Personalize your wine glasses with a word or two… a great way to add a personal touch to your party.  Be creative with your words and it can be a conversation piece.

This is not your regular stenciling, it’s edible!  All you need are stencils, corn syrup and cinnamon.  Head on to The City Cradle for the instructions.  It’s pretty easy!

In the beginning, I was planning to DIY my centerpieces.  Recently, our plans changed and decided to hire a florist instead.  But I totally forgot to show you the mock-up I did when I was still planning to DIY the centerpieces.  So here they are…

Click here for instructions @ Project Wedding

Cost Breakdown:
Tissue paper = free (I have in stock – yes I do have that many)
2 3″ styrofoam balls ($2.88/6) = $0.96
2 4″ styrofoam balls ($3.52/4) = $1.76
1 7″ candelabra = $9.99 – 20% discount
1 9″ candelabra = $12.99 – 20% discount
table letter = $1.99

TOTAL (per table) = $12.70-$22.69 + tax

I loved making the tissue pomanders.  And now that I have tissue pomanders lying around, I decided to use them during the cocktail hour.

I love decorative boxes. They’re great to keep little stuff in like photos, little trinkets, letters, etc. So I set out to find DIY instructions to create them and I found a great video from The Scrapbook Lounge via Elizabeth Anne Designs.

I just don’t do a project just because. I’m doing it actually for the wedding. Well, I’m not gonna say what it is for yet. Just stay tuned .

How I Did It

Materials (per set)
1 80lb (or heavier) coverstock 8.5×11
belly wrap or 1 36lb (or close) vellum 8.5×11 – creates 5 belly wraps
1 envelope A2 (4 3/8″ x 5 3/4″)

For stores, click here

Tools
cutter, X-acto knife (to cut inner rectangles), adhesive, computer, printer

Recommended
Rotary Paper Trimmer (cutter), X-Acto Knife, Classic Crest Solar White 80lb (paper), Classic Crest Recycled Bright White 80lb (recycled paper)

Fonts Used
Sloop Script Two, AvantGarde Gothic

Template
The card measures 4″ x 5.5″ and contains 4 pieces wrapped together with the belly wrap.

Click image below to download template

Directions
Print and cut on solid lines.  Assemble with top-left card at the top, then the top-right card right below, then the bottom-left card, then the bottom-right card at the very bottom.  Wrap them together with the belly wrap.

If you want a crisper image (bridesmaid), print this file first on paper that you plan to use for your card.  Personalize this 2nd file, then print it using the paper you’ve printed the first file on.  Make sure you print on the side  where the image is printed.

Insert assembled card into envelope and you’re all set!

Remembering all the wrapping I’ve done for the holidays, I dream more and more of a wrapping station of my own. Here are some beautiful inspirations.

And here are a couple DIY instructions on how create your own wrapping/craft station…

Lowe’s Creative Ideas: Gift Wrap Station

House to Home

I have tried Hydrangeas, now it’s time to try Carnations.  They’re very affordable and I love the fullness of the blooms.  Please pardon the visible rubber bands.  I ran out of floral tape and I didn’t get to wrap the bouquet handle with ribbon before I did the corset-type wrapping.

Unfortunately, to get the bouquet size I wanted, I had to use a lot of carnations which ended up being more expensive than the Hydrangeas I used earlier.  I spent $15 for 50 carnations.

The biggest advantage of using Carnations is that they last long. They lasted more than a week just being in a vase with water (no flower food).

To save money, we’re planning to DIY bouquets… kinda like “create your own bouquet” thing .  I think my bridesmaids are willing to do their own . I don’t know exactly what flowers I like to use, but I’m definitely using white ones.

First up is hydrangea.  I got the hydrangeas from the NYC flower district for $10/6 bunches.  I only used 5 which was about a foot in diameter altogether, 6 bunches were too big for me.  Of course I had to use the knot on the handle too!

I love the fullness of the hydrangeas.  But since a bunch is too big, the stem is too thin.  I like my bouquet to have a thicker handle.  Maybe I could just wrap it more with the knot to thicken it.  However, I’m still not sure what style I like to use for the ribbons/knots for the handle.

It cost me just a little less than $11 including tax to create this bouquet:

Hydrangeas (5 bunches) = $10 / 6 bunches
1 1/2″ Satin ribbon (1 yard) = $15.99 / 50 yards – you can get this cheaper at PaperMart.com
Knot (2 yards) = $5.50 / 10 yards

Next up, I’ll be trying on carnations.  They’re inexpensive and when bunched together, they somehow create the same effect and fullness.

How I Did It

Materials (per set)
1 80lb (or heavier) coverstock 8.5×11 – creates 4
1 36lb (or close) vellum 8.5×11 – creates 2
knot
1 envelope A2 (4 3/8″ x 5 3/4″)

For stores, click here

Tools
cutter, scorer, 1/4″ hole-puncher, lighter or gas stove top, computer, printer

Recommended
Rotary Paper Trimmer (cutter), Fiskars Scoring Blade (scoring blade to be used with Fiskars rotary trimmer), Fiskars hand punch (hole puncher), Classic Crest Solar White 80lb (paper), Classic Crest Recycled Bright White 80lb (recycled paper)

Fonts Used
Sloop Script Two, AvantGarde Gothic

Template
The save-the-date measures 4″ x 5.5″.  Page 2 and 3 contains the main save-the-date template that creates 4 save-the-dates.  Page contains the vellum wrap template that creates 2 vellum wraps.  Blue sailboat image is included in the template.

Click image below to download template

Directions
Print page 3 on the back of page 2.  Cut on gray solid lines.  Print page 4 on vellum.  Cut on gray solid lines.  Score vellum in the middle.  Wrap vellum on save-the-date.  Hole punch on gray circles.

Cut 11″ of knot.  Using a lighter or stove top, melt the ends of the knot to avoid fraying.  Insert knot into the holes and make a square knot.  Click here for instructions on how to make a square knot.

Insert completed save-the-date into envelope and you’re all set!

Pat Catan’s Craft Centers in Pennsylvania and Ohio are holding their annual bridal fair next week!  Find wedding craft ideas for your wedding from bouquets and boutonnieres to favors and reception table ideas.  This event is a must-attend for DIY and budget brides.

Aren’t these luminaries gorgeous? They’re actually made using wax and balloon. Candletech.com has instructions including step-by-step photos on how to create your own beautiful wax luminaries.

1. Fill a water balloon with tepid water.
2. Melt your wax. Optimum working temperature for this project is 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Try to maintain this temperature for your wax while working by keeping it on a double boiler.
3. Slowly dip your balloon into the wax to just below the water level in the balloon. Warning: Do not dip the balloon into the wax past the water level. This could cause the balloon to pop.
4. Hold the balloon in the wax for a few seconds, and then slowly lift it out of the wax. Dip the balloon a few more times, allowing some time between dips to let the wax cool.
5. While it is still quite warm, carefully set the balloon down onto a piece of paper or a cookie sheet, making sure it is level. This will create a flat bottom for the luminary.
6. Dip your balloon a few more times until it is the desired thickness. A good target thickness is 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch.
7. Set the balloon on the paper or cookie sheet again and let it cool.
8. When the wax is completely cooled, hold the balloon over a sink or bucket, facing away from you. Carefully pop the balloon with a skewer or knife and let the water drain out. Throw away the balloon shards.
9. To level the top of the luminary, heat a cookie sheet on the stove and place the luminary top-down onto the hot sheet and carefully melt the edges until it is level.
10. Place a tea light or votive inside the luminary and burn on a candle holder in a dark area.

I love DIYing and I would love love to do this for my wedding.  Unfortunately, I think we’re doing a day wedding so candles are not really needed .

Casa Sugar