Avonlea Featured at Annual Banquet of Tables

Each November, the ladies at my Mother's church host a Banquet of Tables.  Several ladies in the church will sign up to host a table and they will decorate the table in the theme of their choice.  My mom has decorated a table for as long as I can remember and they have always been beautiful!  Walking around looking at the tables is like looking at different scrapbook layouts!  They are all unique, tell a story and have a style of their own.

This year my mom was drawing a blank on what to do.  You know we all hit that creative wall at some point and I guess my mom was standing at that wall waiting for an idea to come to her.  I suggested she do something about a Godly Heritage.  I had recently created a one page layout using the Avonlea paper featuring an old photograph of my great parents. It was featured on Jeanette Lynton's blog a few months ago. You can see it HERE. Together, my mom and I tossed back and forth a few ideas and things just started coming together.

We decided to use the layout as part of her table centerpiece.  Then my mom found an old photograph of her own grandparents on their wedding day.  She asked if I could create another one page layout for the other side of the table.   I loved the framed oval photograph and couldn't wait to get to work on a layout once again using the Avonlea paper. 

I patterned my layout after a sketch in the How To book - Reflections.  I loved the sketch because it reminded me of an old quilt.  Using my paper piercer and the Close To My Heart ruler for a guide, I poked holes along the edges of each of the pieces of cardstock and pattern paper.  I then sponged the edges and lightly sponged across the holes to bring out the 'stitching'.

The oval photograph is layered on a shape cut from the Artiste cricut cartridge   To bring my layout together, I used the Avonlea Canvas Shapes and accented with paper flowers, also from the Artiste cricut cartridge, and a few filegree charms.

Here is are some pictures of the finished table.

We set the layouts on top of an old tray that was sitting on top of a hat box! The other layout is on the opposite side of this layout.   Now let me walk you around the table so you can see everything at the base of the centerpiece!  Check out the little boxes on each plate.  I will tell you about those shortly!

The reproduction of an old carriage makes a nice prop for an old photograph.  If anyone knows what the stacked copper cups are next to the carriage please let me know!  I've had these for years and have no idea what it is! The top cup nests inside the bottom cup. 

More old photographs ......

We set the 6x6 Memory Showcase Album I had made on a box along with an old pocket watch and bell.  I featured this little album on my blog a few months ago.  You can see it HERE.

Cedar from my mom's yard filled in the empty spaces nicely and added a vintage feel around more old photographs. 

My grandmother's bible along with a picture of my grandmother.

Here is the place setting!   For place cards, I stamped the pretty frame from the Jardin stamp set (D1528) and wrote each person's name on the card.  We tied the place cards to each glass with ribbon from the Avonlea Card Making.    The little favor on each plate was also made using the Avonlea paper, Bonjour stamp set (B1414) and the Artiste Cricut Cartridge.

Closer view:

I hope you enjoyed visiting our table!  I had a wonderful time helping my mom pull it all together and I think it turned out just beautiful!   What a great way to show off the beautiful Avonlea paper!