SWEET SPREAD

Convert an antique baker’s scale into a multilevel server for a hot cocoa bar filled with sugary treats for guests of all ages—including Santa! Think vertically by topping one of the weighing trays with a cake stand that provides extra surface area, as Christmas gatherings often require every inch of counter space. “I was trying to mimic a threetiered tray,” Carolynn explains. “I wanted to give it some lift to make more room.” Petite signs, ceramic figures, and patterned ornaments and textiles emphasize an upbeat color scheme. Plates loaded with decorated sugar cookies tempt visitors and reinforce the “Here Comes Santa Claus” theme.