Family Chic

I found great looking cupcake tin liners at IKEA - they reminded me of small pleated lampshades. Within minutes, I created a softer look on a strand of bulbs hanging in my garden.

Using an X-Acto knife, make a cross cut in the bottom of the liner. Remove bulb from socket - slip on liner and replace bulb.

You can find these in the kitchen supply section at IKEA. A package of 65 is $0.99.

If you're using these indoors - the paper liners are fine. However, outdoor use won't stand up to rain - so you'll have to slip them off when you're through.

One package contains three different styles - so you can mix them up or use all the same.

A cardboard cup holder from Starbucks and a few blueberry containers from the farmer's market are repurposed to create a casual serving set for snacks.

An unbleached paper towel, cut into fourths, lines each section of this drink holder - and keeps food items in place.

I usually decline when asked if I need a cup holder - but sometimes it's necessary. I couldn't just toss it into recycling - I had to do something with it.

The blueberry containers are lined as well and used as a small dish to hold a serving of chips and pretzels.

My daughter inspires me to recycle at every turn - she is an environmentalist. She was very pleased with this set up.

Almost everything is recycled on this tray- an old silver-plated teapot (picked up at a resale shop) now serves as a planter.

This glass is made from recycled glass - a set of 4 was $4.99 at TJMaxx.

I picked up this scarf at Old Navy for under $10.00 - I knew straight away that I would use it as a tablecloth. I love the pattern and colors - the ball fringe adds the perfect touch.

We set up a table in the yard and had dinner out here tonight.

Jane helped make dinner - homemade pizza on the grill. Kids love to watch dough rise and then punch it down.

It turned out really well - we used fresh mozzarella, basil, tomatoes and olives.

We didn't have to go far to feel like we got away - we had a bit of an adventure in our own backyard. The kids really enjoyed helping us make the grilled pizza and the weather was perfect.

When eating outdoors, it is best to protect food from annoying flies with some sort of food cover. By attaching a drawer pull to the bottom of a terracotta pot, I created a unique food cover of my own.

I got my pulls in a sale bin at Anthropologie for a few dollars, but you can find great looking knobs anywhere - search resale shops, Home Depot or Target.

Just insert draw pull into your pot's drainage hole, add a washer and close tightly with a nut.

I picked up my pots at Home Depot.

Using cedar grilling papers, paper grocery bags, brightly colored paper napkins, lemons and white mums - I pulled together a look that made the evening feel special.

I started with a paper bag runner that I made from the bags I carried my supplies home in.

Make a cut down the side of the bag and cut out the base of the bag so it will lay flat. Cut off handles.

Roll the sheets into a ball and then flatten out again. This gives the paper interesting texture. I love the look of these wrinkles - rub paper with a book or run it along the edge of a table to flatten out (so it will lay flat on the table).

To get the length I needed for my table, I attached the two bags. I punched holes down the edge and sewed them together by hand (printed side facing down).

I used a large sewing needle and some jute. Lace bags together as you would a shoe. This kind of detail makes the runner more interesting to look at. When my girls sat down to dinner, they touched the paper and squinted at it - when they found out I made it from grocery bags they were shocked. It almost looks like Japanese paper this way.

To bring some color to the table, I placed yellow paper napkins and lemons at each place setting.

I pulled together 4 small white vases of different shapes.

Each vase held one white chrysanthemum.

Cedar papers (used for grilling and found in the grilling supply aisle of my supermarket) were stamped with rubber stamps and wrapped around glass votives to "illuminate" the tone of the dinner...

These Fire and Flavor cedar papers are actually quite attractive - the package holds 4 sheets - cost is about $9.00.

They took the ink really well. Just stamp the letters right on.

I used a black ink pad.

Wrap around glass votive and secure with masking tape. I rolled the tape onto itself and pressed the paper shut so the tape didn't show.

We had ice cream for dessert.

A vintage laundry basket is transformed into a wine cooler with the addition of a plastic liner.

You'll need a laundry basket, plastic drop cloth (available in the paint supply section of Home Depot for under $4.00), jute, a large sewing needle and scissors.

Drape drop cloth over basket and cut to desired size - leaving plenty of room around the edge.

Fold edge of drop cloth in and attach to basket using jute and needle.

Using the needle, I wrapped the jute around the edge two times and tied a knot just under the rim.

I secured the liner with this stitch about every 14 inches.

Add a few bags of ice and your drinks and you're done.

Instead of placing a pitcher of water or a bottle of San Pellegrino on the table - try reusing a great looking wine bottle to hold your water. Every so often, I find old wine bottles at resale shops and I can't resist buying them. The older, Italian wine bottles have a lovely shape. I clean them thoroughly with a bottle brush and fill them with chilled tap water. Save a nice cork from a bottle of wine and you've got the whole package. Also - you can add a clipping of mint or a squeeze of lemon to give your H2O subtle flavor.

If anyone is thinking this is homemade vodka - they'll be seriously disappointed - I believe in labeling things for guests. I made this tag with rubber stamps and hang tags from Office Depot.

Keep a few bottles in the fridge.

I love to have something interesting on the table when I entertain. I filled a crystal decanter with water, placed a clipping from our pear tree inside and stuck a candle into the opening to create this look.

I love the way the water magnifies the leaves - light passes through this beautifully.

A simple glass votive is set in a new light once wrapped with the tip of a fern leaf.

To make these you will need - glass votives, twine and one large fern leaf. Clip off a part of the frond and wrap around votive, secure with a rubber band to hold in place. Tie twine on and remove rubber band.

I love to make something out of nothing - it's a thrill for me. Try making a tray out of a paper grocery bag and a fern frond.

This is a great way to wrap a treat for a friend - they will love it and they can keep it- no need to ask for your dish to be returned!

Cut down a paper grocery bag by two thirds and fold over the top to create a 2 inch depth on the bag and start stapling fern leaves to edge.

To conceal the staples - layer the leaves over each other. At the end, fold down the previous leaf, staple the next one...

... release the leaf and it will fall back onto the other one to cover the staple.

Continue around the entire rim until it is covered with fern leaves. To add stability to the base - add a cardboard insert (I use the cardboard back to sketch pad).

Line with wax or parchment paper and you are done.

A fern garland will set the mood for a spring party of any kind!

To make this garland just clip fern cuttings to twine with a small clip (I bought my clips for $0.29 a piece at Blick). You can also tie fern on or use clothespins if you don't have a metal clip handy.

For vertical use, I tied together three books to hold a plate on a higher level. For a rectangular plate, I rested books on their side.

Any hardcover books will do - as long as they are of the same height. If you don't like the look of your books - cover them in a festive looking wrapping paper, map, newspaper or even fabric - whatever catches your eye.