I am still making things for the spring issue (all the instructions will be in ROMANTIC COUNTRY......just be patient.........)
I was thinking about spring parties when I did these. The idea being that whatever your party theme you can use very inexpensive ($4.95 each) Chinese umbrellas (I got them at my local Party Shop) and if you can't find the color you like just spray paint them. They only had red ones in my store so I spray painted one white for a "romantic" look and the other aqua for a fun and "exotic" mood.
When the light shines through the white one it appears slightly pink because I did not spray the inside. If you want it to be all white you will need to spray both sides. One side takes 2 cans of white.
I also bought 15 garlands (.99 cents each) of pastel flowers, from the Party Shop as well. You will have to cut them to various lengths and also keep some individual flowers to glue around the frame. Everything is hot-glued to the umbrella.
Next I hot-glued little pink parasols (got a box of 500--they didn't have anything smaller-- from the Party Shop--the box is $4.99) at the end of each string of flowers.
For the aqua umbrella I used a bunch of little yellow and green parasols and self sticking letters (box from Michaels $4.99). The letters were white so I painted them yellow and green to match the little parasols.
As you can see both are inexpensive to make and the variations are limitless.
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The next project is a wreath. I was looking to make something airy and colorful and "spring appropriate." I remembered I had a lot of leftover tulle pieces from previous projects I had done. The big issue was to find them (I have enough stuff to open a prop shop!) .....but I finally did......
I wanted to use something different from the usual flowers and these butterflies and lady bugs (from Michaels) did the trick. I really wanted softer hues and also dragonflies but though I saw some lovely ones on line they were all too big.
I call it the Rainbow Wreath but "Ballerina Wreath" would be appropriate too because, to me, it looks like tuttu!
If you prefer something more traditional here is a cute one........(I did not make it and can't remember where I got the photo from. My apologies to the person who crafted it.)
And these cute eggs and centerpiece come from an on line magazine (notebookmagazine.com)
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Of course I did not make these next ones but found them at HOME GOODS while looking for props. I got one of each because I am sure I will need them for a shoot at some point. They too are inexpensive.
Speaking of spring, I saw these lovely pillows in the new Pottery Barn catalog ........they certainly make timely accessories...............
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I made these Valentine envelopes several years ago using glassine paper, which I cut and glued to form envelopes. I filled them with pink and white shredded paper and Hershey Kisses. They are held closed with little heart stickers.
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Well, that should do it for today. I will leave you with photos that speak of warmer weather to come.................................soon..................
The weather has not been very nice in Florida. Though we have not had snow and blizzard it has been quite cold and a lot of plants froze. The garden is looking very shabby but as soon as it gets warmer again I promise myself to take a walk on the beach because I just never find the time and it's a shame when you live only a couple of blocks from this............
Meanwhile, as soon as the sun shines I will go take a little nap in my backyard...
Soon my little garden will look like this again...........and so will yours...................hang in there!
Until next time. A bientot.
