boxwood and berry spray tied with velvet ribbon to this corner of the tray.

A snow man jar from the thrift store got dressed up with a green, velvet ribbon. 

I painted canning jar lids the same green I used on the stenciled napkin. I used antique gold Rub-n-Buff on the rims. I tried to use a few different styles and sizes of canning jars.

One jar got a gold leaf treatment on the outside. It holds nuts as does a vintage canning jar.

Other treats include Cinnamon Santas, Reese's Cups, Cadbury mini Christmas balls (a Christmas version of Cadbury mini eggs--my favorite), and white chocolate, peppermint kisses. 

Drop just one of these kisses in your morning coffee or a cup of cocoa--yum! As it gets closer to Christmas the store-bought treats will be replaced with homemade goodies--toffee, peppermint bark, dipped pretzels, caramels. Until then, we are enjoying the treat tray in moderation. What is your favorite Christmas treat?