Light-filled evenings and outdoor breezes make summer the perfect time for entertaining guests at your home. Check out how blogger Jessica Ballard created a DIY summer-inspired hostess cart during a live demonstration at Goodwill’s booth at the Southern Spring & Garden Show. Jessica picked up five items at the Mt. Island store for her project:
- Television cart
- Asian-inspired tray
- Set of dishes
- Shower curtain
- Cloth napkins and rings
The total for her purchases came to $26.69. The TV cart was the priciest item at $4.99 and the china pieces were sold separately. 
Jessica’s motto for DIY projects is” “Think outside the box. How would you use something differently?” Here she describes her process for transforming her Goodwill finds into summery entertaining staples. 
“The shower curtain was cut on the spot to cover up and hang down one side of the cart during the demo, but I would add it to both sides unless you plan to put it against a wall. You could also hang it around the three sides. If I had more time, I would have painted it white. I used a staple gun to attach it. To give the letter tray a fresh look, I just cut down some pretty paper and used Mod Podge adhesive to secure and seal it. I used E6000 craft adhesive to attach the bowls to the plate and bowl in the china to give it some height and stability. This is great for parties. Imagine using it for chips and salsa. I considered gluing one of the smaller bowls inside the larger bowl and you could put chips in the outer rim, and salsa inside the smaller bowl.” Here’s the finished product! Read Jessica’s full post about this DIY experience on her blog Begin to Craft. And don’t forget to check out Goodwill’s booth for more decorating ideas at the upcoming Southern Ideal Home Show on August 22-24. 
Jessica Ballard is a native Southerner, mom of three kids 6 and under, and wife of 10 years to a true country boy. She is a chemist by trade and former recruiter for scientists and hospital staff. She blogs about all things parenting, DIY projects and lifestyle blessings at www.begintocraft.com and www.savvysouthernparent.com.
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