Making table arrangements for banquet without spending a dime.
My son’s final season Lacrosse banquet was last night. No
money in the budget for decorations. I’m not a committee meeting attendee, but
I showed up at the seating area outside of the closed Starbucks three weeks ago. No coffee, as
they are remodeling. I volunteered to make twelve arrangements. I was dreaming about fields, school colors of blue and white, and appearing whimsical.
Items needed: bins for compost/ grass base/ flowers from your
garden or neighbors/ color print images of the team/ strong scissors/ baby
crummy scissors/ packing tape or whatever tape you have/ used cardboard boxes
(USPS UPS or ones from wine boxes are all good), ruler, old lacrosse balls, an
old t-shirt in the school color, fishing line.
First step I had in mind was to grow sod, or grass in a
rectangle field shaped container. I visited Home Depot and they graciously gave
me these long black holders for four inch pots. The sod bin had one tired
brown piece of grass (cost nine dollars including tax but I didn’t purchase it). Instead
I filled the eleven bins with compost from my yard and sprinkled rye grass into
the bins. The seed didn’t grow as quickly as I planned, as we have had cooler
weather with no rain. The bins turned green and brown. To cover up the brown I
added rosemary, some small leaf geraniums and clover flowers the night before.
The now lively base became a vase to hold white roses, blue statice, forget me
nots and daisies. As you can see they are whimsical but they set the
tone for fun. It may be difficult to see the blue lacrosse balls in the middle of the flowers but scroll down, you'll see...
Tools: baby crummy scissors for scoring the cardboard (just pressing through 1/3 of the material not cutting to fold, sharp scissors, maker, tape some fishing or clear wire
Materials:
print images of the players and some team images, used cardboard, bins from garden supply, old tshirt in school color, used balls splashed with poster paint.
When you measure the garden bin keep one clean to test fit as you go. I made one too small and it was easy to open the sides and expand. Each corner will need two to three slits from the edge of the rim into the corner. This allows for bending around the black garden bin and allows for errors. I didn't use the ruler, all were cut by estimating. The material is free so if you make an error just tape an extension corner on. The cardboard isn't to hold the vase, its purpose is to hide the unattractive black plastic with your team images and mascot logo
cut slits to make the box fit
below scoring the inside for folds. note my lines are not perfect this was late at night
Here's some tables minutes before the start
I had this idea that the balloons would float the ball in the tshirt net cradle, but found
three balloons can't hold up a Lacrosse ball.
I attached the fishing line to the t-shirt net around the
ball thinking this was going to look like a ball coming in for a landing on the field.
Instead, I tied the balloon ribbons and they appeared to be flying off .
It was pretty. Accidents can be fun.
No time or money to run back to the dollar store for more balloons.
Cost of total project $15.00 for helium balloons, they gave us a few extra.
These little Lacrosse ornaments were placed on each player's table setting.
Now I think they would be nicer attached to a key chain, or
with white grosgrain ribbon to use on a Christmas tree or hang from a rear
view mirror.
The party was a success. Dana Hills High School Lacrosse 2015 banquet!
"Whatever you do, wherever you go, do great." That's a quote from me.
Preparation, creativity and fun - I'll miss these gentlemen
