Angel de-Light

Cheap and easy to make decorative tea lights.

You will need:  Paper (white or coloured / patterned), pencil, scissors, glue, tea lights, empty glass jars (with labels and lids removed)

Step 1: wrap a sheet of paper around a glass jar, so that it fits neatly once around the jar
Step 2: cut the paper to height so that you can see the top 1/4 of the glass jar
Step 3: fold the piece of paper length ways in 2" concertina folds (depending on the size of your jar you may increase / decrease this size)
Step 4: draw half of an angel head and wing on the top fold, ensuring that you start drawing the half from the folded edge and finish the wing at the cut edge
Step 5: Cut out around the drawing and unfold to reveal your angels
Step 6: Wrap around the glass jar and glue at the point where both ends meet
Step 7: Add a lit tea light to complete your "Angel de-Light!"

Caution: never leave a candle burning in a room unattended

Hints and tips:
For angel templates, search the web for an array of designs
Enough Angels? Try out some love hearts for valentines day or love birds!
The angel silhouettes will show up most in a low light room or flicker beautifully in outside space on a summers evening!

May your angels be with you x

Bunting on a budget

You will need: Card, Pencil, Ruler, Scissors, Fabric, Pins, Needle and thread/sewing machine, 2m ribbon, an Iron

Step 1: Cut a template from card

Step 2: Draw around the template on to your fabric using a pencil

Step 3: Cut out the triangles

Step 4: Take a long piece of ribbon and pin the fabric triangles on to the ribbon at equal distances from each other.

Step 5: Sew all the way along the ribbon, at least 1cm from the edge.

Hint and tips:

Stop edges fraying by using pinking scissors, or use felt which doesn't fray. Additionally, overlock around the edges with a sewing machine

If you are REALLY short of cash make triangles from coloured paper instead of fabric, and attach them to a long length of ribbon using a stapler - easy peasy.

Mad Hatters Tea Party

Here's a house party idea for the big kids.....
An Alice in Wonderland style 'Mad Hatters Tea Party' was one of the best themed events I have been to and there's lots you can do on a budget to make it look great.

Fancy Dress - Ask your guests to come wearing a hat! Not everyone likes fancy dress, and it can be expensive, but most people have a hat and won't mind wearing it, plus it's great talking point so will encourage your guests to mingle.

Catering - Serve some drinks in teacups and serve from teapots.  These are cheap to hire or buy if you don't have your own already. Also, don't do all the catering yourself, run a cake competition and ask your guests to enter. The cost of a prize will be cheaper and easier than buying or baking all the cakes.

Games - Use playing cards as raffle tickets. You can buy a pack in most pound shops.

Decor - If you have a chess set around the house or candelabras, display them! Also, create your own 'This way, that way' 'Up and Down' wall signs for your house from cardboard.

Entertainment - Get a copy of the Alice in Wonderland film or soundtrack and play on loop.

Happy partying!

Are you ordering too much catering from your supplier?

No one eats that much at corporate events, not because they don't want to, but because having a mouth full of mini quiche or a plate piled with pastries when approached by a valuable potential contact is not a good look! One tip I learnt a few years ago is order less sandwiches! If you have been ordering one portion of sandwiches per person, then cut you order by HALF next time you have an event. It sounds drastic, but you will find that you have less waste and more budget left over.