The Stunning Way You Could Be Using Cinnamon Sticks For Your Next At-Home Gathering

There are loads of unexpected uses for cinnamon around the home, including many innovative ways to incorporate cinnamon sticks into your decor. They're charmingly rustic, are said to bring in abundance and prosperity, and, perhaps best of all, their scent is sure to evoke cozy memories of fall and winter. While you can certainly use them for various DIYs year-round, cinnamon sticks are particularly handy to have on-hand when family and friends gather during the holiday season. Hang them on your Christmas tree, use them to make wreaths or garlands, and even wrap them around candles.

One particularly charming project that is sure to be a guest favorite is to make them the focal point of your dinner table by using cinnamon sticks to create unique place card settings. You'll want to start by making the place cards themselves, either writing them by hand or printing them out. Keep in mind that cinnamon sticks average between 3 and 4 inches in length, so trimming the cards to around 2-by-3 inches should be ideal.

Then, all you need are cinnamon sticks and a hot glue gun. There are several ways to complete this DIY, but the simplest is to use loosely rolled cinnamon sticks with a good-sized split and slide the cards inside with a dollop of glue. You can also get a little more creative and incorporate colorful string or other spices, like rosemary.

When creating place card settings with cinnamon sticks, there isn't only one way to set them up. If you're short on time, try hot gluing two cinnamon sticks together and placing a card in between them. Just make sure that when you align the sticks before gluing, they're positioned in such a way that there's a bit of a gap between them. Otherwise, you won't be able to slip the card inside. Alternatively, use the natural split of one of the cinnamon sticks to hold your place card by making sure that it's facing upward before gluing. 

If you want to get a bit more whimsical, you can also wrap twine or colorful string around the ends of your cinnamon sticks, using a small dollop of hot glue to keep it in place. For a more luxe look, use four or five sticks, adding height and creating a feeling of abundance. And, if you love the smell of cinnamon, make it even more festive by adding another spice to the mix. Rosemary works particularly well, as it gives off a lovely aroma. Simply slip a sprig under the twine and glue it in place, if need be.

Once you're done crafting your lovely scented place card holders, you can use any leftover cinnamon sticks to spice up the rest of your table setting. For example, use them to create napkin holders. Cut a piece of twine and knot it around two or three cinnamon sticks, wrapping the rest around the center of your napkin, and finishing it off with a bow. If you also have rosemary left from your DIY place holder, pop a sprig in there, too. Or, add a pretty dried orange slice for a show-stopping pop of color.

Another fun use is to create a cinnamon-covered vase for your floral centerpieces. Use a glue gun to cover a mason jar with cinnamon sticks, then wrap twine around the middle several times, and finish it off with a bow. Again, try slipping a piece of rosemary behind the twine to stay on-theme with the rest of your table decor. Fill your DIY vase with any flowers you like and enjoy the cinnamon-scented display with family and friends.