Setting a Natural Spring Table

A few weeks ago we hosted a small dinner party in our backyard. I didn't have a lot of time or money to spend, but sometimes that turns out for the best doesn't it? I wound up clipping a few branches from each of the different trees in our yard and laid them out as a table runner on top of some plain butcher paper. The blue patterned napkins.... yeah, those are actually dish towels from Ikea. Pretty right? And that was basically all it took. We had a grand old time and ate ourselves silly on southern bbq, red beans + rice, cole slaw and king cake.

Of course, I haven't mentioned the cornbread. It's not a party if I don't go a little overboard on something... but more on that tomorrow.

 

photos + styling © cake. 2013

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A Rustic Winter Tablescape

A small touch of sparkle can be the perfect addition to a holiday table, and I love the effect of using Mercury glass in contrast to a natural setting like this one.  It has a subtle shimmer that catches the light and compliments the earthy hues and raw materials.  Mercury glass is currently trendy with major retailers as seen here and here and can also be created as a DiY craft project at home, following this tutorial.  Here are some styling tips for creating a similar tablescape:

1. Gather weathered branches and paint white. For a more rustic look, use a flat white spray paint and a gentle 1-2 coats of spray.  To achieve full coverage, you'll be better off painting the branches with a brush and white primer or semi-gloss paint (as the wood tends to suck up the spray paint rather quickly).

2. Set your holiday table. This table is an unfinished wood, and the green patterned runner incorporates a subtle silver, green and blue color palette. Silver chargers add a touch of sophistication.

3. Add your branches and intersperse with Mercury Glass candle holders (found here) and other items. This table uses natural pine cones, but glass ornaments would be perfect for the holidays.

4. A pop of contrasting color like these red pomegranates adds an element of fun and can be used as a placecard (as shown here).

photos + styling © cake. 2011

DiY Holiday Centerpiece: Sugared Fruit

Please join me in welcoming our new floral contributor - Kim Foren of Geranium Lake.  You can read all about her stylish floral design on her site or right here.  I'm so excited to have her as part of the CAKE. team... her simple tutorials like the one below are sure to help even black thumbs like me create beautiful arrangements for parties and home decor!
 

Hello from Kim of Geranium Lake flowers!  This holiday project is one of our favorites for so many reasons… it reminds us of the Sugar Plum Fairies from the Nutcracker ballet, and it is soooo easy.

Supplies:
-Fruit (we used apples, pears, plums, grapes, pomegranates, etc)
-Egg whites (2-3, depending on how much fruit you are sugaring)
-Paintbrush
-Sugar

Assembly is simple and this could be a fun project with kids too!

Step 1: Paint egg white directly onto the skin of the fruit.

Step 2: Roll in sugar

Step 3: Place on a drying rack until dried.

You can use your “sparkling” fruit in arrangements:

Or, pile them into a large bowl, embellish with a few loose stems (we love roses and gold painted magnolia leaves!) and you’ve got an instant centerpiece!

photos © geranium lake flowers

3 ways to Monogram your Thanksgiving

I recently received some alphabet diecuts from Lifestyle Crafts to try out on my Epic. I've used them to design three unique ways to dress up your Thanksgiving table. If you enjoy them, which I hope you will, the stationary templates are available for download below.

Note: I intended to use gold glitter sticker paper for these projects, which turned out to be a total fail. The paper was much too thick and tacky for the dies to handle, so keep that in mind and use traditional stationary or scrapbook paper for the best cuts. The paper below is a metallic bronze and all monograms were applied with glue dots.

1. Seating Assignments. Add monograms to seasonal fruit for a pop of color that marks each place setting.  I used pomegranates but pears, mini pumpkins or persimmons would be lovely options as well.

2. Give thanks. The outside of these cards contain a monogram for each guest.  The inside holds the message 'thanks for...'.  Make sure everyone is given a pen at their place setting and after dinner, pass cards around the table clockwise so that everyone may write a simple note of thanks to each guest at the table. 

3. Send home a favor.  Pomegranates are again used here, but depending on the size of your gathering, favors can vary from a boxed-up slice of pumpkin pie to a bottle of wine.  This tag was blind embossed using the Epic which gives it extra texture and elegance.

 

photos + styling © cake. 2011

Download templates HERE.

The dielines will be available on the Lifestyle Crafts website after Nov 15th. If you're interested in trying these or other products for yourself, enter the promo code 'CAKE' at checkout for a 20% discount. (PS: these dies work with all manual die-cutting machines, not just the Epic).

This is a sponsored post, but the above review is my honest opinion.  If you have a shop that you think would be a good fit for Cake. we'd love to hear from you.

DiY Feather Placecards

This week kicks off with a special guest contributor.  I've been dreaming up some projects involving feathers for fall and I just knew she would have a brilliant idea up her sleeve. Please join me in welcoming... Jenny from Hank + Hunt! And stay tuned for more fun feathered projects throughout the week...
 

Hi! I’m Jenny from Hank + Hunt and I am here with a fall feather placecard.   Since the holidays bring lots of large dinner parties, place cards are a fun way to dress us your table. These simple kraft paper cards are adorned with a single feather.   Simple and pretty. 

You will need:

feathers

cardstock

Glue Dots

1/8” hole punch

scissors

If you prefer to print your names, use this template, and place your text centered over the last 1/3 of the second and fourth rows of boxes.  Print. 

Once you have printed your sheets, or if you prefer to hand write the names, it is time to cut out your cards. Cut 1/2” of the top and bottom of your sheet of cardstock. Follow the guides or cut the sheet in half both horizontally and vertically. You will have four cards. 

Fold cards in half. 

Punch a hole in the upper left corner of the front of the card.

Insert feather end in the hole from the front.

Adhere the end of feather on the back of the card with a Glue Dot. 

photos © hank and hunt

Enjoy!

Thank you so much for having me Becca! xo, Jenny

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