Let a flock of colorful paper butterflies loose and you'll instantly give party decorations a lift.

Set a playful tone for summer parties with lantern-themed invitations.

To make numbered drinking glasses, you'll need nontoxic glass paint (such as Pebeo Vitrea 160, available at crafts stores in assorted colors), a fine-point paintbrush, self-adhesive shelf liner, and a utility knife.

In this centerpiece, a pitcher in the center gives height to a mix of roses, hydrangeas, delphiniums, lady's mantle, scented geraniums, and potato vine, while kitchen crocks (sugar bowls, eggcups) allow the inclusion of short-stemmed beauties.

There's beauty in letting flowers and vines be their riotous, sprawling selves. For these groupings of trailing sweet autumn clematis, passion-flower vines, and figs, a row of cake stands and pedestal candleholders lets the greenery flow.

What could be easier than floating a few fresh garden roses, nasturtiums, and phlox in small bowls of water? But that's more than enough when they're placed upon a platform of pretty vintage tiles that serves as both a table runner and a trivet.

Floating candles add instant atmosphere to a casual summer table. With our technique, you can create lots of them in only a couple of hours.

After a stay in the freezer, cubes of watermelon become "ice" for this margarita, which gets an herbal edge from basil-infused tequila.

The Blueprint martini takes the crystal-clear, life-affirming qualities of vodka and adds what we choose to view as the antioxidant properties of the blueberry.

Making sangria may take more effort than icing down a cerveza, but this sweet-tart version of the ultimate summer drink will be as memorable as a Barcelona sunset. (Well, almost.)

This cool summer punch can be made a day ahead and refrigerated; just leave out the seltzer until you're ready to serve.

Lime-ginger coolers -- made with lime juice, soda, and fresh ginger -- are a great way to start off a light lunch.

Turning a whole side of fish on the grill is easier if you use a fish-shaped grilling basket. Fire-roasted Vidalia onion halves make an ideal accompaniment for this salmon.

Maine's sunny coast is as close as your patio when you break into foil packets of buttery shrimp, cod, potatoes, and corn. Fill the packets up to a day ahead, refrigerate, and toss onto the grill when it's time to eat.

The quick barbecue sauce turns into a sweet tomato glaze as it cooks on the grill.

Paillards are chicken breasts that have been flattened to an even thinness with a meat mallet or rolling pin. They cook exceptionally quickly on the grill, which prevents them from drying out.

You can use any firm-fleshed fish for this recipe. Scattering salt in the skillet prevents the fish from sticking without adding fat, and it also seasons it. This dish is delicious at any temperature.

Chef Suzanne Goin, of the Lucques restaurant in Los Angeles, prepares an unusual salad of wild salmon, beets, eggs, potatoes, and dandelion greens.

A spicy smoked-paprika marinade gives skin-on butterflied chicken a robust flavor. To give marinated chicken even more flavor, loosen the skin with your hand and spread some of the mixture underneath before grilling.

Smoky Grilled Butterflied Chicken

More Summer Inspiration

• Beach Crafts
• Summer Garden Crafts
• Easy Outdoor Entertaining