The soft light of paper luminaries sets a romantic mood. Two bags, one fitted over the other, form a box. The lanterns, strung on electric Christmas-tree lights and hung along branches, are tied with ribbon and sway gently in the evening breeze.
Tools and Materials
Strings of full-size Christmas lights with clear bulbs (remove every other bulb)
Light-colored paper bags about 7 inches wide (for each lantern, you’ll need two the same size)
A utility knife
A ruler
2-inch round self-stick labels
2-inch-wide single-face satin ribbon (one 48-inch length for each lantern)
Paper Lanterns How-To
1. Trim the tops of each bag to make straight edges. For the top of each lantern, stick a label on the inside bottom center of one bag to reinforce. Reaching inside the bag with a utility knife, cut two 1 1/2-inch slits, making an X on the label.
2. To attach bags to lights, first remove a bulb, and slide the socket through the X, and then screw the bulb back in.
3. For the lantern bottom, slide a second bag up over the first one.
4. Lay the center of the ribbon on top of the wire at the socket; wrap ribbon snugly down sides of bags. Knot at bottom and let ends hang.
Photo: Riley & RileyStamped Glass Candleholder
For the reception, re-create the beauty of etching with ease. All you need is a rubber stamp, white ink, and glass candleholders — frosted glass holds ink best. One stamp can form a single motif or an allover pattern. (For a custom design, such as your monogram, have a stamp made at an office-supply store.) To use a large stamp on a cylindrical container, carefully roll it from side to side. Allow a day or two for ink to fully dry.
Grown-Up Ice Cream Floats
Give the childhood treat a grown-up twist by pairing raspberry sorbet with lemon soda, and lemon sorbet with orange soda. To deck out a standard cart for your reception, tape colorful scalloped paper to the front.
Flower Girl’s Paper Basket
A pouch folded from colorful paper is a pretty alternative to a traditional basket — add a ribbon handle and bow, and it’s ready for the flower girl’s important role. We used vellum, so any moisture on flower petals won’t damage the basket. It’s so easy, your young attendant might like to help you make it.
Parasol Seating Cards
These cheerfully colored umbrellas sporting seating assignments dot miniature sand dunes at the entrance to a summer reception.
Ripe Fruit Wedding Centerpieces
Ripe fruits symbolize abundance and fertility — and make delicious favors. Fresh tomatoes in season in the summer look beautiful and enticing in this rustic Italian display.
All the above from MarthaStewart.com