December, 2012 - DIY Bride

Cranberry Orange Marmalade Favors

Wedding favors are a tricky business. At the same time that you, the bride and groom, are trying for something original and memorable, you also don’t want a sizable portion of your wedding budget to be spent on little trinkets that your guests may or may not accidentally leave behind in their hotel rooms. Which is to say that we’re looking for something small and inexpensive, but that packs an original and expressive punch.

Moreover, the best wedding favors will not only reflect your wedding’s theme, but, in turn, your personality as a couple as well. I don’t know about you, my dearest DIY-Foodie-Bride, but the first thing that popped into my mind upon considering all of these requisite characteristics was seasonally appropriate homemade jams!

Here are the pros of giving out seasonally appropriate homemade jams as wedding favors:

-Possibility of adorable jars, decorated with wedding-color ribbons

-Can be made in large batches and kept for months before the big day

-Ingredient lists are generally inexpensive

-Leftovers can be handed out at work or to kids’ teachers as holiday presents

And the cons:

-None that I can think of.

So! Let’s get to work, shall we?

Since we’re in the height of winter wedding season, I decided to make use of the piles and piles of beautiful citrus fruits currently available at the grocery store and make orange-cranberry marmalade. The recipe is incredibly simple, but does take a tiny bit of planning.

After bringing the ingredients to an initial boil, you must let them sit overnight, before boiling them again for two hours. After that, however, you simply jar the marmalade and store it. I’ve added cranberries because they’re wintery and look lovely in the jar; orange marmalade straight-up would of course be delicious, too. Bonus if you use some kind of marmalade glaze in your DIY banquet, and then alert your guests to the fact that they’re taking home a featured ingredient.

Cranberry-Orange Marmalade

Makes about six favor-sized jars; can easily be doubled, tripled, quadrupled…

Ingredients:

4 navel oranges
2 lemons
12 ounces fresh cranberries
8 cups granulated sugar
8 cups water

Supplies:

candy thermometer
large stainless-steel pot
6 small glass jars
labels and ribbons, to suit your taste

Directions:

Step 1: First, slice the citrus fruits into very thin half-moons by first slicing them lengthwise, and then across. If you are making very large batches of marmalade at a time, invest in a mandoline slicer, which will make this (the most involved) step go extremely quickly. Place the slices in a large stainless steel pot along with the cranberries, and cover the fruit with the water. Bring to a boil.

Step 2: Remove the pot from the heat, and add the sugar; stir until completely dissolved. Let the pot stand, covered and at room temperature, overnight. The next morning, submerge the jars in a large pot of water, and bring to a boil to disinfect. Remove from the heat after about five minutes or so, and allow to cool.

Step 3: Bring the fruit mixture to a boil again, and cook until a candy thermometer inserted in the liquid reaches 220 degrees Fahrenheit. Pour the marmalade into the clean, hot jars, and seal. Allow the jars to come to room temperature before refrigerating.

Step 4: Decorate the jars with ribbons and labels listing ingredients.

Betty Crocker’s Red Hot Holiday Trends

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we found some great quick and easy recipes for a winter bridal shower, a small snowy wedding, Christmas engagement party, or even a wedding anniversary. Betty Crocker recently debuted her 2012 Red Hot Holiday Trends, which are designed to excite your taste buds and be the hit at your party.

Here’s what the Betty Crocker team has to say (all recipes, except the non-alcoholic apple cider, and photos are from Betty Crocker):

Trend: Punched Up Punch

This year, punch is back on the menu at creative cocktail bars across the country. Batch cocktails like punch have a renewed focus on flavor and are perfect for the holiday host who wants to step out from behind the bar.

Sparkling Ginger Hard Apple Cider

This fruity, sparkly, bubbly, big-batch cocktail gets its signature kick from hard cider, bourbon and ginger liqueur. It’s a modern take on punch that’s perfect for entertaining.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 12

Ingredients:

1/2 cup bourbon or brandy
3/4 cup ginger-flavored liqueur
1/4 cup clear orange-flavored liqueur
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
Several dashes aromatic bitters
4 bottles (12 oz each) hard apple cider, chilled
Ice chunks or ice cubes, if desired
Red apple slices

Directions:

1. In pitcher or punch bowl, mix bourbon, liqueurs, maple syrup and bitters. Slowly add hard cider.

2. Carefully add ice. Garnish with apple slices.

Here is a quick tip: For a non-alcoholic punch idea, try my tasty version:

Frosty ginger apple cider

Ingredients:

½ gallon apple cider
1 gallon ginger ale (2-2liters)
Apples thinly sliced (4 apples)
Cinnamon sticks (garnish)
Crushed ice

Directions:

1. In a punch bowl mix apple cider and ginger ale. Add some cinnamon sticks and apple slices to punch bowl. Fill 12 glasses with crushed ice.

2. Garnish each glass with apples and add cinnamon stick; pour over crushed ice. Serve immediately.

Trend: Layers. Layers. Layers.

This year has been all about layers, in everything from food to fashion. Even the classic layer cake has been reimagined, as cake lovers revel in colorful cakes that take layers to the extreme.

18 Layer Red Velvet Cake

Take your celebration to impressive new heights! Once you cut into this stunning cake, guests will go gaga over all 18 layers. You don’t have to reveal how easy it is to make. We won’t tell.

Prep time: 1:45 hrs:min

Total time: 4 hours

Servings: 16

Ingredients:

White Cake

1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® white cake mix
1 1/4 cups water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs

Red Velvet Cake

1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® German chocolate cake mix
1 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 tablespoons unsweetened baking cocoa
1 bottle (1 oz) red liquid food color (about 2 tablespoons)

Frosting

2 1/2 cups marshmallow creme (from two 7-oz jars)
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 to 2 tablespoons milk
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray. Line bottom of each pan with cooking parchment paper. Spray parchment paper with cooking spray.

2. In large bowl, beat White Cake ingredients on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Loosely cover and refrigerate.

3. In another large bowl, beat Red Velvet Cake ingredients on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.

4. Spread 1/2 cup red velvet batter in bottom of each pan. Loosely cover and refrigerate remaining batter. Place all 3 pans on oven rack positioned in center of oven. Bake about 8 minutes or until cake is set when lightly touched in center.

5. For next cake layer, spread 1/2 cup white batter evenly over each baked red velvet layer. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until cake is set when lightly touched in center.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5, twice, baking 9 to 12 minutes per layer or until top of cake layer is set when lightly touched in center.

7. Cool 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans; remove parchment paper from bottoms of cakes. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

8. Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat marshmallow creme, butter, vanilla and 1 tablespoon milk with electric mixer on medium speed until blended. Beat in powdered sugar until fluffy. If necessary, beat in more milk, a few drops at a time until spreading consistency.

9. To assemble, stack cake layers, spreading 1/2 cup frosting between each layer. Spread thin layer of frosting over side and top of cake to seal in crumbs. Refrigerate cake 30 to 45 minutes to set frosting. Spread remaining frosting on side and top of cake.

Quick tip: To make your cake sparkle, add White Cake Sparkles from Wilton to give your cake that winter wonderland effect!

Also, dragees or silver balls will make this cake pop. Fancyflours.com has dragees in all sizes ranging from 2 to 10 mm. [Special Note For California Residents: Virtually no one sells silver dragees within CA or to CA residents due to a long-ago – and utterly frivolous – lawsuit. They’re not illegal here, there are no laws on the books restricting sales of them; no one seems to want to be a target of the attorney that brought on the lawsuit.]

The 2012 Red Hot Holiday Trends from the “Original First Lady of Food” Betty Crocker, are a wonderful addition to the bridal world. Sometimes we get so “wrapped up” during the holidays that it is nice to know that Betty is there for you making it easy and delicious.

To see Betty’s hottest food trends for the holidays, please visit bettycrocker.com.

Any other trend spotters out there? What do you think of Betty’s list?

Carrie + Chris’ Vintage Fall Wedding

I have recently discovered I may have a new obsession – bridal faux fur wraps. I unwittingly scheduled two real weddings back-to-back featuring beautiful brides in equally beautiful wraps. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, mind you. And I suppose ’tis the season for warm winter wraps!

Chris and Carrie had a beautiful fall wedding at their church in Bakersfield, CA. The church was decorated with lit up Christmas trees and wreaths that made for a beautiful ceremony backdrop (and you can’t beat free decor). The reception hall had a nice cozy fireplace, perfect ambiance for a fall wedding. With the help of their family and friends, the couple put together all their table decor, turning books into little floral pots and pairing them with simple roses in vintage vases.

Cupcakes, which were baked by family and friends, were displayed on DIY cake stands made from vintage plates and glasses.

The groom had custom ties made through Etsy for himself and his groomsmen. At first glance they just look like paisleys … but look closer! I think these are the greatest ties I’ve ever seen!

Congrats Carrie and Chris!

DETAILS:

Photography: Jessica Frey Photography

Venue: Olive Drive Church, Bakersfield, CA

DIY Cinnamon-Scented Ornament Favors

Cinnamon ornaments are an easy DIY, and can serve as both a favor for your guests or decorations for the reception space.

What you’ll need:

Applesauce
Cinnamon
Cookie Cutter
Twine or ribbon
Mixing bowl
Cookie sheet
Spatula
Toothpick
Wax Paper

Estimated cost: $5 for 15 ornaments

Directions:

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2: To make the dough, use one part applesauce to one part cinnamon. For this tutorial, I used a 1/2 cup of applesauce and a 1/2 cup of cinnamon.

Step 3: Combine the applesauce and cinnamon in the mixing bowl and combine thoroughly. When combined well enough, the dough should make a ball and hold that shape.

Step 4: Roll the dough out on the wax paper, about 1/2 inch thick.

Step 5: Using the cookie cutter, press it into the dough and wiggle it to help separate the shape from the rest of the dough.

Step 6: To make a hole for the twine, use a toothpick. Carefully remove the shapes and place them on the cookie sheet.

Note: The dough will not rise like cookie dough so it’s okay if the shapes are kind of close together.

Step 7: Bake the shapes in the oven for at least one hour, or longer if the dough is still wet.

Step 8: Let the ornaments cool and set for a few before attaching the twine to hang.

Note: When the ornaments are first removed from the oven, loosen them a bit with the spatula to keep them from sticking.

This recipe made 15 ornaments, but can easily be increased to make more.

Infused Vodka Drink Favors with Holiday Flavors

I am so excited about this next DIY that it makes me wish I had a December wedding myself! These DIY holiday drinks will make the perfect wedding favors! Or, if you aren’t having a December wedding, just make and give them out to all your friends. They will be a huge hit, I assure you. Today, I will be showing you how to make two types of infused vodkas: Candy Cane and Reese’s flavored.

Candy Cane Infused Vodka

Materials

■ 1 handle vodka

■ 12- 8 oz mason jars

■ 1 package candy canes

■ 1/2 yard holiday fabric(s), cut into 4 x 4-inch squares

■ scissors

Cost: Approximately $50 per dozen

■ Mason Jars: $13.48 via Amazon

■ Vodka: $30 for a handle

■ Candy Canes: $2.99

■ Holiday Fabric: $2.00

Please note: cost is dependent on the amount of jars you are making.

Directions

1. Break 1 candy cane into small pieces and place in mason jar, then fill jar with vodka, and cover with flat part of the lid.

2. Cover the flat part of the lid with fabric and twist top onto jar.

*Repeat as needed for additional jars.

3. Let sit for 2 days.

4. Tie with ribbon or bakers twine and add gift tag (optional)

Reese’s Flavored Vodka

Materials

■ 1 handle vodka

■ 1 package Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

■ 12- 8 oz.Mason Jars

■ 1/2 yard holiday fabric(s), cut into 4 x 4 inch squares

■ 1 sheet cheesecloth

Cost: Approximately $50 per dozen

■ Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: $3.99

■ Cheesecloth: $2.00

Directions

1. Cut 2 regular sized or 4 mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups into small pieces and place into mason jar, then fill jar with vodka, cover with lid, and shake.

2. Let sit for 5 days in a cool, dry place, shaking each jar 1-2 times per day.

3. On the 5th day, strain vodka through cheesecloth, discarding any remaining Reese’s pieces and pour mixture back into jar, and cover with the flat part of the lid.

4. Cover flat part of the lid with a fabric square and twist top of lid onto jar.

5. Tie with ribbon or twine and add gift tag. (Optional)

Drink and enjoy! Or give as gifts or party favors! Will you try it? Let us know! And be sure to stop by East Coast Bride this week for a special recipe to make with your newly infused Reese’s Vodka!

Snow-Covered Pinecone Centerpiece

If you are anything like me you have searched Pinterest for creative decorations and pinned hundreds of inspirational ideas. When you find it comes time to make these projects many amazing photos lack fall short when it comes to what they used. Well I have found countless holiday and Christmas Wedding decorations and have fallen in love with the simple and stunning pinecones and snow decorations.

Here is my favorite pin: a large vase with snow and pinecones. It has just enough snow scattered around the base to create a truly stunning, classy and simple decoration.

See more Pinecone & Snow Holiday Decorations on Pinterest!

Unforunately, the pinecone and snow centerpiece pictured above didn’t link back to a tutorial; it only had the photo, so my search for the supplies to create my own began. I found wonderful scented pinecones at just about every store. The best deal was $4.99 at my local grocery store for a large bag of pinecones. The vase was also an easy purchase at Michael’s craft store, with my 40% off coupon it only cost $6.99 and looked pretty similar to my inspiration photo above.

Being a few weeks before Christmas it seemed like I should be able to find fake snow in every store but all I could find was pretty pricey plastic snow that looked like shredded plastic grocery bags. No light fluffy snow at all. I hate plastic, fake-looking anything, so my options were less than impressive and many stores said I could order it online but what if the same shredded plastic bag snow showed up? So I got creative about thought about what I could possibly use for “snow”… FOOD! I ran to the cooking aisle and searched for cheap white powered sugar which I could buy a lot of and use as snow.

Now beware, not all food is a good idea. First off, sugar is always a bad idea. You never want to pour mounds of sugar on the table or anywhere really because you don’t want to attract any uninvited guests, like ants. Next I thought flour, well then realized I would have “clouds” of snow blanketing everything in sight including the person setting up the centerpiece, and who would possibly want to set up and clean it up? It would be such a mess.

Then I can across a great idea – salt – and happened to find super cheap store brand Kosher salt. It looked snow-white, so I picked up a good-size box of salt that looked to have white color and hopefully would give the same effect without the huge price tag of ordering fake snow online.

To make this centerpiece it was quite simple you will need the following:

Materials:

1 large vase
several pinecones
1 1/2 cups kosher salt

Estimated cost: Approximately $9 per centerpiece

Here is the break down for the cost for this centerpiece: The vase was $6.99 (saved 40% with coupon), pinecones were $1.24 (1/4^th of the bag), salt used as the snow was approximately $. 65 ($2.59 for the box and I only used about 1 ½ cups salt to make the centerpiece; the 48-oz box would be enough to make 4 centerpieces) for a total centerpiece cost of $8.88.

Instructions:

1) Pour a little salt in the bottom of the vase to cover the bottom.

2) Place the pinecones in the vase to your liking; I prefer placing the pinecones rather than just dumping them in to get the best effect.

3) Then pour a little more salt over the top to give the pinecones a snow-covered look.

4) Last sprinkle the remaining salt on the tablecloth around the outside of the vase.

There you have it a super simple snow-covered pinecone centerpiece made with salt.

PLEASE NOTE: Salt can kill plants and flowers so be advised: DO NOT USE SALT WITH PLANTS OR FLOWERS.

I love the idea and of using pinecones as decorations and if you are lucky enough to live near pine trees you could collect all the pinecones for free. You can also add pinecones to the back or chairs for an added touch. You can tie some together to make bunches to hang on doors or around for added decorations. I created a Pinterest board or all these great pinecone pins. Feel free to check out all the pinecone and snow pins here: http://pinterest.com/christa00/pinecone-snow-holiday-decorations/

Adrienne + Paul’s Winter Wonderland Wedding

Adrienne and Paul didn’t necessarily plan on having a snowy winter wedding, but Mother Nature had other ideas. The night before their wedding a surprise blizzard swooped in, moving their previously outdoor ceremony indoors at the Willow Ridge Manor near Denver, Colorado. But this couple handled everything in stride, including doing their first look and taking pictures in 30 degree temperatures (it was so cold, Adrienne couldn’t even bring her bouquet outside). Their last minute indoor ceremony location was accented by gorgeous string icicle lights, which remind me of the holidays, and their black and red palette made the room feel warm and romantic in spite of the chilly weather.

The bride was a DIY machine, making everything from the votive favors, to the centerpieces, to the candy buffet. She created their cake design based on the detailing on their invitation suite. She even had a faux fur wrap custom made for her at the last minute when the forecast turned snowy. The bride has detailed some of her projects below. Thanks, Adrienne!

Personalized vellum-wrapped votive holder place cards/favors: The place cards and favors were one in the same. I ordered glass votive holders in bulk from eBay. I printed each guest’s name and table number on vellum, cut it out, and wrapped and adhered it to the candle holder using double sided tape. I trimmed it in red ribbon and hid the vellum seam in the back with a line of stick-on rhinestones.

Bonus: This doubled as extra lighting for the room. They were a TON of work but I don’t regret it. We loved how they turned out.

Tissues for the ceremony: I bought small envelopes in bulk and put about 5 folded up tissues in each one. I sealed it with a label that had our logo/monogram on it and read “For your tears of joy.” These were placed on every chair at the ceremony.

Table numbers and menus: Each table had a black decorative frame (picked them up at a discount store for $2 each) and each table was assigned a number, and for each number was a quote from a child about love/marriage with the corresponding age (Table 2 had a quote from a 2 year old, etc). Menus were also printed using the same frames and placed at each table.

Candelabra centerpieces: We wanted to go for a lavish Victorian look without the big budget. Floral centerpieces are expensive and get thrown away. Our venue had giant silver candelabras that we were able to use free of charge. I spent hours at the venue brainstorming and then thought of using crystal (acrylic) swag to go on the candelabras. I ordered several hundred feet of the acrylic garland from www.shopwildthings.com and bought jump rings and heavy gauge crafting wire and created the swags for the candelabras. The day before the wedding we attached these to every single candelabra.

Card Box: I created my card box using circular cardboard hat boxes from Joann Fabric. I painted the boxes and then stacked them on each other, carved a slit in the top, and added silver glitter ribbon, rhinestone letters, and black ostrich feathers.

Lanterns/unity ceremony: We had originally planned for our ceremony to be outside but a blizzard forced us to move inside. In planning for the wind outside, we used two small lanterns and one large lantern, found at Hobby Lobby, for our unity ceremony. We still have these and now they sit in front our our fireplace.

Parasols: I desperately wanted to make parasols to use in pictures, so I bought a dozen from Oriental Trading Company. I made a template in Adobe Publisher and hand painted the names on the parasols using acrylic paints. It took forever at first but I got better as I went along. This was also part of the bridesmaids gifts. I made teeny ones for the flower girls and also one for Paul and I.

Guest book quilt: My mom designed a quilt for us and cut out the pieces and had everyone sign a message to us on the fabric pieces. After the wedding, she pieced them all together and quilted them for us with our invitation in the center of the quilt.

“WE DO” letters: Wooden letters that were painted red to decorate the cake table.

CANDY BUFFET: I collected glass candy containers from various thrift stores. I also purchased some ornate pedestals from HomeGoods and spray painted them silver. They had the same crystal garland from the centerpieces hanging from the pedestals, also. I created labels and tied them on the candy containers with ribbons.

Congrats Paul and Adrienne!

DETAILS

Photographer: Traci & Nic Turchin of Real Photography

Venue: Willow Ridge Manor , near Denver, Colorado

Florist: Dawn Ackerman at Hillside Consultants

Videographer: Denver Wedding Films

DJ: Maestro Mobile Music

Hair & Make Up: Rachel Pfeffer at Girls and Curls

Dress & Veil: David’s Bridal

Seamstress: Christine Hoyt (also made the bride’s custom wrap)

Invitations: The American Wedding

Groom’s Tux: The Men’s Wearhouse

Caterer & Event Company: Lifestyles Catering

Alcohol: Primo Vino

Cake: Das Meyer Pastry Chalet

Officiant: Father Marty Hunckler

Bride’s engagement ring: Tacori, purchased at Robbins Bros

Bride’s wedding band: Custom made by 5th Avenue Designs

Groom’s wedding band: King Crown Jewelry on eBay!

Serena + William’s Florida Barn Wedding

Despite the crisp fall weather, Serena and William wanted to bring the feeling of Spring to their wedding day, and it seems they did just that! Using homemade burlap table runners and chalkboard mason jars, this couple created the rustic, vintage, garden wedding of which they dreamed. Throw in a clean white palette with pops of yellow, and you have instant sunshine (they are in Florida – The Sunshine State – after all)!

According to the bride, “We wanted every part of the day to be touched by our love, and for our guests to feel as special as us.”

That’s what it’s all about, people. The couple also handmade the monogrammed aisle runner, the burlap flower containers along the aisle, and paper flower garlands. Something also very special about this wedding – the same officiant married the bride’s parents 30 years prior! The bride offers up some very wise hindsight advice, too, so read on and enjoy the pretty pictures along the way!

From the bride: “William and I vowed to not separate from each other during the festivities, because we had seen so many other couple do it. Because of this vow, every moment of the day was a priceless memory with my husband. We shared tears and laughter in equal proportions!”

Bride’s Advice: “At the end of the day, the wedding is about marrying your best friend. Even the most perfectly planned detail can go wrong. And nothing you can do will change that. But when you look back, this is the day that begins your lifetime of memories. The day when your husband becomes your forever teammate. A day that can never be replaced.” Here, here!

Congrats to William and Serena!

DETAILS:

Photography: J. Layne Photography

Reception Venue: The Keeler Property, Florida

Favors and Gifts: Paloma’s Nest

Cake Designer: Sweet Weddings Cake Designs

Dress Store: The Bridal Shop at the Avenues

Caterer: Mai Oui Gourmet

Floral Designer: Flowers by Shirley

Bakery: Luli’s Cupcakes

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

DIY Tutorial: Three Sparkly Bauble Place Cards

It’s Christmas everyone! So in the spirit of everything merry, festive and happy, I’ve come up with three super easy DIY wedding bauble place card tutorials.

Each one of these will liven up your wedding table, can be made in any color to suit your theme, and can double-up as a creative wedding favor that your guests will treasure and hang on their Christmas trees long after your special day is over!

Sparkly Bauble #1

Material:

Plastic Christmas bauble (7cm/2.75” diameter)
Loose glitter
Card stock
Clear craft glue
Paint brush
Crochet thread, twine or ribbon
Hairspray

Estimated cost: $2 per bauble

Directions:

Step 1: Separate the bauble into two pieces and lie them down on a flat surface that you don’t mind getting messy.

Step 2: Using the paintbrush paint each side with clear craft glue.

Step 3: Working quickly, so that the glue doesn’t dry, sprinkle each half with loose glitter. Allow to dry

Step 4: Prepare the nametag, either by cutting out tags from card stock or by using a name tag template like this one or this one.

Step 5: Spray both sides of bauble with hairspray to set the glitter and prevent it from falling off.

Step 6: Put the two sides together. Thread crochet thread, twine, or ribbon through the name tag, and then through the top of the bauble. Finished!

Sparkly Bauble #2

Material:

Plastic Christmas bauble (7 cm/2.75” diameter)
Loose glitter
Card stock
Clear craft glue
Hairspray

Estimated cost: $2 per bauble

Directions:

Step 1: Separate the bauble into two pieces and lay each on a safe surface that you don’t mind getting dirty.

Step 2: Squeeze the craft glue away from the bauble until you have a steady, thin stream going. Then hover over the bauble and move your hand around, drawing random patterns on each side of the bauble with glue.

Step 3: Working quickly, so that the glue doesn’t dry, sprinkle each half with loose glitter. Allow to dry.

Step 4: Prepare your name tag (see above).

Step 5: Using your index finger or a cue tip, brush off any excess glitter to form clearly defined glue glitter lines. Then spray hairspray over the entire surface area of both halves of the bauble to seal the glitter and prevent it from coming off.

Step 6: Put the two pieces together and insert the tag in-between the hanging piece at the top of the bauble. Finished!

Sparkling Bauble #3

Sparkling Bauble #3

Material:

Plastic Christmas bauble (7cm/2.75” diameter)
Loose glitter
Clear craft glue
Paint brush
Crochet thread and large needle
Hairspray
Plain cotton material
Sticky or masking tape

Estimated cost: $2 per bauble

Directions:

Step 1: Separate the bauble in two.

Step 2: Using the paintbrush, cover the inside of one of the sides in clear craft glue. Sprinkle loose glitter inside that half and move it around until the inside surface is evenly covered. Set aside and allow to dry.

Step 3: Measure the diameter of the bauble (in this case 7 cm/2.75 inches). Cut two pieces of material at least an inch longer than the diameter and roughly one inch in thickness. Find the center and write out the guest’s name. If that’s too hard, prepare a paper mock up, write the name here first, then trace it onto the material. Once dry, spray the inside of the glittery half of the bauble with hairspray to set the glitter and prevent it from flaking away.

Step 4: Using the needle and crochet thread, stitch the name of a guest onto the material. Once you’ve finished, cut the thread as close to the material as possible. Take the second piece of material and cut it to the size of the name. Glue it down over the back of the stitching using the craft glue. Allow to dry.

Step 5: Stretch the material horizontally through the center of the bauble as tightly as possible. Stick each side down to the side of the bauble to keep it taught, and then press the sides of the bauble together to trap the material between them.

Step 6: Tug on each side if it needs tightening. Get rid of the tape and trim the material to be even with the surface of the bauble.

TIP: If you have a steady hand or pretty handwriting, you could first write on each bauble with pencil, then use a thin paintbrush and go over your writing with clear craft glue. Then just sprinkle the glue writing with glitter. It’s a great way to personalize the baubles, and you could even add the date of your wedding at the back so that your guests always remember it.

Alisa + John’s Carefree Backyard Wedding

Today’s wedding is the type of event you look at and wish you had been a guest. Everyone looks relaxed and happy, probably because of all the fun games and activities the bride and groom provided! And pretty much everything you see is DIY, including all the centerpieces (which did double-duty as favors for the guests – awesome), signs, and the gazillion crepe paper flowers.

From the photographer: “Alisa and John were married at the bride’s father’s home in Woodside, CA. It was an outdoor, afternoon wedding with LOTS of games and fun including a square dance lesson, bocce ball, ping pong, archery, foosball and canoeing.

“The bride and her mother made SO many of the details including: bride’s crepe paper flower bouquet, groom’s crepe paper flower boutonniere, all of the table decorations (crepe paper and wood flower arrangements and planted herbs as favors for the guests), and lace overlays that went on each table.

“Also handmade were the thought bubble signs for the guests to write clever notes, embroidered signs for the drinks and dessert table, crepe paper flowers to decorate the cake, huge paper flowers that hung around the house as decoration, bride’s purse and hair piece, games, and ceremony signs. The bride did her own make up, a friend did her hair, and her mom hemmed her dress. A family friend made the cake and another friend was the coordinator.”

Congrats Alisa and John!

DETAILS:
Photography: Alison Yin Photography

Venue: Private Residence, Central California

Submitted via Two Bright Lights