Summer Dinner Ideas

Today I am sharing some fun summer dinner ideas that you can make with … paper bags! I also included my favorite summer recipes and fifteen other inspiring links from some of my favorite bloggers.

I am so excited to share my fun summer dinner ideas. Can you guess the item I used to create part of this table?

Brown paper!

I think you can tell that my vase is wrapped in a brown paper bag. I actually spray painted it with Rose Gold Paint. 

Look how perfect this setting is. I loved creating a poolside dinner just for my husband and me! This fabulous table is from Arhaus. It is part of the Arhaus Montego Outdoor Collection. The size is perfect and it matches our poolside lounge chairs!

I made the placemats too.

They are made from a heavier brown paper and stitched with my sewing machine. I can’t wait to share how I made them.

I also included my favorite summer recipes. Just scroll down to see!

There are also fifteen links to some amazing summer dining ideas that my blogger friends have created. 

Needless to say, this blog post rocks.

How to Create a Fabulous Summer Dinner Setting with Brown Paper

What You Need to Make the Brown Paper Bags and Placemats

Krylon Fusion All-in-One Metallic Rose Gold

Krylon Triple Thick Crystal Clear Glaze

Brown paper lunch bags

Heavy Duty brown paper

White thread

Making the brown paper bag to cover my vase was as simple as it looks. I used Metallic Rose Gold spray paint. For the placemats, I used the metallic paint and Triple Tick Crystal Clear Glaze. (The clear glaze is to protect the placemat so it can withstand water and wine stains.)

To paint the bags, I spray painted each side of the bag, one side at a time. It was a very hot day so the paint dried in a few minutes.

Next, I placed a vase inside the bag and rolled down the top of the bag so that the vase wasn’t showing. Doesn’t it look wonderful? And it was so easy!

To make the placemats I used a thicker brown paper that was the weight of a very lightweight and thin piece of cardboard. I cut the paper to a size which was 15″ x 17″. You. can decide the size you want and may want to measure one of your existing placemats to determine the size you want.

I used a single layer of the thick brown paper for each placemat and sprayed one side of each placemat with the spraypaint. (If you have thinner paper then just use two pieces for each placemat.

Next, I stitched all the way around the outside of the placemat using my sewing machine. I used a regular sharp (not ballpoint) needle and thread.

I decided to use a floral design and I mimicked the flowers similar to the ones I stitched on this pillow. I decided to long stems since the center portion of the placemat was going to be covered by a plate.

I used a technique called free stitch embroidery which allows you to move the paper (or fabric) around to create a free stitched design. 

What is free motion embroidery?

Free motion machine embroidery is a type of sewing that you do on a regular sewing machine but you can move the material in any direction while sewing it on your machine.  Normally when you sew, the machine automatically moves the material forward. When you sew free motion embroidery, you get to move the material so you determine exactly where you want to sew. You can move sideways, forward, backward, and create any shape you want. All you need is a quilting foot.

The free-motion quilting foot, sometimes called a darning foot, is designed so that the sewing machine needle passes through a small ring on the foot. Instead of hopping, these feet float over the fabric without providing pressure.  The Foot releases the fabric when the needle is in the up position, allowing you to move the fabric freely.

All you need is the free motion foot for your machine. This foot may vary based on tour type of machine but I linked a “universal” one.

I started out by sewing the stems for the flowers.

Next, I free stitched some flowers. I didn’t use a pattern, I just made it up as I went along.

You might want to find a photo of a flower and use that for inspiration. Feel free to use mine if you want!

Next, I sprayed the placemat with the Triple Thick Glaze to protect the placemats.

Don’t they look great?

I really love how these came out. They are awesome.

If you are looking for some great recipes, you should try any of these! They are my favorite summer recipes.

Summer Dinner Recipes

The Best Crab Cakes Recipe with Lemon Dill Sauce

These crab cakes with lemon dill sauce are to die for. They aren't "fishy" and are by far the most popular appetizer anytime I make them.

Get the Recipe

Rosemary Chicken, Bacon and Avocado Salad

Get the Recipe

Marinated Chicken and Vegetable Shish Kabobs

Get the Recipe

The Best Grilled Chicken Breast Recipe Ever

Cooking grilled chicken is a science. You need a good grill and some homemade barbecue sauce. Then you just need to use an indirect heat cooking method.

This recipe is foolproof and is the best-grilled chicken ever!

Get the Recipe

The Best Summer Salad

Get the Recipe

Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa

This recipe is my go-to recipe. It's delicious, healthy and easy to make.

Get the Recipe

Don’t forget to check out this fabulous Arhaus table from the Arhaus Montego Outdoor Collection.

Here are 15 more Summer Dinner Ideas. Enjoy!

 

Summer Flower Arrangement From The Garden

A Simple Summer Tablescape for Casual Dining

Summer Dinner Ideas

Easy Summer Dining Table

Summer Dining In The Garden

Goat Cheese Appetizer Board

Lemons and Wild Daisies Tablescape

Summer Table Settings

Romantic Outdoor Table Setting

5 Tips For Easy Summer Entertaining

Easy Summer Dining Tips

Easy Ideas For Outdoor Summer Dining

21 Simple Summer Table Decorating Ideas

Lake View Summer Tablescape

Simple Summer Table

An Easy Summer Dinner on the Patio

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