As I thought about my Easter tablescape this year, I had in mind a sophisticated table dressed in spring green and inspired by these lovely Primrose paper napkins.
However, when I began the Easter tablescape I’d envisioned, I realized that though vivid, the small print on these napkins did not make much of an impact on the table. A pair of potted plants and a floral arrangement did provide some much-needed color and life. But, it was apparent that I’d need additional elements to achieve the vibrant look I was going for.
It wasn’t until I saw an ad for a spectacular foil-wrapped chocolate bunny that I found my solution. The candy added just the right amount of color and shine to zhuzh up my table. Unfortunately, it kind of tanked my sophisticated design. Nevertheless, I decided to go with it and create a mash-up of my “Primrose Path” idea and an “Easter Candy Eye Candy” theme. I’m calling it “A Grown-Up Easter Candy Tablescape.” Ah, the mental gymnastics involved in setting the table–so exhausting. All this craziness brings to mind the old adage, “Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker.” Time for a short break and a cocktail!
Place Setting
Having revived with a refreshing libation, I was ready to put together my mixed-message tablescape. To begin with, I chose a fresh green and white tablecloth in a hand-blocked print called Phlox. I have never been particularly trendy, but according to Veranda Magazine, print tablecloths are making a comeback. Who knew?
To ground each place setting, I used these fun giant paper cabbage placemats.
Simple white dinner plates provide a blank canvas to set off the springy green gingham salad plates (similar here). For a splash of color, I layered the Primrose napkins on top of the checked plates. And since I’d already committed to chocolate bunnies on the table, I decided to allow more bunnies to hop on to the table. So, I topped off the plate stacks with vintage bunny egg-shaped ramekins from Williams-Sonoma (similar on Ebay). FYI, these adorable little dishes are not purely decorative. I often host a brunch on Easter, and the egg ramekins are the perfect size to serve fruit salad in.
Gingham napkins, solid green napkins, reclining bunny napkin rings, green glasses, and Jadeite cupcake stands round out each place setting.
Centerpiece
The tablescape centerpiece is made up of a trio of white ceramic vessels, a basket, and two eggshell pots. Additional non-candy decor includes a pair of DIY decoupage eggs made with the Primrose napkins. The Easter basket (vintage) in the middle is filled with an arrangement of lovely spring flowers. It is flanked by a pair of cracked egg bowls planted with live Primroses.
DIY Decoupage Eggs
For the decoupage eggs, I used the same unfinished wooden goose eggs I utilized for the Chinoiserie eggs from my previous post, “Lightening Up Everything With Spring Decor.”
The difference is that for the Chinoiserie eggs, I utilized motifs cut from sheets of standard paper.
For the eggs in this Easter tablescape, I used images cut from tissue paper napkins.
Working with tissue paper is a bit trickier because it wrinkles and tears much easier than thicker standard paper. This process is made considerably more difficult when decoupaging a round object like an egg. However, I learned a few techniques that made decoupaging with tissue paper somewhat easier.
- First, separate the two layers of the napkin.
- Using the top printed layer, cut out each design on the napkin.
- Brush the Mod Podge decoupage medium onto a small area of the egg.
- Gently press the tissue paper motif onto the Mod Podged area.
- To help eliminate wrinkles in the paper, place a piece of plastic wrap on top of your image. Then, carefully smooth out the wrinkles from the center out towards the edges.
- Repeat this process with all the paper cutouts until the egg is covered.
- To further smooth out the decoupage, put the egg on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper. Place the cookie sheet in a cold oven and set it to 170 degrees. Once the oven comes up to temperature, turn it off and leave the egg inside for at least 30 minutes.
- Once the egg is fully dry, spray the eggs with a clear semi-gloss sealer.
Easter Candy As Eye Candy
The finishing touch to my Grown-up Easter Candy Tablescape is a plethora of foil-wrapped chocolate candy. The stars of the show are the extra-large gold bunnies with basket backpacks. Smaller bunnies hop through a field of eggs atop mini cupcake stands. Colorful foiled-wrapped eggs surround the eggshell planters. And finally, a menagerie of chicks, bunnies, and lambs frolic around the base of the basket centerpiece.
Even though my original concept for this tablescape didn’t work out, I am pleased with the end result. And there is a bonus to this mashed-up theme. After the meal, guests can take home a gift of their own little Easter basket filled with candy from the table. After all, who wants to be a grown-up anyway?
Happy Easter!
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So creative! Love that it’s a tablescape and a party favor all in one.
Remembering some fun Easters of long ago with chocolate bunnies. yes who wants to be a grown up , anyway.
Thanks so much for commenting. I am just biding my time for grandkids to spoil with chocolate bunnies too!