Tag Archives: Party Planning

Pan Asian Inspired Indigo Shibori & Wooden Themed Tablescape (Perfect for Luncheons & Informal Dinners)

September 6, 2015 Leigh

This Pan Asian tablescape makes the perfect theme for the fall transition when hot outside air temps still feel like summer. It was inspired by thoughts of wooden fishing boats sailing upon cool serene indigo waters. Make my Pan Asian Rice Noodle dish as a centerpiece, or just use a small lamp as ambiance for takeout. With origami waterlilies serving as décor, place-cards, and chopstick rests… it’s easy and inexpensive to put together a last minute luncheon or informal dinner.

The traditional Japanese method of hand-dying cloth with indigo, known as Shibori, has produced a lovely piece to represent serene waters stacked with wooden dishware symbolizing hand hewn boats delivering the sea’s bounty. The vintage carved salad bowl was laden with Pan Asian rice noodles with veggies and creamy coconut milk sauce with cod fish (find my allergy-friendly recipe here). This was set into a blue and white ceramic bowl layered with folded white cloth placed upon an upturned wooden plate as pedestal. A large carved wooden vintage fork stood ready for serving.

White cloth napkins rested out-of-place inside vintage Philippines carved wooden dolphin napkin rings. The pristine cloth squares also functioned as placemats. Square wooden plates from the same region held lotus blossom and fish plates softened with dyed cloth coaster napkins signifying blue waters. Small vintage crystal glasses with sides that undulated like waves crackled with patterns that emulated the splash of tides.

Vintage wooden handled forks were presented as an alternative to the colorfully painted chopsticks that rested upon origami lotus / waterlily blooms (see the craft tutorial here) that were marked to double as place-cards.

Blue patterned and lidded tea cups were transformed into sauce containers when fitted with small wooden spoons and once infusion cups were removed. These were each placed upon small wooden plates as coasters. Oven-baked spring rolls were offered from a ceramic lotus bowl resting upon a batik box fit into a small wooden plate. Blue patterned serving chopsticks were placed horizontally (to avoid the suggestion of funerary incense). Crunchy wasabi peas were cradled by a carved Philippine fish bowl over more cloth coaster napkins layered upon an oblong wooden plate.

An alternative to a family style setting with the main dish at the center is one with a simple matching lamp sitting as centerpiece. The cord lies hidden by a wooden plate beneath a serving bowl, so that it stays hidden even when the bowl is passed around. For elevation, the small lamp is placed onto a cloth coaster over upturned wooden plates as pedestal. (This kind of arrangement is great to have waiting for an after-work gathering fueled by everyone’s favorite takeout.)

ありがとうございます。= “arigatou gozaimasu” (= thank you very much in Japanese)

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

Parties & Tablescapes

Colorful Indoor Picnic Party Tablescape Perfect for Rainy Days or Texas Temps!

August 24, 2015 Leigh

This colorful indoor picnic tablescape makes a party perfect on rainy days or in soaring Texas temps. As a matter of fact, that is exactly what brought this vibrant alfresco celebration inside. No one really wanted to sit on dry itchy grass with hot dusty wind from triple digit heat laminating one’s face with excessive humidity. The risk of West Nile tainted mosquitos, fire ants, pesky flies, even thunderstorms rolling in led to the request of a placid gathering soothed with the luxuries of air conditioning and comfy chairs. Admittedly, the modification made for the loveliest of afternoons in cheerful celebration of summer.

Large prints of watercolor paintings brought the brilliant colors of sprightly blooms inside.

A handcrafted banner (click here for tutorial & template) set a playful mood aloft a side table topped with madras plaid napkins and a fruit crate that secured a vintage woven picnic basket filled with the surprises of sweet treats for dessert.

An indoor ficus tree was delightfully strung with lights of multi-colored string orbs just as one would trim a courtyard. Embroidered patchwork tuxedo cat pillows in Warhol tradition honored a beloved friend who passed on.

A brightly woven picnic blanket was employed as a tablecloth and set with yellow dinner plates that shined like midsummer suns. Appetite stimulating red salad plates and handmade napkin rings (see the tutorial here) filled with more madras plaid napkins were layered atop that. Coordinating crocheted hearts adorned glass drinking jars fitted with purposely mismatched lids and paper straws.

Delightfully oversized clothespins supported banner matching pinwheels (click here for tutorial & template) which contributed to the illusion of a cool circulating wind. A cast iron bluebird of happiness, wearing its heart on its sleeve, sang away the blues amidst glowing red votives filled with LED tea-lights. Completing the centerpiece was a coke bottle carrier repurposed with tiny vases to hold fresh red gerbera daisies.

Remember when foul weather spawns, just to keep calm and picnic on!

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

P.S. For allergy-friendly picnic food try these recipes:

Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Egg-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Nut-Free, Pepper-Free)

Creamy Broccoli Salad Recipe with Vegan & Turkey Bacon Options (Gluten-Free, Egg-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Nut-Free, Pepper-Free)

Creamy Salad Dressing Recipe (For Green Salad, Broccoli Salad, Macaroni Salad) Gluten-Free, Vegan, Egg-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Nut-Free, Pepper-Free

Arts & Crafts

DIY Picnic Heart Napkin Rings & Customizable Banner + Pinwheel Craft Tutorials (+ Free Printable Templates)

August 24, 2015 Leigh

Craft your own colorful indoor picnic party quickly and inexpensively with scrapbooking paper, ribbon, and dimensional stickers! Use them to create your own customizable banner and pinwheels with my free printable templates, and then make DIY heart napkin rings to up the ante…. taking your picnic from average to outstanding!

My heart napkin rings utilize dollar bin dimensional chipboard stickers that were decoratively crocheted (which I actually purchase half-price at Le fidèLe Design’s affiliate Michaels). The scrapbooking section of your local craft store always has items such as these which are made with sturdy materials, whose pretty looks belie their price points.

Find coordinating colors of wire ribbon and bias tape to tie together the set of differing stickers. (It’s like using different photos with matching frames to give a cohesive look to a home gallery.)

Cut 6 inch lengths of both the ribbon and bias tape. (Bias fabric tape is a sewing product, but makes a beautiful trim for this project. You can also use a thin ribbon in its place.) Pull the sticky dots off of the sticker backs. (Place them on plastic packaging to reuse for dimensional card-making later.)

Glue the bias tape across the center of each wired ribbon strip, making sure the tape doesn’t have a flap open… if so, glue it down too. Next, glue one end to the other by laying down a thin line of glue onto one short-side edge, and then press the other end onto it. (Press it down hard… using silicone finger cots if utilizing hot glue. I’ve use hot glue, fabric hot glue, fabric glue, tacky glue, universal glue… and it all worked beautifully.)

Take advantage of the wired ribbon’s staying power to form perfectly round circles for your rolled fabric napkins to slide right into. (Wired ribbon is the perfect base as it has a clean finished edge without needing to fold and glue.)

I made a set of 8 different heart napkin rings to mix and match according to my tablescapes (and it only cost me a few dollars).

Here they are featured in my Colorful Indoor Picnic Party Tablescape Perfect for Rainy Days or Texas Temps, because in my world, a picnic is the perfect excuse for crafting! (Note the heart stickers were also placed on the drinking jars.)

Make your own banners quickly using my free printable template to cut perfectly precise pennants from any scrapbook paper matching your theme décor. Finish them of with chipboard stickers like those I used on my heart napkin rings.

Print the template by first clicking on the picture above. Next right click on the image and select print. Choose a text or black and white setting to conserve ink. Cut out the two triangles.

Trace around the triangles with a pencil onto the back of the scrapbook paper. (Use them to conserve paper by flipping them until you maximize the number of triangles per sheet.) Now cut out these triangles. (Save the leftover bits for card-making later.)

Glue a smaller triangle to the center of a larger one of a contrasting color. (A permanent glue stick works beautifully with less mess.) Punch a hole next to each top point of a glued pennant.

Place a dimensional sticker onto the center of each pennant. (Try to use contrasting colors to make a more visually interesting combination.)

Use any variety of string, twine, yarn, or ribbon to run through the punched holes. Knot each end into a loop to hang them by. (To do this, form a loop then make a simple overhand knot.)

For additional flair, tie small lengths of thin ribbon in between each pennant. Hang it up for an extra dose of cheerful festiveness!

Next, let’s make matching pinwheels for décor or children’s play.

Either fold over an edge of scrapbook paper to form a box that can be cut out, or… print a template to quickly churn out pinwheel bases. (The templates are great to enhance a young kiddo’s tracing skills.) Click on the picture above, then right click on the resulting image and select print. Choose text or black and white settings to conserve ink.

Cut out a single square from double-sided paper, or cut 2 squares of the same size for single-sided paper.

If using single-sided scrapbooking paper, glue them back to back with a permanent glue stick. Or, you can do as I’ve done here by cutting one piece, gluing it to the plain side of another, and then cutting around the box… which I think is easier.

Next use a ruler to draw a line with a pencil, from one corner across to the other. Cut along this line, but leave a half inch or so at the center making 4 flaps.

Take the right corner of each flap and glue it onto the center. Decide if you want them to be functional or just décor. For décor, use cardstock and hot glue the whole thing onto a paper straw then glue a paper flower onto the center… and call it a day. For functional pinwheels, use thinner paper and weaker glue. Push a tack into a thin wooden dowel cut about a foot long… not pushing it in all the way in order to leave some room for the paper wheel to turn on.

‘Cause nothing says happy picnic like a pinwheel!

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

P.S. See all of these projects in action in my Colorful Indoor Picnic Party Tablescape Perfect for Rainy Days or Texas Temps!

Parties & Tablescapes

Star-Spangled Independence Day Patriotic Party Décor Ideas (& All-American Burger Bar)

June 15, 2015 Leigh 5 Comments

Every year on the fourth of July, families across the country gather in jubilant celebration of the birth of our proud democracy. We join together to commemorate our forefathers’ defiant stand to secure those inalienable rights we enjoy today, and to venerate that hard-won freedom. Take part in a tour of my star-spangled Independence Day event for décor ideas to plan your own patriotic party with!

History was heralded with a welcoming wreath spangled with bright steel stars and the broad stripes of old glory… denoting a gallantly streaming flag hailed through the perilous fight.

A table in the aft zone was layered with patriotically printed fabric atop a white tablecloth… symbolizing the purchase of peace. The table’s façade was treated as a frontispiece with a star-spangled banner collage featuring iconic imagery in the appliqués cut from the same patriotic print fabric. (Find my no-sew craft tutorial on it here.)

The theatre’s horizon displayed a dazzling banner of classic Americana exclaiming, “God Bless America”. An explosion of color extended to thematic paper plates, blue cups, and flag printed napkins. A plain white vintage water pitcher was adorned with the sparkle of a steel star and flag ribbon.

Decorating rebellion manifested itself with a centerpiece, placed off-center, of beribboned candles atop vintage ceiling tile candlesticks… all to represent Lady Liberty’s torch. Hanging from them were steel stars and flag painted Christmas ball ornaments… representing bombs bursting in air and the flag that was still there. A galvanized pail held utensils set for dessert.

Revelers were offered the refreshment of blue patriot punch held in sustainable vessels festooned with stars and stripes. Further sustenance was provided with chips in a red painted basket (from the Beanitos brand made in the USA).

The memory of George Washington was honored with “truthful cherry patriotic pie” (of my own upcoming gluten-free vegan recipe) held high in esteem upon a metal pillar spelled with zinc USA letters. Sweet vegan tarts crowned with candy stars (from another American brand Hail Merry) topped a second pillar swathed in more stars.

The fore-field was set as an all American build a burger bar over the classic American staple of blue jean cloth set over a red tablecloth. Blasts of star spray shot out from beneath a centermost tray… connoting embattled fireworks.

Homemade burger buns (of my own upcoming gluten-free vegan recipe) were displayed in a pewter dish. Behind that sat a vintage tray offering hamburger accompaniments… like heirloom tomato slices, organic green onion, artisan leaf lettuce, and locally grown red onion slices.

An additional vintage pewter dish served onion loaded beef patties (another of my upcoming recipes). Slices of soy-free vegan cheese (from USA brand Follow Your Heart) were stamped with an American Flag seal of approval. Deep square vintage steel dishes presented pickled okra, onion, cornichons, gherkins, and sun-dried tomato stuffed green olives.

Galvanized metal buckets lined with flag napkins made admirable single-serving fry baskets bursting with seasoned steak fries (see my upcoming recipe). Old-school salt and pepper shakers got the patriotic washi treatment. More vintage dishes contained soy-free veganaise, paprika-free mustard, and corn-syrup-free ketchup… so that no allergy got served.

As the July 4^th night sky blazes with the flash of celebratory fireworks, may we all seek to reflect upon the valorous sacrifices made for our collective liberty.

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

P.S. Keep checking in on my Recipes Page for the latest postings on Gluten-Free & Egg-Free Pies, Fries, & Hamburger Buns! I’m launching a new on-going series of Burger Creations that is set to grow increasingly creative with time!

Be sure check out my article for a DIY July 4th Denim No-Sew Appliqué Collage Star-Spangled Banner Craft Tutorial for Independence Day here!

And this article for July 4th Altered Art Greeting Card as Mailable Mixed Media Independence Day Décor (DIY Collage Art Tutorial)here!

Parties & Tablescapes

Fresh Herb Garden Luncheon Tablescape Décor Ideas (with Parsley Pesto Pasta Recipe & DIY + Printable Links)

May 12, 2015 Leigh 2 Comments

You’re invited to a luncheon at the secret garden where the aroma of fresh herbs will guide you to feast of parsley pesto pasta featured in a vibrant tablescape.

Find your name scrolled upon a seed card herb marker set into an herbaceous culinary plant. Delight in the knowledge that this gift will season many future meals. Remember the seed card imagery from the invitation you previously received.

Feel the warmth of the sun on your face as you take a seat upon an intricately carved wooden chair. Free a cloth napkin from its handcrafted textile ring to place in your lap.

Sip the cool Sparking Italian Pomegranate Soda held within a washi decorated goblet, and notice that the flatware and salad bowl bear the same detail.

Realize the radishes in the mesclun salad are echoed by the motif in the salt and pepper shakers.

Find more of them shaped into flowers sitting perched atop aromatic parsley pesto pasta garnished with extra pine nuts.

Appreciate that the tempting pasta meal has been raised to centerpiece status with its elevation by another inverted salad bowl. Recognize that the fabric square sandwiched between the two bowls matches the checked table topper of pinks, ivory, and sage greens.

As you harvest mounds of mouthwatering pasta into your hand-painted bowl, recognize the plant spray depicted as that of the very same spicy sprout bearing your name. Dust the zesty pasta with a dose of parmesan scooped by a tiny vintage serving spoon.

Taste the scrumptious pasta and refuse to believe that this is a healthy meal free of gluten and dairy. Take a crunchy breadstick contained in a terracotta pot wrapped with the same fabric as the napkin rings. Observe tinier pots propagated with candles sitting encircled with further washi.

Note that every element was placed with regard to creating a pleasurable gathering for you and your friends… and smile, knowing you are cared for.

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

P.S. Learn how to recreate elements of this secret herb garden tablescape in your own home here:

Healthy Herb Garden Fresh Parsley Pesto Pine Nut Pasta Recipe (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Vegan)

DIY Herb Garden Fabric Napkin Rings, Free Basil Seed Card Printables (Invitations, Place-cards, Food Tents, Menus, Herb Markers) & How to Customize a Table Setting with Washi Tape

Arts & Crafts

DIY Herb Garden Fabric Napkin Rings Craft, Free Basil Seed Card Printables (Invitations, Place-cards, Food Tents, Menus, Herb Markers) & How to Customize a Table Setting with Washi Tape

May 12, 2015 Leigh

Bring the splendor of the herb garden to an indoor tablescape resplendent with free basil seed card printables for invitations, place-cards, food tents, menus, and even herb markers. Craft matching napkin rings with herb printed fabric, and then learn how to effortlessly customize a table setting with washi tape. Practically zero budget is needed to create a splendiferous luncheon with every element detailed… what a splendid way to grow a party!

Let’s begin with crafting the herb garden napkin rings. Find a fabric with a lovely herb motif. Cut it into 6 inch long strips about 1 ⅜ inch wide.

Mark an empty wrapping paper roll (or use a paper tower tube) into 1 inch sections. Cut through these sections to make the ring bases.

Hot glue the fabric strips onto the paper roll sections. (The ends should overlap a little.)

Glue the fabric flaps down to the inside of each roll. (This will make a nice edge that won’t fray in the future.)

Tie on a thin ribbon that coordinates to the darkest color of your fabric, and knot it closed. Trim the loose ends to about an inch long each.

Now your rings are ready to use and are reusable too! Fill them with cloth napkins and place them next to flatware customized with washi tape. It’s a great way to accent your look without having to buy new dishes or utensils, and it’s better for the environment than resorting to the disposable stuff.

Simply cut small inch sections of a coordinating paper tape and wrap onto anything you want to embellish. It won’t leave any residue when you peel it off, so clean-up is a breeze!

Utensils, goblets, and even a salad bowl have been effortlessly washi-ed to wonderful.

I even added washi to tiny terracotta pots filled with candles. The easiest way to make your own is to slip a tea-light candle into one. (We had no burning incident, but if you’re worried about fire… try an flameless LED tea-light instead.)

Now let’s make basil seed card invitations, menus, food tents cards, place-cards, and even herb markers for your tablescape. (Please note that my seed card printables are free for your personal use only.)

Simply right click on a small image below and select print. Choose color and photo settings for the best results. Print them on a thick paper cardstock that won’t curl.

Cut them out by the lines, and fold the pieces that need them into tents.

I taped the flat herb markers to toothpicks and wrote names on them to use as place-cards. The herbs they were stuck into then became lovely take home gifts for the name bearers.

The herb pots were lovely to set around a centerpiece of parsley pesto pine nut pasta elevated by an inverted serving bowl. (A piece of cloth, sandwiched in between, ensured no slippage while serving.)

See the recipe for my Healthy Herb Garden Fresh Parsley Pesto Pine Nut Pasta Recipe (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Vegan) here.

Race you to the craft room!

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

Arts & Crafts

Easy DIY Upcycled Can Tea-light Luminarias (+ Free Printable Template) & Tissue Paper Flowers Crafts (for Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Décor)

April 30, 2015 Leigh 2 Comments

Light the Cinco de Mayo night by upcycling cans into tea-light luminarias (easy with the help of my free printable template), and adorn your tablescape with DIY fiesta tissue paper flowers. These crafts are perfect to bring the whole family in on, with luminarias for the strong folks and flowers for the kiddos. So hang on to your sombreros senoritas… we’re about to craft a fiesta!

As a kid, I was delighted by long rows of luminarias lighting the way to fiestas. I wanted to bring some of that enchantment inside by making miniature versions with tea-lights for the table.

I love upcycling free elements into something useful… and I do mean free because this project cost me nothing as the cans were just a leftover bonus from my dinner menu. The project made perfect use of the small tomato paste cans used in my recipes. (See my Meatloaf Cupcakes here, and my Nacho Average Fiesta Dip Here.) Waste not, want not… right?!

The best way to open the cans is by using an opener that doesn’t create a sharp edge, but rather a smooth top separated from the sides. Several well known brands sell this type of safe can opener. After washing the cans well, fill them with water, and place in the freezer overnight. Yes, you read that correctly. The ice is so much easier to hammer into rather than the traditional wooden branch.

While they’re freezing, print my piercing template (free for personal use). To do this, right click on the small image and select print. (You can also forgo employing the template, and use a permanent marker to freehand draw your own shapes onto cans before the freezing step.)

My mother actually came up a great tip for keeping your paper’s ink from getting soggy… try wrapping the iced can in clear plastic wrap before wrapping with the paper template. ¡Gracias Mamá!

Cut out the 3 identical templates featuring arrow pierced hearts and festive zigzag patterns. Wrap each one around an ice filled can and tape the edge.

Use identically sized nails to hammer into each dot on the template. (This is what makes it a good craft for the hombres in your life!) You only need to hammer the nails in far enough to make a hole, leaving them in or pulling them out as you go. Begin with the top of the pattern, because ice will chip out as you work on it. If too much pops out, simply add water and refreeze.

When the dots are done, so are you! Let the ice melt out into the sink then dry the can well. (Just be careful not to cut yourself on the sharp edges on the inside of the cans.) Now light them up compadre!

The luminarias add ambiance to a lunch of Tex-Mex Nachos made with my Nacho Average Fiesta Dip Recipe.

They also look lovely with another one of my recipes, Gluten & Dairy Free Chicken Spinach Quesadilla.

Here they’re featured in an upcoming San Antonio styled Fiesta tablescape next to some cascarones I’ll demonstrate how to make.

I think they look really lovely next to my fiesta flowers too… let’s make them together now!

Use any new store bought tissue paper, or upcycle some former gift bag tissue into something spectacular.

The size of the sheet you use will equate to the size of the flower you end up with.

Here I’m beginning with one sheet cut into two halves, one placed over the other.

You can actually stack as many layers of tissue as you like to add fullness. Here is a fuller flower next to one made with less layers.

Accordion fold these into a fan, short side to short side. (This part is a great hand-eye craft for the kiddos!)

Next, fold the bar over in half.

Cut an upside down V into the ends… this will make a prettier flower.

Take those trimmings and cut them into tiny pieces, then separate the layers. You just made matching confetti for the table… for free. You can also use this confetti for cascarones crafting in the future!

Green fuzzy pipe cleaner sticks make the perfect stems.

Wrap one around the folded portion and twist. You will be able to use the stem to hang the flowers with later.

Next pull apart all the layers.

Pull these slightly taut, in an arrangement that appears pleasing to the eye.

Wrap one end of the fuzzy stick around the base to secure your arrangement of the petals.

I tied some of them between panels of traditional papel picado in a fiesta banner for the window. The light streaming through them was much prettier in person.

I also used them to further adorn a burro piñata decorating a side table.

The larger flowers were easily strung onto a chandelier as an overhead centerpiece, leaving room for tortilla, chip, and buñuelo baskets on the table.

Now complete your tablescape with my Easy DIY Sombrero Napkin Rings & Serape Invitations + Loteria Sangria / Wine Glass Charms & Place Cards Crafts (for Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Tablescape).

Time to go ¡Fiesta! forever…

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

Arts & Crafts

Easy DIY Sombrero Napkin Rings & Serape Invitations + Loteria Sangria / Wine Glass Charms & Place Cards Crafts (for Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Tablescape)

April 30, 2015 Leigh 4 Comments

¡Fiesta! Forever… or for at least one fantastic evening with easy décor crafts for your Cinco de Mayo tablescape. Toast the party with sangria filled glasses fitted with DIY wine glass charms featuring traditional Mexican Loteria images. Then, use those same images to make place-cards for the table. Dress colorful cloth napkins with handmade sombrero napkin rings, and craft matching serape invitations that shout, “Grab your sombreros for a Cinco de Mayo that’s nacho average fiesta!”

One inexpensive Mexican Loteria game will provide you with loads of craft material for the future. I’ve previously made beads with them (see how to do this here in my Halloween Necklace Craft)… glued them into collages and assemblages (see how to do this here in my Valentine Gift Assemblage Art Tutorial)… and I have some easy crafts up my sleeve to demonstrate in the future.

All you need to begin is a single game card sheet, scissors, a hole-punch, and Plaid Mod Podge Dimensional Magic. Cut the game card into single images as pictured.

Punch holes into a top corner of each piece.

Drizzle the Magic stuff over one side of all the pieces, then let it dry overnight. (Set it on some form of plastic to keep it from adhering to your surface.)

Flip them over and drizzle the other side, then dry overnight.

If needed, trim off any dripped over edges, and attach small metal rings to the holes.

Instead of using a jumbo jump ring to attach the charms to the glasses, I simply tied them on with jute bows. You can also skip the first metal ring, and just tie these if you’d like less dangling.

Here they are featured on a clear glass vessel topped with a paper umbrella.

The same charm and umbrella look different when placed on a purple goblet (from my upcoming San Antonio styled Fiesta tablescape).

The charm is an easy addition for a charming lunch of my Gluten & Dairy Free Chicken Spinach Quesadilla Recipe.

Matching Loteria place-cards for the table are really quick and easy to make.

Use the actual game cards or make a color copy of a set of them to cut out. I chose the latter so that I can remake them whenever I like… without buying a new game.

Cut paper cardstock strips to use as easel supports, and fold in half to make a V.

Then cut two slits to either side of the Spanish words. Slip a V strip into the slots you cut.

Then simply write your guests names on them with a marker. These would also make great food labeling cards for a buffet.

The Loteria cards add extra pops of color to the tablescape… and you can never have too much color at a fiesta!

The sombrero napkin rings are some of the cutest in my collection, yet were some of the quickest to make. Craft them yourself with braided raffia ribbon and tiny doll straw hats.

Transform the hats into sombreros with strips of fabric and dollhouse chili peppers. (I never use chilis in my recipes, but they do make delightful décor.) Use hot glue to attach a few peppers, and then wrap a fabric strip as a band.

Cut a six inch length of raffia ribbon for each ring. Slightly overlap the edges then hot glue them.

Glue the sombrero over the seam covering it completely.

Fill the rings with colorful fabric napkins.

I think they look really adorable on the tablescape… if I do say so myself!

Here the card and napkin ring add color to a lunch of Tex-Mex Nachos made with my Nacho Average Fiesta Dip Recipe .

They bring additional ambiance to another meal with my Gluten & Dairy Free Chicken Spinach Quesadilla Recipe.

Make fiesta invitations to match your napkin rings easily by following the earlier steps to turn a straw doll hat into a sombrero. Cut a 5.5 x 8.5 inch piece of textured cardstock and a 4.5 x 7.5 size of serape scrapbook paper. Print or write invitation instructions on vellum, then cut it to a size smaller than the scrapbook paper (like 4 x 7).

Hot glue the layers at the center of the top, and then glue the sombrero over it. I made some of these for a bridal shower years ago, and they mailed just fine. I got such a glowing response from the project that I decided to show you how to craft them yourself.

Next, bring more light and color to the celebración with my Easy DIY Upcycled Can Tea-light Luminarias (+ Free Printable Template) & Tissue Paper Flowers Crafts (for Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Décor).

¡Viva la fiesta!

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

Parties & Tablescapes

Leaping Bunny Topiary Spring Indoor Garden Party Décor Ideas for Easter or even Showers, Luncheons, & Brunches

March 26, 2015 Leigh

Say goodbye to winter storms and hello to spring splendor with a vivacious indoor garden party resplendent with leaping bunny topiaries! Put away the pastels and embrace vibrant carrot oranges and greens echoing this time of growth. Add apropos messages spelled out in hedgerow letters declaring the true reason for the Easter season. Give lettuce-edged napkins the bunny ear treatment as a tongue-in-cheek homage to all those cherished family photos. Layer chevron patterning with textural fibers to modernize the fête’s décor, forming an ensemble proclaiming, “Hello Spring!”

Crisp orange and white chevron fabric awakens the senses, making it the perfect underpinning for this little soiree. (My mother actually made this tablecloth, which is amazing for someone who has repeatedly stated, “I don’t sew.”)

Layered on that are round raffia mats placed as chargers. Rustic sage green plates are topped with orange salad bowls filled with fresh garden salads of baby greens like kale, spinach, and chard, with orange heirloom cherry tomatoes, English cucumbers, fresh parsley, sprouted pumpkin seeds, and crunchy carrot croutons. (Find the easy recipe for it here.)

Daily flatware is used, with the exception of the knives which have been exchanged with lovely patterned versions. (Mixing patterns is not only okay, but fantastic!)

Orange burlap bunny ears napkin rings hold lettuce-edge napkins matching the sage plates. (Learn how to easily make your own rings here.)

Understated water glasses were chosen as the only simple elements on the tablescape. Carrot lollipops with jute bows sit in place of dessert spoons. (Find them on sale at affiliate Oriental Trading Company. The link in the side bar adds a coupon with free shipping to your cart automatically.)

Baby leaping bunny topiaries sprout from burlap covered carrot pots above each place setting. (Learn how to craft them easily here.) Tiny printable carrots act as place-cards for each invitee. (Snag my free printables here.)

Big bunny mama springs from the center of the table in declaration of a beautiful life.

Orange twine wrapped Easter eggs sit on the grass beneath her. Twine and crepe carrots suggest growth of one’s soul.

Faith stands as the center of the celebration both literally and figuratively. (The hedgerow letters are bandaged with burlap and jute symbolizing that one may be battered, but not broken when one has such faith.)

The side table holds another hedgerow spelling Believe. It sits with an additional egg enmeshed in a swirl of vibrant chevrons and burlap lilies.

A green trunk elevates another bunny constructed of grapevines holding both faux farm eggs and green bird eggs.

Above that a carrot wreath with my topiary printable hangs next to my banner. (Find the carrot wreath at affiliate Cost Plus World Market whose sale link is in the sidebar.)

The end of my printable bunny and carrot banner sits close to a burlap carrot sign extending an honest welcome to all enter. (Get my free printables here.)

Take an idea or two, or use all of my craft tutorials and free printables for your own indoor garden party that declares, “Hello Spring!”

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

P.S. The Easter Bunny approves this message.

(This is one of the wild backyard bunnies visiting my porch!)

Arts & Crafts

Easy DIY Leaping Bunny Topiary Craft Tutorials with Free Banner, Wreath, Place-card, Invitation, & Thank You Note Printables (for Easter, Showers, Luncheons, & Brunches)

March 26, 2015 Leigh 1 Comment

Make your own tabletop garden full of leaping bunnies for your next indoor garden party. DIY these easy projects 3-dimensionally or with my free printables… or mix and match the crafts as I’ve done here. Choose your own color and theme to embellish the bunnies with, or follow my lead and make burlap carrot pots to sprout your menagerie from. Better yet, keep the wraps, rosettes, and ribbons nonpermanent so the bunnies may be used again for another theme. Let these rascally rabbits transform your spring fling into a colossal cute –fest today!

I’ve seen faux foliage covered bunny and bird ornaments as well as topiary picks at several stores locally, and online the choices are endless. Using one of these ready-mades is the quickest way to craft a 3-dimensional creature topiary. (I’ll tell you how to make 2 other types later.)

Wrap small terra cotta pots with burlap fabric or ribbon, and cut after the overlap. Use dots of hot glue to adhere one side to the other. Avoid gluing the burlap to the pot if you’d like to reuse these with another theme, as I’ll be sure to do in the future. Trim the excess length off with scissors so that the pots sit flat on the table.

Add a length of ribbon around the top and tie it in a taut bow. This is not only decorative, but is a trick to keep the burlap securely in place without having to glue it permanently.

Fill each pot with a chunk cut to fit, from a large block of stryofoam. Wedge little chunks of stryofoam in between the large block and the wall of the pot until the large block has no wiggle room. This keeps your creation from drooping later.

Glue ground cover to the top of your moss. Do this by cutting the green edges to fit the pot, and gluing those edges to the rim. I used faux earth meant for a table runner, but I’ve seen similar stuff in the form of placemats as well. Other options are faux Easter grass, moss ribbon, Astroturf, green burlap, or grass printed scrapbook paper (for the printable topiary).

Cut stems, sticks, or dowels to jab into your ornaments, and wrap them with brown floral tape. If your animals are already on sticks, simply cut them to size with good sheers.

It’s easier to embellish your bunnies before potting them. Double-wrapped a length of jute (or yarn, ribbon, twine) around each bunny neck and knot it loosely. Slip a burlap rosette under the jute so that it sits securely without glue.

Make a pilot hole into the center of the green stuff. Do this carefully with any sharp point from an awl to a screwdriver. (I used a scissor side… but I have a tendency toward crafting dangerously.) Lastly, jab the bunny stick into the pilot hole.

Continue crafting the rest of your rascally rabbits.

Another option is cover a carved styrofoam shape with moss, as I have done with the larger bunny centerpiece. I’m not going to cover that in detail here because it took a lot more time, energy, and patience. If you choose to go that route, you can either purchase a ready-made animal shape, or carve one from a block of stryofoam yourself. Foam cutting knives are available that will make the job slightly easier.

One way to add foliage is to cover your creation with moss ribbon as I have done. This is a kind of moss covered carpet tape. Cut it into pieces and round the edges, so that the animal shape may be completed in an unseen patchwork. Adhere the patches with hot glue, pressing firmly.

Embellish it with a burlap ribbon collar and flower, and pot it in the same way as I showed you earlier. I wanted to reuse the bunny topiary again for future themes, so I did not glue the collar to the bunny. I simply glued the flower to one end of a length of ribbon, and then wrapped the ribbon around the neck. I began with the blank end and looped it underneath. The weight of the flower resting on top of the opposite ribbon end kept it firmly in place. It will look completely different with a another color of base wrap and type of collar embellishment.

The following are my leaping bunny printables (free for noncommercial use). Right click on the image you want to use, and select print. Choose color and photo settings for your printer, and print them on sturdy white cardstock.

To make a paper topiary from my printables, begin by printing and cutting out the two opposite facing bunnies.

Glue them together, back to back with a stick or popsicle stick in between. Pot the stick, as shown previously, and embellish it further with paper rosettes and ribbons.

Cut out the carrots to use as place-cards that rest on your newly crafted topiaries. I printed mine, 2 sheets to a piece of cardstock, so that they would be smaller than the banner carrots.

Another option for folded place-cards, is to print out the 5×7 invitations / thank you cards and fold them in half. Embellish them with tiny bows or paper flowers, and write guests’ names on them.

Adding my leaping bunny topiary printable to the center of an existing wreath is an easy way to update a piece you already own and make it fit perfectly to your theme. (This carrot wreath came from Le fidèLe Design’s affiliate Cost Plus World Market. Find a link to them with up to date coupons in the side bar.)

Make a banner with the bunnies and carrots by simply arranging them in a pleasing manner and taping the backs to jute, ribbon, twine, or yarn. I chose to criss-cross the carrots between the bunnies.

A loop at each end makes it easy to hang with clear thumbtacks.

You can also attach the carrots to readymade treat bags like the orange chevron one here. It’s filled with sprouted pumpkin seeds as a part of a healthy and tasty lunch. (See more of this along with the recipe here.)

(Find the bunny ears napkin ring tutorial here.)

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

P.S. The Easter Bunny approves this message.

(This is one of the wild backyard bunnies visiting my porch!)

Living Faithfully ~ Embracing Creativity