Heading back down the rabbit hole with today’s Alice in Wonderland table feature. It’s one of several tablescape posts from the My Favorite Things Party I’ll be sharing.
If you read, Alice in Wonderland, Unbirthday Party Reveal, you’ll remember that the weather forecast was dire the night before. Fortunately, the heavy storms passed and the sun came out by the time the party began at one in the afternoon.
All four My Favorite Things Parties have been set at least partially outside. The last three were sit down meals, under the covered porch and pergola. So, I’ve always had a “Plan Bee” in case of rain.
Cramming 14-16 people indoors for the entire party, especially to eat, would be less than ideal. We’d have to move furniture out of the family room to squeeze in two banquet tables and 12 chairs. Another four or five ladies would be seated around the kitchen table. That would leave very little room to mingle, play games, and do the favorite things gift display and exchange.
What I’m showing you today, was a sort of dress rehearsal by setting up an Alice in Wonderland table in the kitchen. Just in case…
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Vintage Teacups Dangle Overhead
Regardless of the weather forecast, it was going to be teacups hanging from the chandelier overhead.
Bee Decorated Chandelier Compliments HapBEE Birthday Table was the foundation. I left it decorated for the Alice in Wonderland party.
Next, I added a variety of vintage teacups and cutouts of teapots, hanging them from the chandelier arms with ribbon.
For the Alice in Wonderland table, black and white checkered ribbon matches the runner below. Both the ribbon and fabric came from Hobby Lobby. I sewed runners for all the party tables.
Three different patterned tea cups were found at Goodwill and St. Vincent de Paul stores. You’ll see the same china patterns in the favors and tiered servers I made for the Alice in Wonderland table below.
The two-sided paper teapots were cut using a Sizzix machine. M, my crafty friend, lent it to me so I could make the floral, bee, butterfly and black and white checkered printed teapots. I glued two teapot cutouts together, punched a hole, and tied pastel ribbons to hang them from the chandelier.
A Rose is a Rose is a Rose
The Alice in Wonderland table was set on a pink tablecloth with matching napkins folded into the shape of a rose. The Queen of Hearts may have wanted her white roses painted red, but pink was rosy for my Unbirthday Party.
Rose-folded napkins are fast and easy to do. See 12 Napkin Folds for All Seasons, Holidays & Occasions.
Teacups Hold Goodies Too
In Unbirthday Party Reveal, you got a look at some of the party favors and table settings. Even though I served iced tea, I had to include these vintage teacups for guests to take home.
One of the reasons I chose pink linens, was to compliment these unique tea cups with combination saucer-dessert plate. I loved all the special details, like the gold scalloped edge and flower painted on the inside of each teacup.
Does anyone recognize the pattern? There’s just a “G” and “made in Japan” on the back of the plate.
Each teacup was filled with a number of treats, including a white tea blueberry and elderflower tea bag, cookie cutter, packet of flower seeds, and an Alice in Wonderland character card.
Don’t miss seeing all 12 Alice in Wonderland Party Favor Ideas & Crafts.
One of three different color keys was attached to each with pastel ribbon to be “played” as wild “cards” during the gift exchange.
Here you can see the intricate white butterfly boxes that were also at each place setting. Each butterfly held three lottery numbers for the favorite things exchange.
Character Goblets
The Mad Hatter has lost his shoe at the Alice in Wonderland table!
Hand-painted, Alice in Wonderland character goblets were for refreshing glasses of iced tea.
Each character glass, like the White Rabbit herald, had a different color base and little charm tied around the stem.
Can you guess which character glass is mine?
For a detailed tutorial on making your own, see DIY Hand Painted Glasses & Champagne Flutes.
Tea Party Tableware
Every My Favorite Things Party, I also give the ladies a theme-related pen of some kind. Because the tea party is suppose to be set in a garden, I created flower potted pens.
Tick-tock, aren’t these clock plates perfect for an Alice in Wonderland table? I have them in two styles and sizes. They are primarily used for New Years dinner parties like, Celestial Tablescape and Diamonds & Top Hat.
Here’s a closer look at the precious little green teapot with a dragonfly on top. It was a thoughtful gift from my sister-in-law.
Another favorite is this white strawberry-shaped teapot (Home Goods). Sometimes I use it as a vase, filling it with flowers or fresh herbs.
It has wonderfully detailed, matching sugar and creamer. I’m particularly partial to the lovely creamer.
They were each priced under $4 or $5.
Since the gift exchange item limit was $10 this year, the sugar and creamer were going to be my favorite thing. But, I couldn’t find three sets.
Vintage China Server as Centerpiece
The tiered server is a DIY project, made of vintage china and cordial glasses found at thrift stores. Silk flowers are sealed under each glass. I also created a little arrangement in the teacup at the top.
I’ll show you how to make the tiered server and two other vintage teacup centerpieces and decorations next Tuesday. See DIY Vintage China Tier Server Stand for Tea Party.
In June’s challenge, I shared How to Make Whimsical Teacup Fascinators.
See another Plan Bee setting, see Absolutely Mad, Summer Tea Party Table.
For the actual party, the dining room table was used to serve Finger Sandwiches & Savories and Scones & Desserts.
Have you ever set a mad tea party table?
Alice in Wonderland Table Moves to Porch
The skies evidently cleared on the day of the party. At 11:00 AM we decided to setup the Alice in Wonderland table outside. We even got in rounds of Flamingo Croquet and Building a House of Cards.
So, it was the Mad Hatter’s Fascinator Shop that was setup under the vintage teacup chandelier — as originally planned. Whew!
Thank you Mother Nature for smiling on my Unbirthday Party! Checkout all the Alice in Wonderland theme posts for more party inspiration on invitations, decorations, favors, games and food.
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I regularly participate in: Metamorphous Monday, Share Your Style, Tablescape Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Crafty Creators, Saturday Sparks, Happiness is Homemade, and Love Your Creativity.
O MY!! So imaginative and charming!! Love everything especially the chandy!! Thanks for sharing!! Hugs, Debbie
Thanks Debbie! The teacups hanging from the chandelier was something I saw on Pinterest.
I love your attention to detail. Would you mind explaining how you went about the gift exchange?
Thanks Carolyn. I really do have to post about the exchanges at the 4 parties! Just haven’t been able to get to it. How to Host an Extraordinary Party explains the basics of an exchange. I add a wild card factor to my parties. That’s what the different color keys are for at the Alice party — they determined if a guest could claim a package from the pile, steal another lady’s item, or protect against the steal.
I would have so much fun at your parties! Love all these details, and there are details galore! DOn’t recognize the pattern on those dessert saucers/cups, but how unique! Where in the world did you find those? You’re so very creative, and with such thrifty ways. I love it!
It would be fun to have you here! I got 10 sets of the cups/saucers in a large box with another 10 of a rose pattern at Goodwill for $8! I love the thrill of the hunt, and planning a year ahead gives me plenty of time to be creative and thrifty!
Your parties are just over the top. Dreaming of crashing one! lol
Bobbie, this party was the most “mad”! Can never outdo it I’m afraid… I’m hoping all the posts will let my readers feel they were here, in spirit.
Debbee, how fabulous. I could write chapters on what I find most intriguing and how does she do it all?! Lucky friends to be invited. I want to go down a rabbit hole too. Any rabbit hole other than the one I can’t seem to get out of. Gorgeous Lady, what’s in store for us mere mortals next?
Thanks Kem! I’m still climbing out of the rabbit hole, trying to figure out where to store stuff! Hoping to sell a number of the decorations, wreaths, and tableware, when I find the time to set up an Etsy shop.
Debbee, Your post get more interesting each week. Alice in wonderland was nice, but my favorite is still the peacock. Love to visit your post. Thanks! Lilly
Thanks for following along Lilly. I have more to post on the peacock party decorations and gift exchange. Today I was minding my own business pursuing a William Sonoma furniture catalog and found two gorgeous peacock bedding sets. I’m soooo tempted…
The hats are just too cute and I love how you work a theme. Beautiful table and thank you for sharing with us this week at Celebrate Your Story and we hope you will join us again next week.
Thanks Sandra! It’s a heavy crown to wear as Queen of Theme LOL! Love CYS and seeing all the great posts, especially all those recipes.
Love the vintage snack set you got @ Goodwill. I collect snack sets and have never seen that pattern! What a find!
M’lin, how about that?! I couldn’t believe how much great stuff in one box for $8! Particularly love the snack set as you call it. Kept one for myself. Maybe you’ll win the drawing and then you’ll have one too!
This is a party that you wouldn’t want to be late to! so much fun!
What a fun and adorable theme. Enchanted by each pic.
Hi Carolyn! “Enchanted” is a lovely complement for a storybook theme — thanks!
gorgeous tablescapes…..please where to find the clock plates?!
Hi Kimberly. Sorry for the long delay in responding, I’ve been vacationing in Iceland. The clock plates were found at TJ Maxx and Marshall’s in packages of 4. I have two different sets, in different sizes.
You really went all out for this party. Everything is so fun!
This looks like so much fun! Pinned to my Party Board. I am the new co-hostess for Thursday Favorite Things, coming along to say hello. Best wishes for the week. Linda @Crafts a la mode
Hi Linda, nice to “meet” you. I always enjoy Thursday Fav Things and it’s great that you are taking the time and effort to co-hostess.