Red, White, and Blue...

We are having a 4th of July BBQ after our services at church. I thought it would be fun to put together some quick centerpieces to give things a more festive look tomorrow. I got the tin pails and the bandanas for a $1 each and the flags were 3 in a pack for $1 - all in Target's dollar spot...where else? =)

Cootie Catchers and Centerpieces...

Cootie Catchers...just typing it makes me chuckle. I don't know what else to call these little things. Remember folding these and labeling them ever so carefully in grade school? Some people call them 'fortune tellers'...either way - they've got another great use. Candy dishes!

I used 12x12 scrapbook papers for these, but you could make them with any size square sheet of paper. Loved how they turned out, but wasn't as crazy about the little heart picks that I added. They were a little top heavy and kept leaning - not too bad though.

The other things I did as center pieces for this years Valentine's Banquet was a frame that I picked up at the dollar store and added our theme, a clear vase filled with a "velvety" rose" and Red Hot candies (also purchased at the dollar store) and the black tin planter with the roses. I bought the black tins at Wal Mart on clearance and then got the roses at Michael's for 99 cents for a bunch of 6 flowers.

I liked how everything turned out this year. Did all of them in one evening.

Quick signs...

My hubby had a little leadership luncheon at our church. We went with a sports theme because he wanted to emphasize working TOGETHER.
I didn't have time to print out anything or get out the Cricut...but he wanted something with the theme written on it.
This is what I came up with. Simple hand-lettered signs and treat bags.

Dontcha just love streeeeeeeeeetch writing? =]

Bless Our Nest...

Our ladies banquet theme this year was "Bless Our Nest". I've taken quite a liking to birds, cages, nests...

I thought I'd share some pictures of what I came up with and put together for centerpieces and such.

This cage was borrowed, I'd love to find one like it, but I added the nest, baneer, bird, ivy, etc.
This was the main centerpiece.

I had 4 of these - 2 green and 2 cream. The verse on the tags are Psalm 84:3

These were branches that had a little grapevine wreath nest on them and I added some plastic eggs, real feathers and little birdie.

This was the group of them. They looked great on the tables.

Here are some Edible Bird's Nests that we made. You just take chow mein noodles (the crispy, salad bar type) and pour melted chocolate on them. Mix or toss quickly and then carefully form them like nests on wax paper. Place jelly beans or chocolates to resemble eggs. Paste them on with peanut butter. Yum. We had one at every place setting in cellophane bags.

Custom made centerpieces and favors for parties, banquets, retreats...
These were for a Valentine's Banquet...."How Sweet It Is..."

Altered Mailbox

Centerpiece...Chocolate Bar, Hard Candy and Sucker - Made with craft items.

Candle with hand-stamping and paper in theme of your choice.

Matchbox favors with Hershey chocolates inside, made to coordinate with your theme.

Christmas table centerpiece - Reindeer sitting

Reindeer Standing

Altered CD - Photo frame - wall hanging

Favors for a banquet. Refridgerator magnets. Theme was "Create In Me A Clean Heart"

Some of the items I altered and then used for centerpieces.

Altered spiral notebooks to use as a journal.

Altered formula cans - for teacher

Altered mailbox - candy holders