Decorating with *Flowers*

I was checking out one of my favorite sites to visit, The Kitchn at Apartment Therapy. (Yes, I know how to spell kitchen...and no I didn't misspell their name) They featured these two sites for their pretty paper flowers. I haven't tried this idea yet, but it's been around for a while. I've been collecting variations in my (non-existent) idea book for while.

This beautiful flowers are from CraftStylish.




I like this close-up because it reveals the pretty pattern on the paper. It's not a simple white, but it has a subtle variation in color. It gives a striking, three-dimensional effect.

These lovely, trendy roses were originally featured on dozidesign.


For a fall take on the rose idea with real leaves, check out haha.nu.

Thanksgiving Ideas (Part II)

This idea comes to us from Purple Lemon Designs. It's a new blog to me but I love the idea. There is a whole tutorial on the website. It definitely sounds like some work, but the payoff is big. Do it well and it can be used every year until you tire of it. I figure that gives me two years of enjoyment, lol.


This fun idea is from our good friend Martha ;-). She's very creative. I like the place cards the best. The centerpiece is good to tie it all in (not to mention a help with a case of the munchies until dinner is served). I could see it on a dessert or coffee table too. Also, from my friend Martha:


I'm normally not into gold, but these are very festive and season appropriate. They could also be spray painted white, black, or red for a more trendy look.


This idea is similar to that in the previous post, yet on linen napkins. A great idea if you want a more permanent look. Fabric paint required though.


Also, a variation on an idea in the previous post. This pumpkin features a whole bouquet of wildflowers. It's so pretty and feminine.


And again, my best friend Martha (yet even I write the post we become joined at the hip :-) does it better. I like the simple elegance of her votives and rose vase.

Thanksgiving Ideas

Browsing blogs and the web, I found some fun ideas from Country Living online that might be good to implement for this holiday year.


I love this candle idea. The words 'Giving Thanks" appear on both sides of the candles, so you can see it on each half of the table. It's actually made with fabric which you can see up close in the next picture. I would rather attempt it with scrapbook paper. Either way, you want to make sure your candle is thick enough (much more than theirs) so that it burns a hole straight down the center. Otherwise, can we say FIRE hazard. Let's not.



I love love love this napkin idea, although my challenged penmanship makes it an automatic no go. In elementary school, my fifth grade MATH teacher actually made me stay in one day for recess to practice my penmanship, because she thought it was so bad. How, can you have poor penmanship in MATH. It still boggles my mind. I carry the scars to today. Sighh.


This one is a little more up my alley. Get a good ink pad that doesn't have ink that runs when wet. I like that it's disposable too. You can easily change designs every year w/o committing to one for a long time. Good idea for dinner parties.


This is a cute idea for a party favor. A pretty piece of stamped cardpaper is put in the bottom of the box. The top is embellished with a coordinating strip. This would be an even better idea to run with for Christmas for all those people you want to give a sweet, lovely gift to without breaking the bank.

And from Southern Living online, I discovered these jewels.


This one is my favorite. I'm not usually a calla lily fan, but I love the beautiful, deep color of these. I almost wish I knew they can in this color for my winter Christmas wedding. I might not have been so quick to write them off.


For those who don't know a lot of floral arrangement, this documents an important step in the process, figuring out in what order the flowers go. It helps to determine height and placement of the flowers BEFORE they go in your vase.


This is a great, simple idea. It's just a glass vase with popcorn at the bottom and some decorative corn stalks. I might actually use this one. It's beautiful and should be cheap. An important criteria in these hard economic times (or really anytime when I'm ask my husband what's okay to spend on decorations :-).


This is another simple, inexpensive idea. It would look great on a buffet or dessert table. It's a low laying centerpiece, so it would also work very well on a coffee table too. I hate when people put huge centerpieces on coffee tables. Why!!!


I'm not so fond of the execution of this one, but I like the original thought. It should really use different flowers. I like the wildflower idea. I do, but those seem wrong some how to me. They also think that you should only use two types of flowers, and I definitely disagree. A wildflower bouquet would be lovely. I would also get rid of that confusing, misplaced corn embellishment and tie it with simple raffia.

Well, that's it for now. I have to go share some thanksgiving love!