Easy Entertaining: Hot Dog Bar

My friend Margaret and I decided to get the families together for Memorial Day and while doing some planning she found a really fabulous Memorial Day Summer BBQ party complete with printables.  Unfortunately, the printables were archived and no longer free.

I contemplated recreating printables based on the designs at Hostess {with the Mostess} until I found another awesome party on the site.  The Colorful Summer Grilling Party was perfect!   The party theme began with this cute covered grill welcome sign.  I used one of the grills meant for table settings and a piece of the paper patterns to make the sign, along with some glittery foam stickers and ribbon both from the dollar section at Target.

To keep things easy, we went with the Hot Dog Bar idea from the original party, which was a little better suited for patriotic gatherings.  I happen to prefer this newer set, so I wasn't too upset I couldn't download the other printables.  Plus the Colorful Summer Grilling Party is great for all summer long!  I could see reusing this theme over and over and not just for hot dogs.

Menu:

Beef and Turkey Hot Dogs

White and Whole Wheat Hot Dog Buns

Hot Dog Toppings Bar

Spinach Salad with Fresh Fruit and Goat Cheese

Red, White, & Blue Fruit Cups

Fritos

Here are some more ways I incorporated the free printables into the dinner we hosted at our home on Monday.

Wrapped Water and Straw Signs: Wouldn't the lable with the little citrus slice also look super cute on lemonade bottles?

Red, White and Blue Fruit Cups - Blueberries for the Adults and Blue Jello for the Kids

Hot Dog Toppings Bar and Recipes

If I do this again, I'd use some Command Picture Hanging Hooks to lower the signs closer to the table.  I just used the hooks I already had in the wall and don't like how big the gap is between display and table.

Here is a closer look at the recipes board.  I recreated the recipe cards from the Memorial Day Summer BBQ to match our theme and attached to pieces of the Paper Patterns.  Then I wrapped the canvas we usually have hanging in the space with wrapping paper and added some more letters and stars from the same package of alphabet stickers I used for the welcome sign.

The Grilled Hot Dog Sign was popped into an inexpensive frame from Target.

Table Signs: Used on the Toppings Bar and as a Centerpiece on the Kid's Table, both in Tolsby frames from Ikea.  I love these frames and use them all the time!

Our colorful meal complete with napkin rings and plastic baskets also from, you guessed it...the dollar section at Target.  Those were a lucky find by Margaret, a couple days before the dinner.  (And yep, that napkin ring is upside down...that's what happens when you assemble everything in a hurry!)

You can get all the printables I used at The Hostess {with the Mostess}  Thank you to talented team at that site for sharing their ideas, talents, and printables so we could throw such a colorful party!

Colorful Summer Grilling Party

Colorful Summer Printables

I'll be back on Friday, after A Crafty Soiree tomorrow, to share Part 2 of our dinner party...here's a hint it continues our theme of building your dish but in a sweet way!



Sharing At: Craftionary,  Tatertots & Jello, Be Different Act Normal,