Martha Stewart doesn’t hold a candle to Goodwill Industries’ new home décor expert Merri Cvetan! Look for Merri’s tips on inexpensive ways to decorate a room, create a fabulous table setting, as well as, new uses for old things!  Make sure to check out her weekly column for great advice or if you have specific question email her at askmerri@goodwillsew.com.

 

Merri's Latest Article 
Now Sea Here 

Kid’s look forward to summer vacation all school-year long, and why not?  We all remember the fun and freedom of three months of pure bliss.  If you’re planning a summer birthday party for a child, try something a bit more original than paper hats and the latest superhero theme.  Kids will love it and you will be sure to impress the other moms!

Remember the placemats I used for Father’s Day Dining?  I flipped an ugly old printed mat and used the cork back-side.  The cork is reminiscent of sand, so it’s the perfect back drop for summer lunch (and no messy sand to deal with)!

Paper plates are perfect for outdoor picnics, but they aren’t recyclable.  I used a basic white dinner plate and found colorful napkins at Goodwill (4 for $1.99).

I picked up the plastic pail and shovel at a discount store.  They make perfect party favors.  I personalized the shovels with each child’s name.  You can control who sits where and avoid hurt feelings and other problems with assigned seats.

The sea shells and star fish are great souvenirs for the little ones to take home too.  If you are lucky enough to live on the beach, collect your own or have a sea shell scavenger hunt as a party game!

More party ideas:

• Cover your table with brown craft paper (easy clean-up).  Let the kids draw tic-tac-toe games on the paper.  Use shells in place of X’s and O’s.
• You can fill the pail with whatever you are serving.  Kids love the unexpected.
• Wrap hot dogs or tacos in wax paper and place in pail along with a juice box.
• Using puff pastry, cut out star shapes, sprinkle with colored sugar for edible “star fish”.
• Serve tuna fish in pita bread or croissants.
• Fill pails with macaroni and cheese and let the kids eat with the shovels.  How often does a kid get to be messy at the table and not get scolded!

The ideas are limitless for a fun summer birthday party.  Email me your ideas to askmerri@goodwillsew.com.

Archived Articles