Showing posts with label budget decorating tip. Show all posts
Showing posts with label budget decorating tip. Show all posts

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Tea Party Goodies

Good Day to All!

By Kay Chorao MarTi

This is one of my favorite paintings, so you will see me use it more than once!

Country Living has some super ideas.
I found many helpful photos and information about tea parties.
This one shows that even if you don't have a fancy outdoor table,
or mismatched chairs to make it victorian-y,
you can still adapt and have a lovely
tea party with what you do have!

That is one reason why I include Budget Craft ideas,
and Budget Decorating ideas -
Because while I may dream
 like I am a queen with unlimited funds to draw from,
the reality is I have to watch what I spend!

Okay, fine. Burst my bubble!

Really, it is in the interest of our world, not just for us, to economize,
and most importantly RECYCLE and REUSE.
So, a freshly painted picnic table can be transformed into an enchanted tea party with a few cushions to sit on and a complimentary colored cloth on top!
Add an overhead umbrella, and an inexpensive paper Chinese type lantern,
 and you are well on your way to creating some magic.

chipped teapot or teacups? Recycle them into flower vases!

for sale at the VintageDrawer shop on etsy

Let's have some wonderful, delicate and delicious things to eat at our tea party!

Strawberry and Onion Salad with Poppyseed Dressing
from 'The Educated Palate' cookbook

1 head Romaine lettuce, washed, dried, torn into bite sized pieces
1 pint (2 cups) fresh strawberrries, sliced
1 red onion, thinly sliced

optional add-in:
1 - 2 oranges peeled, sliced, with membranes removed.

Poppyseed Dressing:
1/2 Cup mayonnaise
2 Tbs red wine vinegar
1/4 to 1/3 Cup sugar
1/4 Cup milk
2 Tbs poppyseeds

First, make the dressing. Combine all dressing ingredients in a jar with a lid. Cover and shake until well blended.
Refrigerate until ready to serve. (Dressing will keep several days in fridge.)

Prepare lettuce, strawberries and onion.
Refrigerate in separate covered containers until ready to assemble.

Place lettuce on individual serving plates.
Place berries and onions on top of lettuce.
Drizzle Poppyseed Dressing over salad.
Serve immediately.
Serves 8
pepper and salt shakers for sale at APinchofJoy.etsy.com

Jicama, Radish, Mushroom and Broccoli Salad:
from "The Educated Palate" cookbook

Dressing:
3 Tbs finely chopped parsley
1/4 Cup extra virgin olive oil (yes, all those words are important!)
1/4 Cup salad oil such as safflower or canola
1 Tbs white wine vinegar
1 Tbs lemon juice
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 large clove garlic, minced

Combine all dressing ingredients in a jar and shake well. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

1 1/2 Cups broccoli florets
1/2 pount mushrooms, thinly sliced
12 radishes, sliced
1/4 medium sized jicama, peeled and chopped into bite-sized pieces
4 - 6 green onions, sliced
1 head leaf lettuce

If not using the ingredients above immediately, refrigerate in separate covered containers.

When ready to serve, toss with dressing and serve on lettuce leaves.
Serves 6
for sale at Donna's Crafty Corner 

Honey Green Grapes
from the 'The Educated Palate' cookbook

2 pounds seedless green grapes
1 Cup sour cream
1/2 Cup honey
2 Tbs brown sugar
juice of 1 lemon
1/4 Cup light rum
fresh mint sprigs for garnish

Combine all ingredients and refrigerate.
Chill at least 2 hours.
Serve in wine goblets, garnished with fresh mint sprigs.

for sale at JDBridgers.etsy.com

I love this next recipe just because it sounds so English!
It also has cream cheese, so I know it will be delicious.

Strawberry and Devonshire Creme Brule'e
from 'The Educated Palate' cookbook

1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
1 Cup sour cream
1 tsp lemon juice
1 pint (2 Cups) sliced strawberries
4 Tbs brown sugar with a sieve

Have everything laid out, pre-measured.
Preheat broiler.

Cream together cream cheese, sour cream and lemon juice until smooth.
Fill each of eight 6-oz custard cups with 1/4 Cup sliced strawberries.
Spread cheese mixture in an even layer over strawberries to cover.
Top each layer with a thin, even layer of brown sugar. (This is where the sieve comes into play).
Slide under broiler, heating just to melt the sugar.
Serve at once! or chill up to 1 hour before serving.
(I think it is best when the sugar is warm and just melted.)

for sale from 22BayRoad.etsy.com

This next recipe is so much my Grandma.
She was a pioneer into Kansas when she was little. She remembered riding in the wagon pulled by steer. Their first house was a sod house - dirt floor that she had to sweep every day, and cut sod for a roof. Very primitive. She lived through the Dust Bowl days. (A terrible time for those who lived through it).
She ended up on a farm outside of Dodge City, Kansas. During crop time, she would bake hundreds of biscuits every morning for the crews that came through to harvest the wheat. Then she would cook a huge batch of something for lunch. These workers worked hard, and worked up a humongous appetite! Farm life was hard, but I never heard Grandma complain.
Before she died she had traveled on a covered wagon, on a train, and then an airplane! She would marvel at all that God had led her through.

Grandma McDowell would come visit us for several weeks each year. It was never long enough, as far as I was concerned! Grandma was the BEST baker and cook you could have. She made wonderful, totally from scratch, pies. She made homemade noodles. I remember them hanging all over our counter as they were cut and drying!
Whenever Grandma made a pie, she knew how hard it was for us to wait for the yummy to come out of the oven, so she always made Pie Crust strips, sprinkled with cinnamon suger. They were done in just a few minutes, while my sister and I watched the oven. 
Following is a very simple recipe from a Pillsbury Classic Cookbooks leaflet.

Pie Crust Cut-Outs

15-oz package Pillsbury All Ready Pie Crusts  (this comes in a red box in the refrigerated section)
1 tsp flour

Flavorful Toppings:
Sugar
Colored sugar
Cinnamon-sugar mixture:
    1 Tbs sugar plus 1/4 tsp cinnamon
Colored or chocolate sprinkles
Garlic or onion salt
Grated American cheese (we like Co-Jack)
Cheesy-seasoning mixture:
    1 Tbs grated parmesan cheese plus 1/2 tsp Italian OR Mexican seasoning.

>Allow 1 pie crust pouch to stand at room temperature for 15 - 20 minutes.
Refrigerate remaining crust for later use.
Heat oven to 400'.
Unfold pie crust; peel off top plastic sheet.
Press out fold lines with fingers, sprinkle flour over crust.
Turn crust, flour side down, on cutting board or pastry cloth;
Peel off remaining plastic sheet.
Using 2 inch floured cutters, cut out desired shapes.
     (Grandma just cut hers into strips and long triangles)
Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
Reroll trimmings, if desired, and cut more out.

Bake at 400' for 6 - 9 minutes, or until light golden brown.
Store loosely in covered container.
Yield: approx 32 snacks

YUM    YUM    YUM    YUM    YUM!

from AtomicTeaParty Blogspot

Well, this blog is getting to be a book, so I will close for now!
Will there be more Tea Party fun in later blogs?
Most probably!!

from justtoocute.com

inkspired

Feel free to contact me with you own tea party pictures,
or Budget ideas, or pix of your family dog!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Tea Party Pretties

Hello!
Today we are going to have more fun with our tea party!

"Children's Tea Party" by Morton H.B. Bly
C.1919

Here is a great idea from CountryLiving.
Gather together mismatched chairs to set outside for a tea party under the tree:


Now, how are we going to make a pretty table top cloth, on a minimum budget?

Budget Craft:
Another terrific idea from Country Living!
Layer inexpensive burlap criss cross on table top to cover. Then layer strips of white gauze on top, to mimic layers of lace tablecloths!

Don't you love the fresh feel the pears at each setting make?

I found this new-to-me artist when searching for tea party things:
J.D. Hillberry
"Grandma's Tea Party" by jdhillberry.com
Check out his web site - his drawings are wonderful!

Lively Lemon Tingler
from Pillsbury Family Fun Cookbooklet

1 1/2 Cups sugar
1/2 Cup boiling water
1 1/2 Cups fresh lemon juice (about 5 - 8 lemons, squeezed)
Ginger Ale

Dissolve sugar in boiling water.
Add lemon juice; stir to blend.
Store base mixture in tightly covered non-metal container or jar in refrigerator.

Yield: 2 1/2 Cups base mixture, 5 1-Cup servings.

By the Glass:
Combine 1/2 Cup chilled base mixtue and 1/2 Cup ginger ale in tall glass.
Add ice, serve with straws, if desired.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Combine full recipe (2 1/2 Cups) chilled base mixture and 2 1/2 Cups ginger ale in large pitcher.

Add ice; pour into cups or glasses.
If desired, garnish with lemon slice and mint.

from dressupparties.net

She has the prettiest vintage styles of aprons!
from partyinvitations.com

These party invitations are great if you are in a hurry, or just don't want to do the invitations yourself.
However,
if you are inclined to make your own,
this is a wonderful sample to use ideas from.
Budget craft:
Cut patterned scrapbooking paper to size. You probably want to make sure it fits into a standard envelope.
Use patterns that are small, like the above pin dots, or small florals.
Take one paper doily and write invite text in center of blank white doily.
Use caligraphy markers - they are super easy to use and always give a great elegant look.
Place paper doily on top of scrapbook paper, slightly off center.
Glue.
#1: Dab tiny spots of glue onto back of doily. I like Scotch Quick-Dry Adhesive. It has a super precision tip. Press in place. With a piece of wax paper on top, press smoothly all over. Lift wax paper off. Set aside to dry.
#2: Spray spray adhesive onto back. Lightly press in place. You do have to work quickly with spray adhesive, and you can't reposition. It also has quite a fume, so be sure and work around an open window, or outside.
#3: Use your Xyron machine with the sticky cartridge. Run doily through. Peel off, and press onto paper. Take a spoon or popsicle stick to rub all edges to make sure they are adhered well. Sticky spots? Pounce with a chalk bag.
from nofussfabulous.com

I love these cupcakes inside the pottery tea cups.
Verrrry cute.
The addition of a fresh flower on top is very tea party-ish too!

"I think there's a little child in all of us
and we all too often forget
to let the child out to play."
- Donna A. Favors

courtesy designdazzle.blogspot.com

Check out the simple floral chair covers above.
Budget Decorating tip:
See the stacked tea cups with a flower posy at the top?
You might want to glue the cups together, or stick together with Florist clay, so there are no toppling cups entertainment for the day!

We can't have a tea party, without pretty tea pots!
Here are some I found for sale on etsy:

L2Country

damamima

MixedDelights

Some of my favorite Tea Party Sandwiches:

Cucumber and Cream Cheese Sandwiches

thinly sliced cucumbers with green left on
whipped cream cheese from a tub
wheat bread and white bread

Take one slice of bread, spread cream cheese on it.
Place cucumbers in single row, slightly overlapping, on bread slice.
Place second slice of bread on top.

Now get out your cookie cutters. I have one that is a scalloped circle. Cut each sandwich with circle cookie cutter.
Don't discard the crusts - they make great snacks for later.

Pimento Cheese Sandwich Shapes

Tub of pimento cheese, spreadable
White sliced bread

Spread sliced bread with spreadable cheese. Top with second slice of bread.

Cut with decorative cookie cutters. I like my diamond shape cutter, or I have a large flower cookie cutter that is cute too.
Don't discard the crusts. They are very tasty for later snacks.

I like to arrange the sandwiches on platters with lots of doilies underneath.
The doilies really set off the sandwiches, and make things special!
Plus, you can throw them away after the party,
to limit time spent laundry/doing dishes.
2 of my dirty words!!

For extra special one of a kind doilies, why don't you pick out a few kirigami patterns, and cut those for doilies?

c.1912
Some pretty tea cups and saucers for our fancy tea party:
The first 3 are for sale at PorcelainPolyester etsy shop:


and some from different etsy shops:
olddirtyvintage.etsy.com

bettysworld4u.etsy.com

This next photo shows clever ways to set up a Tea Bar, from CountryLiving:


Tea Bar:
Have little cups (china? egg cups?) with fresh herbs and spices to add to plain tea. Also include thinly sliced lemon and lime slices,
 arranged prettily on a platter.
Dig out your children's silverware, or small demitasse spoons to serve with.
I would also put out some tongs, or forks for the fruit slices.

Don't forget to gather some mismatched glass jars and vases.
Pop some fresh cut flowers, a few to each vase, just before guests arrive.
If you check out my very first blog,
I have a quick and easy Budget Craft for using plain bottles!

The next 3 photos are of "Britain's Biggest Tea Party":


They were so cute I just had to add them!

I will leave you with this smile today.
I think there just might be more tea party fun in your future....

inkspired

Monday, April 18, 2011

Robins Nesting

Good day to you!

I was working on a jigsaw puzzle this morning in my dining room, and was hearing this scritch scratch noise.

scritch, scratch.

scritch, scratch.

I looked out the window, but saw nothing. I opened the door and saw nothing. I opened the glass screen door, and...

There were a pair of robins trying to build a nest on the door handle of our front glass door!

They had just started, so I didn't feel guilty about picking off the strands of grass and wet leaves; letting them flutter to the ground.


scritch, scratch.
uh oh.
I opened the front door, and as my Great Dane is always interested whenever a door opens, he came to stand and look outside through the glass door. I figured this would discourage any more thought of nest building on our door handle.

It has. But oh....I would have enjoyed watching the robins build their nest so!

"My favorite weather is bird-chirping weather."
- Terry Guillemets

circa 1907

yes, that's a robin.

“I realized that If I had to choose,
I would rather have birds than airplanes.”
- Charles Lindbergh

Here is a nice maze for the kids:


another robin's nest

"The structure of a play
is always the story of how
the birds came home to roost." - Arthur Miller

This cute (and free) little robin and nest cross stitch design is from

You could also use this as a beading design :0)

Here is a basket of eggs that you can use any color to decorate them:
"Use those talents you have. You will make it.
You will give joy to the world.
Take this tip from nature:
The woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang
except those who sang best."
- Bernard Meltzer

Searching the internet, I came across this wonderful budget decorating idea:
I am sorry, I didn't write down who wrote the blog.
If you know, please tell me so I can give due credit.

She found an abandoned robin's nest on the ground, well after nesting season was over. After picking it up, she placed it on top of some vertical blinds she has in her family room. She said it has been there for several years now!
I also like how she has hung a hummingbird decoration close to it.

available at hollyandivychristmasshop.com for $18.50. She is 9" tall. 

"I think people who don't believe in God are crazy.
How can you say there is no God when you hear the birds
singing these beautiful songs you didn't make?" - Little Richard
by Chinese artist, Mr. Ou Yang

On that (bird) note, I will close for today.
sending you many drops of laughter,

inkspired