The Inspiration

“A large rose-tree stood near the entrance of the garden: the roses growing on it were white, but there were three gardeners at it, busily painting them red. Alice thought this a very curious thing, and she went nearer to watch them, and just as she came up to them she heard one of them say, ‘Look out now, Five! Don’t go splashing paint over me like that!’

‘I couldn’t help it,’ said Five, in a sulky tone; ‘Seven jogged my elbow.’

On which Seven looked up and said, ‘That’s right, Five! Always lay the blame on others!’

‘You’d better not talk!’said Five. ‘I heard the Queen say only yesterday you deserved to be beheaded!’

‘What for?’ said the one who had spoken first.

‘That’s none of your business, Two!’ said Seven.

‘Yes, it is his business!’ said Five, ‘and I’ll tell him — it was for bringing the cook tulip-roots instead of onions.’

Seven flung down his brush, and had just begun ‘Well, of all the unjust things — ‘ when his eye chanced to fall upon Alice, as she stood watching them, and he checked himself suddenly: the others looked round also, and all of them bowed low.

‘Would you tell me,’ said Alice, a little timidly, ‘why you are painting those roses?’

Five and Seven said nothing, but looked at Two. Two began in a low voice, ‘Why the fact is, you see, Miss, this here ought to have been a red rose-tree, and we put a white one in by mistake; and if the Queen was to find it out, we should all have our heads cut off, you know. So you see, Miss, we’re doing our best, afore she comes, to — ‘ At this moment Five, who had been anxiously looking across the garden, called out ‘The Queen! The Queen!’ and the three gardeners instantly threw themselves flat upon their faces. There was a sound of many footsteps, and Alice looked round, eager to see the Queen.”

The Setup

There are so many elements of Alice in Wonderland that can inspire you with your party theming. The Queen of Hearts is the general theme for this scene usually, and hearts and roses are often combined. However in this case, I wanted to just focus on the Painting The Roses Red theme. So forget the hearts– we used the spade playing cards and the white rose bush being painted red as the central theme for this Alice in Wonderland tea party.

The centrepiece is an edible rose bush, while the chairs surrounding the table become the spade playing cards that paint the rose bush.

The Tea Party Menu

I did a small high tea class last year and the one thing that stuck, was this.

The food needs to be able to be picked up with one hand (without making a mess) and should be a size where it can be eaten in two bites.

We selected small sandwiches using a variety of cheese, herbs and vegetables, raspberry coconut tarts and scones/tea biscuits with whipped cream and raspberry jam. And don’t forget the tea!

To bring in the paint can idea, we found an adorable paint can container (clean and brand new since this is for food!) and used it to hold the raspberry jam for the tea biscuits. We had brought ours over from Canada from Dollarama. Brand new pastry brushes completed the look. As an alternative idea, you could even use these mini plastic paint cans from Amazon as individual jam pots at each place as a party favour, teamed with their own little brush.

Don’t miss these other Alice in Wonderland posts

Alice in Wonderland Unbirthday Cake Tea Infused cupcakes

Alice in Wonderland Playing Card Chairs

Drink Me Potion {Party Version} | Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland Eat Me Cookies

Alice in Wonderland’s Edible Rose Bush

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