How to Make a Picnic Set
Picnics are fun, economical and adventurous for the whole family, and picnics for two make an inexpensive and romantic date. Whoever you choose to picnic with, you need a picnic set--plates, cups, silverware and other eating equipment. Professionally assembled picnic sets can cost more than $100, but you can make your own picnic set for much less while having everything you need to make your outdoor meal a success.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Basket or backpack
- Plates
- Cups
- Bowls
- Silverware
- Goblets (optional)
- Corkscrew
- Tablecloth
- Napkins
- Paring knife
- Cheese board
- Sealed salt and pepper shakers
- Mustard packets (optional)
- Ketchup packets (optional)
- Relish packets (optional)
- Insect repellent
- Fly strips
- Moistened wipes
- Sealing plastic bags
- Trash bag
Instructions
-
-
1
Find a picnic set carrier. You can use a backpack you already own or a basket with a lid from your local craft store. Make sure your picnic set carrier is large enough to hold everything you need for the perfect picnic.
-
2
Purchase items that won't break. Unlike your dishes at home, picnic plates are jostled about in the carrier and may be set down on the ground more often than on a table. If you don't have plastic dishes at home, you can purchase them at any large discount store.
-
-
3
Customize dish purchases for your picnic needs. If there are three people in your family, buy three of everything--three plates, three bowls (for fruit salad or dessert), three cups, three napkins and three sets of flatware. If you're planning a series of romantic picnics for two, buy two of each dish and utensil, and add a pair of unbreakable wine goblets. If there are five people in your family, make sure to buy a backpack or lidded basket that can fit five of each item.
-
4
Pack extra gadgets. A corkscrew is essential to any picnic set, especially for picnics for two. A paring knife is handy for slicing fruit or cheese on-site, and a small cheeseboard also works as a cutting board.
-
5
Include basic condiments. Small, unbreakable salt and pepper shakers are useful--make sure they have sealable lids or tops so the salt and pepper don't spill. Throw in a handful of individual packets of mustard, ketchup and relish. They don't need refrigeration and weigh much less than a full jar or bottle, which isn't likely to be emptied in one picnic anyway.
-
6
Repel unwanted guests. A small bottle of insect repellent could make the difference between a pleasant picnic and an itchy one. Add a fly strip, just in case you decide to picnic under a tree with low-hanging branches to hook it to.
-
7
Add cleanup supplies. Moist wipes to clean sticky or greasy hands are a must. Pack sealable plastic bags for your dirty dishes in; you don't want to soil the inside of your carrier. Include a garbage bag for throwaway trash, such as fruit cores, fried chicken bones, soda bottles or cans.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Picnics are festive occasions, and the contents of your picnic set should add to the fun. Choose matching plates, cups and bowls in a pattern you like. Pick a tablecloth and cloth napkins that match or at least complement the dishes.
References
- Photo Credit girl picnic image by Sandra Henderson from Fotolia.com
