Easter was over. Another week came and went. And I still was in love with my pretty Easter centerpiece. It had been the star of my spring tablescape. And though I love eggs for spring, it was time to put away the eggs. As I stood there looking at my table and wondering how I might change it up for a Mother’s Day tablescape… I had a lightbulb moment!
I didn’t need to start all over from scratch! I just needed to tweak that sweet but simple Easter tablescape and centerpiece!
That’s the thing… instead of putting everything away and having an empty table or having to think up a whole new centerpiece… take a look a what you already have and make something amazing with that.
At the beginning of the year, I decided…
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
was going to be my new mantra for the year. Frankly, I haven’t remembered it as much as I might have needed. But that decision I made quietly impacted almost everything I’ve done. As I look back since the beginning of the year, one thing has been a springboard for the next and so on. So much so, I have quite a few things up my sleeve that I’ve already created and photographed and have yet to write about and share with you here. Plus, I have more plans in the thinking stage. So many reasons for you to stay around and keep coming back.
Through this experience, I’ve come to realize that it’s so easy for us to get stuck and do nothing when all we really need to do is look at what we have in front of us and pray to see it in a fresh new way.
And so I did.
When I looked at my centerpiece with the great big spring egg, I realized that I could take off the pussy willow bird cage and switch out the egg for something else.
When the local garden centers start to open up for spring, I am over-the-top excited. One of my first purchases is always a few small pots of Johnny Jump-ups. I love those sweet Violas with their miniature pansy faces. They look so perky and happy I can’t help but smile when I look at them.
One evening (I love it that the sun sets so much later now.) we hopped in the car and went hunting for Johnny Jump-ups. For just a few dollars I found several options. Because my plans for using them were growing beyond the pussy willow birdcage centerpiece, I purchased three pots, each with different color patterns on the faces of the Violas.
After taking apart the previous centerpiece, I realized that one Viola pot I purchased at Meijer was the perfect size to slip inside my birdcage. Yay! I live my life with easy simplicity. It’s the best remedy for someone who fights perfectionism.
How much easier could it be than to pick up the birdcage and slip the pot of Johnny Jump-ups in the center of the silver bowl, place the birdcage back in place and fill in the space covering the sides of the pot and the bottom of the birdcage with the florist moss? Not much! It was done in two minutes.
I do need to take a minute to back up a little. If you read how I put the centerpiece together for Easter, you’ll remember that I hot-glued the arrangement together. The centerpiece needed to be deconstructed, I employed a wallpaper cutter to score the glue that held the birdcage to the silver bowl in order to remove it. It was tricky but very quick to do. Then I took the silver bowl with the egg glued to a tiny condiment bowl which in turn was glued to the bottom of the bowl and popped it into the freezer for a while. Maybe an hour? When I brought it out, I simply applied a little pressure with my fingernail, and popped off the extra glue around the top edge of the bowl, doing the same between the tiny glass bowl and silver bowl and finally repeating the process with the egg.
With Mother’s Day on the horizon, this table is filled with beautiful ways to celebrate your mom or that mom figure whom you admire.
When I say inexpensive, easy, and simple… this tablescape is all of that.
Once I had selected my pretty violas for the centerpiece, I had a color theme from which to create around. Now keep in mind that my stash is pretty small. However, I shared a lovely Mother’s Day gift idea here where I made with some pretty purple Ball mason jars. The jars and flowers were the starting point for this pretty tablescape.
One afternoon I made a quick stop to JoAnn crafts and purchased some 12×12 scrapbook pages in tones of purple, some pretty orchid grosgrain ribbon, and one tall stem of viola-like silk flowers. Everything was on sale and cost no more than $5 all together.
A few years ago, I won the cute ceramic chalkboard place cards from a giveaway at The Inspired Room and wouldn’t you know, they have the perfect shade of purple decorating them. My plates are the same plates I used in my Easter tablescape that came from the dollar store and my white napkins, originally from Tarjay were put into service again.
I wanted to add a little color to the table and so in lieu of chargers or placemats, I used scrapbook paper under the plates. They would have been fine to use as squares, but I wanted rounds under my plates, so I found the largest round item in my home that completely filled the square (which was a saute’ pan) and traced it and cut out rounds for my place settings.
Once my purple rounds were in place, the plates added along with the flatware, mason jar drinking glasses, and place cards, it was time to do something pretty with the napkins.
When I purchased the ribbon and faux flowers, I wasn’t exactly sure what I would do, but I decided that a nice feminine touch would be to roll the napkins into a tube and then tightly tie them up with a lovely bow. So easy and so simple! I was able to get four lengths of ribbon from the spool with just a wee bit extra. Then, using my wire cutters, I clipped the flowers so they all had long stems and simply inserted them between the ribbon and napkin. Voila! Aren’t they just lovely? I thought they looked especially nice placed on an angle across the plates.
I’m so glad I have been inspired to… Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Teddy Roosevelt was a wise man. This year I made a conscious decision to do just what he suggested. Since doing that, my eyes have been opened to many more possibilities. And yes, I usually have to spend a little money to create or finish off my tablescapes or vignettes, but not much. It is such a good feeling to finally be able to be a bit more creative and have things come together, like this pretty table set for Mother’s Day.
What have you done to create a pretty table that was simple and inexpensive?
Thanks so much for popping by today!
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I love this so much Diane! I totally want to make one!! YAY!! xoxo, Jennifer
Awwww…. you are so sweet!! Thank you, Jennifer! It really is such a happy little moment in my home. {{hugs}]
Your table looks lovely… I really like the centerpiece… what a great idea! 🙂
Thank you so much Joy! I was amazed how happy it made my heart to create and look at once it was done. Funny thing how these little things we do bring us so much happiness. Have a blessed day, my friend!
This is a lovely table setting. I remember the centerpiece from Easter, and I really liked it then. I like how you made it over for Mother’s Day . . . very pretty! The lavender accents in your table setting and accessories make it look so appropriate for spring and Mother’s Day.
You are so sweet Carol! Thank you for your kind words. Truly I had no idea I would enjoy the color as much as I did. What a happy surprise.
All the best for an extraordinary day!
Very pretty Mother’s Day Tablescape. I love how you recycled your Easter pussy willow centerpiece. The violas are lovely. Creating different tablescapes can be expensive, so it great to see ideas that are more economical.
Thank you Lisa! My budget is pretty tiny, so creating on the cheap is a real exercise of creativity. 😉
All the best for an extraordinary week! xo
I love all things Mason Jars but I have never seen PURPLE before! They are just gorgeous! We have some green ones at home. Beautiful use of the pussy willows. Your centerpiece looks great!!!
I rarely see the purple jars in stores either… but I did see them just the other day when I was out shopping. The green ones are a beautiful shade! I bet you enjoy using them in your decor, Nadine. Thanks so much for popping by and for your kind words!
Hope your day is extraordinary!
Your Mother’s Day tablescape is lovely. The purple shades are vibrant and all look wonderful together. I love that you could re-purpose some items. Your post caught my eye at Celebrate Your Story.
Thanks, Beverly!! I was thrilled with the way it all came together… especially as I am not usually into purple. I think that just changed. 😉 I just learned of your wonderful party and will enjoy visiting with you often. 🙂
Love the centerpiece! Can’t to try it for next tablescape.
Awww… thanks, Kristina!!! xoxo
I find your tablescape so pleasing to the eye! It is truly very pretty. Thank you for sharing it with us and inspiring us to do what we can with what we have!
Thank you so much, Teresa!! It was so fun to play and experiment with a “new” color. You are so kind to pop by with you lovely remarks. I look forward to visiting with you again.
Have a blessed day!!
What a beautiful tablescape! I’m featuring it at this week’s link party. http://www.thelifeofjenniferdawn.com/2017/05/diy-mothers-day-gift-ideas-weekly-link.html
Dawn… you just made my day!!! Thank you so so much!!! I actually stopped by for the party… but was too early this morning… so this is such a lovely surprise. Again, thank you!!!!
Such gorgeous ideas! Thanks for sharing with us at #overthemoon link party. I’ve pinned and shared.
Awww… thanks so much Sue!! You are so sweet to do that! Hope your day is extraordinary!
This is absolutely beautiful!! I loved the how bright and vibrant looks 🙂 Thanks a lot for joining us at the Family joy blog link up party! Pinned.
Thank you so much for your kind visit and encouraging words! At first I wasn’t sure about using the mason jars for drinking glasses, but in the end, they were just the ticket of color and whimsy.
All the best for an extraordinary week!
Oh, Diane, your tablescape is so lovely. The colors are absolutely beautiful and I love the way everything came together so very perfectly.
You are so sweet! Thank you, Mary Beth! Would you believe that is the first time I’ve ever used mason jars in a tablescape for drinking? I know!! It’s about time!!! xoxo
So pretty and I love the color. Your centerpiece is very creative and there are so many possibilities for changing it out. I’ve been shopping at Meijer’s for over 20 years and I love it!
Awww… thanks, Sandra! I’m putting the pussy willow bird cage away until next year. Who knows what creative idea will strike, but it will be fun to have something different to work with. All the best for an extraordinary week! xoxo
I love the quote from Teddy Roosevelt — you are right, lots of wisdom in those few words and you did a beautiful job of fulfilling the wisdom by reusing and renewing the Easter tablescape. Turned out gorgeous!
I think that Teddy was quite a wise president. There are so many things I have read, like those words that are truly encouraging to me.
Thanks Charlene for popping over and for your kind words! Wish we could have enjoyed a luncheon together around the table. xoxo