'D' for Dining Holidays

Stars and Stripes Forever

This post is sponsored by Dreyer’s/Edy’s® Slow Churned Light Ice Cream: all the taste of regular ice cream, but with half the fat and 1/3 fewer calories. Now that’s a reason to smile. Give a smile here: http://on.fb.me/L3wSQf

We had some company over earlier this week, so I took it as an excuse to throw an impromptu backyard party. Setting a nice scene for the people I love always puts a big smile on my face (and theirs too).

I planned and set a Fourth of July table which is a little early, but hey, I’m a blogger! I figured it would be more helpful to give you guys some ideas before the Fourth instead of after. My friends and family are used to these quirks. Besides, it’s not as bad as when I would be designing Christmas cards at this time of year for my stationery shop!

I was pretty excited about the decorating possibilities of our our new table. The old one was in such bad shape that the only option was to cover the whole thing with a tablecloth.

I tucked a handful of little American flags into a pitcher along with one large one. Eleanor and August, like most kids, were happy to each have their own flag to wave after dinner.

I also made some cute paper flags out of decorative scrapbooking paper. I used bamboo skewers for the larger sizes, and I attached the smaller ones to toothpicks. I set the table with our everyday silverware and tucked a little flag under the fork and knife, on top of a white napkin. I used my vintage Star Glow dinnerware as salad plates because they reminded me of fireworks, and I set them on top of plain white dishes.

The red and white striped runner on the table was a no-sew project. I cut the length to size, then tucked in the edges along the sides. Eventually I’ll hem it so that it will hold up in the wash, but if you’re in a pinch, nobody’s really going to notice.

I wanted the flowers to be mostly white, so I picked up some hydrangeas and a ton of little daisies. I did put a couple of blue delphinium in with the hydrangeas, but didn’t go for full red, white, and blue floral arrangements. I put the hydrangeas and delphinium in a low vintage bowl with some greenery; the stems were kept in place by first criss-crossing clear tape along the top.

I tucked a few of my paper flags in to the centerpiece, but the daisies were cut short and gathered into little bunches. I used whichever small glass vases I could find for them, then tied them all together (literally) by tying ribbon around each one. Some had wide navy grosgrain and others had thin navy and white polka dot ribbon, all from the local craft store. I also added some of the wide ribbon to the handles of my pitchers and tied them into bows.

Seeing everyone gathered around a table that I’ve decorated for them always makes me happy. Are you planning anything yet for the Fourth?

Sources & Paint ColorsNeed design help? Let's work together.

You Might Also Like...

  • Mary-My Life in Scotland
    June 28, 2012 at 9:18 am

    I love this arrangement!! It is not too much and just perfect. I love your white pitcher. I think I need one!

    I live in Scotland and they don’t celebrate American Independence Day –obviously. But, this year my sister and her kids are in town. So, I need to do something special!!

  • Janae @ Bring-Joy
    June 28, 2012 at 9:23 am

    Our fourth of July plans are pretty fluid. Most likely a barbecue, lots of swimming, watermelon, & please, please, please, some croquet. Gotta have a few rounds of crouquet on the fourth.

    Where’d you get all of your flowers?

    • Making it Lovely
      June 28, 2012 at 10:59 am

      From Westgate, a local flower shop.

      • Janae @ Bring-Joy
        June 28, 2012 at 11:54 am

        Oh, they almost looked like fresh picked from your flower garden. So pretty & fresh.

  • Erika
    June 28, 2012 at 9:48 am

    So pretty and patriotic! Pretty table settings are such a nice touch.

  • BettyMod
    June 28, 2012 at 10:22 am

    Well done! Red, white, and blue always works. Those plates will work great for mod Christmas too!

    Happy 4th!

    • Making it Lovely
      June 28, 2012 at 10:59 am

      Oh, you’re right! Those are actually our everyday plates too — the ones we eat off of most often.

  • mandie
    June 28, 2012 at 12:08 pm

    Very fun- I really like the striped fabric runner. Would you mind sharing where you bought the fabric?

  • how2home
    June 28, 2012 at 1:59 pm

    Beautiful table setting for 4th of July. I like that you used the flag color as accent color towards the wood table. Did you make that runner?

  • Clar
    June 28, 2012 at 2:16 pm

    Looking at this table setting makes me happy. :)

  • Michelle @ Rosy Blu
    June 28, 2012 at 7:43 pm

    I love your table setting, and your set of plates in particular–I just listed one in my vintage Etsy shop today! https://www.etsy.com/listing/103218542/mid-century-star-glow-small-plate

  • Emily @ Peck Life
    June 28, 2012 at 11:55 pm

    This is beautiful! I love the little daisies. :) 4th of July is my favorite holiday, even more than Christmas! We go to my hometown’s big parade and then BBQ and do fireworks the rest of the day. It’s rural where we are so it’s a good time with the BIG fireworks!

  • Kate {domestikatedlife}
    June 29, 2012 at 10:27 am

    I put together a 4th inspired tablescape last weekend too, check it out:

    http://domestikatedlife.com/2012/06/28/americana-bbq-and-a-giveaway/

    This holiday lends itself to my addiction to stripes!

  • Friday Miscellaneous » Lovely Little Parties Kentucky
    June 29, 2012 at 12:25 pm

    […] Holiday table setting […]

  • Inspired by the 4th « pellonprojects
    June 29, 2012 at 12:29 pm

    […] left: pinned by Renee Lareau — source: Making it Lovely top right: pinned by Katie Vanaria — source: Half Baked middle left: re-pinned by Cyd — […]

  • Friday Afternoon Round Up « The Little Things
    June 29, 2012 at 1:43 pm

    […] Super cute 4th of July table setting […]

  • Aspiring Kennedy
    June 29, 2012 at 2:01 pm

    Being an ex-pat, I enjoy watching everyone’s 4th of July preparations coming together. Such a perfect tablescape!

  • Friday Link Love | The Sweetest Occasion
    June 29, 2012 at 5:26 pm

    […] Pretty July 4th table settings […]

  • Sara - Confetti Sunshine
    June 30, 2012 at 1:06 pm

    I love the table arrangement! But, I especially love your chairs! Where did you get them?

    • Making it Lovely
      June 30, 2012 at 10:14 pm

      They’re “Urban” chairs from IKEA.

  • Haylee
    June 30, 2012 at 3:35 pm

    Beautiful. I especially love the red striped table runner.

  • Nancy Dewar
    July 3, 2012 at 6:31 am

    I just discovered your blog via Cargoh. Love your 4th of July table setting. It’s really great! Thanks for sharing.

  • Fave 4th Of July Entertaining Ideas | Little Door On The Sound
    July 4, 2012 at 6:28 am

    […] Fab 4th of July Table Scape from Making it Lovely […]

  • Have a July 4th Picnic in the Buffalo/ Lancaster Area — Somerset Management Group
    July 4, 2012 at 6:53 am

    […] Making it Lovely has a great design for picnic tables that could easily translate to how you can decorate with a blanket spread over the grass in a local park. We especially love the flag bouquets and think that the more sparkly, stars and stripes décor you have for July 4th, the better! […]

  • Happy 4th of July from Behringer Harvard Residential
    July 4, 2012 at 8:34 am

    […] old problem of not knowing how many of which toppings to order. Making it Lovely also features a patriotic way to dress up your dining room table that can also work well on an outdoor picnic […]

  • Happy 4th of July from Behringer Harvard Residential
    September 30, 2015 at 4:30 pm

    […] old problem of not knowing how many of which toppings to order. Making it Lovely also features a patriotic way to dress up your dining room table that can also work well on an outdoor picnic […]

  • Simple July 4th Tablescape and Styling Tips for Inspiration!
    June 7, 2016 at 8:49 am

    […] – Sweet Southern Blue / 2 – Making It Lovely / 3 – The TomKat Studio / 4 – Designer Duct Tape / 5 – Jenny Steffens / 6 – […]