So… true story. I was in Target a couple weeks ago, once again stopping in the gift wrap section {unnecessarily} to stare at a particularly lovely collection of bright, modern gift wrap they have that features happy shades of green, fuschia and red – and once again thinking how I really, really would love to design a spring party completely around these papers… and then a couple days later, what should appear in my inbox, but a fabulous spring centerpiece design {from fine artist/floral designer Kim Foren of Geranium Lake Flowers} – starring the exact same collection of papers!

Wouldn’t this look be great for everything from Easter & Mother’s Day to spring and summer baby/bridal showers? Thanks, Kim!

Covering vases in decorative paper (typically gift wrap or scrapbook papers), has always been one of my favorite decorating elements – both for it’s high-impact effect and the budget-friendly aspect… and Kim really demonstrates the versatility & effectiveness of this idea here by grouping several vases together and showing off a fun mix of {coordinating} patterns!

Read on for more colorful images (including gorgeous pink Ranunculus!) + all the DIY details…

DIY DETAILS, as told by Kim…

“Mixing patterns, fresh bright colors, polka dots and stripes all for a fresh new look! Start by making a fun recycled runner for your table. We used bright, polka dotted, striped and plain white terry cloth washcloths that we sewn together and added hot pink ball trim edging that we picked up at a craft store. You can also use burlap rice bags, 40’s vintage tablecloths, fun patterned napkins or kitchen tea towels. Use a glue gun if you want to avoid sewing.

Make simple, easy centerpieces out of cylinders, glasses or ball jars covered with fun wrapping paper. We chose different floral and prints and then banded the tops with simple colored satin and grosgrain ribbon. Chose mismatched bright patterns for the ultimate spring look. We filled some containers with fresh moss, wheat grass and flowers. For flowers try using Ranunculus, daffodils and tulips for your mismatched vases.

For a guest gift we used mismatched polka dotted cups & saucers, simple ribbon, pieces of handmade paper and colored glassware to help finish our whimsical look.”

ABOUT KIM:

Owner Kim Foren is trained as a fine art painter and showed her whimsical oil paintings for sixteen years at Quartersaw Gallery in Portland. Desiring a change in her corporate life, she started selling flowers in 1993 out of her VW van in front of Grand Central Bakery in Portland.

Today, Geranium Lake Flowers has received Best of Portland awards from Portland Monthly magazine, Portland Bride and Groom, Oregon Bride Magazine and Willamette Weekly. Kim has been touted as “Martha Stewart with an edge” by The Oregonian, Jonathan Nicholas and the Willamette Weekly claims she “puts a fresh face on floral.”