Style Without Breaking the Bank - Easter Centerpiece

(Photo courtesy of BHG)

This week's installment of "Style Without Breaking the Bank" is all about your Easter tabletop centerpiece. Easter is such a special time to gather friends and family around your table, and you don't have to spend oodles to make a statement. Every day I see more and more flower buds beginning to open signifying the start of spring. I love having fresh flowers in the house as well this time of year, but they can be expensive.

Now you may gasp at what I'm going to tell you, but carnations are a perfect flower for a bold, tight packed centerpiece. I know...gasp! When packed in a tight arrangement, carnations can actually give the appearance of garden roses for a fraction of the cost. The picture above is a perfect centerpiece for your Easter table incorporating pale pastel Easter eggs and tightly packed carnations displayed on a cake stand pedestal. Below, you'll see an elegant alternative using small paves of dusty pick carnations in silver julep cups. I hope you are inspired to grab some carnations and a few containers from around your home, and see what you can come up with!

(Photo courtesy of Chelsea Hixon featured on Totally Tabletops)

Bring On The Christmas Decorations!

Back when I was decorating our home for fall, I talked about these simple glass containers. For October and November they were filled with pine cones, beaded mini pumpkins and leaves.

This weekend instead of crashing into a turkey induced coma, once we got home from a fun and family filled time at the cabin, I set my i pod to shuffle in the holiday genre and got to work decorating for Christmas. I slowly pulled my decorations out of their boxes as if I were opening up a treasure chest. Ever since I was a little girl I have loved decorating for the holidays, and that is something that has never changed.

The glass containers were actually the first thing I decorated. I filled them with an assortment of faux snow, crystals, faux cranberries, glitter stars, gold ornaments and beaded fruit. I have collected these items over the years, but you can use whatever you have on hand. Start with faux snow and ornaments, and then add whatever fits with your own personal decor.

Decor tip: If you're using large containers and don't have enough items to fill them with, twist up tissue paper and put it in the middle of the container. Surround the paper with your decorations until it's completely hidden. This will allow all of your decorations to be seen.

Halloween Inspiration Board

Halloween is only a couple of days away. If you're throwing a bash, it's not to late to add a few special touches that will make your party even more memorable. Check out the links below for fun D.I.Y. ideas and inspiration.

-Ghoulish Glam Mood Lighting
-Halloween Spiderweb Cookies
-Pumpkin Treat Bags
-Spooktacular Bar
-Drill a Pumpkin
-Party Tub
-Spooky Stairwell
-Mummy Candy Holder
-Chocolate Rats

Festive Feathered Wreath

I recently saw this fantastic feathered wreath while perusing my Pottery Barn catalog. The look is dramatic and a bold statement for Halloween, and my first thought was, "I could make that...".

Step one was to dig this simple wreath form out of my Mom's craft closet. Any wreath form will work. A cheap styrofoam form would actually work best because they are light weight, and you can get these at any craft store.


Step two was to pull out the dress up box to get my old black feathered boa that I wore to a dance in high school. I never thought I would find a use for it again! If you don't have a boa on hand, you can get them at craft or costume stores. Wrap the boa around the wreath (you may need more than one to cover the entire surface).

Here is my wreath hanging on my front door. With Halloween right around the corner, this is the perfect way to greet all of those trick-or-treaters who will soon be here!