Table Runner Made From Vintage Book Pages

Last week I showed you some vintage autumn themed centerpieces that I helped with.
We didn't have any table runners to use, so I got to try out a project I've been wanting to do. . .
 

 

a vintage book page table runner.

 

The tables that we were using were pretty long, so I decided that I'd make my runner

seven pages long. The book was about 12" high.

 

 

I tore 14 pages out of an old French textbook. I only trimmed off the rough edges from being torn. The rest of the edges were discolored with age and I wanted to leave that look.

Then I lined up the pages two across and taped them together being careful to keep them straight.

Once I had two rows of seven attached, I used a paper punch to give the edges a scalloped look

 

Then I repeated this seven more times to make a total of eight table runners.

I was so tickled with how cute they looked that I was willing to overlook the fact

that they were a little time consuming.

 

Plus they added to our vintage theme for the rest of the decorating.

 

If you have any sort of event coming up and you don't know what to do for a table runner, try this project. You'll be delighted with the results!

 

I think this would be cute done with sheet music, too!

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

I will sing of mercy and justice; to You, O Lord, I will sing praises.

Psalm 101:1

 

 This post is linked to It's Overflowing, The Dedicated House, I Heart Naptime,

 Funky Junk, and Natasha In Oz.



Christmas Centerpieces and Vintage Decor

Last week I got to help two of my good friends decorate for a Christmas banquet. 

We had seven tables and two counter tops that needed to be made pretty.

We wanted to keep it low cost, but highly cute.

We planned for a shabby, old-fashioned Christmas look by bringing stuff from our houses and blending it together for these centerpieces.

Take a look and see what you think. . .

 

This was on the main counter top amid the fixings for fajitas.

We used lots of mason jars filled with cranberries, greens, and floating candles.

 

Hanging along the bottom edge of the counter was this tea-stained vintage lace garland and a garland of cranberries.

 

This was arranged on the dessert bar.

Don't you just love those large lanterns?

See the book page garland strewn throughout the arrangement?

The red candles were painted with Mod Podge and rolled in Epsom salts to get that "snowy" look.

 

The kids had made the paper bag angels, so we made them the focus of several of the arrangements.

You'll notice more cranberries here.

In each arrangement, we used Scrabble tiles spelling out words in tile holders.

 

 

This was on the table as you first entered.

There's three candles and a vintage book photo holder displaying two old postcards.

We used lots of burlap and old doilies and lace throughout.

 

For smaller arrangements, we paired up vintage books with teacups that we used as candle holders.

One of my friends thought up the idea of using teacups like that and I just love that look!

 

I adore the look of the wood rounds and the green moss.

 

We used Scrabble tiles like confetti and sprinkled them around all the arrangements.

 Sweet and simple, huh?

 

More vintage books

 

We incorporated an old film canister as a tray beneath this arrangement.

 

This is my old yard sale birdhouse that we used for a centerpiece.

How cute is it paired with old books and candles?

 

Most the centerpieces contained similar items, just arranged differently.

 

We used maroon and white tablecloths and beautiful burlap table runners.

 

This buffet is beautiful on its own, but we upped it's loveliness with a vintage book table runner, candles, and this awesome typewriter (which isn't mine, but I wish it was!).

 

Finally, this is the corner that was set up for family photos.

I love the vintage feel between the burlap, cranberries, lace, and old books.

 

When we finished decorating, I told my friends that they need to come to my house and decorate my living room like this!

 

P.S. Want to know how much of this stuff came from thrift stores and yard sales?

Well, I'll tell you: the film canisters, all the old books, the Christmas blocks in the first photo, the tall silver candle sticks, the vegetable graters (in the above photo), all the tea cups, one of the wooden bowls, the Scrabble tiles, the jar of keys, and the large green bird house!

Who says you can't decorate with stuff from secondhand stores?!? :)

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:18

This post is linked to Funky Junk, Between Naps on the Porch, The Dedicated House, My Girlish Whims, and Craft-O-Maniac.

Music Themed Party Decor

     Last weekend was the graduation banquet that I got to help to decorate. I've mentioned it several times now, so I'm just going to show you some pictures of how it all turned out.
     The graduate was in choir and loved it, so we went with a music theme. We used lots of vinyl records and sheet music (all purchased at thrift stores).

 

We decorated this display rack and put a table in front of it with a record and a silver paint pen. We thought it would be fun to have all the attendees sign well wishes for the graduate on it.

I bought a 12"x12" frame at Michael's and covered the inside of the back piece with sheet music. That way, after everybody signed the record, we could put it in the frame and you wouldn't see the back of the frame peeking out from around the record.

 

Here's a close up of the display. . . I put the "N" covered with his pictures in the center. (You can go here to see how I made it.)

I had a lot of photos, so I attached them to the chicken wire with clothespins.

I made a sheet music banner to hang across the top (go here to see how to do that).

I thought I could add a little of his school color by making a chain out of tickets. I alternated red and white tickets stapling them in circles to one another.

 

We used simple dollar store tablecloths in black and red.

For the table centerpieces, we placed a record plate stand (you can go here to see how to make one) with a hurricane candle holder and pillar candle on top of each raised record. Then we put two regular records on either side of that. To finish it off, we sprinkled sheet music curls.

 

 

To make the sheet music curls, all I did was cut sheet music into strips and wrapped them around a pencil to make them curl.

 

I made a record chandelier from an old wheel, some 45s, and some black ribbon.

I had seen one of these on Pinterest and fell in love. Mine isn't as elaborate as the one I saw, but I think it turned out pretty cute.

 

We used the last of the red and black decor to pep up the food area.

I made another sheet music banner, but added words to this one.

 

For the dinner, we had a nacho/burrito bar. I had made record bowls for the nacho toppings, but I forgot to take a picture of those. You can go here to see what I'm talking about.

     This was a very affordable decorating theme- and quite easy to do. It would work for an anniversary party or a birthday party.

     If you're getting ready to decorate for a party, you can go to this post for other themed ideas or this post for cupcake topper ideas.

     Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Say to God, "How awesome are Your works!"

Psalm 66:3

This post is linked to Embracing Change, My Repurposed Life, Be Different Act Normal, Too Much Time on My Hands, and Tatertots and Jello.

Thanksgiving Centerpieces

     Over the weekend I had the opportunity to help decorate for the Thanksgiving dinner at our church. When I was asked to help, I was at a loss. Now, if you've read my blog for any length of time, you know that I am not a fancy girl. I live with 3 males- we just don't do centerpieces at my house.  I can fumble my way around playing with scrapbooking paper, but table centerpieces?
     Luckily, my good friend was in charge and she was full of ideas. I just followed her directions. We did seven different tablescapes and each one was as cute as the next. Take a look. . .

 

This is a Crepe Myrtle branch with five holes drilled out for tea light candles.

 

These floral arrangements were placed in two large Ball jars. The four small jars on either side are full of rice with tea light candles peeking out of the rims.

 

I love the look of the pecans in the water. The raffia was the finishing touch!

 

My friend got a slew of pumpkins for free from a local garden center that was getting rid of them after Halloween. The pumpkins finished off our harvest arrangements perfectly.

 

 

The candlestick holders are made of acorns. We had quite a few of them (they were made by the kids in Children's Church). You'll see them in other arrangements as well.

 

Here we have three cakestands filled with acorns. They each have tealight candles in them. (We later went back and replaced the acorns with a mixture of dried split peas and blackeyed peas for more color contrast.)

I don't know if you noticed, but all the table runners are made from burlap with tea-stained lace on the ends. Absolutely beautiful!

 

Each tealight has a little bit of trim wrapped around the outer edge-so easy.

Each cakestand was made by gluing a candlestick to a plate. You can see a tutorial on how to do that here.

 

This is a platter with acorns, pumpkins, and a couple of acorn candlesticks. One pumpkin is placed up on a small pillar.

 

Here we have three Mason jars with battery operated tealights and two acorn candlesticks.

 

Here's a close up view.

To make the decorative Mason jar, just trim sheet music to fit inside the jar. Then wrap the mouth with ribbon or twine and a flower. Because the sheet music is inside the jar, you will need to use a battery operated tealight candle.

To make the acorn candlesticks, place acorns in an old plastic container, add enough Elmer's Glue to make them stick together, then place the candlestick in the center. This way it will dry with a hole for the candlestick. Super cute and super easy.

 

For this large jar with the three pillar candles, my friend layered different dried beans, coffee beans, and popcorn kernals. Once again, a very easy and very affordable decoration.

 

Finally, my friend made letter stencils with her Cricut and used them to paint on the burlap flags.

Super cute, huh?

 

So many different centerpieces that were not only cute, but affordable as well. That speaks to my creative and frugal sides!

 

I have to say, I learned quite a bit about putting together centerpieces. Now I may be able to bring a little fancy into my house:)

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the

Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

 Colossians 3:17

This post is linked to Brassy Apple, Craft-O-Maniac, Between Naps on the Porch, Skip to My Lou, and Making the World Cuter.