Easy DIY Ideas: Entertaining for Easter

Create a lighthearted ambiance for Easter entertaining with inexpensive supplies and an eye for color.

A watercolor tablecloth brings a spring-like palette to your dining table.

Gather your materials:

• Canvas Drop Cloth in a size that will cover your table
• Iron and ironing board
• Painter’s Plastic to protect flooring
• Spray bottle of tap water
• Water-based paints in your chosen color scheme
• Small bowls to hold paint
• Small jar of tap water
• Trim brushes
• Toothbrush
• Colorful markers

 

First, iron the drop cloth to remove any sharp creases. You will probably have to use the steam setting for a smoother cloth.

Lay out the plastic sheeting to protect your work surface. (We skipped this step for two reasons: we were working on a concrete warehouse floor and our drop cloth had a plastic lining attached.) Using the spray bottle, dampen a small section of the cloth about a foot or 16 inches square. Don’t soak the cloth, just give it a few spritzes.

 

Pour small amounts of water-based paint into bowls. Dab the brush in one color and paint swipes on the damp section of the cloth. Feather the sides of each swipe a bit so that it doesn’t look like a series of stripes. Rinse the brush in the jar of water and repeat with another color. Fill in the damp area with all colors of paint. Try to get a good distribution of each hue around the cloth.

 

While your paint is still wet, load the brush with water and skim over the paint to thin and blend the colors together. Work the brush in all directions to soften edges and brushstrokes.

 

Dip the toothbrush into one of your paint colors and flick the brush over the painted area to create small splatters of color here and there. Rinse the brush and repeat with all colors. Continue to paint your cloth in sections until the entire area is covered. Let the cloth dry completely.

 

If you want an additional design element, add some simple floral shapes to the cloth with markers in your color scheme when the paint has dried thoroughly.

 

Drape the cloth over your table to bring a painterly pastel palette to your setting. We love these chairs. Simple, elegant, comfortable.

 

Our table is set for an Easter brunch with pastel hues that match our cloth. Simple white IKEA FÄRGRIK dinnerware (and mugs) puts the focus on the decorative elements rather than the dishes. We also included a set of vintage chartreuse glasses for a spot of vibrant color.

 

If you want a more traditional look or are serving Mimosas, set the table with crystal champagne flutes instead.

 

We decorated each place setting with a glittered wire bird’s nest filled with glass marble eggs. To make your own, coil 18-gauge silver wire around the outside of a small bowl to get the nest shape. Weave smaller 20-gauge wire through and around the coils. Spray the nest with spray adhesive and coat with extra-fine silver glitter and let dry. We filled our nests with glass marble eggs but clay or candy eggs would make a nice favor as well.

 

Our candy-filled vintage tin jello-mold favors double as seating place cards with the addition of a banner cut from decorative paper.

 

For a centerpiece on our table, we hung painted wooden eggs on a repurposed jewelry hanger. We found the hanger at a tag sale and spruced it up with a coat of white spray paint. To make your own hanging eggs, drill a hole in the top of each wooden egg with a 1/16-inch drill bit (word to the wise: With a small nail, tap a slight depression in the wood where you want to drill. It will help to hold the bit in position at the start.) Bend a tiny loop with 22-gauge wire and insert into the hole. Secure the wire with a dab of super glue and let dry. Tie a loop of monofilament through the wire. Give the eggs a coat of primer followed by one of bright white paint when dry. Paint the white eggs with acrylic craft paints in spring colors and simple shapes and hang then from the loops to dry. Protect your artistry with a finish of glossy polyurethane.

 

The floral details added with markers bring a bit of whimsy to the tablecloth. For fun, let your guests create their own embellishments on the cloth with the markers. Ask them to sign their creations to commemorate the occasion.

 

It turns out our plastic-lined drop cloth makes a reversible tablecloth with a soft palette of pastels under the shimmering lining. Ideal for an outdoor party.

 

Create some playful containers for Easter treats on your sideboard with new or vintage jars, spray paint, and children’s toys.

Gather your materials:

• Lidded jars of various sizes
  • 3-Piece Glass Cracker Jar Canister Set
  • Ball Half Pint Canning Jar 12-Count
  • Ball Crystal Jelly Jars
• Small bunny figurines (you could also include chicks, lambs—any cute critter, really)
  • Safari Piglets and Bunnies
  • Schleich Sitting Rabbit Toy Figure
• Spray primer
• Spray paint in pastel colors
• E6000 epoxy
• Easter egg candy

 

Using the epoxy, glue the animal figurine to the center of a jar lid. Allow the adhesive to dry for 24 hours. When dry, spray the lid and critter with primer in a well-ventilated area and let dry. Spray one or two coats of colorful paint onto the lid, letting each coat dry before applying the next. Fill the jars with a variety of Easter treats and screw on the lids. Arrange the group of jars on a sideboard or in the middle of a table as a centerpiece.

 

Thanks to IKEA for providing products for our projects.

 

© Caruth Studio