The Laurel YWCO hosted its annual Holiday Spectacular Thursday, Nov. 12 which included three holiday preparation workshops.

More than 80 guests attended the event and learned tips and techniques for creative gift wrapping, homemade gifts, easy holiday recipes and how to make decorating for the holidays more enjoyable.

Guests learned how to create unique,inexpensive gifts from Anna Moss and Donna Smith. Moss and Smith demonstrated how to create cross ornaments from cinnamon sticks, angels from wire and beads and even dried okra pods and ornaments from dried magnolia leaves.

Patsy Scrimpshire with Tiffany’s, presented a program Tablescapes and Gift Wrapping and explained that “you can go as fancy or as simple as you want to” with your decorating. Attaching ribbon, feathers, ball ornaments, and even bells to regular wrapped boxes, baskets and bags adds a fun and creative touch that is sure to create that “wow” factor that is sought in gift wrapping. Scrimpshire said a new decorative element is colorful netting used to wrap gifts and wreaths.

Tying this netting around an old wreath can breathe new life into what once was headed to the trash heap.

“Select colors that make you happy and interchange those colors depending on the holiday season,” said Scrimpshire. Use gold and copper colors for fall and add red or green to carry it into Christmas. Small gifts can be wrapped and hung on the Christmas tree to give variety.

For informal holiday gatherings, Scrimpshire explained how an elegant table setting can be created by using decorative paper plates and colorful chargers.

Patrons also enjoy a presentation by Tana Henderson, a former caterer. Henderson provided a cookbook filled with easy holiday recipes and guests enjoyed a tasting of many delicious treats. She encouraged patrons to strive to create that “enchantment” feeling many of us had as children on Christmas morning.

“During this holiday season reach out to someone in your community. A neighbor or someone who has lost a spouse and take them a baked treat,” said Henderson.