Ideas for setting a summertime table

We are in the mid of August already , dear readers from around the world, and I sometimes catch myself feeling a bit melancholic about the fast approaching ending  of my favourite of all seasons: SUMMER. Summer is not just a season, it is an idea and a hope for most people .

The idea of more ‘freedom’ - whatever that means for each and every one of us - and  the hope for beautiful ,relaxing  holiday time, away from everyday worries and jobs , time for having some rest and fun , recharging batteries, getting inspiration for new creations, plans and ‘lives’ . Whatever summer means to you , I hope you are all enjoying it as much as possible and don’t let it slip through your fingers…. .

 If you feel like setting a colouful, summery table and invite friends and family to join you for lunch and some happy time together, here are some ideas for you!

As always, I’m trying to share easy to make crafts that don’t cost at all, using things that you already have at home, or that you can find in Nature. 

 I opted for a nautical theme , which is the most obvious choice for  summer time decorations , especially if you are at a holiday home, near the shore!

The idea was to make little boats to decorate the plates and fishes to decorate the glasses!

This is what I did:

I had some blue and white paper napkins at home , which I folded up in a boat shape.

I actually made a little fleet of them! To make them more colourful and realistic, I added tiny flags using a toothpick for the mast. If you have some left over fabric, you can cut out tiny triangles and then stick them, using some PVA glue, on the tooth pick.

Do you like my fleet? I think they look quite impressive, ready to sail off.

I then, used some fish patterns, which I cut out from a napkin and stuck them on small pieces of balsa wood using decoupage glue. I then made a hole on each piece and passed a string through it.

I have some tablecloths at home, which I made myself some years ago and use them during summer time. They have stripes in blue, red, yellow, light blue and they always make me smile!

I set my tables with them and placed the napkin –boats on each plate. I scattered some painted sea urchin shells and painted drift wood around the table .I used the string to hang the decoupage fishes from the glasses and TA-DAH! , my summer table is ready to welcome my guests!

A final touch is the bunting which I have also made myself, using the same fabric I made the tablecloths of.

So, set a lovely   looking table dear readers, invite people you love, eat and drink and enjoy the time together till night falls and crickets start their summer night songs.

My love to you all,

Till next time,

Tina xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Fish in a frame !!

Hello dear readers!

Today I’m back in  blogland ,after some time, with yet another idea to share with you.

If you feel like making something that will remind you of the vast , deep , blue sea and its inhabitants, you may be inspired by my little decorative item , that can be used to ornate a wall at home ,a shelf   or mantelpiece .

These are the steps I followed:

 STEP 1 : Cut out a piece of cardboard at the size you like.

 STEP 2: Use acrylic paint to give it the colour of the sand.

 STEP3:  Find a white, wooden frame , or make one, to fit the cardboard in.

  STEP 4: Use some, little pieces of drift wood ( you can paint them white, light blue or just varnish them) and a little fish that you can either buy or make yourselves using some balsa wood or clay .

 STEP 5: Arrange the pieces of drift wood on the frame , until you like the way they look and use some PVA glue to stick them on it. You can also use tiny seashells and/or pieces of tiles that you may also find drifted on the beach.

STEP 6: Stick the fish on the cardboard.

 STEP 7: If you want your fish to have some company and feel happy , make some more fishes using balsa wood and paint eyes, tail, and fins.

 STEP 8: Stick them on the cardboard and TA-DAH!

 FINALLY :  Enjoy your creation!!

You can also use sea urchins, starfish, tiny pebbles and anything else may make your little ‘scene’ more realistic!

Have fun with happy summery crafts dear readers and enjoy your August days and nights wherever you are!

My love to you all!!

Till next time,

Tina xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

P.S. Internet connection is not that easy where I am now, so I'm sorry I can't keep in touch with you 

and your lovely blogs more often :(

T.xxx