Entertaining Naturally ~ Autumn’s bounty warms cozy gatherings with family and friends. Put your rooms in the mood for fun with hands-on projects to get your home party-ready.

Small Signs of Fall ~ Dangling from string looped through the grommets of a no-sew tablecloth, these little gourds act as natural weights and add seasonal flair to a casual dinner party. To make the cloth, measure your tabletop and add enough yardage for a 6-inch drop plus a 1-inch hem. Hem with fusible tape and an iron. To make the corner flaps, notch a 5-inch square from each corner and hem using fusible tape. Add grommets with a kit from a crafts or fabrics store.

Whet Appetites ~ Give guests a preview of coming attractions by posting your menu on a handmade wine label, then adhere your artwork using a thin layer of decoupage medium. Use image-editing software to creatively combine words and photos, or visit a free design-your-own greeting card website.

Make It Personal ~ Custom-made place cards add a thoughtful touch to your fall shindig and a style boost to your tabletop. Here, simple imagery and fanciful lettering marry in a yin-yang way on this business-card-size tag. Choose your own fun font, or fill in names by hand using a calligraphy pen.