I’ll dive right in.

This was my 6th year decorating the White House for Christmas and it was my best and biggest as far as my growth as a creator. Even after last years almost 1,000 paper flowers made for the Blue Room tree it couldn’t exceed what I learned to make and how much it harkened back to my childhood.

I was asked by the First Lady and her team to create ornaments than pay tribute to the essential workers and first responders. It was an obvious choice because of the year we’ve had and one that I was prepared to take very seriously. It hasn’t been until later in my life did I realize that my gift to create is my gift of service. In this instance, I knew if someone visiting the White House sees their profession realized on the Red Room tree that they will experience some sort of joy and happiness even if for a moment. That the Peoples House acknowledges their efforts and sacrifices.

The houses were a last minute addition believe or not! Houses were something I had never attempted but honestly you don’t tell the White House or my boss “No” or ” I can’t”! Two weeks before ship date I started these precious houses using felt, cardboard and LOTS of sequins. I knew all along they needed to be lit from the inside and that I’d make a red barn, hospital, firehouse, grocery store, fast food restaurant and post office. ALL essential to our lives during the pandemic of 2020!

Well, another craft, another year and I felt like I did the White House and First Lady proud. I get asked all the time what happens to all the decorations? I am very proud to say that mine from this year, along with my other crafts created for the White House will be archived and used at the Presidential library. That means I’ll forever be part of history forever!

God Bless America!

A perfect Easter table doesn’t have to be the traditional pinks, and blues with gingham, but what it does need to have is a story. This Easter table all started with my rabbit motif Spode china. Its story was to be sophisticated and charming using pieces that fit in a country color scheme…the English countryside that is!

I love to create boxwood chargers (charger base form here) for elevation and color. In addition to being just fun, they can be made a week or even two ahead of time.

Ok, here is the charm. Use vintage brooches, like this wagon of my grandmothers, and pin it onto the ribbon used to tie your napkins.

These napkins are from Pier One picked for their off white color and detail, again charming and country! The ribbon was a Christmas Ballard Designs purchase still in stock with other fabulous color choices.

Fringed garlands are an easy DIY with BIG impact. I purchase most of my crepe from Cartefini, the color choices are amazing! It’s as easy as rolling out the paper, cut your desired width and length and fringe.

Basket is from the Williams Sonoma outlet. I filled it with two bunches of traditional Gypsophilia or baby’s breath. There are newer types of gyp like “Million Star” but in my opinion, it is not as pretty for use in baskets.

*This dried amazingly!

Look around your home for things you love that can inspire an Easter table that tells your story. Maybe it is your grandmother’s china or a great wrapping paper you’ve held on to, or how about yard cuttings and blown out white eggs tucked into it, regardless, take this time to celebrate and decorate.

Happy Easter!

Amanda

Hopping right to it… I LOVE Hester and Cook table runners! I use them to wrap gifts, as backdrops and for there original purpose pictured here as a table runner. The fun thing with this orange one is that I stenciled it with something that resembled carrot tops to give it something eggs-tra!

The cookies were to be the focal point on my table, so I placed them on top of a vintage cake stand that sat inside a boxwood wreath, the boxwood was cut from my yard, and is something that will last for weeks and eventually dry for continuous use.

Honeybuns, aka cinnamon rolls, were placed on some tiny Target cupcake stands, very inexpensive and cutest Easter colors!

Whole Foods keeps in stock mini cakes that are perfect for smaller buffets or when you may have lots of other goodies to offer. They taste delicious and are perfectly decorated. All I did with this mini was add a bunny kit from Walmart and I think he looks absolutely precious.

I hope that with this post you feel inspired to create an Easter or spring table that gets your little bunnies egg-cited about the day.

That’s all, yolks! Happy easter!

Earlier this year during the ALT Summit, a conference for women influencers and bloggers, I took a crepe paper flower class taught by Rebecca Thuss and her gal pal Sarah. Rebecca is the author of Petal to Paper and has a resume that includes years of styling and designing for Martha Stewart. She is a delightful person and an excellent teacher. I was hooked and knew this would be my new crafting addiction.

It was probably ‘faux pas’ to use glitter stamens in the world of paper flowers but honestly, I couldn’t help myself. I wanted my crepe babies to have a sense of humor. Nor was I completely married to the idea that each flower must represent an existing flower. Maybe the flowers of my dreams all have glitter and are a little quirky? I found the best German glitter at Rose Mille along with fabulous vintage stamens and ribbons.

My other addiction is wrapping paper. Not your normal paper, but the kind that could stand as art by itself. The kind that has me reeling with ideas. However, with Mothers Day around the corner, I used it for its true purpose and wrapped a gift or two, or three!

**Always add extras like vintage black and white ribbon from Rose Mille, died burlap from Michaels and festooning purchased from Etsy.

TIP: I never use tape on packages, only dabs of hot glue. Be-leaf it or not!

Wrapping paper and Matches jar from Feliz Modern

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Goodies:

Italian Crepe Paper can be found at Cartefini and Rose Mille. I personally love the doublette colors at Rose Mille and their vintage ribbon and stamens. I’m still learning about paper weight and which is best. So far I like 180 gram and 140 gram which can be found on Cartefini. Be sure and purchase green options for foliage!

Other supplies like the spun cotton and German glitter I’ve found at Smile Mercantile. They sell the spun cotton balls I use for centers.

At any age, I believe it is possible to learn a new craft. Something that inspires creativity and thought. Something that encourages your soul to dream and create. Crepe paper and making flowers does that for me and that is why I wanted to share this post. Happy Creating and Crafting!

Thank you!