Preparing For An Outdoor Party- Part 5…

OK…so the outdoor birthday party was almost a month ago and I still haven’t gotten around to posting everything I did in preparation for it. I never got around to hanging the drop cloth drapes but I did get around to painting the wicker furniture… and here it is! I will get to posting the actual party within the next couple of days.

Plant Flowers
Paint Wicker Furniture
Make Lanterns
Fix and Paint Picnic Table
Make Drop Cloth Tablecloths or Buy Flat Sheets from Wal-Mart
Make Drop Cloth Drapes for Back Porch I NEVER GOT AROUND TO THIS ONE

Plain and boring. I didn’t do anything special to prepare them before painting.
I just wiped them down and fixed any loose wicker.

I used Zinsser spray primer…so easy!!

You could roll on primer…but why?? This is so much easier.

Cheap glossy black spray paint. It took anywhere between 4 to 5 cans for each chair.

It really soaked in the paint. Using a spray can handle makes the job easier and cleaner. I paid less than $3.00 for mine at Wal-Mart.

I love the black. I only managed to paint the 2 chairs and small table.

I never got around to doing the loveseat that goes with it.

And here it is at the day of the party at the make shift table. You can read that post HERE.

Preparing for an Outdoor Party- Part 4…

This next step I modified…mainly because I ran out of time. Instead of getting drop cloths and making cute tablecloths, I purchased $4.00 twin flat sheets at Wal-Mart and called it a day. I paired them with a long olive green table cloth I had and said…looks good to me!!! I made the long table by stacking Rubbermaid containers from my basement and 2 closet doors I had…And Voila!!! An extra long table.

Plant Flowers
Paint Wicker Furniture
Make Lanterns
Fix and Paint Picnic Table
Make Drop Cloth Tablecloths or Buy Flat Sheets from Wal-Mart
Make Drop Cloth Drapes for Back Porch

If you don’t have sawhorses containers can work wonders.

I used 2 long closet doors as the table tops. Remember to remove the door knobs.

Once you cover up the containers and doors you’ll never guess it isn’t a “real” table..

Preparing For An Outdoor Party- Part 3…

The next step in preparing for the outdoor party…painting the picnic table. I found some “Ooops” paint at Ace Hardware for $5.00. The name of the paint wasn’t on the can. Just a sample of the color. It looks like a deep red to me. Not too bright…not too dark. I lightly sanded the table and then washed it off with some “Greased Lightening”. My son, Chase, and Mr. C. used some L brackets to make the table more sturdy and my youngest son, Tre’, helped me paint it. I love the look. I only wanted the seats and tabletop painted red. I love the look of the painted and unpainted wood together.

Plant Flowers
Paint Wicker Furniture
Make Lanterns
Fix and Paint Picnic Table
Make Drop Cloth Tablecloths
Make Drop Cloth Drapes for Back Porch

Mason Jar Lanterns- Round 2…

In my previous post- “Preparing For An Outdoor Party- Part 2” - I used salt in my lanterns. I liked the look but wasn’t crazy about it. It was too beachy for me. Well, I searched the internet for a better idea and I found it… Use bird seed. I love the look…it’s more earthy to me. I hope you like it too.

Before

After

Preparing For An Outdoor Party- Part 2…

My next step in preparing for the outdoor party…the lighting. I found the best tutorial for Mason Jar Lanterns at Chez Beeper Bebe. They have a printable tutorial for these wonderful Lanterns. One more thing I can mark off my list.

Plant Flowers
Paint Wicker Furniture
Make Lanterns
Fix and Paint Picnic Table
Make Drop Cloth Tablecloths
Make Drop Cloth Drapes for Back Porch

18 gauge galvanized wire

Spaghetti sauce, salsa and mason jars

I used salt (cheap) and scented candles

You can get the printable tutorial at Chez Beeper Bebe.

Bridal Shower…

I just love Bridal Showers. I attended my niece’s on Saturday…they’re a new beginning for a young woman. She imagines herself using the new appliances, linens and housewares in her new home. She imagines having dinner parties with her new place settings. She imagines having her parents and in laws over for the holidays while sitting down to that perfectly done turkey in her new roaster… We were all that young woman at one time or another. And we all stopped imagining these perfect moments and faced reality when our casserole for that dinner party turned out like crap and our “perfectly” done turkey still had the bag left inside of it. Oh yes…these moments to a young bride-to-be are priceless. So for all of us who have been married more years than we care to “imagine” let’s imagine ourselves that young, beautiful and naive girl once again.

The cake was beautifully decorated

The host’s house was set up and awaited my niece

My beautiful niece was all smiles as she opened her gifts

She was speechless as she opened the best gift there. Yea you guessed it… that was my gift to her.

Cute party favors given by the host as the party ended

Congratulations Heather and Jeremy! See you at the wedding!!!

Easter Bubbles…

Easter was a few weeks ago but I just had to post these very cute pics. My sister-in-law brought some bubbles to our mother-in-law’s house for the younger kids but after a while everyone was joining in.

Weekend Round-up…

Hey Everyone! How was your Valentine’s Day weekend? Here in the Junkin’ house we had a busy one. Not only is it Valentine’s Day but my youngest son’s B-day. Tre’ turned 15 today. Where does the time go?? Anyway, without further ado here is my weekend in pictures.

Saturday started off with a couple inches of snow…Spring where are you???