Blog

In my last post we discovered some tempting treats in the kitchen. Most good cooks have one indispensable item to help them with their creations, aluminum foil.

In GVS land, that foil can do more than insulate a turkey. It can actually decorate your home. At least according to this vintage “Fun with Foil” pamphlet.

“Festively presented by your Friendly Grocer,” the booklet is full of projects to make any holiday brighter and more fun, too.

I couldn’t find a date on the brochure, but by the look of the pictures and the drawings I figure it came out in the 1960s.

The inside cover is full of helpful tips.

“This year there is a decided trend toward coordinated decorations for the Christmas season. With this in mind, we have provided ideas that may be carried out in many ways, using such motifs as stars, snowflakes, Christmas trees, flowers and leaves, and starbursts. After your basic theme has been selected, it takes only simple cutting and assembling to create designs to fit your own personal needs.

“Consider, too, all the other holidays of the year. Many of the same basic motifs are easily adapted for any happy family occasion—birthday, national holiday or special celebration. A Christmas centerpiece in silver and red becomes a spring beauty in silver with pale green, yellow and pink. With the addition of dried grasses, autumn fruits and nuts, all the bounty of the Thanksgiving season comes to life.”

The fun starts on the very next page, with four festive suggestions of various sizes. Starting at the top with Snowflake Silhouettes to decorate an entire door, window, fireplace mantle, even a buffet cloth. Then you can make Outdoor Ornamental Christmas Candles.

 

The next two pages are dedicated to trees, flowers and leaves. The top of page four shows you how to create a three-dimensional tree trim for your front door. You can make another tree for your wall, or a shining tree for your table or mantle.

Page five features a beautiful Large Floral Centerpiece with Candles. It’s just gorgeous.

Following directions on the bottom half of the page, you can create two different kinds of nut cups to put on your festive table. One is round and one is shaped like a leaf. These are gorgeous and practical. After your guests enjoy the nuts contained within, they can take their little dishes home.

Now we move onto Merry Mobiles and Tree Ornaments. Page six has four different glittering objects to choose from. The top is a Mistletoe Mobile. Next is a Merry Mobile, then you can make some Silvery Circles and finally some Crushed Foil Ornaments.

On page seven you find a trio of sparkling items. Start with making your own foil candy cane. Next, create a stunning silver base designed to hold a fabulous tapered candle. Then finally, three candles sit in a row, each nestled in a starburst of foil.

Then we finish off the fall holiday season, by heading back toward the basics. Even though this booklet focuses on decorations, it is also dedicated to the joys of foil. So, included are instructions on how to roast the perfect turkey.

Now back to decorating. Here are some table trimmings for many occasions. First up is a lovely nest with cut rings of foil to hold colored eggs. It’s easy to guess what holiday this is for.

Then a fantastic Cascade Centerpiece. See the little foil flowers that surround the tapered candle?

Page eleven has three different types of decorations. The top features a Dry Floral Arrangement. Live in apartment with no garden? No problem. Make your own flowers out of foil.

Want to add a bit of sparkle to your table, here’s a Starburst Centerpiece.

And finally, a simple, yet beautiful Candle Holder with a large foil star as the base. Fabulous.

The next page moves from decorations to Gifts for the Home. Now you can share your creative skills with others.

Haven’t you always wanted to create your own placemat or hot plate mat out of foil? Who hasn’t? Now you can. The brochure promises that they are handsome, practical and so easy to make.

However, I’m not so sure about the Custom Look Lampshade at the bottom. I don’t think anyone really wants a lampshade made out of foil. Oh well. No brochure is perfect.

It’s easy to add a little flair to any party, with your own handmade foil favors. Here’s five to choose from. A Clown Cap is perfect for a child’s birthday party, as is a Crown for a Little Girl. Every kid will enjoy their own Candy Holder. You could also make a little umbrella for a baby shower. But once again, I’m not so sure about the last suggestion on the page. Here are directions for masks for “MERRIE OR EERIE.” The Merrie one is obviously Santa Claus, so I gather the Eerie one is supposed to be for Halloween. I say Eerie is icky, so I’ll skip it.

The last two pages give some practical tips on creating basic shapes and forms. They break down the steps needed to make a Five Pointed Christmas Star.

Also follow these steps to create a Poinsettia, Rounded Snowflakes, Basic Foil Tree pattern and Round Flower Forms.

I hope you have enjoyed these little decorating tips from the past. I love the vintage looks contained in pamphlets from previous decades. These are classic creations that still can make our current holidays bright.

Until next time, this is GVS, your home for Glorious Vintage Stuff.