The smallest details to a picnic or get together can really make all the difference in the world. Forget heading to the store and try repurposing a few items you might have around the house already. These ideas are simple and are sure to make any outdoor event special.
The great minds over at Martha Stewart recently released a long list of ideas (60 of them to be exact) to use in your outdoor entertaining. They're all fabulous, but several focused just on repurposing a few common items. Here's our favorites below:
1. Pretty Paper Bowls: Purchased paper bowls for the most part are a joke, especially if you don't need them to hold a liquid or require a smaller size. Make your own from inexpensive (or eco-friendly) paper plates and rubber bands. They'll make finger food easy to pick up and carry around!
2. Preppy Napkin Rings: These napkin rings might be labeled as preppy, but they're anything but. Pick up a pack of D rings next time you're at the craft/fabric store and you'll always have napkin rings on hand. Use ribbon you happen to have on hand and you're all set. Mix and match as your event sees fit. They're usually used to make belts and such, so check for them in the accessory department where you'd find buttons and snaps!
3. Paper Cocktail Covers: Hanging out by the pool is awesome until you swallow a bug. Although you won't get too many winged creatures in your iced tea, sweeter drinks or cocktails give off a sticky sweet aroma and have bugs coming at you from every direction. Keep nature out with a simple muffin liner!
4. River Rock Paperweights: River rocks are usually found in, well, rivers, or possibly your craft stores to use as fillers for floral decorations. Try keeping a bucket of them to help guests keep things weighted down so you aren't running around picking up napkins or even partially eaten plates of food.
5. Vellum Shields: These little covers are easily made from two sheets of vellum and a pair of chopsticks (unbroken). This cover can slide over any jar, vase, or piece of glassware, allowing you to mix and match things while still having a cohesive look!
Related: Female Force! Martha Stewart Gets Her Own Comic Book
(Image: Martha Stewart)
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the cocktail covers are genius! bees and wasps always try to get a taste of sugary drinks. eek!
I agree that the cocktail covers are a brilliant idea! I really could have used one last weekend.
Paper that is called biodegradeable is usually a scam, especially if it gets tossed in the trash. Are people really going to throw these in the compost pile after the party? Because without air, water and sunlight, they won't biodegrade. Plus where they come from - corn fields require deforestation and a ton of water.
Those cheapo paper plates should be able to be composted as long as they're not soaked in meat juice or something.
The rubber band bowls are my favorite idea. The drink covers are cute, but we almost never use straws. I like the look of vintage hankies with weights on the corners for drink covers, better. They're washable, too.
I like reusing the eco-friendly clamshell containers I get from my health food store delis instead of plastic containers. They seem to be more durable than their styrofoam counterparts and clean up better.
I like the river rock suggestion. I don't know why I love those things, but they are an awesome suggestion for picnic blanket weights.
The Clumsy Eater
I like the paper plate idea. I actually use coffee filters for extra snack bowls :-)