Craft Ideas For Your Outdoor Summer Party (Video)
Morning Live
I stopped by the patio at Morning Live to talk with Annette Hamm about DIY-ing an outdoor party. I showed her some super easy craft ideas including decor pieces and take-away favours made with Great Value products from Walmart and Sharpies and Avery iron-on transfer paper from GrandAndToy.com.
Another great idea for outdoor entertaining? Sew a quilt to use as a tablecloth (try one of the patterns from UpCraft Club) and top it with vinyl for protection.
Watch here…
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-DIY Backyard Party
http://www.chch.com/diy-backyard-party/
“Craft expert Denise Wild has all kinds of easy and affordable decorations for your backyard party.”
Annette Hamm:
We are getting crafty out on our deck this afternoon – or this morning, rather. It feels like afternoon for me. Craft expert Denise Wild joins us and we’re going to– okay, so we’re at a little backyard party.
Denise Wild:
Yes.
Annette:
And we’re going to get crafty?
Denise:
Exactly.
Annette:
We going to put stuff on our plates?
Denise:
We’re putting stuff on our plates. So, you’re throwing a party. Your friends are over. I want to show you some great, easy DIY décor items.
Annette:
Okay.
Denise:
And also some gifts and craft activities that you can do with your guests.
Annette:
So, a takeaway?
Denise:
Exactly. A takeaway.
Annette:
Okay.
Denise:
So let’s start off with what you’re talking about; using Sharpies making– decorating little plates. I want to put you to work.
Annette:
Okay.
Denise:
And get you to design something on your plate.
Annette:
And I love this idea. Like, even like your Sharpies here are kind of your decoration–
Denise:
Exactly.
Annette:
–right?
Denise:
Exactly. So, it’s very inviting.
Annette:
Okay.
Denise:
You know, it gets people thinking and doing things. And then you’re just decorating. It’s something that people can take home. It’s an easy craft. I also have sunglasses too. You can use a Sharpie. Just write on here. People, you know- you’re outside at a backyard party. Everyone– someone might have forgotten their sunglasses. And this way, you know, it’s an activity. It’s a fun takeaway.
Annette:
And this is kind of a neat thing too. And it takes the pressure off of the host or hostess–
Denise:
Exactly.
Annette:
Right? Because you can–
Denise:
You can entertain.
Annette:
Yes, because you’re – look. Look at me, I’m entertaining myself here.
Denise:
Keeping people busy.
Annette:
So, you wouldn’t eat off these plates right away, obviously. They have to be baked?
Denise:
Not right away, exactly. So you’re using oil-based Sharpies and then you bake them in the oven–
Annette:
Okay.
Denise:
–and then they’re dishwasher safe, and they’re totally fine.
Annette:
So would you be able to do that then – like, before the guests went home, do you think? Or does it take a while?
Denise:
Um, or you can just tell them, ‘Take this home and throw it in the–
Annette:
Okay.
Denise:
–throw it in the oven.’
Annette:
You keep talking. I’m going to keep coloring.
Denise:
Okay, you keep decorating. I’d also talk about another great thing that you can do: iron-on transfers. So, this is a way to personalize things that you have.
Annette:
Okay.
Denise:
These are Avery Iron-on Fabric Transfers. You take a photo. You print it out, on your regular home printer–
Annette:
That is so neat.
Denise:
–and you can iron it onto an existing placemat or you can sew something. You know, a bean bag toss. You can customize them. That can be another takeaway gift too. And the Avery Transfers and the Sharpies I got at GrandAndToy.com.
Annette:
Okay.
Denise:
So, you can easily order online. It’s really easy. You know I’m in my pyjamas ordering up all my products. It’s delivered right to you. You can get craft supplies, office supplies, back-to-school supplies–
Annette:
Okay.
Denise:
–all that good stuff.
Annette:
Great idea. And then, look what you’ve done here.
Denise:
I am so excited.
Annette:
So, when you said you were going to make straws–
Denise:
Yes.
Annette:
–into coasters, I’m like, ‘How is she going to do this?’ but these are just little plastic straws here?
Denise:
These are plastic straws. These are Great Value straws that I got at Walmart. They’re super inexpensive. They’re gorgeous colors. You know, a great product. And I just took regular scissors. I cut them. Then I used duct tape to wrap around the sides, and you have an instant coaster. So this is another craft that you can get people to do while they’re sitting at their table – at the table, you know; everyone’s eating–
Annette:
Yeah.
Denise:
–everyone’s partying and drinking; you can put them to work and have them make crafts.
Annette:
And where did you get the duct tape that’s coloured like that?
Denise:
Well, duct tape comes in a multitude of colours these days – patterns, colors. You can, yeah.
Annette:
Okay.
Denise:
If you look, you’ll find them.
Annette:
That’s a neat thing. And I love what you’ve done with the vase here.
Denise:
That’s exactly the same thing. It is the Great Value straws. I used duct tape. I decorated them around. And I decided to leave the bendy ends in, just so it’s more playful.
Annette:
Yeah. So, how did–
Denise:
So, it makes it more of a conversation piece.
Annette:
–did you glue them or use the duct tape?
Denise:
I just wrapped duct tape around inside-out. Kind of stuck it on itself –
Annette:
Um, hum.
Denise:
–and then–
Annette:
Which is smart.
Denise:
–I just placed them on.
Annette:
That is neat.
Denise:
So it was a lot of fun.
Annette:
And then you’ve got two – so you’ve got two levels here.
Denise:
Exactly.
Annette:
So you can make kind of any–
Denise:
You can make it any height. You can chop them off so that they’re flat across the top. Um, yeah, just a really easy thing to do.
Annette:
Yeah, because I like actually bending them at the top.
Denise:
Yes.
Annette:
That’s such a great idea.
Denise:
That’s what I thought. And then everyone knows that they’re straws and then they say, ‘Oh, wait. What’s going on?’
Annette:
Hopefully, not trying to drink out of the vase.
Denise:
Exactly. So, these are Great Value from Walmart. The other thing I wanted to point out to you that’s also Great Value is–
Annette:
I know. I picked up these and I thought–
Denise:
They–
Annette:
–I thought, ‘Oh, well, she brought her own cutlery.’
Denise:
They look silver–
Annette:
It does.
Denise:
–but they’re actually plastic–
Annette:
It’s plastic?
Denise:
–disposable cutlery. Yeah, it’s amazing. So very inexpensive, you know; easy to find and a great way to dress up your table.
Annette:
I am so impressed at how you dress up our deck as well. You just got some simple throw pillows and everything.
Denise:
Exactly.
Annette:
And it’s– and now is the time you were saying–
Denise:
It is.
Annette:
‘Now is the time to buy this stuff–
Denise:
Yes.
Annette:
–because it’s all going on sale.’
Denise:
It’s on sale, and you can kind of stock up and get ready for next year. Another idea that I have that’s a wonderful way to personalize your outdoor space is, if you’re a sewer like I am, you can sew a quilt. So, you can sew a quilt. Put it on your table and then put a piece of vinyl over top of it. So that protects it, but then all of the sudden, you’re showing off something that you’ve made. If you go to UpCraftClub.com, they have amazing quilt patterns from some of the top independent designers around the world.
Annette:
Wow.
Denise:
So it’s a really great thing to do. You know, you’re always looking to do something different, so that–
Annette:
Um, hum.
Denise:
–people come to your party and they say, ‘Oh, wow. This is neat. I didn’t expect this.’
Annette:
Okay. So, wonderful ideas, Denise. We’ll get all the info– we’ll get this up on our website, chch.com, in just a little bit, and we’ll have all the connections to your social media–
Denise:
Yes.
Annette:
–and your website. Always great to have you on the show.
Denise:
Thank you for having me.
Annette:
Okay, we’ll be back with more Morning Live right after this. I love that idea.
