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.