I recently hosted my book club at my home and I wanted it to have a garden party theme.  This of course would require fresh flowers.  There is something quite elegant and heartwarming about fresh flowers, especially fresh flower place cards.  You don’t have to be an heiress to a kingdom or sell off your possessions to create lovely fresh flower arrangements or place cards.  The trick is to keep them small and informal.

No fresh flowers or even a small budget for them?  Look around your yard and garden.  Succulents will also make a very nice place card and chances are you may have pots of them overflowing with the perfect tiny plants.

Don’t Limit Yourself To A Florist

I personally buy my flowers at Trader Joe’s, not a florist.  I don’t buy the more expensive, already mixed bouquets , but opt rather for the least expensive bunches they offer. If you have a budget for a florist then by all means, go for it, but I love the challenge of making something beautiful for little or no money. You can also find great prices on fresh flowers at home improvement centers as well.

Hit the Dollar Store For Amazing Opportunities

OK, I admit, I love a good bargain.  When I walk into a dollar store I see everything for what it can become, not for what it currently is.  I went into the 99 Cents Store looking for a glass candle holder imagining it would make a terrific tiny vase for a fresh flower arrangement.  I had considered tea cups, mason jars, and any container they carried. Incredibly, I found some adorable small, Ball Mason Jelly jars for 99 cents each.  Perfect, or so I thought.  Then I saw them.  Ahhhmazing boxed sets of glass candle holders…WITH Pedestals….AND current trendy words on them such as DREAM, FAITH, LOVE.   This is where I start to tremble with excitement. Seriously! I am such a dork, but it’s true. Therefore, my vision of fresh flower place cards was definitely on the horizon now.

See Things As They Can Be, Not For What They Appear To Be

As mentioned before, you need to learn to see these fantastic bargains for what they can be transformed into. Here are some photos of the components I purchased at the 99 Cents Store.  The Candle Holder Sets were great to begin with , but just by adding 2 coats of chalk paint to the pedestal and distressing it, gave them a more elegant look.  You can’t tell they are cheap black plastic pedestals.  The magic created with the flimsy white plastic plant name stakes is quite amazing.  Just 2 coats of chalk paint, a little antiquing with a rust colored acrylic paint and a flat black paint to give the illusion of a tiny chalkboard.  A The names were written out with a white, thin-line chalk marker.

Thank you for visiting.

Beautiful rose cakes always get my attention. The icing roses on this rose cake blend beautifully with the china painted roses on this endearing vintage plate.  I have a small collection of mismatched plates, saucers and tea cups with lovely roses like these.  What a wonderful and delicious way to display your vintage tableware.  I cannot imagine a guest who would not be delighted at an invitation for tea and cake served in such a charming manner.  Of course many of us may not have the skills involved to create such a masterpiece.  I think it would be equally nice just to get a simple cake from your local grocery or bakery. Besides that, you can simply embellish the cake with fresh flowers from your garden or store.