Ideas for Summer

This time I decided to gather ideas for simple yet original ways to decorate a home, garden, picnic spot, or romantic evening venue. I think it's always handy to have a few tricks up one's sleeve for creating a festive mood - for yourself and others. What's more, summer is a very accommodating season in terms of materials, weather conditions, and choice of location.

Here is an original table decoration - candle holders can be made from simple plantain leaves, measured to the size of the glass or vessel and trimmed at the ends with a sharp craft knife. Then tie around the vessel with linen thread, raffia, or a thin coloured ribbon. Plantain leaves can also serve as coasters for glasses of chilled drinks.

Photo from Martha Stewart Living

A romantic and subdued atmosphere on a summer evening will also be created by sea-themed candles - paraffin with a wick poured into seashells. And practically no other decoration is needed.

Photo from Martha Stewart Living

A while back I wrote about what can be made from wine or champagne corks - now here is an idea for beer fans who like collecting trophies: branded metal beer bottle caps. It turns out you can make a game from them - good old draughts, but with sweet memories of a pleasantly cold and fizzy drink. All that's additionally needed is a specially chosen or purchased checked fabric, cut to the required size with pinking shears (you need to count the number of light and dark squares).

Fans of stronger drinks can be surprised with chilled vodka in a special ice frame. Here is how: place a vodka bottle in a paper milk or kefir carton, and arrange around it sliced rounds of citrus fruit (orange, lemon, lime) as well as flower buds. Then pour in water and stand upright in the freezer. Once the ice has set, peel away the paper packaging and lift out the decorated bottle. Serve with the base of the bottle wrapped in a linen serviette or towel.

Photo from Martha Stewart Living

Continuing the drinks theme, I found a way to easily wrap two bottles for carrying, to protect them from clinking together and make them comfortable to transport.

Photo from Martha Stewart Living

Snacks too can be made fun - for example by carving the radish mice shown in the image below with a knife.

Photo from Martha Stewart Living

The facade of a house can be made colourful by painting terracotta pots in chalky pastel colours and attaching them alternately to the wall. Alternatively, apply a lime wash mixed 1:2 with water to terracotta pots of various sizes, leave to dry for at least an hour, then attach seashells with a glue gun.

Photo from Martha Stewart Living