During the warm summer months meals are often enjoyed outdoors, so it is no surprise that July has been deemed National Picnic Month. Picnics are typically casual affairs enjoyed outdoors with family, friends or even an intimate occasion for two. Planning a picnic? You’ll want to pack a bountiful picnic basket and a blanket to enjoy the simple pleasure of dining outdoors.
With this simple DIY project you can make your summer picnics memorable with your own one-of-a-kind picnic blanket and a delicious and bountiful basket. Inspired by this blanket from Twig & Thistle I decided to create my own custom picnic blanket for a romantic date.
What you’ll need to:
- 1 drop cloth (available in the paint section at home improvement stores)
- 1 small container of paint in desired color
- 1 stencil or 1 roll of 2 inch ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape to create your own pattern
- 1 small paint roller
I purchased a large drop cloth from Lowe’s Home Improvement for $7.98 (I recommend using one with a plastic liner on the back) and decided to use a wall stencil to create my desired pattern. After measuring the area I wanted to paint (I wanted a border both on the outside and inside of the pattern) I placed the stencil on the drop cloth and secured each corner with painter’s tape.
Dip your roller in your desired paint color (I used paint a friend had leftover from another project) and carefully roll over your stencil. Move the stencil until your entire area has been covered.
I wanted to personalize my picnic blanket so I added our monogram to the center. I cut out vinyl letters using my Cricut and then placed the template in the center and carefully painted the letters on.
With a little paint and a few simple supplies I had a beautiful custom picnic blanket perfect for a date with my hubby.
A picnic is a classic, economical way to spend a romantic meal with your partner. It can easily be altered to suit almost any meal or location and with a few extra touches and details you and your loved one can enjoy a simple, romantic and relaxing summer evening outdoors. I put together our picnic with some of our favorite summer recipes and simple store bought items I dressed up with a few extra details, like the custom labels, twine and handmade treat bags.
I bought sandwiches from our local deli and wrapped them in parchment paper and tied them with yellow twine.
I made one of my favorite summer sides dishes, Orzo Pasta with Artichokes & Asparagus. I made individual servings by placing them in jelly jars with lids spray painted to match my custom labels.
Along with our sandwiches and pasta salad we also had a variety of cheeses, crackers, salami, olives and fresh fruit.
Finally, for a sweet treat I placed store bought chocolate chip cookies in wax glassine bags. I used a small doily, cupcake liner and an enjoy sticker to embellish the top of the bag.
Pick a beautiful location and take a few pillows and books along with you for a relaxing evening with your date.
