Tennis Party!

I've been playing league tennis for over 15 years and somehow, throughout that entire time, I've managed to avoid becoming a team captain. Well, this year, I decided it was my turn to take over that duty and with a team of amazing women, I'm sure this season will be a lot of fun!

As team captain, I thought we should start off the season with a PARTY! This time of year, what better theme could there be than Autumn?!... with a little tennis mixed in, of course!

As with most of my decorating, this party began with a trip to the thrift store. I bought two wood racquets for a $1.99 each. I knew I would need a way to display the racquets so I bought a wood crate, also $1.99.

My next trip was to a local farm. It happened to be the last day of the season they would be open so with amazing discounts, I purchased all the colorful gourds I needed for less than $6!

I propped the racquets up inside the crate. The addition of a few gourds held them securely in place. Then I added a few fresh flowers for a bit of color and life. These tennis ball vases are super easy to make. I cut a slit into the top and bottom of a tennis ball (the bottom slit is only necessary if the water tube is longer than the ball is tall) and then inserted a water tube with a flower.

I wanted to give everyone a captain's gift and a Good Luck Penny Charm seemed to be the perfect thing!

 

I hammered the heck out of a penny (hopefully I didn't hammer the luck out of it! teehee) I used a disc cutter to make a small brass circle. I stamped an initial into the brass circle and hammered around the edge for texture. I drilled a hole in each side of the brass circle. I then laid it onto of the penny for alignment and drilled holes in the penny. I cut a short length of dark annealed steel wire which would become the staple to secure the two circles. I filed and hammered one end of the wire and then inserted it through both circles with the hammered end at the front. I used pliers to bend it into a staple to attach the two circles. I trimmed the wire at the back and filed it smooth and hammered to secure. I drilled a hole at the top and then slightly domed the entire piece. To finish it off, I brushed a small dab of Novacan Black Patina onto the brass circle and then wiped it off to darken the initial and then inserted a jump ring.

So far, my Penny Charm seems to be working. I've won a couple of matches and it even helped out my bowling game!

I was trying to come up with an inexpensive and fun way to package the Good Luck Penny Charm and thought a Tennis Ball Gift Bag would work quite well! Old tennis balls are free and easy to find at my house.

I used a serrated knife to cut the top off a tennis ball. It's a bit tricky, so be very careful not to cut yourself. I drilled a hole into each side of the ball near the top opening. I inserted a steel wire through the holes and secured to form a handle. I hammered the wire handle for texture and to add strength. I tied a fabric ribbon and silk leaf to one side of the handle. I then used raffia to tie the charm onto the handle.

 

 I filled each ball basket with yummy treats!

For the final arrangement I placed the crate with racquets in the center of my table with more gourds and the ball gift bags around it.

It was a super fun party and the ladies loved their gift!

Thanks for stopping by!
 
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