Tag Archives: no sew table runner

Black and White Bachelorette Party

I recently helped my sister throw a fabulous bachelorette party for her soon-to-be-wed BFF.  A month or so ago we picked a Black and White theme and I put together this decor board.

We wanted the invites to set a classy but trendy tone.  I hadn’t yet given in to the recent damask surge in either my home decor or party planning, but this was clearly the time.  The Michaels wedding section had this invite kit and it was only $25 with the coupon from the Sunday paper.

I compared the price with pre-cut invites at my favorite scrapbook store and this kit, which included envelopes, was far cheaper.  Since we did not have time to spare, the kit was also far more practical.  We picked out a less traditional font and whipped up an eye-catching party preview.

Please pardon the poor photo.  Please fault my sister’s weak-sauce camera phone.

The text read:

It’s time for the girls to mix and mingle

These are her last days of being single

Time is ticking and the bells will soon chime

Let’s go out and get crazy

While there is still time!

With our guests ready to party, the planning began.  Because the party was at a local piano bar, the decor had to be low to the table so it wouldn’t obstruct anyone’s view.

The bride’s chair was adorned with a black and white boa, which I hope she wore all night long.

The other girls received plain white boas.

By the way, these boas weren’t the best quality but they were cheap, cheap, cheap.  Check out Halo Heaven if you’re ever in the market.  Back before my Fancy Nancy dreams were quashed I was planning on buying boas and tea party hats there.

The table runner I so-proudly made was displayed over a solid black tablecloth.  A local bakery, the same one I used for the Safari Baby Shower, prepared black and white cupcakes for the occasion.  (The bakers even did half white cake and half chocolate just for kicks.)

Don’t you love the two-tiered cake stand?  I bought it in North Ogden at the Desert Industries, a local thrift store, for $1.  That’s right friends.  $1.

We dropped Gerber Daisies in short, square vases that I bought from the dollar store for, you guessed it, $1 each.

I was planning on using Spider Mums but my local Harmons did not have them in stock as it usually does.  I couldn’t help but be slightly defeated.  Aren’t they a pretty flower?

Image found here.

The girls had a great time and the bride-to-be had an awesome last night out.

The whole idea of decorating a table at a bar initially scared me a bit.  But didn’t it turn out lovely for how easy and simple it was?

11 Comments

Filed under Party Planning

No-Sew Custom Table Runner

About two years ago I took a sewing class through our community’s continuing education program . Once a week I went to the local elementary school and spent an hour or so in its sewing lab.  I chose the easiest pattern (an apron) and relied on our teacher for advice whenever I got stumped.  By the time the course ended, my apron still wasn’t completed. In fact, I was so defeated, I didn’t even attend the final course.

Given my interests in home decor and party planning, sewing would be a h.u.g.e asset.  So huge, actually, that I have heavily considered adding sewing mastery to my soon-to-be-revealed 30 Before 30 List.  As of now, I just can’t commit.

Sewing inequities met reality when I couldn’t find a cheap black and white damask table runner for a bachelorette party.  A crafty friend suggested I try Stitch Witchery, a fusible tape that is ironed between two layers of fabric for a permanent fuse.

So I bought the Stitch Witchery at JoAnn’s for a couple of dollars.

Image found here.

I added an inch to each size of the table runner dimensions I wanted.  I then folded and ironed a one inch strip along each side to create a fresh crease.

Once I had a nice crease, I cut a piece of Stitch Witchery of the same length. I placed the strips as close as possible to the inside edge so the fabric wouldn’t flop around.

Apparently Jack liked the Stitch Witchery, too.  Somehow when I wasn’t looking he snatched up the tape and ate half of it.   Mmmmm.

I fused the long sides first.  When I was ready to fuse the two shorter ends, I folded and pressed the corners before I ironed fused them together.

This helped keep the inside AND the outside of the short sides crisp and clean.

The runner was great for the bachelorette party, which I’ll be debuting soon.  Thanks Stitch Witchery!

What do you think?  Should I tack on a sewing project for my 30 Before 30 List?

16 Comments

Filed under DIY, Party Planning