By: Emily Wottreng

Your guests will have no reservations about coming over

The days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer, and it can only mean one thing: Summer is right around the corner! Located in sunny Phoenix, Arizona, we at The Hippie Hobby love summer, but long for ways to enjoy it without melting in 120° temps. A summer dinner party is the perfect event to get everyone together, as well as get crafty! Whether you live in ideal summer climates or in the middle of the Sonoran Desert, these four crafts are the best ways to spice up a dinner party.

#1 DIY Placemats

Your table set-up will be complete with the perfect placemats, and nothing can be more perfect than creating your own! A Bubbly Life shows how to add flair to plain white placemats with gold paint for a simplistically chic look. To level up your crafty placemat game, check out this dip-dyed placemat project from Design Love Fest. Your guests will be asking where you bought your placemats, and your smile will glow as you explain, “Well, actually…”

#2 No-Sew Banners

The phones and social media posts will come out in full force when guests see a homemade banner. With some fabric and a hot glue gun, anything is possible! This DIY bandana banner from Thirty Handmade Days has a wonderfully summery feel. Or, use some leftover fabric to create a no-sew party banner. Your thoughtfulness and excellent decorative taste will be the talk of the evening.

#3 Build-Your-Own Fire Pit

It might seem crazy, but it turns out building your own fire pit is not that hard. Who doesn’t love sitting by the fire with the ones we love? Woo Home compiled a list of 38 easy ways to DIY a fire pit, and one reviewer commented that it took them only an hour to construct! This step-by-step guide from Tuff Guard Hose goes more in depth with creating a fire pit. This is a craft that will keep on giving!

#4 Dinner Craft from HH

We at The Hippie Hobby love friends (and food), and have your dinner party in mind with our floating candle craft. This delivered-to-your-doorstep craft makes creating a beautiful centerpiece simple, and adds a nice touch to your summer evening. Check out these amazing centerpiece ideas from Shelterness that involve flowers and floating candles. What’s more, this craft comes with a bonus: Our floating candle kit includes DIY dinnerware packets! Make setting the table both incredible and easy.

The days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer, and there is no better time to get our loved ones together for a memorable summer evening. Guests will gush over your style and crafty abilities, and will be so grateful for the chance to all get together. Summer days are sweet, but there’s something special about those summer nights. With any and all of these crafts, hosting a dinner party this summer will be a fun-filled evening from start to finish.