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Fourth Of July Table Settings

Alternate post title: The Vow (Not The One With Channing Tatum). Ok, now it’s the one with him in it because I mentioned him in the title, but he has nothing to do with this post. He’s not my type anyway. You know I like ’em tall, lanky, and bookish. And not formerly of a male dancing background.

But back to my vow. This year I wanted to actually share 4th of July ideas with enough time for other people to see them. I’m usually so last minute about holiday stuff, sometimes I post 4th of July ideas on the actual 4th of July (like this) which doesn’t do anyone much good. So yes, I literally raised my left hand with my right hand over my heart and said “I hereby vow to get it together and actually post table setting pictures the week before the 4th of July. You know, so anyone who sees something they like might actually have time to get ‘er done instead of seeing it when they’re back at work on the 5th.

I only have one rule for myself when I play around with holiday table settings: use what I have. So I didn’t buy any table wares or accessories for this, just padded around the house to see what I could dig up (and got lucky that we had lots of fresh fruit in the house thanks to my fruit-loving daughter). Oh but I did spend $3 on half a dozen Ukrops cupcakes (best. cupcakes. ever.) which not only came in handy when I used them for a table setting, they came in handy when I ate them. Haha.

4th July 2 Detail2

But other than that, this was a zero dollar table setting spree. I even snatched some fresh flowers from the yard, but we’ll get to that in a second. My method was basically to hunt/gather and see what I could find. Here’s what the counter looked like about halfway through – I just plopped anything red, white, blue, or neutral enough to drop in and add texture on the counter in one big pile and just picked stuff out and played around until landing on something I liked. And yes that is a navy blue dog leash in my pile of possibilities. Could’ve been cute for tying around napkins (but I didn’t want to cut it up) or weaving around a vase to make a little textured “cover” – maybe next time…

Setup On Counter

I actually did three table settings, and let me just tell you, it’s times like these that I miss our first house’s little rectangular table so much (remember this and this and this). It seated four people most of the time (and six in a pinch) which was a huge pain for family gatherings, but it was so much easier to set/shoot for my little bloggy adventures in table setting. So bear with me as I share the corner of our giant round table with four place settings (since it’s a monster that seats eight, it’s awesome for family gatherings but not so easy to shoot). Enough jibber-jabber. On with the show.

Setting number one was all about keeping things easy and casual, while adding some patriotic pop (mainly with fresh fruit):

4th July 1 Wide

Here’s what I used:

  • our regular white dishware and silverware (from Linens N Things for our wedding)
  • woven cups with pink stripes from HomeGoods a while back (I figured they were close enough to red, and kinda playful)
  • bowls with red apples in the middle for some 4th of July flavah
  • blue patterned cloth napkins from Marshall’s a while back
  • a scalloped bowl full of strawberries (from Target a long time ago) and a regular old dessert plate full of blueberries

I think it could make for a cute breakfast, brunch, or dessert shindig since it’s so blissfully uncomplicated (which is usually how I like to host since I get all sweaty at the thought of formal gatherings).

4th July 1 Detail

And now for a shot from above. It’s getting crazy up in here.

4th July 1 Detail2

The second setting felt a little more “gussied up” thanks to the use of an old fabric remnant and some free flowers from outside.

4th July 2 Wide

Here’s what I used:

  • our regular white dishware and silverware
  • basic white cloth napkins that we’ve had forever (from Target or Bed Bath & Beyond, I can’t remember)
  • woven cups on clearance from Sur La Table a few years back
  • blue wooden bowls (the same ones that usually sit on our open shelves in the kitchen) from HomeGoods a while back
  • a cake stand from a thrift store a few years ago
  • an old vase from West Elm with a free hydrangea swiped from the patio
  • two yards of fabric that we used for one of Clara’s monthly photos (from JoAnn with a 50% off coupon back when we got it)

And now a view from the top. I flipped the bowls over so the blue part faced up (the inside is a tan color like the woven cups) and decided it could be cute to use them like little serving domes and hide a treat for each guest under each one. So pretend there’s a little box of chocolates or a roll of Smarties under there.

4th July 2 Detail

See what I did to my regular old store bought white-icing-ed cupcakes? Just shoved a few blueberries on three of them and a few sliced strawberries on the other three. I’m telling you, this is The Lazy Girl’s Guide To Hosting. Just get store bought stuff and take a second or two to add fresh fruit or some other topping and suddenly it feels special without having to fire up the oven or break a sweat following a recipe (yes, I actually get sweaty when I attempt to follow a recipe).

4th July 2 Detail2

Oh and that’s a little bowl (from Target) full of biscotti. Cupcakes and biscotti are my idea of the best party ever hosted.

This last setting isn’t as pretty since the sun was setting so my shots are kinda meh, but you get the idea. It’s my little riff on a kids table. Of course my imaginary guests would have to be a little older than Clara (maybe 5 and up to sit at their own table and make this stuff work), but when searching the house for place setting items to use, I kept coming across fun kid-ish stuff, so I smashed it all down on the table and called it good.

4th July 3 Wide

Here’s what I used:

  • our regular white dishware and silverware
  • two pieces of cardstock under each plate with a red and a blue crayon for patriotic doodles
  • a few of Clara’s blocks to spell out “Happy 4th”
  • stacks of colorful books with our little pig dock on top (for playing some kid-friendly songs)
  • my crocheted cacti from here (blissfully free of dirt to spill)
  • plastic (aka: unbreakable) cups from Target that we used for Clara’s party
  • red and blue sugared gummy worms (yup, I picked them out of a multi-colored pack) along with a slice of watermelon
  • a little thrift store cheese plate with red decorative paper that I made a while back with a small dish of strawberries inside

I like how Wilbur is sniffing Clara’s blocks in this picture. Totally a Burger thing to do.

4th July 3 Detail

And here’s a little worm close up. You know we love worms around here…

4th July 3 Detail2

Oh and for those wondering where Clara was, she was sitting on the other side of the table for some of the fun. Haha. As soon as she saw me break out the strawberries, let’s just say there were requests. So it was nice to play around with the bean nearby, watching and chewing and singing hilarious things like “the strawberries on the bus go bite, bite, bite.” But that’s not even that funny. I just shared THE FUNNIEST conversation she and I have had to date (warning: it involves female anatomy and a baby in my belly) over on Young House Life.

Clara Eating

So there you have it. Fourth of July place setting ideas almost a week in advance. How novel!

Table Settings

Now if only I could magically sort through 1K house crashing, window shopping, and thrift store photos from ATL. My goal is to have those all written up for ya next week (except for a few of my House Crashing posts since I like to space those out) so here’s hoping! In the meantime, what are you guys doing for the 4th of July? Anyone hosting? Or planning to squish some berries into store bought cupcakes? Any other awesome 4th Of July ideas you want to link to or try in the comments (would love for the comments to become a treasure trove of holiday goodness). Feel free to link away!

Psst- Speaking of things that don’t have to do with Channing Tatum, we’re over here chatting about dealing with the ceilings (and that giant “to paint or not to paint” question).

Comments

  1. Katy @ The Non-Consumer Advocate says

    I love that you’re using what you already have. Not only does this save money, but it keeps your house from becoming cluttered with theme dishes that only see use once a year.

    Love the hydrangeas, wish mine were blooming, but we have a couple more weeks here in sunny Portland, Oregon.

    Katy Wolk-Stanley

    Reply

  3. Emily says

    Love all of your table ideas!

    I’m so excited for the 4th this year – we live in DC and my brothers are coming to stay with my boyfriend and me for the week and we’re going to see the whole Giants-Nationals series (on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th – can’t imagine anything better than baseball on the 4th of July – we’re all from San Francisco so seeing them in DC will be so fun). We’re going to a bunch of museums on Tuesday and are doing a big grilling day on Thursday. It should be a TON of fun and I really can’t wait to have them here!!

    Reply

  5. Ryan says

    I think you’re supposed to put your right hand on your heart and raise your left hand… but it’s okay — your ideas are cute so I forgive you.

    Reply

  7. Chelsea says

    Mmm what flavor cupcakes are those? I would like to make my own homemade for my 4th of July shindig! Wish I could have seen you guys at the Haven conference…literally down the road from my apt!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      They’re vanilla with vanilla icing. THE BEST! We had them at our wedding and everyone ate like three each. Haha. So funny you were so close to Haven. So sad we didn’t bump into you!

      xo,
      s

  9. Pam C says

    Thanks for posting these ideas. It’s very annoying to see holiday ideas on the holiday (being featured on TV shows). I need TIME!
    I’ll be taking my daughters and grandbabies to the beach for a few days. Absolute bliss!

    Reply

  10. becca says

    first off all, I love that you openly admit that everyone is reading your posts at work. like me. yeah.

    also, I’m pretty sure those cacti are crochet, not knit. crochet is one hook, and knitting is two needles. I’m fairly good at the first, and absolutely horrible at the second, so there is definitely a difference.

    Reply

  11. Katy says

    I love them! I have no idea yet what to do for the fourth. But I have pinned some things on Pinterest that might help: Pinterest.com/blairfal/july-4th-ideas/
    Also I have one on bastille day( yay France for having the colors) Pinterest.com/blairfal/Bastille-day/

    Hope that helps!

    Katy

    Reply

  12. Jess @ Little House. Big Heart. says

    Awesome job with the table settings! I love that you used what you had around the house; it’s not really practical to run out and buy all new stuff for every holiday!

    Oh, and your conversation with Clara over at Young House Life is precious! You’ll have to break that one out someday when the boys start breaking down your door. :)

    Reply

  13. Jess @ Little House. Big Heart. says

    Awesome job with the table settings! I love that you used what you had around the house; it’s not really practical to run out and buy all new stuff for every holiday! Did Clara supply the pre-doodled doodles on the placemats in the third place setting?

    Oh, and your conversation with Clara over at Young House Life is precious! You’ll have to break that one out someday when the boys start breaking down your door. :)

    Reply

  14. Sarah says

    So I am not ashamed to say that our family has had the same 4th tradition since I was probably 1. I have been happy to pass this down to my nieces and nephews and if I could, I would send you the cutest picture of 4 kids in some what matching plaid, red, white and blue shorts/ dresses all catching candy! (or begging would be the best term)
    we meet at my home town’s tiny Fireman’s parade http://www.scottsville.org/index.php/site/news/

    One tip I would share…there is a right way and a wrong way to hang flags. Keep the blue on the LEFT ALWAYS! It doesn’t matter if it is hanging vertically or horizontally just keep the blue to the left from the viewers POV.

    Reply

  17. Julia @Chris Loves Julia says

    I love, love, LOVE the second one and love that you got creative with what you had. I am wondering if I have anything I could use to decorate my table. We have white plates and….black bowls. Meh! But I do have some blue patterned sushi plates! Sushi on the 4th of July??? I don’t know about that.

    Reply

  18. Julie says

    Aw man, this post is making me homesick! Thanksgiving and the Fourth are always this toughest time of year for an expat. Thought about having a bbq, but oddly my British friends down here on Tortola don’t want to celebrate our indepedence day!

    Reply

  19. Sara says

    oh Ukrops cupcakes how I love thee, I may have to go buy some today after seeing these pictures. When I was pregnant and off from work one day, I bought 6 and ate 4, when my husband came home I lied to him that I shared some with a neighbor so he wouldn’t judge me :) They are so good!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hahahahahah, totally sounds like something I’d do. Except I’d blame it on Burger stealing one and make up some elaborate and not at all believable story. Neighbors is much smarter.

      xo,
      s

  21. Christa @ a*typicaljourney says

    Oh Sherry,
    I always love love love your table settings. I only wish my collection of housewares was large enough for me to scavenge within my own home whenever it comes time to entertain. Hopefully my upcoming wedding will remedy this deficiency ^_^
    We’re hosting a birthday party this weekend for one of our really good friends and I’m planning to make it a little patriotic (I already have the recipe for the red, white & blue jello shots. lol). I’m so going to steal some of your ideas for my own table even though we’re just having a barbecue :)

    Reply

  22. Heather Gearhart says

    I am in LOVE with your first table setting, nice and simple… plus those cups are super fun!

    I miss being home for the fourth of July. My family would always do a huge picnic but once all of the kids grew up, they kind of stopped that all together. And now that we are 2 hours away, we don’t want to travel back just for the day. So my husband and I are going to do a simple BBQ that night and watch all of the neighbors set off fireworks while we eat on our back deck. Sometimes those kinds of picnics are the best :)

    Reply

  23. Brianna says

    They are all so fun! I love the 2nd one the best possibly, it’s hard to tell. Now I’m going to pop over to younghouselife to check out that convo. :)

    Reply

  24. Rachel @ Birch + Bird says

    We just barely relocated to the great USA so we are new to the whole 4th of July thing. Our neighborhood puts on a big shin dig with fireworks and all that we’re looking forward to. I’m all for using what’s around the house for holiday decor and love your kid version. What I’m really interested in though, is your “regular” silverware. I love it and want it. Where did you pick it up?

    Reply

    • Captain Micah says

      I am a huge Crate and Barrel fan but haven’t loved their silverware. It was tarnished after just a few months of use! The nice customer service people sent me a polish, which I’ve used several times over the past four years since we got our silverware for our wedding. But who has time to polish every time guests are over?! I always find I’m embarrassed that things look old or dirty, when in fact they’re neither!

      We just bought some Oneida from Amazon for my Dad’s new place, and it is holding up well and is gorgeous! I’m going to start stealing a fork every time I’m over there…

  26. Trela says

    LOVE the blocks on the kids’ table — so cute, so easy!

    My husband belongs to a business group that, as a side “venture,” focuses on flying the American flag correctly and on the “right” days. My mom always did that too, so having the flag out front on those days is pretty important to us (someone PLEASE invent a reminder app for that!). Beyond that we don’t really “decorate” much — we’re white plate people, too, and use other things we have floating around to make a table scape. This year, however, I scored a completely and totally random little statue of a revolutionary soldier at Goodwill when I was going through my spray painting phase (and who should I blame there? :). I think it was one of those paint your own pottery pieces, but he was pretty cool, and a buck. He gets to stand in the middle of the Labor Day, Memorial Day, Patriot’s Day, Veteran’s Day and 4th of July table from now on!

    Reply

  28. Michelle says

    I’m right there with you in trying to remember to get my ideas together BEFORE the holiday so I can actually share them in time! I write articles about food/recipes and restaurants, and I’ve been busy whipping up fun 4th of July/barbecue ideas for the past few weeks. Here are a few:

    Strawberry and Yogurt Popsicles:
    http://www.examiner.com/article/kickoff-summer-with-strawberry-and-yogurt-popsicles?cid=db_articles

    Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Chips:
    http://www.examiner.com/article/summer-party-recipe-fruit-salsa-and-cinnamon-sugar-tortilla-chips

    Slow Cooker Pulled Barbecue Chicken:
    http://www.examiner.com/article/simple-summer-recipe-slow-cooker-pulled-barbecue-chicken

    Peanut Butter Cup S’mores Bars:
    http://www.examiner.com/article/taste-of-summer-peanut-butter-cup-s-mores-bars

    Lemon Buttercream Sandwich Cookies:
    http://www.examiner.com/article/summer-recipe-lemon-buttercream-sandwich-cookies

    Reply

  30. Sara T says

    We made our move to Ft. Lee and have been here for a little over a week. So…we are spending our first 4th of July in Richomnd! Are are planning on attending the Brewdependence Day @ Hardywood Park Craft Brewery – and watching the fireworks at The Diamond. My birthday is the 5th – and I wanted to know where I can get those cupcakes. Thanks.

    Reply

  32. Gabriella @ Our Life In Action says

    So cute and yummy looking! My sister-in-law has laid claim over the Forth of July partying in our family but I’ll forward your link to her; such great ideas, I just have to share. :-)

    Speaking of sharing – I added your headboard transformation into my blog and linked to your page….I am new to the whole blogging thing so I am not sure the protocol. Hope you don’t mind. :-)

    Reply

  33. Briel K. says

    Forget the table settings, I’m just in awe that you got half a dozen cupcakes for $3! You couldn’t even get one good cupcake here for that much (at least not that I know of).

    Reply

  35. Jennifer says

    My kids would love that kids table! We are buying a new house on the 2nd and will be busy unpacking all week though so it will have to wait until next year :)

    Reply

  37. Maureen says

    Happy 4th of July! I love that red fabric with the little white dots (or stars? on it…) What I REALLY want to say, is that my husband and I have not done a single thing to our home these past 9 months until I came across your blog. We are first-time home-buyers and it was like I had some kind of block. Suddenly I’m picking out paint colors, have crafts laying all over the house and even bought a sander and have started refinishing old pieces. I am having a blast and I thank you guys so much for the inspiration. I read every day and am often caught red handed sneaking off to snoop around your site at all hours of the day… haha! Totally loved the post about fighting. I hate that commercial (I think it’s Lowe’s) where the couple is happily skipping around tearing down walls? My husband and I took one look at each other and said, “Yah right. We’d kill each other 10 minutes in!” Fortunately we have a pretty good arrangement going – he does whatever he wants outside (garden, trash, landscaping and dog poop included) and I do whatever I want inside (rearranging, painting and dirty dishes – haha)! Thanks you guys.

    Reply

  38. Teri says

    What I don’t like: Theme-ish decorations that are out in all the stores during holidays. What I do like: using nice things that you already have to creat a simple and attractive tablescape that works well with the holiday. Thats just what you did, I love it!

    Reply

  39. Linda says

    Love the designs, and the cupcakes look so enticing – and Channing is very, very nice and all, but oh, Matt Bomer – I’m so going to that movie this weekend!

    Reply

  40. Crystal @ 29 Rue House says

    I love posts like these…they get my creative juices flowing and I see regular, everyday things in a new light, even if I don’t act on them. :)

    I had Aaron watch the Magic Mike movie trailer last night…trying to convince him it’d be a good movie to see (once netflix gets it). :)

    Reply

  41. Lindsey says

    All of this berry squishing goodness for the 4th has reminded me of my mom’s fruit pizza turned American flag we used to have at 4th of July festivities! Sugar cookie crust, yummy cream cheese icing topped with a blueberry rectangle and strawberry stripes. I think we’re going to have to make one this 4th of July! Thanks for the inspiration :-)

    Reply

  42. Stephanie says

    I’m sorry Sherry. I literally didn’t retain anything after I saw Channing Tatum’s face. All I can think is “Mmmmm Channing Tatum.”

    Reply

    • Stephanie says

      I didn’t even notice the cupcakes and I LOVE cupcakes. That’s how distracted I was.

      If I woke up in the hospital and Channing Tatum told me he was my husband. I would NOT question him.

  43. Mona O | Renters in Love says

    Even after reading that you like ’em “tall, lanky, and bookish” AND seeing the picture of Channing Tatum, why did I scroll back up on my blackberry to confirm that Sherry, and not John, was the author of this post?

    Reply

  44. katie says

    I went to school in Richmond and miss Ukrops like cah-razy. The cupcakes remind me of a flag cake my mom used to make from pound cake with whipped cream frosting and blueberries and strawberries arranged on top like a flag.

    We are having an “Ahoy its a Boy!” Baby Shower for my cousin and his wife down in Annapolis and meeting my brother’s new girlfriend for the first time!

    Reply

  45. Melissa says

    Love option #3! I never thought about using the kiddo’s blocks for decorating-what a great idea! One thing I like to do is use scrapbook paper or pretty printed paper napkins as a liner on white ceramic plates to fancy them up for serving desserts and other finger-friendly foods. I have a box of left-over paper/napkins from previous parties or projects that I rifle through whenever we are entertaining.

    Reply

  46. Jenny says

    All great ideas. I am going to go thru my stuff and see what I can come up with for my table. I need a table cloth, is yours hemmed?
    Also, I have the same camera as you. After two years I still stay close to the auto mode. What is your lens/settings you used of the close ups of the table settings?
    Thank you.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh no, it’s just a fabric remnant, so it’s raw on the edges but it’s still pretty cute! You can use no-sew hem tape to hem yours if you’d like though! Love that stuff! As for the camera, we shoot in A mode, which does some things automatically but we get to do a few things manually. For the detail shots we used our 50mm lens, which always makes things look so much better (we use the stock lens for all of our wide room shots though, since our 50mm is really tight – aka: better for closer shots).

      xo,
      s

  47. Megan says

    So if you don’t like him, are you not going to see Magic Mike? I want to go just to see the guy from True Blood. Sigh…

    Cute dishes and set ups, I love that you’re not buying seasonal items that will just junk up the cabinets. Although cute, it seems a waste… and that’s when you just buy paper or plastic! :) We do a big family celebration on the fourth and there’s easily 40-50 people there if all the “kids” (ages 3-30) come. Paper is the way to go then!

    Reply

  49. Lindsey says

    I recently did some fun Independence Day crafty decor projects, including a barn star wreath that I kinda like:
    http://www.mrspottsthoughts.com/2012/06/independence-day-diy-decorations.html
    And of course, there are tons of great ideas on pinterest that I still want to try!
    http://pinterest.com/lindopotts/holidays-independence-day/

    Been reading your blog for years now and I think this might be my first comment. So hooray for de-lurking! Love love love your blog!

    Reply

  50. Megan Circelli says

    Even though I am Canadian and our special day is July 1st… the 4th has special meaning as it is our wedding anniversary. Happy 4th!

    Ps: Love how you used Clara’s blocks!

    Reply

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