| Patio Lighting | By Linda Hearon | | Instead of using the patio umbrella for your patio table, use an all wire white christmas tree with the white lights as an umbrella and plug it up to a timer. It also works as a decoration/lighting deterrance to keep out those large and small animals/mammals. | | Light Up Your Table | By Paula | | I made a cream coloured table cloth for my patio table out of inexpensive material from a fabric store. I made a hole in the center so that the umbrella will go through it. I also made the table cloth long enough to reach the ground on all sides. My table is glass and at night when I have the table cloth on it I place a battry operated coleman lamp under the table and it lights up the whole table with a beautiful warm glow. (Don't try this with anything other than battery operated lanterns for safety's sake). | | Bringing The Indoors Out | By Felicia Gimza | | Being comfortable in your home doesn't have to be restricted to the indoors anymore. The home goods market is exploding with indoor/outdoor furniture and accessories, making it easier than ever to extend your living space beyond the four walls of your home. A well-decorated yard can have sitting areas, dining areas, focal points, textures and colours. It mirrors the decorating theme of the inside and reflects beautiful fabrics and lighting. It goes beyond plastic lawn chairs and paper plates to become a beautifully decorated oasis. Your outdoor space will be exposed to the elements (rain, sun, and wind) but new lines of garden furniture can provide a real indoor personality, whether it's sofas and club chairs in rattan, weather-proofed wicker or coated metal and wrought iron. Once you've got your key furniture pieces, you can add even more warmth with indoor perks such as: pillows, artwork, accessories, mirrors, baker's racks, lighting, floor cloths, slipcovers and even t.v. and stereo hook-ups. | | Cool Wine Bottle Chillers | By Jennifer McLennan | | Cut off the top of an empty, clean, large milk carton. Put an empty wine bottle inside the empty carton and fill with water 1/4 way. Drop in flowers, slices of lemon, lime or oranges along with berries, greenery or whole spices into the water. Put carton containing bottle and water in freezer and let freeze. Keep checking as you may be able to put flowers etc in place better as the water thickens to slush then ice.Once frozen, fill up another 1/4 way with water and add more natural decorations. Continue freezing and topping up until full and frozen (Be sure you only fill to the top of the wide part of the bottle not up the neck as you wil be removing the bottle once frozen.) When done pour some boiling water into the empty bottle which will melt the ice directly around the bottle allowing it to slip right out. Next peel off the milk carton to expose the block of ice with all the frozen decorations inside. Set on a plate on a buffet table outside and place a full bottle of white wine (or fill the empty bottle with beverage of choice) to keep cool and beautiful for the party! | | Summer Party Lights | By Ashley Roland | | Purchase several dozen brown paper bags from the dollar store. Purchase 20 pounds of sand from hardware store. Find several dozen 6 to 8 inch one inch diameter candles.
Fill each brown paer bag roughly 1/4 full or enough to comfortably support the candles.
Place each bag around the perimiter of your yard or party area.
Secure the candles in the sand.
When dusk begins to settle light your candles and you will have a very elegant setting adding romance to any occassion. | | Lighting | By Jennifer McLennan | | Put citronella tealights in old jelly jars, glasses or some other find from yard/garage sales or old antique stores. Stagger them up outdoor steps or along a walkway for romantic, dreamy outdoor lighting. Also repels bugs and makes use of old jars that would otherwise be unused. | | Torches | By Dave | | Tiki torches liken up any party and are a cheap way to create atmosphere. |
|
