Dress Up Your Summer BBQ Party Food

It's summer time! Here are some fun ways to dress up your summer party food and get crafty at the same time. Learn how to make drink umbrellas at eHow and whip up these paper food baskets with help from Zakka Life via The Moody Fashionista.

Fun Cocktail Markers: Floating Flowers

Inspired by an idea from Bake it Pretty, I originally bought these flowers to add a little pizazz to our cocktails at the Crafts and Cocktails party Saturday night. Turns out they are also a great way to distinguish who's drink is who's when you are all are drinking the same thing (the mimosas were flowing) and you buy them in different colors. I bought mine from etsy seller SasssyPant's. 12 customized flowers for $3.50!

Crafts and Cocktails: A Success!

Had a great time with 5 friend Saturday night, starting the new tradition of Crafts and Cocktails! It was about 4 hours of eating good food, drinking Champagne Cocktails and Mimosas, chatting, and getting our craft on of course! Each day this week, I'll be sharing with you tidbits from the party. Today here's a look at the swizzle sticks I made for the drinks. Get the How-to at Martha Stewart. Note: I used plastic lollipop sticks instead of cocktail stirrers (much easier to find).

Tea and Crafts Party

Ok, so I know what you're thinking: Tea Party, seriously? I have to admit, I wasn't too gung-ho when I got my first tea party invitation earlier this year. But it really turned out to be a blast! In fact, I had so much fun, that I hosted a tea & crafts party with my mom & sister a few months later. The first thing you have to realize is that it's not about tea or how you hold your pinky finger (at least not the ones I've been to). It's about being together and doing something creative. Everything from wearing a ridiculous outfit you normally wouldn't be caught dead in, to making a tasty treat to share with friends, to using a new crafting technique (sporting an English accent for the day is optional :), is a way to express your creativity. Tea is just an excuse. A good excuse? That's up to you to decide. To help you, I am sharing a few fun Tea Party related items and projects!

This is our table all ready for the Tea Party!

Stuff to Bring: Hostess Gifts

• Why not bring your hostess a tea related gift, like tea towels or tea art? I bought this print from Etsy Seller YumiYumi for my cousin Erica who hosted a wonderful tea/birthday party earlier this year:

Stuff to Wear:

• I needed something to protect my ruffles and lace while crafting so I picked up this fabulous apron made from a recycled skirt at new Etsy shop ForgetMeNotFashion:
  
  

Stuff to Make:

• Mentioned in an earlier post, these decorated Tea Tins from CraftStylish are easy tea-themed craft. Tutorial included!
  
  


• Inspired by a Coaster Tutorial at Curbly, these Trivets are perfect for a pot of tea!
  
  


• My mom made some really cute Cakestands & Pedastals like these from Tangarang.blogspot.com to hold all our cute party food and finger sandwhiches. Sounds like a perfect New Use for Old Stuff! Tutorial included!
  
  

Stuff to Give:

• My mom also made 6 different little felt dresses and put them at each of the place settings on the table. Each one had it own personality and was kind of like a place card in way, except we each got to chose our own and take them home as a party favor. Isn't she crafty? Inspired by the book called Softies by Therese Laskey, Laurie Frankel, and Laurie Kramer.

Now, I do believe it's tea time dahling! What's your favorite tea inspired craft or party idea?