Finally Football!

September in the South is a strange combination of football and summertime. "Tailgates and Tan lines" is a catchphrase I recently heard and it is truly the case here.  We watch games poolside or listen while at the beach or on the boat.  We "tailgate" at home with special treats and team decor until those days when we get back to the stadium.  After a quiet fall last year, it is so nice to have a football season again!  (Yes, I know, there was some football last spring, but it is not the same.  And do not get me started about how much better college ball is than pro!)

I started with a tiered tray.  I got the tray several years ago.  I can't remember where it came from, but it is now a favorite way to decorate my coffee bar during the holidays, but there is no reason why I can't use it on the patio as well!  

I found the goal posts at the Dollar Store and painted them yellow. 

The "Family, Friends and Football" sign is also from the Dollar Store.  I painted the frame and changed the background to a football field. (The original background was a plaid pattern in a rival teams colors!)  I cut the field on my Cricut, just like the field on these coasters

The pattern for the coasters is in Cricut Design Space, but I changed the numbers to a different font to look more like an "old school" football field. The coasters were cut from some thin wood that I bought online. I am learning that if you need to purchase supplies online, go with the original Cricut materials.  If you cannot tell the quality in person and are not familiar with the brand or seller, it is better to pay a little more. The wood was so thin that I had to double them up.  They are also coated with a few layers of Modge Podge.  Super cute in person! I will be making some more for a "Tailgate Party" later in the season. 

The  football garland is a Design Space find as well.  They are an experiment with Dollar Tree vinyl.  The jury is still out.  The quality is okay, but do not combine it with the Dollar Tree transfer tape. Cut it on the "More" setting.  I am finding that the Dollar Tree vinyl is fine with projects like this, but I would not use it on an "heirloom" item.  It is also easier to use with larger cuts. (Not sponsored or an ad, just an opinion!). 

You may have seen the pom-poms, quilt and football on an earlier post a couple of years ago.  You can find it here.  My little Duke Dog is also featured. I wish I remembered where I got the painted glasses.  I have had them several years and would like to buy more for gifts.  Perhaps I need to learn to make them as well! 

If you are looking for recipes for tailgating food and other decor ideas (including a do-it-yourself goal posts), you can check out my "Football Fare", "Happy Super Bowl Sunday" and "Big Game Prep" posts. 

The season is just beginning and I am looking for more recipes and more decor ideas as I go along as well.  This will probably not be my last football post this season!  While JMU is my husband's and my alma mater, we also have grad school and our kids' teams to cheer on as well! 

Thank you for stopping by today and 

    Go Dukes! 

    Go Gators! 

    Go Tribe! 

    Go Cougars!.....

~Cynthia