Embellish

Vine-ripe tomatoes are not only delectable; they’re decorative. Author and Westchester, N.Y.-based lifestyle expert Colleen Mullaney shows you how to create a ripe and respected work of art for an intimate outdoor gathering this summer.

Materials:

40 cherry tomatoes

1 large green cabbage

12” topiary form

6” clay pot and saucer

green moss

raffia

hot-glue gun and glue sticks

How to:
1. Cut bottom of topiary form to fit pot. Glue to secure. Cover foam at top of pot with moss and glue in place. Start gluing tomatoes to form, placing them close together, alternating with top and bottoms showing. Continue until form is completely covered.

2. Using the points of a pair of scissors, fill in small gaps between tomatoes with moss. Glue in place.

3. Cut large cabbage leaves and place on sides of pot. Trim bottoms of leaves so tops just graze rim of clay pot. Fold bottoms under pot and glue leaves in place.

4. To finish, wrap several strands of raffia around pot and tie knot.

To make votives:

1. Cut smaller leaves from cabbage head.

2. Wrap around votive, trimming bottoms so that tops leaves graze rims of votives. Fold bottoms under votive and glue in place.

3. To finish, wrap several strands of raffia around votive and tie knot.

Tip: Other possible fruits and vegetables for topiary (all with the same round shape) are lemons, limes, small peaches and apples or any large berry.

Mullaney is the author of several crafts books, including Crafting On the Go: Shells, Crafting On the Go: Felt, Faux Fabulous Florals (Sixth&Spring Books) and One-of-a-Kind Weddings (Creative Publishing). Check out her blog!

-Taniesha Robinson

Although the 4th of July is one of my favorite days of the year, I’m not always gun-ho for the traditional outdoor aspects of this holiday. Of course, I think fireworks, warm weather and grilled food are the necessities for a great 4th of July party. Still, I think there are some other must-haves to make sure everyone enjoys the festivities:

1. Insect repellent

As a kid, I hated getting sprayed down with this stuff before going off to play, but now I don’t step on picnic grounds without it. Nothing ruins holiday enjoyment faster than a mosquito bite on your shin or elbow.

2. Hand sanitizer

When you’re grilling in the park, sometimes the bathrooms are just too far away or too dirty when you finally get there.

3. Non-alcoholic beverages

For some, the buzz from the bees is enough.

4. Seating and Shade (preferably seating in the shade)

Fold-away chairs, benches or blankets all do the job of giving party goers a resting place, but the rest will easily be interrupted if they’re baking in the sun. If the festivities can’t be parked under a tree, invest in a canopy or table umbrellas.

5. Music for all

Spin the summer-themed oldies for mom and dad and more recent chart toppers for you and your friends. And don’t forget to throw in some Kidz Bop tunes for the little ones.