Simple Settings Table Styling
About
A Southern California girl, Natasha has made her way up north to the beautiful city of San Francisco. With a knack for organization, DIY, crafts and events, Natasha Robinson has decided to make a magazine dedicated to DIY table settings. Getting into her Senior year in college, she wants to make a magazine that will help promote her craftiness and show her creativity.
Hello Friends, I am excited to present Issue #1 of Simple Settings. I have been working on it for a while now and it is finally time to release this magazine, full of all my hard work and dedication. I have to thank my friends and family who have helped me collect props, shoot some photos, and even drive me all over California to do these shoots. As you flip through these pages I hope you enjoy all the DIY tips and ideas for your own simple setting. I have pulled my inspiration from the state where I have lived my whole life. Each table represents a place that I have been to in California. Each city has been carefully picked out by me and all of my friends who have surrounded me during the creation of this magazine. The thrift shopping, the deadlines, the ideas, the creating and the designing are all something I want to continue to relive, and hopefully continue to do throughout my life. I hope you can take something from each setting and share it with the people close to you. Now flip the page and enjoy! Natasha Robinson
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HUMBOLDT California
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HUMBOLDT California WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO CREATE THIS SETTING 1. Picnic Bench: Most parks will have recreational picnic benches. 2. Plastic Plates: You can choose different colours as I have, or just a basic onecolour setting. You can get plastic tableware from Target, Macy*s, and other similar department stores. 3. Plastic Cups: You can also get these from Target or Macy*s. 4. White saucer plates: I went to Goodwill in San Francisco and bought these for 49 cents each, which I think is the best deal you could get on tableware! 5. Plaid Napkins: Mine were my grandmother’s, but you can buy plaid fabric at your local fabric store. 6. Table Runner: I did a lace one from Ross, but I recommend just any white runner. 7. Plastic Ware: You can buy this at your local grocery store. 8. Italian Bottles: I got my two at Ross. Ikea also sells them. 9. Bucket: You can get this at Home Depot. 10. Flowers: From your local garden center.
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My little Details Lavender: To add a petite detail to melon slices you can add a flower. My choice was the lavender growing in my backyard. Place Tags: If you have nice handwriting, creating little place cards with the person’s name on it can add to each place setting. Labeling: I know everyone knows which is a spoon and which is a knife, but by using a permanent marker and using your cursive skills from grade school you can add a real subtle touch to an everyday item.
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When all the details finally come together, there is a sense of togetherness in the air.
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DIY Paper Flags
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What You’ll Need 1. Craft Paper 2. Scissors 3. Scotch Tape 4. Toothpicks
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Once you have cut out your strip of paper you’ll need to fold it in half and cut from corner to corner, on the open side, to get a triangular shape.
Fold your newly cut paper with the print facing out and you have your flag. Next take a tooth pick and wrap tape around one end.
Take your craft paper and fold it in half and then in half one more time. Then cut along the creases with your scissors so you get a square.
Step 5:
Open up the flag and place the taped toothpick on the crease of the flag. Next put another piece of tape on either side of the flag.
After you have your square you want to fold in 1” of the paper and make a good crease to cut along to get a nice strip of paper.
Step 6:
Fold the flag over and press firmly on the taped areas. TADA! P. 17
Y MAKE YOUR PLASTIC FANTASTIC Make your boring plastic ware fantastic with a simple detailing on the handle of each one.
For this, all you need is some good penmanship, preferably cursive and a coloured Sharpie. Using a thin tipped Sharpie, grab the utensil of your choice and firmly press the base of the utensil on the side of a table to keep a steady surface. After you have written out whatever you desire, let the ink dry for about 5 minutes. Now your plain plastic ware has become fantastic! Other Ideas: You can write table numbers. You can write first, middle, last names of people. You can write the month, day and year.
When writing, make sure not to press too hard because the ink will become too liquidy and the writing will not be legible.
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California
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WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO CREATE THIS SETTING
1. Coloured Vases: The best and cheapest place to buy these would be a thrift store. 2. Coffee Cups: You can buy these at Target or a local thrift store. 3. Dinner Plates: Dark green is what I went with, to give it a garden feel. And it matched my saucer plates! 4. Saucer Plates: I found my sunflower ones at Goodwill San Francisco, but you can find many saucer plates at any thrift store. 5. Paper Napkins: You can buy these at any grocery store. 6. Pitcher: You can find this at Macy*s or a thrift store. 7. Silverware: You can buy this at any department store, discount store or thrift store. 8. Table Runner: This is my grandmother’s vintage runner, but I’ve seen them at Ross and thrift stores. Chinatown has some lovely ones too. 9. Candle Holders: I found mine at Goodwill but they can be found at Macy*s. 10. Candles: You can get these from any type of department, discount or thrift stores. 11. Wild Flowers: I picked these all around my neighborhood. 12. Wine Bottles: I reused some from my friends and family and cleaned the labels off. 13. Twine: You can get this at your local hardware store.
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q DOWNLOADABLE INVITATIONS You can get this bird and bunting invitation and other creatives ones just like it from The Wedding Chicks. They have a fantastic array of different invitations and menue cards.
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http://www.weddingchicks.com/freebies/invitation-suites/bunting-invitation-suite/
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What You Will Need: 1. Twine 3. WD-40 2. 5 Bottles 4. Rags
Step 1: Peal off the wine labels to the best of your ability to prep for step 2.
Step 2: Clean off the bottles by spraying WD40 on the already peeled label and let sit for a couple of minutes. Wipe off with a rag. Do this with all the bottles.
Step 3: Cut two arms lengths of twine for each bottle. Take the end of the twine and tie it around the neck of the bottle. Once all the bottles are tied,decide the level you want the bottles to be when hung from the tree.
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Pismo California
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California WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO CREATE THIS SETTING
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1. Place Mats: Goodwill has a nice variety of place mats as well as Target or even Ross. 2. Dinner Plate: I got the whole set is from Goodwill but department stores have these sets as well. 3. Saucer Plates: Part of the set from Goodwill but Macy*s and Target sells these sets as well. 4. Tea Cup & Plate: Sold as a set at Goodwill, but available at Macy*s. 5. Blue Napkins: These you can find at any department store. 6. Vases: I found these at Goodwill but Target or Macy*s would have them as well or thrift stores. 7. Milk & Sugar Bowls: Mine were a set with the vases they are usually sold in a set. You can find them at a department store or thrift. 8. Candle Holders: Ikea sells a 12 pack for $1.99. 9. Candles: Ikea sells a 36 tea light set for $2.99. 10. Roses: I went around my block and picked these. Make sure to ask! 11. Silverware: Any department store or thrift store will have silverware.
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A clean design will allow your focal points to pop along with your colour. For a unique way to labeling find some unique paper and stamp your guest’s names.
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Place Card
Placecards can be used in many different ways.
I had this fun craft paper from Michael’s and one had frames, so I cut along each and used each frame for a different name. I then took some small stamps and ink pad and stamped the names on each frame that was cut out. You can make place cards in many different ways. Use other unique craft paper and cut hearts and use a felt pen to make place cards. Take a 3 inch by 3 inch piece of paper and fold it in half to make a place card that stands up. There are more DIY ideas on my blo, DIYideas. If you need any ideas or help, feel free to use the ask box and I will be glad to assist you.
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Diagonal Napkin Fold
Fold a square napkin in half, then into quarters. Orient the napkin so that the open corner is facing the top left side. Step 1: Gradually roll up diagonally the top-most layer of napkin and press it down to form a band. I usually start rolling a band that is ¾ of an inch and adjust as needed to get the look I want. Step 2: I stop rolling when I reach about 1” from the lower corner. It is easier to secure the wrapped sides if you stop before reaching the corner. Step 3: Turn the napkin over so that the open corner is now facing your body. Fold that ⅓ of the bottom side. Step 4: Fold ⅓ of the top side and tuck it in the bottom corner to secure in place. Press well. You can iron the napkins for a crisper look. I did not took the time to do it for the pictures. Step 5: Use the pocket to place the silverware, a flower (with a florist vial) or a menu card.
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Santa Ynez California
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WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO CREATE THIS SETTING
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1. Flowers: I picked these just from the park that I was at. 2. Vase: This is my friend’s mother’s vase, but you can get many different ones from Goodwill. 3. Alice and Wonderland Plates: They sell these at Urban Outfitters. 4. Black Plate: I bought these from Goodwill but department stores also sells these type of plates. 5. Glass Cups: Thesewere barrowed froma friend but you can get them at any department or thrift store. 6. Foldable Table: You can get these at Costco or maybe even a thrift store. 7. Card Decks: These are sold at drug stores or even grocery stores.
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Sometimes having too little is having just enough. Having the card table top made this table setting pop and not need as much details as the other tables.
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DIYCard Table
What you Will Need: • Two decks of playing cards • Scotch tape
Step One: I had blue and red cards, I decided to use the blue cards as face cards and then the red cards as the non face cards. For this all you have to do is roll the tape into a double sided piece of tape and put it on the correct side of the card.
Step Two: Next, line up the cards along the table and tape each one, one by one. My advice would be to do an L shape on the length and width. P. 57
California
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California WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO CREATE THIS SETTING 1. Table Runner: I did a lace one from Ross, but I recommend just any white runner. 2. Spaghetti Sauce Jars: I made these into my two vases. 3. Mason Jar Cups: I bought a set of 4 at Ross for $5. 4. Floral Bowl: I bought these from Ross and they had many other varieties. Macy*s would be a good place to find small bowls as well. 5. Floral Plate: Ross had these and they match my bowl. Department stores are good as well for this type of plate and design. 6. Dinner Plate: I got these from Goodwill but you can get these at most department stores too. 7. Napkin: These are my Aunt’s but Bed Bath and Beyond has a good variety, 8. Silverware: Any department store or thrift store will have silverware. 9. Candle Holders: Ikea sells a 12 pack for $1.99. 10. Candles: Ikea sells a 36 tea light set for $2.99. 11. Flowers: I picked these from my Aunt’s garden. Most flowers are right under your nose.
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MASON JARS CAN BE USED FOR MANY DIFFERENT DIY PROJECTS AND IDEAS. One: You can use a Mason Jar for each person’s place settings, silverware and napkin, Two: They are perfect to use as a cup for anything you would like. Three: A large candle for a centerpiece. Make a wick or buy one, then start to pour hot wax and you can make a really large candle. Four: Make a small candle. You can put a tea light in the bottom and use it as a nice candle holder. Five: A chandelier - there are many ways you can do this, but just make sure you keep the lids. Six: It can be a vase. I sometimes use spaghetti sauce jars when I can’t find a mason jar because they look very similar. P. 67
Step 2: Take that strip of paper and write the person’s name on left side. Fold it in half to find the middle and put two pieces of tape to secure it shut.
Step 1: Start with some craft paper of your choice and cut a 1/4 inch by 5 inch strip of paper.
Step 3: Make sure that you put the tape in the correct spot, if not readjust the tape so it stays on the handle.
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STEP - BY - STEP STEP 1: Collect spaghetti jars - I find Safeway brand to have the best ones. STEP 2: Make sure to clean all the jars, I would advise using a dish washer after hand washing them. (If you flip back to page 29 you can get a visual of how to do this.) STEP 3: When taking off the labels, first peel as much of the label off as possible. STEP 4: Clean off the bottles by spraying WD-40 on the already peeled label and let sit for a couple of minutes then wipe off with a rag. Repeat for every bottle. STEP: 5 When the jar is dry it is ready to be used as a vase.
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WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO CREATE THIS SETTING 1. Blue China Dinner Plate: I bought this at Goodwill. Department stores also sell these, but Goodwill will be cheaper or any thrift store. 2. Blue China Salad Plate: Found this also at Goodwill. They were not sold as a set but they were the same make. 3. Tea & Cup Plate: Sold as a set at Goodwill, but available at Macy*s. 4. Lace Table Cloth: Found this at Goodwill as well and have seen them at my other local thrift stores. 5. Cranes: My friend made these for me but on page 87 there is a step-by-step guide. 6. “Seat” Mats: I used table mats that I got at good will and made them into seats. 7. Beach Rocks: If you do decide to do this at a beach, these rock are found all over beaches. I have used them to create a good focal point. 8. Conch Shell: This is my family’s but you can purchase these at beach front stores. 9. Foldable Card Table: These were my family’s but you can find them at thrift stores.
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Sometimes the simplest setting is the most remarkable.
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Make your simple beach setting a little more rocky, in a good way. All you will need to do is search the beach’s sand and find some medium size rocks, a good bucket full. First create the focal point of the table. I used some sand and a conch shell then added some beach flowers inside of the shell. After you have your focal point, start laying down the rocks in a straight line to make this centerpiece more engaging. Now your simple beach setting has become more rocky! :) Other Ideas: You can use different shells instead of rocks but they are harder to find. You can even try to find some good dried seaweed or driftwood would work well as the focal point along with the rocks.
If you are collecting shells please be sure it is not the home to a sea animal.
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Thank You Carly Olsen Photo Editor for Humboldt Photoshoot
Nhathy Ngo Photo Editor for Pismo and DIY flags for picnic.
Ryan Bealer Helped with Santa Barbara, Santa Ynes and Malibu.
Mike Vlasaty Photo Editor for Santa Barbara Photoshoot
Mary Hamilton Helped by showing to fold napkins and also let me use their house.
Rose Robinson (Mamabear) For searching high and low for dishware and for her support.
To all my readers,
Berto Mora Photo Editor for Beaumont.
A big thank you to all of you because without you this magazine wouldn’t have been possible and my dedication to this would have not been the same. I appreciate each and everyone of you. Thank you for the support and for reading.
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