Party Tips Archives – A Well Crafted Party

Video: Retro Potluck for Labor Day

August 30, 2025 No Comments A Well Crafted Party

Looking for fresh ideas to make your Labor Day BBQ or summer potluck memorable? Whether hosting or attending a backyard gathering, these expert tips and my delicious four bean salad recipe—featured on KATU’s Afternoon Live—will keep your summer celebrations stress-free and unforgettable.

Where to find retro-inspired partyware:

Collecting partyware seems to be a bad habit of mine. These retro inspired party items were collected over the years and have been utilized in many different party themes! Some of my favorite places to go to find great vintage ware include:

Estate sales – I don’t go nearly as often as I like, but when I do I’m always looking for partyware, dishware, serviceware that might fit in with items I have at home. These are often a great place to find vintage tablecloth and napkins as well!
Thrifting or Vintage Shops- Sometimes it is a little hit and miss while thrifting, but there are occasional wins! Going to a more curated vintage shop or consignment shop may yield better results.
Etsy– This is a treasure trove of vintage items. Be careful to read reviews. Some vintage shops I’ve purchased items from before:

What to Serve at a Retro Inspired BBQ

A classic retro potluck BBQ features an array of vintage sides and desserts that evoke the nostalgia of mid-century gatherings and backyard parties. Here’s a well-curated list to inspire your celebration.

Vintage Main Dishes for a Retro BBQ Party

Hot Dogs: Classic split and grilled hot dogs with simple mustard and relish deliver the nostalgic flavors of 1950s backyard cookouts. Use all-beef sausages or brats for a really delicious main dish.
Hamburgers: Old-school hamburgers made with juicy ground beef and served on buttered buns with lettuce and tomato bring timeless diner charm to any BBQ.
BBQ Chicken: Sticky, smoky BBQ chicken marinated in maple or classic sauce and grilled to caramelized perfection is a vintage crowd favorite.
Kabobs: Colorful vintage BBQ kabobs featuring marinated chicken, onions, and peppers on skewers offer a fun, customizable classic for retro summer grilling. Kabobs are a great solution for Vegetarians in the crowd as well. You can simply leave off the chicken and add in mushrooms! Don’t forget the pineapple for a truly retro-inspired kabob!
Ribs: Tender, fall-off-the-bone retro BBQ ribs basted with a rich, smoky sauce take center stage at traditional potlucks and block parties.

Classic Vintage Sides

Vintage Pea Salad: Typically made with peas, crispy bacon, cheddar, and creamy dressing for a cool, pop-of-color side.
Quick Brown Sugar Baked Beans: Sweet and hearty baked beans are a vintage staple at any potluck table.
Macaroni Salad: Loaded with mayo, diced veggies, and sometimes ham or cheese—this creamy salad always transports guests to bygone eras.
Potato Salad: Made classic with hard-boiled eggs, celery, mustard, and mayonnaise; deliciously retro.
Deviled Eggs: Tangy, creamy, and a perfect finger food that disappears fast.
Pickle Platter: Bring out all the pickled vegetables!
Four Bean Salad: Beans, onions, and a bright vinegerette—easy, make-ahead, and quintessentially vintage.
Corn on the Cob: Boiled or grilled, often served with flavored butters and salt. Or try a corn salad!

Retro Desserts

Jell-O Mold Salad: Bright, wobbly, and loaded with fruit or marshmallows—nothing says “vintage” like a Jell-O centerpiece.
Citrus Bundt Cake: Tangy, glazed cake using pudding mix for extra moisture—easy and popular with all ages.
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies: Chewy and nostalgic, these homemade cookies are always a hit.
Cherry Delight: A creamy dessert topped with canned cherry pie filling—a refrigerator classic.
Chocolate Pie: Rich, velvety, and topped with whipped cream, best served chilled for summer.
Strawberry Shortcake or Cobbler: Baked with golden crust and jammy strawberries, often served warm or room temperature.
Lemon Bars: Tart filling, shortbread crust, dusted with powdered sugar—a picnic favorite.
Cherry Fluff: , Whipped topping, condensed milk, crushed pineapple, cherry pie filling, shredded coconut, and pecans served chilled.
Icebox Cake: Layers of cookies and whipped cream, left to set in the refrigerator—a cool, creamy treat.

Hopefully these ideas will inspire a classic and nostalgic holiday bbq potluck!

For more tips for a retro bbq potluck and free printables read: Retro Potluck: What to Bring to the BBQ and Free Printables

A Well Crafted Party

Retro Potluck: What to Bring to the BBQ + Free Printables

August 29, 2025 1 Comment A Well Crafted Party

Wind Summer down with a throwback retro potluck BBQ! Keep it simple with easy potluck recipes, classic outdoor games, and plenty of sunshine. Whether bringing a crowd-pleasing dish or organizing retro potluck games in your backyard, a well-planned potluck is the perfect end to the Summer months—plus, it’s a breeze to pull together with free printables!

Free Printables for a Seamless Potluck

Potlucks are all about sharing! To make your summer BBQ potluck even simpler, I’m sharing a set of free printable potluck cards and a handy summer fun essentials such as sunscreen and bug spray! Grab the printables, print them out for your party, and you’re ready to go.

Printable Potluck Cards: Perfect for labeling dishes and ingredients, helping guests with food allergies or preferences know exactly what’s on the table. Simply print them on cardstock, cut them out, and display them next to every dish.

Summer Essentials Checklist: Keep everyone smiling all afternoon by having extras of must-haves like sunscreen, bug spray, and hand wipes on hand.

Hosting Tips for a Retro BBQ Potluck

Hosting a BBQ potluck doesn’t mean extra stress. With these easy ideas, you can keep things laid-back, festive, and truly retro:

Pick Your Theme: Think vintage picnic vibes, classic checkered or striped tablecloths, and mason jars! Ask guests to wear their favorite retro summer outfits for nostalgia and fun photos.
Assign Categories: To get a great variety, ask guests to sign up for appetizers, mains, sides, or desserts. Assign them by last name to make it really easy (for example “if your last name starts with A-F then bring an appetizer, G-K a dessert,” and so on!) Don’t forget to use a potluck sign-up sheet to track who’s bringing what. A simple google sheet will work or there are great online potluck sites that take the guess work out of the planning!
DIY Burger or Hot Dog Bar: Set up a burger or hot dog bar with plenty of retro toppings (think: grilled onions, pickles, and old-school sauces). Guests can stack burgers and dogs their own way—easy and interactive. Don’t forget a pickle bar to really bring in the retro vibes.
Fun Sides and Classics: Encourage dishes like vintage potato salad, coleslaw, pasta salads, baked beans, and fruity Jell-O desserts. These classics are always a hit and fit the retro BBQ theme.
Keep It Cool: Offer refreshing big-batch drinks—lemonade, iced tea, or a fun spritz in a large dispenser. Set up shaded areas or offer hand fans for warm afternoons.
Buffet-Style Setup: Use trays, crates, and platter stands for display. Place plates and utensils at one end and drinks at another so the flow stays smooth and mingling is easy.

Bonus Potluck Tips

Label Everything: Set out your free printable potluck cards so each dish is clearly labeled. Add a spot for ingredients to help those with dietary restrictions.
Summer Prep Station: Place your summer essentials checklist by the door—when guests arrive, remind them to grab sunscreen, bug spray, and a hat.
Music & Games: Put together a retro playlist or classic summer games like horseshoes, croquet, or a hula hoop contest.

Download Your Free Summer Printables

Ready to host your summer potluck in vintage style? Don’t forget to download the free printables: potluck dish cards, recipe cards, and the summer fun essentials checklist. These will keep your BBQ organized, safe, and full of classic charm.

Here’s to easy summer potluck fun—delicious food, happy guests, and a little bit oft of retro flair!

A Well Crafted Party

Valentine’s Day Dinner Party Tips with KATU Afternoon Live

February 7, 2025 No Comments A Well Crafted Party

Valentine’s Day can be celebrated with your family, friends, or…of course, your significant other! I shared some tablescape tips, quick custom table setting craft, and Black Forest Cocktail recipe on KATU’s Afternoon Live recently. Watch below to see some of my tips in action!

It was a pleasure getting to visit the studio at KATU’s Afternoon Live again! This time I shared some tips for a Valentine’s Day dinner party that will delight!

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Valentine's Day Tablescape with layered prints of black and white dots, black and white stripes, and checkers.

Tips for creating a Valentine’s Day Tablescape:

Layer on the patterns, but keep it to the same color palette. I’m a maximalist who loves clean modern lines. So, when I want a delightful tablescape I think about layering on patterns in my linens and paper goods. However, if the patterns are mixing a bunch of different colors as well as shapes, it tends to not look intentional and can cause a chaotic feeling rather than one of interest.

images of supplies used for a valentine's day tablescape including striped table runners, checkered table runners, crystal candy dish, white ceramic bust flower vase, and floral napkins.

I chose prints of black and white (dots, lines, checkers) and then I did add in one printed paper good that had a black and white color scheme along with the red and pink I had as my pops of solid colors. It worked because the print was used very sparingly, went with the rest of the colors, and was a larger print rather than small and busy. Below are resources to recreate the look!

Striped Table Runners* (12 runners),
Checker Table Runners* (12 runners),
Flower cocktail napkins*,
Linen and Black Polka Dot Napkins*,
Bust Vase*, Faux-leather red heart napkin holders*,
Black Silverware*,
Heart Bowl from Target (or if you’d prefer glass, these Pink Crystal Dessert Bowls* would look so cute!), pedestal
The pedestal cake stands are sold out from Target. Here are some of my favorite pink and red cake stands from Amazon: Pink Vintage Inspired Glass Cake Stand*, Red Melamine Scalloped Cake Stand*, Red Glass Cake Stand*, & Pink Scallop Dessert Stand*,
The crystal sugar jars were also a pre-season find at Target that are now sold out, but these red crystal sugar dishes* and these pink crystal candy dishes* would work for this as well!
White heart salad plates*
Black dinner plates*

Add in a handmade element to make it more personalized or interesting. I find that small handmade elements can add a bit of whimsy and surprise, especially when layered into the design. Wouldn’t it be fun for you to sit down to a table filled with beautiful things and see your name peeking out from a placemat or notice a piece of quirky art in the midst of perfection? I purchased white fabric placemats* and black fabric markers* and went to town creating XOXO placemats and ones that said “Love You!”.
Set out dessert and the first course or appetizers before the party starts so you’re not in the kitchen the whole party! I utilized the dessert as part of the tablescape because Valentine’s Day and decadent desserts just go together. I also placed a caprese salad in heart shaped bowls on the plates so that the first course was ready to go.

Serve a signature drink! I really love a signature cocktail at a party. It decreases the amount of bar items you have to prepare, allows you to drive your concept through to the food and drinks, and still provides for guests! For Valentine’s Day I’d go with a great chocolate martini! I served a black forest cocktail for this particular party theme.

Would you like to go to a dinner party like this? I know I would! I love the pops of color contrasted with the black and white graphic elements. But, moreso, I think it would be fun to celebrate with people I love in such a pretty setting!