Need some ideas for decorating house for 40th birthday party

[JanMary]

Help

My 40th birthday is in a few weeks http://www.digishoptalk.com/boards/images/smilies/happydance.gif - food sorted, guests invited (70 - but expecting 40-50 to come), just starting to panic about decorating house.

Nothing over the top, or expensive, but some ideas of displaying candles/tea lights etc. would be great. Maybe flowers or balloons - but minimal

Any suggestions or good websites with ideas I could check out. Any I find are just for supplies- paper plates, cutlery, cut-out James Bond figures etc! - not what I had in mind. http://www.digishoptalk.com/boards/images/smilies/shrug.gif

Have some outdoor white lights from christmas which I plan to put outside in the garden (yard) and am hoping the evening is warm enough for some guests to be outside for some of the evening.

Don't mind if some crafting is required, and I like shabby chic sort of style.

I live in Northern Ireland, so probably too late to order anything internationally, but I could maybe find enquivalent here - I just need the inspiration.

Over to you guys..... http://www.digishoptalk.com/boards/images/smilies/smile.gif
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JanMary

[Vania16]

Well, I can't really give you a visual, but if you're going to have tables, the table decorations that we did for our wedding were really inexpensive and easy and I've used them for other parties since :) We got those mirror tiles (you can get them at a home supply store really cheap) and put inexpensive glass bowls with floating candles and flowers in them on top of them (the light reflecting from the mirrors looks cool!). Then underneath the glass, criss-crossed across the table, we ran pieces of wide ribbon (I think six of them, arranged like spokes if that makes sense) in a color that matched the candles and stuff - for the wedding we actually had two ribbons layered on top of each other - one wider and one narrower. Just make them long enough to hang down over the edge like your tablecloth (we just use white ones). it gives a little bit of color and light and just looks pretty, but it's really simple!

[JanMary]

Mirror tiles and glass bowls - wonderful idea! That is great - wasn't sure what to but tea lights in/on - perfect. :cheer:

Having a buffet - but could definitely try the ribbon idea on the serving table or drinks table.

Thanks :wave:

[lisbonlioness]

You could just buy plain, white candles (the big ones, not the slim) and decorate them with silver needles with a pearl at one end, using them to fix leaves or dried flowers.
Sorry, my English escapes me once it comes down to describing things :o :(
Put the decorated candles on wooden plates, big leaves or just pieces of bark to get a natural look.

[JanMary]

Your english is fine - I understand. That would make a great centrepiece for the buffet table. :party:

Thanks :)