Whoever said parties are solely for special occasions and not your average Tuesday? Learn how blogger Joni Lay of laybabylay.com turned a humdrum afternoon into a whimsical tea party with a few Spoonflower and Shutterfly dining products, a couple of household items and some sweet treats. With these inspirational ideas up your sleeve, you’ll soon be scheming ways to bring more celebration into your every day too! 

A close up of a place setting on a table filled with treats, small rabbit place cards made from Sno cone cups, and small demitasse cups for tea and larger glasses for water. The table centerpiece is a pink-and-white vase filled with branches with small white dogwood flowers. The place setting at the center of the photograph has a small rabbit place card made out of a Sno cone cup, with felt ears and paws. The bunny’s face as been drawn in pen as has the name “Eleanor.”
What can happen when Sno cone cups are reimagined as forest friends place cards. Featured products: Moody Victorian Bouquet rectangular tablecloth by illaberek, Little Dalmation Spots and Dots dinner napkins by littlesmilemakers and  Funny Dalmation – Pink plates by Alena Karabanova 

Joni: While creating a beautiful tabletop for a holiday or special event is a fun reason to get festive, I love putting together special parties at home just because too. Sometimes it’s just what a long week needs, especially when it’s in between official reasons to celebrate. Taking some time out to create a memorable afternoon with loved ones together in the middle of all our individual activities and to dos can help celebrate the joy that can surround us every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. 

 A table is filled with treats, small rabbit place cards made from Sno cone cups, and small demitasse cups for tea and larger glasses for water. The table centerpiece is a pink-and-white vase filled with branches with small white dogwood flowers. To the right, a fireplace with a white fringe garland draped in front of it, a bookcase to the left and a painting of a man sitting in the chair above the fireplace. 
The tablescape before the tea party. 
 
A black tablecloth with a green, purple, yellow and pink design and white napkins with black dots lay on a wooden table in Spoonflower packaging. The napkins have a brown belly band of paper around them with a Spoonflower flower logo sticker at the top. The tablecloth is folded and tied in place with a white ribbon with a thank you card from Spoonflower tucked underneath. To the right, a stack of pink plates with black-and-white Dalmations.
Featured products: Moody Victorian Bouquet rectangular tablecloth by illaberek, Little Dalmation Spots and Dots dinner napkins by littlesmilemakers and  Funny Dalmation – Pink plates by Alena Karabanova 

Finding the Right Combination of Designs 

On the top shelf of our pantry, I have three baskets just for tabletop decor. I love having a collection of items that help me throw together a beautiful tabletop quickly, whether it’s for last-minute guests or turning around a long Monday afternoon. Keeping tabletop decor accessible means you are more likely to use it and makes even a regular family meal feel more like a moment. 

Choosing your tablecloth first is a great way to set the tone for your tabletop, and then you can add in layers on top to give it depth.

To start putting together this whimsical tea party inspired tablescape, I first chose a rectangular tablecloth in illaberek’s Moody Victorian Bouquet design. I love the pattern’s colors and the depth, and the variety of colors make it easy to mix and match. Spoonflower also offers tablecloths in multiple sizes, so you can be sure to get the right length for your table.  

I then paired the tablecloth paired with adorable pink melamine plates in Funny Dalmation – Pink by Alena Karabanova (perfect for setting a table for kids!) and dinner napkins in Little Dalmation Spots and Dots by littlesmilemakers

 A close up of a place setting on a table filled with treats, small rabbit place cards made from Sno cone cups, and small demitasse cups for tea and larger glasses for water. The table centerpiece is a pink-and-white vase filled with branches with small white dogwood flowers. The place setting at the center of the photograph has a small rabbit place card made out of a Sno cone cup, with felt ears and paws. The bunny’s face as been drawn in pen as has the name “Eleanor.”
What can happen when Sno cone cups are reimagined as forest friends place cards. 

Adding Texture, Place Cards and a Few Whimsical Rabbits 

To add some texture to the tablescape, I tied blue tulle bows onto the napkins and tucked in a spoon. For place cards, I used some items I had on hand, including some Sno cone cups and felt that became small rabbits. The cone cup rabbits really took shape once I hot glued on felt ears and paws then drew their little face on using markers. The girls loved these little guys! I also love adding a patterned paper straw in each cup on the table—it’s another quick and fun way to add dimension and pattern. 

A close up of the centerpiece in the middle of a table filled with treats, small rabbit place cards made from Sno cone cups, and small pink glasses for tea and larger glasses with water. The centerpiece is a pink-and-white vase filled with branches with small white dogwood flowers. A place setting at the bottom center of the photograph has a small rabbit place card made out of a Sno cone cup, with felt ears and paws. The bunny’s face as been drawn in pen as has the name “Eleanor.”
Joni bought a few dogwood branches from her yard to make for a perfect centerpiece.

Let Whimsy (vs. Perfection) Be the Star of the Show

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed trying to match everything, but a tablescape can take on a fun Alice in Wonderland look when you use what you have and let the tablecloth tie it all in together, so don’t stress about having perfectly coordinating pieces. 

 
For a dramatic, whimsical centerpiece, I cut some fresh dogwood branches from the yard and placed them in an oversized vase. 

A close up of the glasses in the middle of a table filled with treats, small rabbit place cards made from Sno cone cups, and small demitasse cups for tea and larger glasses for water. The centerpiece is a pink-and-white vase filled with branches with small white dogwood flowers. Blurry at the bottom of the photo is a place setting at the bottom center of the photograph has a small rabbit place card made out of a Sno cone cup, with felt ears and paws.
Glasses set with the perfect amount of whimsy.

Adding Small Treats and Small Cups 

I used pink acrylic cups for the girls’ water, and little demitasse cups for the girls’ tea. The latter are the perfect size for kid portions of tea or hot chocolate! I went to a favorite local bakery for some teatime treats and placed them on cute platters. You can also add in tiny sandwiches and fruit. Cutting the treats, sandwiches and fruit into smaller pieces makes it easier for everyone to sample a bit of everything—it’s also more accessible for small hands. 

Even though I set this table to have an afternoon tea with my girls, it’s perfect for grown ups, too, or a mix of kids and adults. It’s playful, but polished, at the same time. 

Four young girls sit around a table filled with treats, small rabbit place cards made from Sno cone cups, and small demitasse cups for tea and larger glasses for water. The table centerpiece is a pink-and-white vase filled with branches with small white dogwood flowers. On the right, the youngest girl is smiling at the camera and wearing the Sno cone rabbit like a hat.
Enjoying the festivities.  

Frequently Asked Questions

What dining home decor products does Spoonflower offer? 
Our dining products include round tablecloths, rectangular table runners, placemats, dinner napkins, cocktail napkins and tea towels.
Where can I learn the specifications of Spoonflower’s dining products? 
The Spoonflower Help Center’s Dining Specs and FAQ article has all the information you’re looking for.
What fabrics does Spoonflower print its dining products on?
Our dining fabrics are listed in this Learn About Our Dining Fabrics article.
What other home decor does Spoonflower sell?
Spoonflower also sells Living & Decor items as well as Bedding products. 

Looking for more whimsical designs?  

Dreamy dramatic florals in all colors of the rainbow just perfect for your next gathering, big or small.
Shop the New Romanticism Dining Collection