Dinner for Two

Create the perfect DIY Valentine’s Day picnic.

Your local Salvation Army thrift store can help you prepare a romantic picnic banquet for you and your sweetheart, whether you plan for an indoor or outdoor soirée. Basket Every romantic rendezvous starts with the ideal basket for transporting your picnic feast. Source one at your local Salvation Army thrift store. Add some love to it by embellishing it with fabric or ribbon. You can even paint it if you’re feeling super-inspired. Upcycled sheet or embroidered blanket Repurpose or restyle a secondhand find for your picnic blanket. You can embroider it or use fabric paint to give it some pizzazz. Love-infused napkins Score some plain napkins, then stencil words of love on them: “his” and “hers,” “be mine,” etc. Use paint, Sharpies or embroider your gushy words. Mason jars filled with sweets Woo your sweetheart with Mason jars or other glassware filled with your sweetie’s favourite treats. Add some extra bling to the Mason jars with heart-inspired accents. Cake stand Create a cute cake stand by repurposing a candle holder and attaching it to a thrifted plate. Strong adhesive can be used to glue them together. Once the glue dries, add your Valentine’s favourite treat to the cake plate.

(left) Denise Corcoran (a.k.a. Thrifty By Design) is an author, upcycler, community builder and workshop facilitator based in North Vancouver. She shares her enthusiasm for crafting and upcycling by facilitating “Crafternoons” throughout Vancouver. She is also a creative expert for The Salvation Army’s thrift stores. Find a thrift store near you at thriftstore.ca.

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