Everyday Celebrating

Felted flowers

Yes, please.

Creating occasions at Goodwill!

If you read this blog much, you know that I shop Goodwill quite a bit.  For me, and I know how corny this sounds, it's a place to clear my head and flip the creative switch.  I've told this to people before and many just don't understand.  Or, I've had several people write in saying they just never "see" things at Goodwill or can't find anything good.  With these comments as well as a few people asking what my thought process is while shopping Goodwill, I thought I'd start a series where I show things I find and the logic of how I'd use it.  There are many times that a theme is seen and decor pieces are put together AT Goodwill.

Let's get started.  These photos I'm showing today came from one store.  During one trip.  

First, I always find many many items that jump out as inspiration pieces.  Here are a few:

Polka dot box.  The famous disco dot pattern.  Michael Miller revived the disco dot pattern and I'm so glad he did.  It's everywhere!  When I saw this, I thought it was perfect to design several occasions around.  Baby shower, young girl's birthday, bachelorette party, summer girl's get together, to name a few.  Uses for the box?   It would be beautiful to sit a large carnation ball in as a centerpiece or line with tissue paper and use to hold favors, etc.  Of course, just the box along is adorable and would make a great gift box.  Throw in some Bath and Body Works products and a note for a friend who needs a pick me up?

Children's art.  This was a poster size piece of children's art on canvas.  Absolutely adorable!  You know how I talk about backdrops a lot.  This would be a great backdrop or focal point of a table for a baby shower.  Especially if the theme of the shower or the baby's nursery is something included in this art.  This is an amazing piece for party decor because it has so many common themes included:  airplane, animals, firetrucks, robot, rocket, etc.  A great piece to tie into!

  

Tea cup.  Looking at it now, I should have put it against something to really get the scale of this thing.  It was HUGE.  First thing I thought when I saw it was spray paint it!  Secondly, I thought 2 things:  either using it for an Alice in Wonderland party or a fun tea party either for little girls or older.  Uses for it may be holding a floral centerpiece or using as a punchbowl (seriously, it was THAT large). Of course, you'd have to line it with another bowl if you spray painted it to make it safe for food/beverage.  Or, place a large round piece of wood on top and use it as a themed cupcake stand or serving piece.  Lots of uses for this but it definitely needed to be painted first.

 
Then there are items that I see that already have a theme.  Like these three things:

Firetruck boots.  No transformation needed!  Add them to a firetruck theme child's birthday.  And do what with them?  Create a floral arrangement or fill them with floral foam and stick in long all day suckers. Another idea is to stick something in the bottom of both of them to elevate a cup and fill the cup with fun striped straws like these from Garnish.

Chairs.  Snow White and Cinderella.  Very common children's themes.  When I look at these, I see cupcake stands or a great place to hold a platter.  In using them to serve food, you won't be covering up the characters and can use them to really add a larger decor piece to your party inexpensively.  Plus, you can give them to the guest of honor afterwards!  These needed just a bit of touch up paint on the edges and they would be perfect!

 

Dragons.  I instantly think something like Harry Potter.  This could easily be in the center of your table on a stand or an easel.

Now there are many times that the Goodwill stars align and you find several items that fit one theme.  
Like during this trip, I saw this.  A massive margarita glass.  I'm thinking margarita party featuring various flavors, or a gathering of friends before a Jimmy Buffett concert to create a margaritaville concept.  Luau, pool party... tons of themes.  

How would you use it?  Floral arrangement?  Or place 3 regular size margarita glasses inside this one to create a graduated stand to display margarita cupcakes?   Or, if you're serving margaritas on the rocks, it's a great serving piece.

So, in the next aisle over, there was this sign.  Perfect to use in the margarita theme.  You can't tell it from the photo, but the actual margarita is 3D in that it is raised and has depth. Really cute! Place it on an easel  to add additional theme and color.

Need dishes to continue the colorful occasion?  Again, one aisle over....
The great thing about Goodwill is that, more times than not, you can find whole sets of dishes.

Then you're well on your way to a party!

So there you have it!  A small glimpse of how my mind works while shopping Goodwill.  For those of you that wrote in, I hope it's useful. :)  Email or leave a comment below!   I'm happy to make this a regular feature! 
 
  

Everyday Events: Impromptu Picnic

Isn't it amazing how fresh flowers, ribbon, raffia and some baskets can make your everyday picnic look like it came out of a magazine?

Paula of Frog Prince Paperie had 3 hours notice of her guests arrival!  She threw together this perfect impromptu picnic with what she had on hand and it turned out beautifully!

See that beautiful pound cake?  She shares the Paula Deen recipe on her site!  AND, she sells those monogram circles in her etsy shop. 



Paula's impromptu picnic is exactly the type of occasion we celebrate here at EC.  Even with short notice, when you have a few basic extra touches on hand, you can make any gathering an occasion! 

 

Pom Pom Vines

Once Wed shows these adorable pom pom vines for a rustic outdoor setting.

Leaves can be cut from green paper or you could use real magnolia or other wide sturdy leaves.

 
 

A summery fresh Lemon Party!

A beautiful summery lemon party found at All that is Sweet in Life!  A nice party for girlfriends or would make a gorgeous Mother's Day party for your friends, bridal shower or birthday.

Lemon curd favors!




As a major fan of Goodwill, I love this idea!
Two ladies found pillowcases at Goodwill and other thrift stores and repurposed them into napkins.
Each had a tag that featured the word lemon in various languages.

Check out more photos of this lemony fresh party here.      

  

Whiffle ball bouquet

What do you do with this?

add some spray paint.... and get.....

  

Whiffle ball bouquet!  I love it because it's a bit thicker and more ruffle edged than a pom.  Whiffle balls and coffee filters found at the dollar store! 
  
Find the full tutorial on the whiffle ball bouquet at Me Making Do

Shell garland

Are you coming over from Hob Nob Murfreesboro?  Welcome to Everyday Celebrating!  This blog will show you amazing parties and wonderful ideas to celebrate every day!  I plan parties in the Murfreesboro/Nashville area and I invite you to contact me for your own parties and special events.  I'd love to be involved!

_______________________________________________________________________

I ran across this seashell garland at In My Own Style and thought it would be great for a luau or beach party.  Head over to see a great tutorial on how to make this easy garland from raffia and these:

These garlands would be great draping on the front of your food table or behind your table with fish netting.   Or they would be nice wrapped around the base of a cake.  So many options!

 

Everyday Events: Carnival First Birthday

A super fun carnival first birthday to kick off a Monday!  Submitted by Adriana.

I'm always a fan of balloon kites! 



Prize tent!



Love the centerpieces with the flowers as "popcorn"

favors!


Lots of sweets!


Check out Adriana's blog to see lots more photos of this huge party!  Lots of details AND guests!        

This week: on my desk

One sprig of beautiful blooms from an outside bush held by a chemistry beaker.  Yes, that's a pyrex chemistry beaker.  It's simple and you can create a pop of color easily as it only holds a couple stems.

Pyrex beaker at Goodwill.  $.49.   Another example of thinking outside of the box when you shop.

Next week, I'll show the perfect Fourth of July use for inexpensive goodwill mason jars.

Everyday Events: A reader's version of the damask shower

One of the most rewarding aspects of this blog is receiving emails from readers who have taken an idea they saw here and ran with it.  I received a great email last week from Jill saying the following:

 Hi there.
I found your website on google a few months ago while searching for centerpiece ideas for my sister's engagement party, themed black damask and green apples. I used your ideas and love following your blog for other creative ideas from birthday parties to baby showers. I wanted to share some pictures with you from the event and say thank you for the wonderful ideas that helped inspire the most beautiful and memorable event. I have shared you blog with other friends and we all just love it up in Virginia! Can't wait to keep following your ideas! 

Thanks again. 
Jill 

Jill took her inspiration from my black/white damask shower and I'm thrilled to share some of the fabulous details from Jill's damask and apple green shower!

Beautiful table featuring a photo montage of the couple attached to a wonderful damask type piece of ironwork

Jill cored apples to hold tea lights and used the flourish scrapbook stickers from Target.  She also used decorative initials to the cake plate and as background.

Her table before the food was added.  I love the greenery around the white platters.  She also used sliced green apples in the vase and damask wrapping paper.



I love this.  A simple continuation of the theme and color


A great chocolate fountain!  Love the use of height and she made the candy initials!  More use of greenery and wrapping paper to add more damask.

     
Thanks to Jill for sharing an Everyday Celebrating inspired gathering!

Need invitations, favors, cones, etc in the damask theme?  Hop over to my etsy shop to make things easy! 

Need damask paper products?  Visit my blog sponsor, Plates and Napkins!