Fabric Affair

Ever since getting engaged, I have found myself watching shows like "Say Yes to the Dress" and "Four Weddings" in hopes of getting inspiration for my big day. One of the things I have always loved were the flower accents brides and bridesmaids sometimes have in their hair. So I set to the Internet to find out about these pretty hair pieces, only to find they tend to run quite expensive in bridal salons. So I opened Pinterest and worked my magic, finding tons of DIY hair pieces here. However none of them were quite what I was looking for. I ended up on a blog with instructions on how to make a fabric flower. This gave me inspiration to improvise and make my own style of hair piece.

I decided to take the flower I found on this blog and add a hair piece capable to being added to almost any hairstyle. I'm not sure how everyone in my wedding will be wearing their hair yet but I think these hair pieces could help lend to my theme, since our wedding will likely be taking place outdoors. 

Supplies

1. Various colours and types of fabrics (ensure fabrics have a high polyester content for this specific flower tutorial)
2. A candle
3. A lighter 
4. Scissors
5. Beads (the ones I used were fake pearl ones, I had laying around my house) 
6. Thread (all I had was black, but you'll likely want to use colours similar to your fabric)
7. Sewing needles
8. A hair piece (not pictured)

Directions

1. I began by cutting my fabrics onto various shapes. The tutorial I used showed using circles, but I wanted to experiment with creating different sizes and shapes of flowers so I made varying shapes in different colours, ensuring to keep all separated. I made about 10.
2. I then lit the candle (this step can be done with a lighter also, but I felt it was easier as the candle would just stay lit when I was dealing with other things), in order to *carefully* begin singeing the edges of the fabric. This will create a curling on the fabric and create the appearance of petals.   This is the most time consuming part and requires close attention to make sure no fabric catches fire.
3. I then layered each piece of fabric, ensuring each piece was placed correctly. This is the step where you create the shape of the flower you desire. It can take some time to create the look you want.
4. I then sewed the fabric pieces together and added the pearl beads as I went. You can add as many or as few beads as you'd like. For most I chose to use fewer, but I did like the look of a multiple bead centre. This completes the flower portion of the project.
5. I then found a hair comb barrette (there are many different styes available) and sewed the flower onto it. This proved to be much easier than I had originally imagined. I was able to wrap the thread around the thick piece of the barrette and it stayed very secure.

I absolutely LOVE the finished product. I will probably need to change the colours for the actual day but I would love to include these in my wedding. I plan on creating a more elegant bridal style for myself in coming months. I had so much fun with this project I plan on using it again in my wedding so stay tuned for a future post on this topic.

For those not in wedding planning mode, but interested in crafting for everyday life check out this fellow craft blog, DIY That I Try.

Cheers

For a lot of people the thought of planning a wedding makes them want to start drinking, or so I’ve been told. This is the inspiration behind my post this week. While browsing Pinterest for ideas, I came across a post for a wedding signature cocktail, and it peaked my interest. I had never thought of alcohol as a means of personalizing my wedding.

Now, John and I are both not big drinkers, and the alcoholic drinks we do enjoy are very different. I am strictly a vodka kind of girl (even though I am experimenting with wine currently) and John is a Crown Royale kind of guy. So finding a signature drink that will express both of our personalities might be tricky.

As inspiration for this post I chose to make a variation on a peachy white wine sangria recipe I found online. If you’re interested in reading about some other alcohol inspired exspiritments, check out this blog.

Supplies:

1. White wine
2. Ginger Ale
3. Peach Schnapps
4. Glass
5. Sugar
6. Lemon

Directions:

1. This step can also be done with water, but I took some lemon and rimmed the glass. I then used some festive sugar, which I had laying around my house, to create a rim on the glass.
2. I then added 1oz of Peach Schnapps and equal parts Ginger Ale and White Wine to fill the glass (this amount with vary depending on size of glass)
3. I also decided to add a ribbon to the glass as decoration. If this drink were to be used at my wedding, I think the ribbon just adds something extra to the experience.

While I enjoyed this drink quite a bit, I don’t think John will. Meaning I think we will need to eventually think up another idea for our signature drink. But if wedding planning ends up being as stressful as I’m told, testing out a few signature drink options might not be so bad.

What's in a name?

Weddings mark a time of many changes. While not as common as in the past, it is tradition for the bride to take the last name of the groom. I plan on following this tradition, and will eventually take John's last name. Using this tradition as inspiration, I set out to create a DIY sign. I came across a unique idea on Pinterest that used nails and yarn to create a heart shape (for bookmarks on this specific project, click here).

I decided to try the same project, only instead of using one shape I decided to attempt using the five letters in my future last name.

Supplies:

1. A piece of wood (I used a wooden shelf I found this at Value Village for $2.99)
2. Blue and black acrylic paint (I had this laying around my house)
3. A screw driver
4. A hammer
5. Nails (size can very depending on the thickness of the wood)
6. Paint brush
7. Sand paper
8. Paper letter stencils
9. Container for paint

Directions:

1. Begin by removing any imperfections on your piece of wood. As I was using a former shelf, I removed the hooks. This wasn’t really required, but I felt it would look better in the end.
2. Depending on the type of paint you are using, sand down the piece of wood prior to beginning. This step will depend on the type of wood you use.
3. Paint the entire piece of wood and let dry. I wanted a deep blue colour, which I achieved by mixing black and blue paint.
4. Arrange letter stencils on the piece of wood and tape down. Make sure each letter is secure, as you don’t want them moving during the next step.
5. Carefully begin hammering a trail of nails along the outline of each letter. This is the most time consuming and tedious part of the project, as each nail needs to be evenly spaced apart.
6. Remove the letter stencils, revealing an outline of nails in the shape of the name.
7. Begin stringing yarn between the nails on each letter. I did not follow any specific pattern, but only attempted to have each letter filled completely before finishing. I also chose to include an outline upon finishing each letter but I feel this is optional.
8. Cut loose any stray strands of yarn, being careful not to cut any yarn being used in the project. If one strand gets cut accidentally, the entire letter will unravel.

I’m very happy with how this project turned out. It ended up taking me a total of 4 hours to complete including painting and allowing it to dry, but thankfully I was able to do most of it while watching TV. I imagine using this sign somewhere on the gift table. I might add something to it before the wedding, but for now its perfect the way it is. 

That time of year

As many of you may know, there are hundreds of different do-it-yourself projects for weddings. I've seen DIY save the dates, decorations, favours and even jewellery. With so much to see, I had a hard time deciding where to begin my DIY journey into the exciting world of weddings. I contemplated several different projects, but I've decided to start at the beginning...

I've been using Pinterest for a couple of years now. I find with so much creativity thriving in one place, it's an excellent resource for finding inspiration. During the month of December, while trying to find said inspiration for my Christmas gifts, I came across a bookmark for the blog From Glitter to Gumdrops. Here I found a project for a DIY Christmas tree ornament filled with clippings of the couples wedding invitation. I liked how the project would always act as a reminder of their big day.

You might be wondering why I am rambling on about a Christmas ornament. Well, we were one of those lucky couples to become engaged over the holiday season. So instead of using a wedding invitation I decided to take elements of my proposal and incorporate them into a christmas ornament of my own.

Supplies:

1. Dried flower petals  - These are from the roses I was given during my proposal
2. Photo Ball Ornament - I got this from Wal-Mart (after Christmas, on clearance, price $1.99)
3. Strips of paper with the date - For when I forget (haha... just kidding!)
4. Chocolate chips - Element of the proposal (for the whole proposal story, check our the Our Story)

Directions:

1. Take the strips of paper and run them along a blade on a pair of scissors. Be careful not to cut yourself! This will curl the paper so they will fit in the ornament.
2. Open the ornament completely to make this project easier. This may seem self explanatory, but many of the ornaments I saw were broken from people not knowing how they opened. Use caution.
3. Insert one curled piece of paper in each half of the ornament. This will ensure that it can be seen from both sides when closed.
4. Fill remaining space with dried flower petals and chocolate chips. I only used a few chocolate chips because I am not sure if they will hold up over time, we'll see, I suppose.
5. Carefully close the ornament and secure any safety locks. Thankfully the ornament I found locks by twisting the top, so I don't have to worry about it spilling open down the road.

Overall, I'm happy with the finished product. It's something we'll be able to look at year after year and will serve as a reminder of the Christmas we promised one another forever. I'm aware this post isn't exactly "wedding day" related, but you can't have a wedding without a proposal so I felt it was a good way to start.