Christmas Peppermint Tablescape 2011

Merry Christmas Blogland!  My table is set and ready to let the overeating begin!  LOL!  My table is an uncharacteristically whimsical one this year.  The inspiration came from these ribbon candy trees from Hobby Lobby.  I saw them in late November and my initial plan was to replicate them with polymer clay, but then a short time ago, they were on such a good sale that I decided I could just purchase 2 and call it a day.

I found the mesh at Hobby Lobby and cut a length of it to use as a runner over my ubiquitous antique white damask tablecloth.  I wanted to reinforce the theme of the candy canes and red and white with a touch of green, but I didn't want another tablecloth to purchase (or store), so this was a great alternative.

I've always enjoyed setting a pretty table, but as far as "tablescaping", I feel like I'm a newbie, but one thing I think is key to being easy on your budget:  it doesn't seem to matter as much what elements you pull together as long as they are thematic or related by color.   Obviously, in my case, the theme was red, white, and a little green peppermint candy, but I added little sparkly snowflake confetti in red and white and some ribbon that I already had was used for the chair backs and the peppermint placecards.    Both of these were appropriate in color and, due to the fact that the ribbon had sparkly snowflakes on it, it also related back to the little snowflakes scattered on the table.  Does that make sense?  You don't have to be too literal in your theme, just have some thread of continuity flowing through each piece whether by color, broad subject, or both, and you'll look all put together.  

The napkins are antiques that I've had for a few years.

A little glass from the china cabinet stuffed with bright green shred which I had saved from some kind of package and almost threw away because after several months, I had never used it.  HA!  Glad I had it because it came in handy.  LOVE when things finally work out per plan, don't you?

Stacked an ironstone butter dish on top of an ironstone cake plate (yes, they are both antique, don't hate...). I think for Christmas Day, I'll replace the balls and glass garlands with peppermint bark.

The little white candles I had already and I put them in French tart pans.  A little sparkly faux snow (tying back to both the food and the snowflakes) to catch any drips and call it done.

I've never had chargers before and didn't want to pay $1.99 each for them at Hobby Lobby, but then I went to WalMart and found them for .99.  Much better.  Found the adorable peppermint candle used in the centerpiece there as well for half price ($4 I think?).

So, here's the breakdown of this budget friendly (at least I think so) tablescape:

6 chargers                           Walmart               $5.88
Peppermint candle               Walmart               $4
Roll of Red & White Mesh  Hobby Lobby       $5
5 assorted picks                  Hobby Lobby       $3.50 I think; they were half price
2 ribbon candy trees            Hobby Lobby       $12
Glittered Snowflakes           Walmart                $.97
Everything else was already in my possession, so no additional cost (yay!), so the grand total is $31.35.  I know some of you gals could have done this for $5, but I think that for minimal effort and a minimum of looking for bargains, I'm pretty happy with the result.  Also, now I have added a few things to my "decor stash", so next year, even less to buy (that's what I told hubs anyway...).

This will be my last post of the year, so from my home to yours, have a very beautiful and bright holiday season with friends and loved ones and I'll see you in 2012.

Until next time,

Linking up with Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch,
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home,
Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground,
Potpourri Friday at 2805,
Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk.

Happy Thanksgiving Tablescape 2011

Happy Thanksgiving Bloggie Friends,

So what do you do when the inspiration for a vignette or a tablescape just doesn't come?  Turn to our friend Google, of course, which then leads you to Blogland and Pinterest...duh!  So, I was trying to find some inspiration for a Thanksgiving tablescape by looking at the things I had since spending tons o money was not an option.  Nothing was really coming together.  I had these light tan tablecloths which I wanted to use, so I figured maybe a relatively neutral palette would be good.  Still, nothing was really standing out as a theme.  Then I came across Debbie's amazing table at Confessions of a Plate Addict.  When I saw that she and I had the same Wal Mart faux pumpkins that we had both painted ivory, I knew I needed to explore further.  I'd like to say she INSPIRED me, but I think it would be more accurate to say that I copy catted her for the most part.  I had been wanting to make one of the ubiquitous burlap table runners, but hadn't gotten to it, so I bought some inexpensive loose weave burlap and just cut it and fringed the ends after washing it twice to make it softer.  I actually like the way it turned out very much, and you can't beat the price (about $6 and I got enough for 2 runners since the width was too wide for the runner but not long enough to go the length of the table, so I cut it in half widthwise).

The second part of my tablescape came from a source that I'm sorry to say I can't remember, but it involved putting a photo gallery of family pictures in the center of the table.  I liked the idea, but not necessarily the execution since I didn't want it to be the only focal point of my centerpiece.  So, I took some of my favorite family, pet, friend, house, and beach photos (things we are THANKFUL for, get it?), printed them in black and white, and then put them on a decorative paper and complimentary cardstock.  I interspersed them with the large pumpkins and some small ones I had left from my Halloween decor for visual interest. 

I made some little leaf name tags and just tied them around beautiful antique linen napkins that I had and put them over my parents' china.  I also used my parents' sterling silverware, one of my favorite things that I own.

Lastly, somewhere on the internet (also unknown), I had seen rolls of jute twine used as simple candlesticks.  I thought it was brilliant, so I had to recreate it, especially since I had the jute already.  I might add that for safety's sake, I will either come up with a bobeche to catch the wax or I will not light the candles.

The rest of the photos are of various other areas in my home.  I just love decorating for Thanksgiving.  Although I love Christmas, I just can't skip over Thanksgiving and go straight to my Christmas decorating.  I need to enjoy all of the seasons and holidays as they come, so I hope you are not too tired of fall because I'm sharing it one more time. 

My great aunt Ione painted this pretty pitcher.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones.

Sharing with:

White Wednesday
Farmhouse Friday 
Tabletop Tuesday
Vintage Inspiration Friday
Tablescape Thursday 
Feathered Nest Friday
2805 Potpourri Party
The Charm of Home

Until next time,

Black & White Spooky Tablescape

Welcome to my first ever tablescape post.  I fear it could be addictive.  What do you think?

It all started when I purchased this set of creamy white owl napkin rings in one of my favorite little junk shops.  I started looking at the thrifts for black or black and white dishes to add some pop to my almost 30 year old Mikasa dishes and found 6 of these little cuties for a couple of bucks.

I started getting the idea of using the white owls as a more subtle table dressing.  THEN I saw the little mercury glass owl in West End's catalog with 50% of the purchase price going to St Jude's Hospital for cancer research.  Being a mom of a kid with leukemia (in remission), that sealed the deal and West Elm got my $14 which included shipping, by the way.  I put him in a little birdcage cloche that I previously got from WUSLU deal a day (don't get me started on that-too much fun, too cheap, and way too easy to buy).  He nestled in with some reindeer moss from last Christmas and some little white pumpkins.  As you can see, several items are stacked to make the centerpiece with the bottom being a bride's basket that I've had for years.

My friend Michelle made the adorable tombstone tag that hangs from the top of the cloche.  She took actual photographs from when she was visiting an old cemetery and made a set of these great hangtags.  LOVE THEM!  They almost look 3 dimensional...

Candles from last year topping old faux mercury glass curtain tiebacks I've had and used forever.

I was unsuccessful at finding something resembling cute black napkins or black and white napkins and I wasn't in the humor to spend a lot of money, so at the aforementioned thrift store, I found some black linen looking fabric for $2 and proceeded to make my own, using my late mother's sewing machine with the nifty little embroidery feature.  I then made my own stencil of an owl.  I was so proud...until I put the napkins in the rings and realized it was too much owl. Sigh...back to the drawing board.  On the opposite corner, I stamped the word "Spooky" and called it good. And now I can use the owl corner or the "spooky" corner.  Seriously, that's like 4 hours of my life I'll never get back again, but it's DONE!  YAY!  And thrifty touches like that allow me to splurge on more fun things, right?

Napkin Option "Deux": 

Oh no, I DIT-UHNT?!  Oh yeah, I did...a PAPER stencil.  Desperate times call for desperate measures...and the price was right, just one piece of printer paper.

The adorable place cards seen best at the top of the post were fashioned from an owl graphic from (where else?) Graphics Fairy. Glossy computer paper, stuck on black cardstock folded in half to make a tent card (I think that's what they're called).




What to do for a tablecloth...trip to another favorite junk shop where a favorite textile vendor had a black and white striped twin flat sheet for $6, everything in the booth...40% off.  Yeah baby, now we're cooking with gas...top it with one of my antique tablecloths, marginally ironed, and you've got TABLESCAPE, baby! Woo! Hoo!  Of course, mismatched silver plate is always a favorite in my house. 

Next project, black and white coasters.  Only one is done so far, but I think they will be used for more than Halloween, so we can talk about them more another time.

A fun hors d'oeuvre or sushi set from West Elm.  One of those splurges you can have when you aren't out buying tablecloths and napkins (that's what I'm telling myself anyway).

If you have gotten this far and your eyes haven't yet glazed over, THANK YOU!  Now go on over to Between Naps on the Porch and look at some pros at Tablescape Thursday.  I'm linking up with their party this week.  It should be fun.


Until next time,

Also linking up with the following parties this week:
Feathered Nest Fridays
Vintage Inspiration Friday
Farmhouse Friday
Wow Us Wednesdays

Show and Tell Friday
Tuesdays Treasures 
Funky Junk's Saturday Night Special
Pink Saturday 
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here 
Home Sweet Home Friday 
Tutorials and Tips 
Air Your Laundry Friday
Graphics Fairy Brag Monday