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How to Brighten a Rainy Day Brunch
comments (29) March 21st, 2012
We had all the ingredients for a perfect weekend away near the shore: a brunch to introduce new friends to old, a menu of Asian-inspired cuisine, a selection of exotic imported teas...and a nor'easter that nearly blew the house off its foundations. It could have been a disaster (and it very nearly was) had my friends and I not taken it as an opportunity to slip off our wet shoes, run around in our socks, drink cups of hot tea, and enjoy the warmth of being inside while the weather raged outside.
We had originally intended to cut a handful of tulips from the garden to use on the table, but the high winds and pelting rain all but destroyed them before we got a chance to gather them. With very little time to make other plans (and no flowershop within easy reach of where we were), we headed to the grocery store to see what we could find that would suffice as table decor. On a low, dusty shelf in the paper products aisle, we found a box colorful cocktail parasols. On the way home, we stopped at a tiny local craft and fabric store where we were lucky to find two styrofoam standards (on sale!). With these goodies in hand, we headed back home. A neighbor offered us two clay flowerpots to complete the project.
All told, I spent about 25 minutes making these cheery centerpieces (and 10 of those minutes were spent photographing the process for this post). Those few hurried minutes brightened the entire day for us and our guests. Again, paper came to my rescue and, unlike fresh flowers, these lovely creations won't disintegrate into a pile of wilted petals, so I plan on using them again in the future.
So, unlike some of my previous posts (many of which take hours and hours and hours of time and effort to complete), today I offer a down-and-dirty, quick-and-easy project that you can use all summer long.
Craft on!
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Two styrofoam standards (overall height 18 inches with 6-inch-diameter globes) and a box of paper parasols are all I needed to begin my project. |
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It proved difficullt to keep each of the parasols fully open, so I decided to insert them all in a partially open postion, which made the finished piece look wonderfully textured and dimensional. |
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I inserted all of the orange, pink, and yellow parasols first and then "covered up" the areas between them (where the globe showed through) with green parasols. |
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To add a more finished look to the stem of the standard, I wrapped it with a length of ribbon, pinning it into the styrofoam at the top and the bottom. |
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To disguise the green styrofoam base, I covered it with a handful of rice (of which I had plenty since my menu was Asian cuisine). |
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The finished pieces atop a sideboard. They looked bright, cheery, and very springlike but also slightly formal and manicured. Unlike real topiaries, which would have cost a mint, these cost only $10 for the two. |
After you make this project, show off your work to other members!
Post your project in the gallery
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DIY Wedding
Find ideas to create the ultimate DIY Wedding and to help plan any showers and parties this spring.
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Comments (29)
Posted: 3:53 am on April 18th
handicraft items
Posted: 2:15 am on March 19th
Posted: 12:29 pm on August 20th
Posted: 6:06 am on May 31st
Posted: 10:05 pm on April 16th
Glad to have you back.
You are a very creative man=WOW!
Smiles,
Sunshine43
Posted: 10:38 pm on March 25th
Thanks again!
Posted: 10:59 am on July 20th
Posted: 9:03 am on March 30th
Posted: 2:11 pm on March 15th
Posted: 11:04 pm on March 3rd
Posted: 6:42 pm on March 3rd
Posted: 1:11 pm on January 17th
The umbrella's can be sprayed gold or silver and the trunk covered with satin ribbon for a wedding decoration. I definately will be using this idea for one of my social events.
Thank you!
Posted: 9:29 am on August 13th
Posted: 9:56 am on August 8th
Posted: 9:55 am on August 8th
Thanks for sharing
Posted: 6:12 am on June 22nd
Posted: 11:01 pm on May 6th
Posted: 8:23 pm on May 5th
Posted: 2:41 pm on May 5th
Would you consider posting this over at instructables.com?
We're the largest DIY website on the net, and it would be a great way to drive traffic back to your site.
Since the pictures and copy are already perfect, it would be a snap to post on instructables. Once you do, let me know and I'll make sure you get featured on the front page!
Best,
Sarah
[email protected]
Posted: 2:16 pm on May 5th
Posted: 7:56 am on May 5th
Posted: 3:52 pm on May 4th
Posted: 2:15 pm on May 4th
Sometimes "happy accidents" far outpace planned designs . . . and this is a classic example! Bravo!
Posted: 1:27 pm on May 4th
Posted: 11:49 am on May 4th
Jeffery, you are the God of Paper ! I've been telling ALL my friends that, too !!!
Posted: 11:25 am on May 4th
Posted: 10:55 am on May 4th
Posted: 9:41 am on May 4th
Posted: 7:55 am on May 4th