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    How to Celebrate Your 40th Birthday

    Brittany
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    How to Celebrate Your 40th Birthday

    My 40th Birthday Plans

    Leading up to my 40th birthday, I had lots of plans. Specifically, I wanted a big Europe trip to celebrate! But we are in up to our necks in behind-the-scenes projects here at The House that Lars Built, which means a trip to Europe just wasn’t in the cards. At least for now. Maybe in the fall? I’ll keep you all posted. There’s noting wrong with a belated birthday trip, after all!

    I’m not the only one turning 40 here, though! Despite my lack of exciting birthday plans for now, all my friends are also soon-to-be or already over the hill, which means I’ve attended some great 40th birthday celebrations in the past year. I couldn’t just not share those ideas with all of you! So today I’m giving you the lowdown on all the things my friends did for their 40th birthdays, plus a few extra ideas.

    How to Celebrate Your 40th Birthday

    Birthday Trip

    Birthday trips are a classic way to celebrate a big milestone birthday like your 40th! (hence, my hopes to make it to Europe this year). But if you can’t make it internationally and still want a weekend getaway, try something closer! It’s amazing what a quick trip to somewhere new can do. And of course it’s always better with friends or family to come along for the fun.

    For your enjoyment, here are some photos from our most recent trip to Denmark (and I promise to post more once I make it back to Europe for my birthday trip)!

    Karaoke

    So I don’t know if you were aware, but there’s something about 40-year-olds and karaoke that is just magical. I’ve been to a handful of karaoke parties to celebrate the big 40 and I have to say that a bunch of moms singing karaoke are a different breed of unparalleled fun. What are you waiting for?! Warm up those vocal chords and get ready to sing yourself into your 40’s!

    Spa Day

    A birthday classic for a girls day out especially, a spa day can be the perfect, relaxing way to usher in the 40’s with some self care. Pamper yourself; you deserve it! Go for a mani/pedi, massage, the whole nine yards. We promise you won’t regret it!

    Here are some spa essentials to get you going:

    In-person Parties

    Post COVID lockdowns, it feels that much more triumphant to have a party IN PERSON with people you love! So even though parties aren’t unique to a 40th birthday, there’s a reason we have parties for every birthday. It’s a classic way to celebrate that never really gets old!

    Speaking of parties, we have some great party decorations for your to peruse in our shop! Check out our birthday suites, and all of our birthday content here!

    Lemon-themed bunting swoops across a pink backdrop. In the foreground, straw toppers, invitations, and lemon-slice party hats sit in front of a white-frosted cake with lemon and lemon blossom cake toppers.

    Learn a New Skill

    Your 40th birthday is such a milestone that it can be great motivation to learn a new skill or take on a new hobby you’ve been wanting to try! It’s never too late, and 40 seems like the perfect time to try. Turn it into a party and invite someone to teach you and your girlfriends how to knit, cook something fun and fancy, or even make a punch needle rug! The options are endless. What do you want to learn how to do?

    Movie Night

    Movies are a classic way to celebrate anything special, so why not your 40th birthday? Go out to the theater with the gals (maybe even rent it out if you’re feeling ambitious!), or take the party home and have a marathon of your favorite series! Personally, I’ll be watching Bridgerton. What are your favorites? Send the recommendations my way! I’m always game for a fun new show.

    Game Night

    The options are endless with this one! Just because it’s your 40th birthday doesn’t mean you can’t have a simple game night. So many categories of games. Are you more of a board game or card game person? Or do you prefer a combo of both? If you’re like Paul, you’ll be hanging around those old classic arcade games all night. Whatever gets you most excited is what you should do!

    Here are some game night options to get you started:

    More Inspiration

    We have plenty of ideas to get you started on 40th birthday decor! It starts with our five birthday suites: animal menagerie, garden party, lemon, rainbow, and floral. Click here to see the rest of our birthday shop! Also, don’t forget to check out our past birthday blog content, like our Flower Lane birthday crowns, twisted birthday candles, or DIY birthday felt pennants.

    A flat lay of twisted birthday candles and confetti on an orange background.

    Hopefully we gave you some good ideas to get you started planning your 40th, if you haven’t had it already. And now we need to know: what did you/are you doing to celebrate your 40th? Let us know in the comments!

    Papier-mâché Vase

    Brittany
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    Papier-mâché Vase

    How to make a papier-mâché vase

    Corrie Beth has been making the most amazing papier-mâché projects for years. We are honestly some of her biggest fans. Her creations are so gorgeous, we wanted to try our hand at making our own! Lucky for us, papier-mâché is one of the most versatile materials around. It can be transformed into almost anything, if you’re creative enough to think up how. We love how much a simple vase can add to your home decor. It’s simple and so effective.

    Here’s how to make your own:

    Prepping your cardboard

    Get out your cardboard and scissors! Here’s what to do:

    1. First you’ll want to download, print and cut out the papier-mâché vase template found here.
    2. With your templates ready to go, you can now trace and cut out the shapes provided. You’ll also need to cut out two additional rectangles in the following dimensions: 21.75″ x 4.5″ and 2″ x 10″. Tip: It’s helpful to cut out the rectangle pieces so the cardboard fluting (the bumpy middle section) is parallel to the short width. This makes shaping the rectangles much easier.
    3. You should now have five shapes cut out: three “c” shapes, and two rectangles (one small and one large).

    Constructing your understructure

    1. First, gently shape each piece.
    2. For the “c” shapes, bring the two edges together so they form a subtle cone shape. Secure with hot glue.
    3. Next, for the rectangles, bring the short edges together to make cylinders. Secure with hot glue. Note: For each piece, shape as you go by bending every centimeter or so in the desired direction.
    4. Now hot glue the individual pieces together, using the diagram in the template as a reference.
    5. Once everything is glued and the glue is cool, cover the entire thing in a layer of masking tape. This will make the surface nicer when you start to attach the papier-mâché.

    Making the paste

    1. To make your paste, add 1 part flour to 2 parts water. Stir with a spoon and try to get out as many lumps as possible.
    2. Next, heat mixture for 40 seconds in the microwave, then stir again.
    3. Repeat the process a couple more times until the paste has thickened a bit. It should still be fairly runny and smooth when you’re done. If it’s thickened into a lumpy mess, you’ve heated it too much.

    Applying the papier-mâché

    1. For the papier-mâché, tear up some newspaper or newsprint into narrow strips. I would recommend tearing up all the paper ahead of time so you don’t have to tear it with sticky hands.
    2. Next, fully coat each strip in the paste, then start applying them to the cardboard structure. Continue until the entire vase is coated thoroughly.
    3. Note: It works best if you apply the strips in a random formation, criss-crossing as you go. This helps them hold better when dry.
    4. Last, let your papier-mâché dry out completely for a few days!

    Decorating your vase

    1. To decorate, simply paint your vase with acrylic paint. If you’d like, use our photos as a reference to paint it like we did! We drew out the design in pencil, then painted it in, but do whatever method you’d like. You can also skip the pencil if you’d rather.

    Styling your vase

    This papier-mâché vase pairs perfectly with many of our paper flowers! Make a bouquet and put it on your mantlepiece, kitchen table, or desk. I love that it stays bright and beautiful for months–you don’t have to worry about paper flowers dying, or the vase tipping over and water spilling out. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go make five more.

    What are you going to do with your vase? Let us know in the comments!

    More Inspiration

    Here are some paper flowers to go with your lovely new vase: Poppies, peonies, and posies, summer paper wedding bouquet, paper flower bouquet. We also have our new paper orchids and sunflowers!

    Looking for more easy DIY crafts this spring? Try these other papier-mâché projects! Oversized paper mache flower, family costume reveal, and paper mache pineapple tray.

     

    Ukrainian Paper Sunflower

    Brittany
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    0
    Ukrainian Paper Sunflower

    Ukrainian Sunflowers

    The sunflower is Ukraine’s national flower. This beautiful flower has a long history with Ukraine, it turns out! Aside from sunflower seeds being a popular snack, Ukraine and Russia are some of the world’s largest suppliers of sunflower oil. Then there’s its historic message of peace, like in 1996 when it was used to celebrate Ukraine giving up nuclear weapons. Currently, as well, it’s become a bright beacon of hope and peace amidst all the turmoil and we want to do our best to show support. It seemed only fitting to make a Ukrainian paper sunflower in honor of the Ukrainian people. If you’re interested, click here to read the full article about Ukraine’s history with sunflowers.

    Ukrainian Paper Sunflower

    Here’s how to make your own Ukrainian paper sunflower:

    Prepping the Paper

    1. First, download the paper sunflower template found here.
    2. Next, cut out the template pieces in crepe paper. We used about 30 yellow petals, 7 green back pieces, and between 2 and 4 green leaves of varying sizes per flower.
    3. Cut each side of the leaves separately. Make sure to cut out the leaves so the grain of the crepe paper angles up slightly on each side (like the veins on the leaves).

    Making the Center

    1. To make the center of your paper sunflower, cut some long strips of crepe paper that are roughly 1″ wide. We used green, pale yellow, and orange.
    2. Cut slits in the strips to make a fringe.
    3. Securing with hot glue, wrap the fringe tightly around the top of a piece of floral wire. Make sure the wire is thick enough to hold the weight of the heavy sunflower blossom. Start with green, then move to yellow, then orange.
    4. Continue wrapping and gluing the fringe until it’s as thick as you’d like. Also, make sure the orange layer is set a bit higher than the rest.
    5. When the center is as thick as you’d like, fluff the orange fringe so it splays out a bit.
    6. Now, gently paint a gradient of green to yellow on the center you just made. See step photos for reference. Alternate option: You can use black or brown for the center, too, if you’d like! The center of most sunflowers varies in color.

    Assembling the Sunflower

    Now you’re ready to add the petals and back greenery to your paper sunflower!

    1. Gently shape the petals (see step photos for reference), then glue one around the center. We spaced them roughly 1/4-1/2″ apart.
    2. Next, add in a second row, this time staggering the petals behind the first row.
    3. Now you can add the back pieces. For this, shape the green pieces according to the step photos, then hot glue them around the stem. They should fan evenly around the back.

    Leaves and Stem

    The last steps of your paper sunflower are the leaves and stem!

    1. For the stem, cut a piece of crepe paper that’s roughly the length of your wire piece and 2-3″ wide, depending on how big your sunflower is.
    2. Securing with hot glue, wrap the crepe paper strip around the wire stem to thicken it.
    3. Next, start at the top just overlapping the back greenery of the sunflower. Wind floral tape all the way down to cover up the crepe paper.
    4. For the leaves, glue the two sides together, making sure the grain angles up slightly on each side to mimic the leaves’ veins.
    5. Now flip the leaves over and hot glue a thin piece of floral wire to the back. Make sure the floral wire extends a few inches past the stem of the leaves. Once the hot glue is dry, you can shape the leaves however you’d like.
    6. To attach the leaves to the stem, simply wrap floral tape around the wire.

    Styling Your Paper Sunflowers

    We varied the length of our sunflower stems, then arranged them in a pretty vase. We love how they turned out! They would make a bright addition to any room. Set them on a table, counter, mantlepiece, or side table. We also think they’d be a lovely accent for a bathroom or home office.

     

    More Ways to Support Ukraine

    We’re trying to do our part to support Ukraine. One way is through our shop! We currently have three art pieces in our shop made specifically to support Ukraine. We’re donating all the profits to the Ukrainian war effort. Special thanks to Amanda Jane Jones, who donated this print. Another special thanks to Nathalie Lètè, who donated this one and this one.

    More Inspiration

    Loved this paper sunflower tutorial and want more paper flower tutorials? Step right this way. We recently came out with this paper orchid tutorial we think you’ll love. Also, try our DIY Paper Hollyhocks, or these Poppies, Peonies, and Posies. Have a spring or summer wedding coming up? Here, here and here are some beautiful bouquets to choose from. You can also check out this holiday flower roundup if you’re interested!

     

     

    Christmas Tablescape

    Brittany
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    0
    Christmas Tablescape

    tablescape with mantlepiece

    Christmas in the Studio

    We spend pretty much all of our time in the studio here at The House that Lars Built. That means we certainly draw a lot of inspiration from each other, here on the team, as well as the many lovely bits of potential on the walls, floor, ceiling, etc. If it’s in the studio, you can bet we’ve probably mused about all the things we can use it for. So we got to thinking, if we’re in the studio so much, why not make a studio Christmas tablescape that highlights the things we love about our studio?!

    tablecloth with centerpiece

    Tablescape Inspiration

    This Christmas tablescape’s inspiration came straight from the heart of Lars, triggered by our collaboration with the one and only Spoonflower. We knew we wanted it to feel festive and bright, so naturally, we picked a lovely checkerboard pattern of reds, pinks, and oranges to pair with the light, bubblegum pink of the studio floor. From there, we brought in a smorgasbord of golds and greens for the centerpiece and flatware. We topped it off with a backdrop featuring our charming poinsettias, greenery, and a smattering of what we’ve been working on in the studio! You can’t get more Lars than that.

    trees and tablecloth

    How to Recreate Our Christmas Tablescape

    You may be wondering, how can I recreate this Christmas tablescape? Step right this way. What I love about this tablescape is that it’s so magical, yet feels so real and down to earth at the same time. The best part is, it’s simple and totally doable to recreate!

    Here’s how to recreate your own Team Lars Christmas Tablescape:

     

    The Tablecloth and Napkins

     

    As I always say, the tablecloth and napkins are the key to creating a successful tablescape. They draw you in and set the tone for the entire occasion. That means it’s imperative that you be happy with them, first and foremost! Well, to say we were happy with our tablecloth and napkins would be an understatement. Spoonflower blew us away! The bright colors, together with the fun, checkerboard pattern were just the things we needed to get the inspiration flowing for the rest of the tablescape.

    top view trees and table

    We found our tablecloth and napkin fabric pattern here, along with other options we were considering. We went through a lot of options, and it was so hard to settle on just one. Feel free to peruse the options; Spoonflower has so many great ones.

    As a note, we had some fun with our napkin folding for this tablescape. If you haven’t seen our full napkin-folding post, check it out here! It’s amazing what a fancily-folded napkin will do. We used the simple accordion fold for these napkins.

    table setting with centerpiece

    The Flatware, Glasses, and Plates

    Target was our go-to for flatware, glasses and plates. We chose a classic gold for the flatware, glasses flecked with gold, and a dark cyan for the plates. The contrast between the dark, cool, cyan and the brighter reds, pinks, and oranges of the Spoonflower tablecloth and napkins was striking and eye-catching.

    place setting

    Tablescape Centerpiece and Decorations

    For our Christmas tablescape centerpiece, we wanted something that felt Christmasy and would contrast nicely with the tablecloth and napkins. We decided to go with our tried-and-true crepe paper bottlebrush trees in various green shades. Then we added in some sparkling, gold accents and confetti. For the mantlepiece behind, we gathered pine boughs and some of our lovely paper poinsettias. Those elements, paired with some other inspiration we picked up around the studio fit amazingly with the rest of the tablescape.

    tablecloth and napkin

    Oh, and did I mention the pink floor?! It was one of those moments where I knew we’d made the right decision on that pink epoxy flooring, as tricky as it was. Naturally, not everyone has a pink epoxy floor for their tablescape, but that’s okay! Luckily, a rug like this, this or this can help complete the look in a similar way. Just try to pick something that won’t detract from that amazing Spoonflower tablecloth or napkins.

    centerpiece

    Shop the look

    Here are just a few of the options we were considering. There are so many beautiful ones, we would love to see what you choose!

    More Inspiration

    Loved this post on our Lars Christmas Tablescape? Looking for more tablescape ideas? Here are some great ones you’ll probably love (bonus: many of them feature some lovely Spoonflower fabrics!). Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Tablescape, When Life Hands You Lemons Tablescape and Care Package, and Thanksgiving Table Decor.

     

    New Years Tabletop and Art Deco Crowns

    Brittany
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    2
    New Years Tabletop and Art Deco Crowns

    New Years Tabletop

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    Royal Wedding Floral Tea Party

    Brittany
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    Royal Wedding Floral Tea Party

    Royal Wedding Floral Tea Party

    Sometimes an occasion just calls for a tea party. And who does tea parties better than the Royals? We were inspired by the lush florals that adorned Prince George’s Chapel on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding day. Were you able to catch a glimpse? The arches were covered with white roses and plenty of foliage to create an almost ethereal look. We pared down the look so it would be appropriate for an elegant centerpiece. We used a mixture of tissue paper, crepe paper, and cardstock to get a really lovely mix of textures. Of course, we have to include our Royal Wedding mugs to complete the look!

    Royal Wedding Floral Tea Party

    Find out how to recreate the Royal Wedding Floral Tea Party!

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    Painted Plaid Paper Tablecloth

    Brittany
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    Painted Plaid Paper Tablecloth

    Painted Plaid Paper Tablecloth

    Tis’ the season for throwing a brightly colored brunch, summery soirees, lovely luncheons, and gorgeous garden parties. In regards to decor, we’re leaning towards the simpler route in this case. Let’s face it, if you have to worry about pricy and time-consuming tablescapes, it’s never going to happen. Anyone relate? We created this Painted Plaid Paper Tablecloth because it’s brightly colored and perfect for spring and summer. Not to mention easy, cheap, and disposable. Please and thank you. To create this all you’ll need is white butcher paper and some acrylic paints from the craft store. So don’t be discouraged to throw a few gatherings in the next couple months! This Painted Plaid Paper Tablecloth is the perfect addition.

    Painted Plaid Paper Tablecloth

    Learn how to paint your own plaid tablecloth!

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    DIY Painted Cardboard Vases

    Brittany
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    7
    DIY Painted Cardboard Vases

    DIY Painted Cardboard Vases

    This tablescape was inspired by traditional blue and white porcelain that seems to never go out of style. The earlier versions of white pottery with blue glazed motifs have been found in 9th century present-day Iraq. China began their own renditions in the 14th century and the trend finally caught on in Europe in the 18th century. Can you believe it’s still popular today?! We wanted to make a paper version as a cheap and quirky alternative to the real thing. Enter: DIY Painted Cardboard Vases. We recycled cardboard boxes to cut out some traditional vase forms and then painted them to give them some real character! You could paint more traditional designs such as plant and botanical patterns, or make them a bit artsier. Here, we were inspired by the work of Danielle Kroll for our patterns. Easy, cheap, and sure to make a statement!

    See how we made the vases and shop the entire tablescape!

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    Rainbow Paper Flower Tablescape

    Brittany
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    1
    Rainbow Paper Flower Tablescape

    Rainbow Paper Flower Tablescape

    April Showers bring May flowers… so I guess you can say we’re jumping the gun a little bit over here! This Rainbow Paper Flower Tablescape is the perfect way to welcome in Spring! It also involves two of our favorite things: rainbows and flowers. We created layered 2-D paper flowers in different shades of pink, orange, yellow, blue, and purple to create a rainbow of flowers down the center of the table. Paper, wire, and floral foam and then only materials you need to make this stunner. It would be perfect for a Mother’s Day brunch, a spring bridal or baby shower, or a rainbow themed birthday party!Rainbow Paper Flower Tablescape

    Continue to download the flower templates to make your own!

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    Easter Egg Runner Tablescape

    Brittany
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    Easter Egg Runner Tablescape

     

     

    For this Easter egg runner tablescape, we wanted to focus on the color palette more than anything else. We dyed our eggs in a bright and punchy palette of corals, chartreuse, and forest green to create this Easter Egg Runner Tablescape! Bonus? Instead of buying kits to dye your eggs, you just need basic food coloring! Plus a whole lot of eggs and the carton they come in! Set the table with some coordinating dinnerware, and you’re ready for Easter Brunch.

    Learn how to make the dye colors and the Easter Egg Runner after the jump!

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    Thanksgiving Tablescape

    Brittany
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    1
    Thanksgiving Tablescape

    Thanksgiving Tablescape

    This post is in partnership with World Market. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that allow The House That Lars Built to keep creating original content!

    I often feel that Thanksgiving can get swallowed up in the midst of Halloween and Christmas celebrations. We go from Halloween candy on the shelves straight to Christmas trees in the shopping aisles! Thanksgiving can get lost in the mix! And although Thanksgiving is not commonly celebrated with tons of decorations or loads of candy, it is one of my most favorite holidays. A day dedicated to spending time with those you love most, expressing gratitude, and making and eating delicious food. What more do you need? Oh, I know: a gorgeous Thanksgiving tablescape to plan the day around!

    Thanksgiving Tablescape

    In all honesty, this is one of my favorite tablescapes we’ve ever done. It’s just so stunning! World Market provided the most lovely options to create our turkey-themed setting. I loved using a more untraditional color palette for Thanksgiving. And that flower arrangement was made completely from foraged blossoms and greens by the talented Allison Baddley of La Fete Floral. It’s absolutely dreamy with that golden fern! With a tablescape like this, there’s no way Thanksgiving could get lost in the mix.

    Take a closer look at all the elements to create your own gorgeous tablescape for the holidays!

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    Chanel Inspired Tablescape

    Brittany
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    Chanel Inspired Tablescape

    Chanel Inspired TablescapeMany of you probably remember the Chanel Couture Spring 2015 Runway show. I talked all about it HERE because I was so mesmerized by it! Never mind the actual clothing, all of which was impeccable, by the way, I was so captured by the magical paper garden. It began white, but once watered by the “gardener,” bloomed into beautiful watercolored flowers. I’m telling you, it was magical! I have wanted to create something in the same vein ever since I saw the show. We decided to design a simple tablescape inspired by the white and watercolored paper garden used in the Chanel show. Complete with gorgeous dinnerware, glasses, and flatware, this Chanel inspired tablescape is a beautiful table for a baby or bridal shower or just a lovely dinner party with friends. The watercolor flowers are a whimsical touch to any setting, and really fun to create!

    Chanel Inspired Tablescape

    Get the templates and shop the look below!

    Chanel Inspired TablescapeChanel Inspired Tablescape

    Chanel Inspired Tablescape

    Chanel Inspired Tablescape

    Download the templates here

    Materials:

    Chanel Inspired Tablescape

    Instructions:

    1. Using the templates provided, cut out leaves from white cardstock.
    2. Hot glue lollipop sticks onto the backs of the leaves.
    3. Using templates, cut out the flower pieces from the watercolor paper.
    4. Watercolor the flower pieces and hot glue them together.
    5. Stick lollipop leaves into styrofoam bases and place in the center of the table. Arrange flowers around the foliage.

    Chanel Inspired TablescapeChanel Inspired Tablescape

     

    Chanel Inspired TablescapeChanel Inspired TablescapeChanel Inspired TablescapeChanel Inspired TablescapeChanel Inspired Tablescape

    Shop the look: White plates, watercolor side plates, glasses, flatware

    Photography by Anna Killian | Crafting by Rebecca Hansen

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