Craft Pattern For An Envelope

David Tutera's summer party ideas

Modern Clambake - Invite guests to this party by jotting down the info with a paint pen on the inside of a cleaned clamshell and mailing in a padded brown craft-paper envelope. Using a "sea glass" inspired color palate of pale blue, soft green and the neutral tones found in a clamshell, you can create a modern and sophisticated clambake soiree.

To set the table, cover a picnic table with actual cotton linen fabric in shades of white or cream. Pull up mismatched, weathered picnic benches and Adirondack chairs scatter large pieces of driftwood along the center of the table in a runner design. Place pastel votive candles within these branches and hang others from any tips that may stand up.

Add to this runner a scattering of sea glass down the length of the table. Set each place setting with an earthy glass plate and clean, modern glassware. Serve a menu of steamed clams in flavors like smoky barbeque and white wine and garlic with sides like corn on the cob with parmesan cheese and a delicious green salad followed by a light dessert like lemon pound cake. (See related story for cocktail options.) A perfect cocktail for this party would be a vodka iced tea using Ultimat Vodka and fresh lemons.

Vintage Picnic - Nothing says summertime like a picnic, and it's a wonderful, classic way to bring family and friends together whether in a park or on the beach.

A vintage-looking postcard (with the destination of your actual party on the front) is a cute way to invite guests to this event. To set the table, start with large, thick blankets in the classic red and white check pattern (enough for about 4 people to a blanket) laid out on the ground. Add to this setting oversized, flat throw pillows and low folding chairs to make sure guests are comfy. Instead of a communal basket, pack a mini basket for each guest complete with gourmet sandwiches wrapped in brown butcher paper and secured with a daisy, handmade potato chips with sea salt, a small serving of fresh macaroni salad, a mini homemade cobbler and pre-rolled flatware in bright yellow napkins. Complete the menu with vintage-inspired glass bottles filled with a summertime cocktail.

Summertime Tailgate - Baseball season is in full swing in the summer and tailgate parties are the perfect way to prepare for a big game. Just like any other party, attention should be paid to the menu, and the overall look of your spread to enhance the enjoyment of your guests.

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8. With the monogram and velcro now attached, it’s time to turn your oilcloth into a sandwich pouch. Set your sewing machine to a wide blanket stitch and test out on a scrap piece of fabric or paper. (If you need a guide, aim for stitches that are about 1/4″ long and 3/8″ apart. I used my sewing machine’s widest stitch.)

Begin to blanket stitch the bag together, starting where the wrong sides meet on the right side. You’ll want to stitch so close to the edge that your stitches actually fall off the side of the bag and wrap around  the raw edges. If your stitches catch on the oilcloth, adjust your needle position a bit to the right. Continue the blanket stitch around all four sides of the bag, including the opened flap. (For the flap, you’ll be sewing through a single layer of oilcloth, so this is merely decorative).

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