f r e s h
L I V I N G
LIGHT SHOW Put a modern touch on flying
the colors: Hot-glue red, white, and blue
rickrack ribbon (found at most crafts
stores) to a paper lantern. Hang with wire.
Maru
24
" paper lantern, $
10
;
worldmarket.com
FLOWER PARADE
Skip the complicated flower arrangement
and let these paper lantern “vases” march
down the table instead. Cut the bottom
out of a cylindrical paper lantern (available
at party and import stores). Pour a little
water in a small vase or juice glass and
place inside. Drop a handful of blooms in
the vase—these are white agapanthus
and spiky blue sea holly—letting them
fall casually.
TAKE A STAND
Festoon a plain white cake stand in the
holiday’s signature bunting. All you need
are crepe paper streamers, string, and
glue. For each bunting segment, fold six
inches of red-white-and-blue crepe paper
streamer accordion-style; tie a string
around the center. Pull bottom edges
together to form a fan shape, and secure
with a dab of white glue. Hot-glue
bunting to the underside of a cake stand.
When you want the stand back, just pop
off the dried glue.
32 JULY 2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
