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Posts tagged DIY

DIY: Stenciled Wine Glass

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!

DIY: Tissue Pomander Centerpieces

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.

DIY: Drop Spine Box

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.

Ami Elizabeth's handmade favor boxes

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 :) .

DIY: Newport wedding map and template

All of our guests including us are from out of town.  So in the guest welcome bags, we decided to include a map of key places including room blocks and where we’re staying.  The rehearsal dinner location will only be included on maps for those who are invited to the rehearsal dinner.

Our wedding map

Our wedding map

As we get closer to the wedding, I will be adding places/sites to see in Newport.  If you have any suggestions of nice places/sites to see, please leave a comment.

Now, on to the template…

Template
The Newport map template measures 8.5″ x 11″ and can be reduced.  It is in PDF format and can be used with image/graphic editors such as Photoshop and Illustrator. The basic template (see image below) is $10.  To purchase, click Buy Now below.

Basic Newport Map template (no additional streets):


Click image to enlarge
Newport map template by Aylee

For additional streets or customized map, please contact me.  Click here for instructions on how to create your own map.

The template in Word (doc) format will be available soon. But note that it won’t be as crisp as the PDF above. Stay tuned…

DIY: Will you be my bridesmaid card

willubmybm01 willubmybm02 willubmybm03

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 KnifeClassic 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
DIY: Will you be my bridesmaid card

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!

Bouquet Trial #2: Carnations

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.

DIY Carnations Bouquet

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.

DIY Carnations Bouquet

DIY Carnations Bouquet

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).

Bouquet Trial #1: Hydrangea

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 :P . 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!

DIY hydrangea bouquet

DIY hydrangea bouquet

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.

DIY hydrangea bouquet

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.

DIY: Nautical Save-The-Date

Nautical Save The Date Nautical Save The Date Nautical Save The Date

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
Aylee's nautical save the date

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!

My Nautical Save-The-Date

I finally finished making our save-the-dates!  It was easy making them except writing the addresses.  I’m not good at calligraphy so I decided to just use my own everyday handwriting.  I saved by writing the addresses myself, using coverstock that I already have and printing the save-the-dates in my home printer.

Aylee's nautical save the date

Keeping up with the theme of the wedding, I used knots and sailboat images.  I’m sorry I forgot to take a photo of the back which has the travel info.  The vellum wraps around the save-the-date covering both the front and back.

Aylee's nautical save the date

Overall, I spent a little more than $20 for 25 of these save-the-dates:

7 coverstock 8.5×11 = free (I have in stock)
13 vellum 8.5×11 = $10.50 (50 pack)
41′ knot = $3.77
25 envelopes = $6.25

TOTAL = $20.52 + tax

Stay tuned tomorrow for template and instructions on making them.

A Day With The DIY Bride – Charlotte NC

A Day With The DIY Bride - Charlotte NC

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