10 Fun Projects for New Year's Eve

Just one more day till the end of the decade! New Year's Eve conjures images of sequins and sparkles, champagne and crystal – and beautiful vintage banners like the one above by Bekah Jennings. Whether you're looking forward to a quiet night at home, or heading out to party, there are many ways to make your evening more special. Here are 10 ideas and projects to jazz up your New Year's celebrations.

1. These "Almost Midnight" cookies from The Decorated Cookie are sweet and smart all at the same time. A great host/hostess gift or a fun project with the kids.

2. New Year's Eve is a great occasion to use empty wine or champagne bottles as candleholders. Thanks for the tip-off, A Punch of Color!

3. For a more traditional table setting, check out this gold-themed New Year's setup from Affordable Accoutrements. Although it looks fit for royalty, many of the items used are either secondhand or from thrift stores.

4. If you prefer a retro look for your party, try this chandelier placemats tutorial from The Graphics Fairy. You'll learn how to transfer an elegant, black-and-white image onto plain placemats.

5. This DecorItYourself video offers a few different decorating how-tos, including New Year's Eve streamers and Champagne glass labels.

6. Jentility made this New Year's Eve centerpiece out of discounted Christmas decorations from a local craft store. Who says decorating can't be fun and frugal?

7. If you're stepping out on New Year's Eve, but find that your shoes could use a little pizazz, why not fancy them up with a ruffle? Out of the Notebook and Into the Blog shows us how she did it, using a pair of black flats from Target.

8. Now that you're accessorizing, you'll want to know how Infarrantly Creative made a beautiful $5 version of a $58 flower and pearl necklace that she saw at Anthropologie. New Year's Eve would be a great occasion to make and wear it!

9. The end of the year is typically a time for reminiscing and looking back at family albums (or, more likely, clicking through your camera's memory card). If you never got around to sending out holiday cards (oops! me neither!), you may want to consider using one of your photos as the focus of a New Year's message like this one by Less Ordinary Designs.

10. If there are going to be lots of kids at your party, they'll need lots of party hats, so here's a party hat tutorial from Prudent Baby. Although these were designed for a birthday party, they could easily be tailored to New Year's Eve. Everyday Mama has a great list of New Year's Eve party ideas for kids, including how to make a time capsule and a mini balloon drop.

Happy New Year!