Garden Rose Party Table

Happy May Day! Figured the best way I could get you some flowers was to share the pretty pictures I took of my Easter table settings and share that we have something fun coming soon. That's right - something fabulous is headed your way from us and we are so excited to start sharing little bits about it! When it comes to party planning and setting a great table do you need help? We are working on a new website feature called Set the Party that will make it fun and easy. Now let's share some more pictures of this beautiful Rifle Paper and floral table to get your creative juices flowing for upcoming events like Mother's Day and bridal showers...

When I volunteered to host Easter brunch for both of our families (yes, you read that right, I threw myself out there because I'm crazy and needed a reason to get my house in order), I decided it would be a great opportunity to set a gorgeous table. That's my specialty when hosting because cooking isn't one of my strengths or passions. I like to distract my guests with beautiful tableware! Lucky for me, my husband, mother-in-law and grandma pulled through on making brunch. They did a wonderful job. 

For the table settings, I decided to mix and match with the new Rifle Paper Co. party collection and some other florals and metallics we have. Mixing and matching is my favorite way to create unique place settings and our new website feature will be helpful for planning out fun ways to do just that. The moment I saw the new watercolor die cut flower plates, I knew they'd be a beautiful combo with the Rifle Paper designs. Plus it breaks up the busy patterns. Down the middle of the table, I used the new garden party table runner, which is an easy statement piece. Fresh flowers complimented the party supplies. On the back of the chairs, I hung one of our new paper flower garlands. On the table, I also worked in the adorable new Rifle Paper Corkcicle stemless wine tumblers - how fun would these be on the table for the moms at your Mother's Day party?

My extremely talented cupcake baker, September Moon Cupcakery, brought my sugar Rifle Paper dreams to life with these amazing cupcakes. I sent her a picture of the gorgeous table Anna Bond set and she made me my own flower creations! Can't recommend Cara enough for your next party. They were the perfect centerpiece to this garden party table.

After having fun at the shop playing with the table settings, I took the supplies home and set my family brunch table. I mixed in some of my own pieces (chargers, serving dishes and goblets) for an extra touch, plus I love my china. I didn't want to use it for everything because I would probably still be trying to do all the dishes, but it was fun to use the chargers that go under the used plates.

Are you hosting everyone for a Mother's Day brunch or dinner? I think these products would be dreamy for that. It's colorful, springy and a touch whimsical. I'll link all the products below, so you can shop.

Stay tuned and make sure to follow our new Instagram account for the new website feature: Set the Party. We will be posting fun sneak peeks, details, asking for input and sharing the launch oh so soon! Our excitement is brewing to finally share it with you after working on it for a while.

Shop this post:
Garden Party Collection | Gold Metallic Stripe Large Plates | Rose Garden Plates | Gold Hammered Forks | Gold Frenchie Stripe Cups | Blossom Flower Garland | Rifle Paper Stemless Wine Tumblers | Rifle Paper Pillows & Rug - Contact or Stop in to Order

Lots of Love,

Simple Thanksgiving Table

Thanksgiving dinner calls for festive table settings! Keep it simple by using pretty paper goods. We played with some of the fun items my mother snagged for her kids' table at our family dinner to show you some fun ideas!

Our fall floral plates mixed with the gold foil pine napkins make such a gorgeous combination. Top them off with festive crackers and place cards, and you have a great Thanksgiving setup! We laid one of our gold foil runners underneath - love the kraft paper for a fall look, but the white would be gorgeous too! We kept it simple with a greenish-grey pumpkin as the centerpiece, but you can definitely get creative with this: pumpkins, flowers, turkey, crafts and more.

Need a fun, affordable hostess gift? These Sugarfina pumpkin pie caramels fit the bill! Also, an adorable party favor if you want something fun on your place settings for guests.

Stop in this week and next Tuesday-Wednesday to pickup supplies for your Thanksgiving! We hope you have a fun one and enjoy the day.

Lots of Love,

Easter Brunch Inspiration

Inspiration and blog post done by new shop girl, Rachel!

Hosting Easter brunch is one of my favorite annual activities!  I love to open up our house for spring; bring out the pastel colors and celebrate the day with a delicious meal, egg hunt and time with people we love.  Fresh blooms and floral patterns are my favorite way to decorate for Easter.  Sometimes it seems we overlook the kids table because so much of the celebration is focused around other children’s activities, but not this year!  This set-up pulls together an eye-catching display that’s sure to impress and, perhaps more importantly, entertain the smallest guests.

While it looks like a lot is happening here, simplicity is the goal! We can show you how to make it easy to layer patterns and textures, mix and match paper goods, use what you have and add elements of nature.

On this table we used an aqua table runner (festive wrapping or kraft paper is also a favorite), layered two Meri Meri Liberty Napkins on the table (because we know kids need more than one napkin) then set a base of our Meri Meri Toot Sweet Pink Stripe plates.  The iconic gold, scallop edge peeks out from underneath the textured appetizer plates and bowls in Pearly Pink and Caribbean Blue.  In the center of the plate we added Sugarfina Robin’s Egg Caramels and Baby Butterflies (available for purchase in store).

For additional table decor, add fun theme activities like this Meri Meri Bunny Dress Up Kit, stuffed animals like Hazel Village Bunnies, Liberty paper bunny ears or a decorative bunny balloon kit. These will occupy little ones while the adults socialize and finish their meal. We also added the adorable bunny backpacks on the backs of the chair, for the children to take home their fun Easter goodies.

Simplicity comes by mixing in what you already have on hand. Extra plastic eggs? The kiddos will have fun opening each one!  Easter grass? Crayons and paper? Toss them on the table!  In the shop, our best tablescapes often come together with the addition of small elements.  Plus, it’s always a win when decor doubles as a favor; bunny ears, bunny backpacks and pouches or Liberty Bunny Bags are all fun souvenirs for guests without a lot of work from the hostess.

The backdrop… to DIY or buy?

For a fresh and festive backdrop, head out for a walk with the littles and gather branches.  In about 40 minutes, we added greenery and florals to a fallen branch in order to create this hanging backdrop.

DIY Branch & Greenery Hanging Decor
Estimated time: 30-45 minutes
You’ll Need:
A branch or other hanger
Floral Wire
Flowers & greenery of your choice (we purchased at a local grocery store)
Optional: Eggs ornaments or other garland

To Make:
If you’re using fresh greenery and flowers, be sure to do this the day of your event so it’s as fresh as possible!
Cut stems to desired length
Wrap floral wire around the stem and connect to branch
Repeat until you have the desired look
For extra interest, hang egg ornaments from the middle or ends of the greenery

No time to DIY?  No worries!  Our favorite decor picks include the Meri Meri Liberty Happy Easter Garland, Meri Meri Floral Garland or The Flair Exchange tassel garland kit.

What are your favorite ways to celebrate Easter?  Did you try any of these ideas? We love to see your celebrations! Comment here or tag us on Instagram @loveofcharacter! Make sure you're following along to see some of our other Easter favorites, such as basket ideas.

Lots of Love,
Rachel

Easter Table Setting

Easter is less than two weeks away and Peter Cottontail is coming our way! How are you planning on celebrating? Some years we do family brunch and some years my grandma likes to host a big family dinner. Either way your family celebrates, you need a fun way to set a pretty table. To make it easy, why not use some festive paper plates?

Usually with small children, using your fancy china can be tricky, especially when they are full of excitement from their Easter baskets and long awaited Easter egg hunt. I love how these bunny plates are covered with gorgeous pastels perfect for spring and with the soft colors, you can mix them in with any decor. In case you are serving a fun yogurt, salad or dessert with your meal, we have gorgeous new gold ruffle bowls to add to your place setting...

Your other decorations can be simple. I love the gorgeous potted plants in stores right now. They are cute to put around your house and to bring as a hostess gift. I borrowed the big golden eggs from my mother, who used to use to hide them around for my brother and I to find. They make for a gorgeous Easter decoration! Thinking she shouldn't hide them anymore. The crystal Easter eggs are my favorite plastic eggs because they sparkle when the light hits them, and our cute bunny poppers are a perfect touch to the table.

If you are still trying to figure out Easter gifts, we have a few options for you! We always like to bring my grandma a cute gift for cooking up a delicious meal and of course, we have to remember cute little Leni (who will probably sing "Here comes Peter Cottontail..." all day, with my mom). This year in the shop, we are offering Little Boxes of Easter Character that are perfect for these types of gift situations! You can leave the goodies in the box like we have on the table here, you can put it in their Easter basket or you can empty out the fun items and add it to what you already have!

Shop our table:

Easter Holiday Shop - Plates, Napkins, Poppers & Boxes | Gold Flatware | Gold Ruffle Bowls | 

Stay Fancy Glass - available in "Build Your Own Box" or the "Cocktail Box"

I hope you all have a very blessed and happy Easter! Make sure to follow us on Instagram asap because we are going to be having a fun Easter giveaway soon!

Lots of Love,