Why entertain inside when you can party outside!  Nature takes care of most of the decorations for you.  Just add some ambiance with candlelight and party past sundown!

Here’s a simple (and inexpensive) candleholder I made with terracotta pots for our Easter dinner last month.  I painted the inside of small pots silver and put tea lights in the bottom.  Simple, inexpensive, and sparkly!  For an inside party I just scattered them about the table. 

For outside use, (as luck would have it), they fit perfectly inside my round candleholder that goes around the patio umbrella (a couple of my glass votive holders broke last year).  

Got bugs?  Use citronella tea lights. 

I also painted a couple larger pots with a mix of gold, silver and glitter paint and put larger candles in them for a bit more lighting.

So when is your next outdoor entertaining event?  How will you light it up?

P.S. - If kids are invited to the party, don’t forget to have your “summer bucket” handy so parents can help their kids without having to ask you for help.