Easter Table Scape 2012

This is the first holiday that we will celebrate without all the kids at home.
So, I am setting a table for 4 instead of our usual 6.
I am going to need a little time to get used to this idea.
My husband keeps reminding me that this is a good thing.
I have to focus on counting our blessings instead of the headcount at the table.
I have to focus on our blessings.

Anyway, on to the tablescape.
I am starting with this adorable table cloth.  

My Mom made it from a piece of fabric.

Next on is the place mats.   

The place settings take up a lot of space on the table.

Next we add the dinner plate and the salade plate.

I am using my Noritake Tahoe china that we received as wedding presents when we got married.  

I love the tone on tone delicate floral pattern. 

Pale pink glasses and a water pitcher go on next.

I am serving lamb, so I am adding some steak knives to the table.  

I put the napkins on the plate to save space.  

On top of that is my quickie little place markers. 

I made little nests out of raffia and shot glasses.  

I added a sweet little green or cream egg to the glass.  

I will add a little tag later and tuck it into the raffia nest.

I love these sweet little favors.

Here is the table complete with the centerpiece. 

I love how it turned out.  

I'll show you how I made the centerpiece next. 

I started with a container that would fit the space.  

I am using the oval serving dish that matches the china.  

I also grabbed some more raffia, a silk hydrangea, dried eucalyptus and a few more farm fresh eggs.  

I love buying eggs straight from a farmer...and they come in amazing Easter colors.
I found a local farmer on Craig's List.

I love these colors.
They are so natural and beautiful.

I started with a little raffia in the bottom of the bowl. 

Next I grabbed some raffia and wrapped it around my fingers until it made a cute little nest shape. 

I added three nests because you always want to work in odd numbers.  

I can be very obedient.

Then I filled the little nests and added a couple more eggs for extra color.

I thought the flower added a springy touch.

Is springy a word? 

I cut some of the eucalyptus berries to add to the arrangement.  

I love the color of the berries next to the beautiful eggs. 

Ta-da! 

It's perfect for our little table. 

I hope you have a Joyous Easter Celebration.   

I am linking this to Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch, Easter Link Party at Dear Lillie and Thrifty Tablescape at The Thrifty Groove.

Easter Bunny and Carrot Themed Kids Table

Today I am setting the kids table.  I have spent quite a bit of time thinking about this table, so I cannot wait to see how it turns out.  I am starting at the dining room table with an orange and white polka dot table cloth.  The table cloth is homemade.  I searched high and low for the perfect carrot colored table cloth and I just could not find an affordable one.  So one trip to Hobby Lobby with a coupon in hand and I was good to go.  I will have a table cloth tutorial later on.  My daughter ironed the table cloth for me.        

Tip ~ Pull the chairs out of the way so have plenty of room when you are decorating and setting the table.

These are the supplies I have gathered up for setting the table.  I use cookie sheets as trays a lot. 

I am starting out with the centerpiece.  Isn't this a cute little centerpiece?  More on this in a bit. 

Somehow, it looks a little small and lost on the table.  It needs a little more work.

Last week I was sick.  My darling husband brought me flowers to cheer me up while I was sick.  Most of the flowers were ready for the trash this morning, but the ones that still had some life in them are going to be used again.  We don't waste anything around here.  I am going to add them to the centerpiece for a little more pop. 





Start by laying the shiny green leaves all around the base of the centerpiece. 





Next on are the three big yellow flowers.  It's still not quite there yet.  








So now we are going to tuck the little white daisy flowers in to the greens.  This one wanted to be tucked into the handle of the casserole dish. 

I love how this looks. 

I had just decided not to use these little guys because I did not think they would show up very well when my daughter (my design consultant) suggested I use them in the grass.  She is brilliant. 

I tucked them in by the eggs and they were just perfect. 

So far so good.

Now it's time for the place settings.  I LOVE these place mats. They were only $1.99 each at Bed Bath & Beyond. They also had a bunch of great colors. I am going back for two more colors next week.




Next, a plate gets centered in the middle of the place mat.  I am using our everyday dishes for the kids.    


 
Next cookie sheet comes into play now.

These were left over scraps from the table cloth.  I made them into tiny little cocktail napkins.  For now they are not cocktail napkins but another layer and another color in my table scape. 

The real dinner napkin goes on next.

And my favorite favor tops it off.

Place settings get the kids glasses and silverware last of all.

Then a few extra little touches.  A cute little crystal bowl of extra carrots and an orange little bunny casserole is actually going to hold a fruit sauce for the ham we are serving.  The depression glass container is going to hold a bit of butter for rolls. 

Another butter dish, sauce casserole and decoration for this end of the table. 

This is the table before I added the glasses and silverware.  I seem to have deleted the shot of the whole thing put together from this angle. 

We love the Easter bunny hiding in the grass.  The flowers really gave the centerpiece a nice punch of color.  I guess it was a good thing I got sick.

I can't wait to see the table with all the kids sitting around it laughing and eating. 

My work here is done.

Now, about the centerpiece.  I started the grass about a week and a half ago in a casserole dish.  I added a bunny from my mom's flower garden to the middle of the casserole dish.  My daughter added a few plastic eggs here and there. 

One little side note.  If you happen to be suing a real grass centerpiece be careful where you put your eggs.  If you decide to want to move the egg to a different spot later on, you might have a problem. 

Grass apparently has a memory!  It was not a big deal for me, I stuck the Easter egg back in there, but I thought it might be worth mentioning. 

I am linking this post to Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday, to WhipperBerry's Friday Flair Linky Party and Easter Link Party at Dear Lily.