• 

  Small bamboo steamers filled with colourful Japanese candies look lovely on the table.

• 
• 
• 

  These edible cherry blossoms were custom-made by Cookie Couture.

• 

  Traditional Japanese sweets are used to decorate pink iced cupcakes.

• 

  Party guests learn how to make fun origami shapes.

• 

  A simple craft project using cherry blossoms as inspiration.

• 

  Japanese travel brochures and craft punches were used to create pretty artwork.

Once you have the theme, a tea party is a piece of cake. If the weather’s warm enough, this Japanese-inspired gathering works beautifully under a tree in your local park. And a buffet is not only lovely to look at, it means you’ll be able to pre-prepare everything and spend time relaxing with the guests.

One of the biggest holidays in Japan is the Cherry Blossom Festival. We created a simple craft project using cherry blossoms as inspiration. Regular LMNOP contributor, Priscilla Neilsen, handpainted cherry blossom branches, which the children then decorated using travel brochures and a craft punch. The results made everyone
very happy.

It’s surprising the effect you can create using quite simple, inexpensive materials. Macchiato paper cups cadged from the local café. Sushi mats. Origami papers from arts and craft stores. To add authenticity to the table decorations, we also used bamboo boats, steamers, chopsticks and pretty fans – all easily obtainable and affordable. Our guests came to the party too, dressed in Japanese-styled or blush outfits. Voilà! The perfect photo opportunity.

READ THE FULL STORY – BUY ISSUE 11
PARTY HOW-TO
BEHIND-THE-SCENES

Credits: Table & chair hire, linen’s and candy jars, all Munchkin Tables; Japanese product sourcing, Tee-Pee Jr; Clothing & accessories, Mill&Mia; Cookies, Cookie Couture; Cherry Blossom card illustration, Priscilla Nielsen; Event production, LMNOP Productions.