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Inspiration

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Picnic Week on A Well Crafted Party

 

In honor of this weekend’s Portland Bloggers’ Family Picnic I decided to make it Picnic Week here on the blog. Use the ideas gathered here to create a fun Summer time picnic at home or, if you are in Portland, bring your newly found ideas to the meet-up! I’ve already shared my favorite picnic supplies and a quick pasta salad recipe, there is so much more coming though! So, pop back in throughout the week for more picnic goodness.


My Favorite Picnic Posts

photos via: BashPlease.Com featured on Design Sponge / How to Wear DIY from Adventures in Dressmaking / Butcher Paper Picnic Basics from Oh Happy Day! /Ombre Picnic Blanket from Design Love Fest / Italian Pressed Sandwiches from A Well Crafted Party / Sweet Potato Chips from A Beautiful Mess

My Favorite Picnic Posts Round-Up

I’m not the first, nor will I be the last, to post lots of pretty pictures and great ideas about picnics. Below is a list of some of my favorite picnic themed posts found across the internets. Can’t get enough picnic goodness? Then follow along with my Picnic Pinterest Board for more inspiration as I come across it.

Pretty Picnics to Inspire

  • I love the look of this “Magical Dinner Party in the Woods” that Lauren from The Little Things We Do posted last year. 
  • Oh, Hello Friend’s Picnic Themed Wedding still makes me swoon. I love everything about it and think I’ll hit up a few thrift stores for supplies before Sunday’s picnic!
  • This gorgeous outdoor movie night featured on Design Sponge is made even more beautiful with a lovely picnic spread.
  • This “simple” evening from the Fresh Exchange is just magical.
  • This family picnic set up from a REAL family picnic is making me think I should have planned decorations for this weekend’s event a little more carefully!

DIY Picnic Projects

  • These great butcher paper picnic baskets from Oh Happy Day! look super easy to make and downright adorable. 
  • These simple “pockets of fun” are a perfect way to wrangle and hand out picnic utensils, straws, and salt & pepper!
  • Almost Make Perfect shared a quick geometic print DIY picnic blanket that I love.
  • In the same fashion as the above picnic blanket, but totally different style, Design Love Fest created a tutorial for an awesome ombre picnic blanket.
  • Another picnic blanket that I’m loving is this DIY “girly” portable picnic blanket. It rolls up and can be worn over your shoulder!

What to Wear to a Picnic

  • My friend Suzannah has written a few posts with ideas of what to wear to a picnic. I love her styling of this DIY gingham dress. She also recently wrote a whole post with a TON of ideas of DIY picnic wearables
  • You want to be comfortable, yet cute, at a Summer picnic where cameras are coming out… this simple bright yellow dress combo is perfect for a picnic.
  • Hats are a fabulous for protecting skin and giving a sweet, relaxed vibe to a well-chosen outfit. Love this look from The Sweetest Occasion.
  • While I think dresses at picnics are adorable… sometimes, they just aren’t very practical! I love this cute shorts and tank outfit.
  • What will I be wearing to this weekend’s picnic? I’ll probably do similar to last year’s picnic and wear a maxi dress.

Picnic Food

  • I love the look of these pressed sandwiches for a picnic meal. I loved it so much that I made some of my own for my son’s first birthday. They turned out great and I will be making them again!
  • This list of 50, yes, FIFTY, picnic food ideas spans from nibbles to desserts!
  • The pressed sandwiches would go nicely with some Homemade Sweet Potato Fries.
  • Some people won’t even call it a picnic if there isn’t fried chicken involved. These potato chip fried chicken tenders would be perfect.
  • This great post titled “The Perfect Picnic” pretty much sums it all up with great recipes and beautiful styling.

Whoa! That was a lot of picnic fun… Now I’ve gotta go get to work on prepping items for the Portland Bloggers’ picnic. I have no idea WHAT I am bringing after checking out all the fun inspiration on this list one more time.

Tell me about YOUR favorite picnic experience!

Okay, I know that Alice in Wonderland has been DONE. You know? I did it. She did it. Everyone’s done it. Though, there are about a thousand and one reasons why Alice in Wonderland makes for an awesome party theme. It is a whimsical and changeable story that lends itself to all types of parties. Kids love it and adults love it. So, when faced with whether I was going to do another Alice in Wonderland party there was little to no hesitation before I said, “SURE!” My hope is to do something different than I’ve done before and perfect for the guest of honor. There was no lack of inspiration for the shin-dig I’m throwing together. Some of my favorite Alice in Wonderland style parties include the following:

Vintage Tea Party and Bake Off via Polestars
  • Hostess with the Mostess shared this awesome Very Merry 30th Unbirthday Party from Kio Kreations— The bright colors andover the top wacky decorations are the whole reason I love this theme.
  • A good tea party is a great start to a fabulous Alice in Wonderland themed party. This lovely vintage tea party and bake off has great colors and beautiful tea sets. Prefect for a whimsical mad tea party.
  • This Ritzy Bee Alice’s Un-Birthday party has a lot of the handwritten details that I love in parties. The food in this party looks AMAZING as well.
  • Oh deary me… these photos for a Hipster Alice in Wonderland party are GORGEOUS. I love the handmade details and the use of quotes on the tableware!

Want to see the direction I’m going with this Alice in Wonderland party? Check out my sneak peek of the party invitations!

What would YOU do for an Alice in Wonderland themed party? Any details you would have to include?

I’m SOOOO ready for Spring to get here.
I’m ready for flowers, gardening, Spring clothing, and some sunshine! I’m not looking forward to allergy season… but, my readiness for spring is overriding my fear of another sneezing season. In my desire for Spring to get here I decided to create some Spring-like centerpiece items. I used them as decor at the Portland Creative Connection event… now they sit on my diningroom table making me happy all day long. I think these decorations would be cute for any Spring event including Easter dinner, an afternoon May day celebration, or a Mother’s Day brunch.