Create a suit of armor to stand sentry over your party.
Bring the romance, adventure, magic and wonder of medieval times to your next party with rich tapestries, bright weapons and a knight in shining armor. Use online genealogy resources to find your family's crest or coat of arms, or design your own specifically for the party. Serve hearty stews, thick-crusted breads and spiced cider or mead and wassail, and look for wooden or pewter dishes to add authenticity. Play classical music from the period or find selections of lute, dulcimer and bagpipe music.
Instructions
1. Protect your workspace with drop cloths, painter's plastic and other coverings to prevent spilled paint and paper-mache. Use a mannequin or dress form to make a base for a knight in shining armor, or create a paper-mache cast from yourself or a friend. Cover the form in tinfoil, silver lame fabric or glossy spray paint and use acrylic paints to add detail.
2. Paint "tapestries" of crests, coats of arms, weaponry and musical instruments on jewel-toned flat sheets to add ambiance. Have guests design crests and vote on the best piece, or make a contest of the most realistic tapestries of weapons or musical instruments.
3. Set tables end to end to create bench or trestle tables. For long tables, add plank benches for seating. For shorter ones, add wooden chairs. Cover with long cloths and linens to match your tapestries and set with candelabra, beeswax candles and pewter or wooden serving trays. Use pewter and wooden dishes and pewter tankards and goblets for authenticity.
4. Build mock-ups of battle axes, swords and other period weaponry with wood, foam and paper-mache. Arrange the weaponry alongside mock shields painted with crests or falcons, lions and crosses.
5. Style one corner of the room like a hearth if you do not have a working fireplace. Use piled cut wood, fake stones or rough planks of wood as the base. Sheets of plywood covered with a rag rug round out the decor.
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