Work is slow in the Summer so I decided to host a picnic party for the family one Sunday. It wasn’t perfect, but we had fun.
Invitation
Click here to download invitation template
We visited a few parks and settled with Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The park was huge, but beautiful. The park had a lot of trees spread out making it great for picnics and/or barbecues especially on sunny days.
We went to the park the weekend before the picnic to find a good spot and figure out how soon we need to get there to reserve it. We found the perfect spot with a view of the lake, and close to the parking lot and bathroom. We got there around 11:30am and luckily the spot was available!
We have set up a “Pack-Your-Own” picnic where guests get a basket each, fill their baskets with food, find a spot on the grass and enjoy their lunch. I have created a welcome poster describing the concept.
Click here to download poster template. Poster is 15″ x 21″ and can be printed on 4 letter-size paper. When printing, check the option to tile large pages.
I covered the table with red and white gingham tablecloth. I bought baskets from Paper Mart for guests to use. I lined the baskets with red and white gingham fabric that I bought at the garment district in NYC. I decided to use wooden forks and knives (I love them!) and tied them to Tekla dish towels from Ikea that I was using as napkins.
We served salad in white take-out containers from Paper Mart. We left the containers open so guests can add dressing, there were two to choose from. I printed 2×4 labels for sealing the salad containers. My mom cooked Sotanghon (Filipino noodle dish) and we served it in kraft take-out containers, sealed with 2×4 labels. Click here for template for the 2×4 labels.
I couldn’t find generic foil-lined bags that are not labeled, so I bought foil lined hot dog bags instead for the pork shish kabobs (pork bbq). I then printed labels to cover the “hot dog” text. I used the kraft take-out containers for the burgers. I ordered wood boats for the corn and bratwurst.
Here are photos of my cousins’ baskets filled with food.
I chose this spot in the park because of a small tree that I thought would be perfect for a “photo booth” I was thinking. And here was our set-up and one of our photos:
A few tips:
Visit the park ahead of time and figure out the best time to get there to reserve the spot you like. Summer is a very popular season for picnics.
Serve food that can be served lukewarm. This is one disadvantage of hosting a picnic in a park instead of your backyard.
If you can, pack the food in their individual containers at home. It is less stressful when you have the food all ready to be set up on the table when you get to the park.
Be prepared for guests to bring food. The original plan was to have all food in containers that can be sealed. But bring plates and extra flatware for food that guests may bring.
During the holiday break, I wanted to learn something new and decided to learn crocheting. Now I’m addicted!
It’s pretty easy, you can make a lot of things, and it saves money. Now I don’t have to buy most of my accessories like scarf, hat, mittens, decorative belt.
I think every crafter should have a Silhouette SD. It looks like a printer, but it’s a cutting machine. Unlike other similar machines, there are no cartridges. You can use TrueType fonts on your computer. You can purchase designs online one by one for cheap. If you don’t want to spend, you can create your own!
You can read a review on the machine at one of my favorite blogs, Giver’s Log. Happy crafting!
If you want to share your own favorite thing/s, please leave a comment.
I’m so excited about this giveaway. I’ve been wanting a Silhouette SD for a while now!
Silhouette is a cutting machine, similar to the Cricut. What I love about the Silhouette is that it allows you to create your own design. It’s perfect for what I do. Click here to enter the giveaway at Giver’s Log. Contest ends 11/29/10.
Personalize your wine glasses with a word or two… a great way to add a personal touch to your party. Be creative with your words and it can be a conversation piece.
This is not your regular stenciling, it’s edible! All you need are stencils, corn syrup and cinnamon. Head on to The City Cradle for the instructions. It’s pretty easy!
In the beginning, I was planning to DIY my centerpieces. Recently, our plans changed and decided to hire a florist instead. But I totally forgot to show you the mock-up I did when I was still planning to DIY the centerpieces. So here they are…
I love decorative boxes. They’re great to keep little stuff in like photos, little trinkets, letters, etc. So I set out to find DIY instructions to create them and I found a great video from The Scrapbook Lounge via Elizabeth Anne Designs.
I just don’t do a project just because. I’m doing it actually for the wedding. Well, I’m not gonna say what it is for yet. Just stay tuned .
Template The card measures 4″ x 5.5″ and contains 4 pieces wrapped together with the belly wrap.
Click image below to download template
Directions Print and cut on solid lines. Assemble with top-left card at the top, then the top-right card right below, then the bottom-left card, then the bottom-right card at the very bottom. Wrap them together with the belly wrap.
If you want a crisper image (bridesmaid), print this file first on paper that you plan to use for your card. Personalize this 2nd file, then print it using the paper you’ve printed the first file on. Make sure you print on the side where the image is printed.
Insert assembled card into envelope and you’re all set!
I have tried Hydrangeas, now it’s time to try Carnations. They’re very affordable and I love the fullness of the blooms. Please pardon the visible rubber bands. I ran out of floral tape and I didn’t get to wrap the bouquet handle with ribbon before I did the corset-type wrapping.
Unfortunately, to get the bouquet size I wanted, I had to use a lot of carnations which ended up being more expensive than the Hydrangeas I used earlier. I spent $15 for 50 carnations.
The biggest advantage of using Carnations is that they last long. They lasted more than a week just being in a vase with water (no flower food).
DISCLAIMER
Any mention of vendors, products, or services is for informational purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation, unless otherwise noted. Go to BBB.org to check out a business or file a complaint. TERMS OF USE
. It looks like a printer, but it’s a cutting machine. Unlike other similar machines, there are no cartridges. You can use TrueType fonts on your computer. You can purchase designs online one by one for cheap. If you don’t want to spend, you can create your own!
.
(cutter), 
, 
(paper), 
(recycled paper)
