Picnic Party Centerpiece

I volunteered to hostess one of the tables at our summer Quilt Guild Luncheon in June. Part of the responsibility is a centerpiece. Of course, I did not want to buy one – TOO EASY – and nowhere near as much fun as creating one!

So, I used a basket that I already owned. It is one that is normally used when transporting stuff to my volunteer job, or to a class. If you don’t have just the right one, a quick trip to the thrift store will remedy that.

I wanted to line the basket, and I had some old wrapping paper from a thrift store. It seems just right. If you don’t have paper like this, fabric will work too.

To line with the paper, I tried double stick tape, but that did not hold. I used glue dots, and they worked so much better.

Making pinwheels seemed like a fun, summery thing to do. I know I did this as a child, but (believe it or not) I had to look on line for the instructions. Thank the good Lord for the internet!

Cut a square 6” X 6”. Fold on the diagonals. Cut about 2/3 of the way up towards the center. Make a hole in the center, and a hole on each of the four cut pieces. The holes have to be on the same side on all four. Punch a hole in a paper straw. Drawing the cut pieces up, pin brad through all layers, and lastly through the center. Then, all through the hole in the paper straw. Done!

Next – a run to the dollar store.

Here is what I found there. I also bought red tableware, some white paper plates.

The dollar store clothespins look good when they are dressed up in tiny pieces of the wrapping paper.

I will use the pinwheels at each place setting, and also in the centerpiece. The clothespins will hold the napkin in place at each place setting.

I bought the ribbon at my local craft store.

Jars from my cupboard, dressed up with ribbons. Inside are paper straws, knives, forks and spoons for the ladies at my table.

I stamped P I C N I C on small white paper squares (1 ½” X 1 ½ “), and mounted these on 2” red paper squares. I reversed it on the opposite side (C I N C I P), so that the centerpiece will look good from both sides.

Red baker’s twine looks good strung from one pinwheel to another.

Here it is all put together!