Gumball Wreath

Gum Ball Wreath! Ingenious! Michelle Paige's blog, called simply Michelle Paige, has the total tutorial for this incredible looking wreath. Not for every bride, but for the bride who is young at heart!

Use lots (and I mean LOTS of glue sticks) and lots of gum balls. A Styrofoam wreath from the craft store for the base and some primer and spray paint (yes these gum balls are PAINTED so they are NOT edible!!!!!) But the spray paint lets you choose your favorite color or have it color coordinate with your wedding or decor.

Michelle warns this is one heavy wreath, so be sure to hang it securely (and use some strong ribbon as a hanger.)

I'm envisioning the other things I can use spray painted gumballs for... topiary, that would look so cool! Round ones, tree shaped ones, the options are only limited by the foam designs you can come up with!

Would love to see this in metallic too. So if you're a bride who gets to this before I do, send pics and I'll post it for everyone to read. 

Let's see, glue, check; not enough gum balls, hit the store; primer, check; metallic paint, check; Styrofoam shapes, hit the craft store... well see you later! Have some errands to run!  Thanks Michelle Paige, these look great!

Handmade Pots

Handmade Pots from Fellow Fellow

Handmade Pots! Perfect for shower or wedding favors, these beauties are made from oven bake clay.  They are easy and perfect what we call "warm fuzzies"--for those times when you want to take or give a gift without expectation or the desire to receive one in return.

Make them in any shape you like, but Fellow, Fellow provides you with templates for the ones in her photos (which makes them even easier!) Her site tells you all the products and tools you need to make these 'pretties' and gives you a step by step tutorial making it simple and easy to follow! Ah! A woman after my own heart!

Fellow, Fellow made her handmade pots for succulents but you could add your favorite flower or self-rooting plant to keep the costs down. Your other option? Plant some seeds and watch them grow! Not so easy to do if you're planning to use them for a shower or wedding favor, but if you are making them with your kids (or face it, just for fun yourself) you have the option and leisure of taking the time to watch them sprout.

Fellow, Fellow also made some plant stakes from the same products, similar tutorial, by using cookie cutters and tongue depressors! I will never match her creativity! So head over and see all the details on her site, as well as some more great DIY projects. Fellow, Fellow, I am in awe! You  make the most creative projects and make them so easy! (and we all know easy is my middle name (when we are talking about crafts.)

How Easy Can It Get?

How Easy Can It Get?

How easy can a centerpiece get? These are easy enough even Bill can do it (EEEBCDI) centerpieces! Floating candles, some faux tropical helicona blossoms and leaves. Wow, I told you, SIMPLE! They are quick to put together and will look great for your fall wedding. (I know it's not fall yet, but if you're having a fall wedding you'd better be planning those centerpieces now.)

This photo and idea  from Save-On-Crafts take a few simple pieces and pulls them all together for a classic fall look.

Don't forget the one thing that makes this centerpiece pop-a Vase Illuminator. What's a vase illuminator? I've linked you to vase illuminator, it's easier to see than explain, and you'll have to buy them somewhere! Or you could use light up glass ice cubes in each vase. Cover the illuminator with a circle of tulle to match your linens or wedding colors. (I vote for linens.)

So if you are a DIY bride who is all thumbs (like the Vecchione's are) try this simple fall centerpiece. Or adapt it to fit the wedding season and flowers of your choice. Save-On-Crafts is a great resource for both the items you need and for ideas.

Easy Decorating For Your Wedding Shower

Source: ohcrafts.net via Rosemary on Pinterest

OK, I'm not the craftiest person around, but even I can manage to make this garland for a wedding shower! Just be sure not to use a really flimsy needle to thread through these, you'll kill your fingers!

Decorate With Yarn? Oh YEAH!

Photography: Jackie Wonders / Concept and Design: City Cradle Design

Don't you just love this idea for a background for a bridal shower? Perfect for behind your punch table or buffet.

Show off your DIY chops by taking all that leftover yarn from your craft room and turning a wedding shower into a wowser! See other yarn ideas at Style Me Pretty.

Crafted and designed by City Cradle Design and photographed by Jackie Wonders, it just goes to show that you can totally transform what you love and have in a closet into a super chic, fun and original party design.

DIY Wedding Cookie Tutorial

Source: sweetsugarbelle.com via Vickie on Pinterest

Planning to make your own cookies as favors for your wedding? Here's a tutorial for you to try out ahead of time so you can decide if you want a baker to do the hard work or if you're willing to do it all yourself.

Candied Pretzels and Popcorn

Photo and idea from One Charming Party

Use this combination of popcorn and chocolate dipped pretzels, and take it up a notch by using some color in your chocolate and adding some nonpareils in a darker shade as an accent.

Dip pretzels into melted blue candy melts then sprinkle with purple nonpareils. Let your pretzels cool on parchment in the freezer. For candy coated popcorn, put just popped popcorn in a large mixing bowl. Using the leftover melted blue candy melts, drizzle over the popcorn and mix together with a rubber scraper until all of the popcorn is coated. Serve in a paper cone.

Giant Paper Flowers?

I saw these and gasped... incredible! What a great way to decorate for your wedding! And you can do it all yourself! You'll be surprised at the very basic everyday things used to make these unique flowers. 

These oversized flowers were created by Josh, the CFO of Ruche, and then created in their warehouse.

Materials

• plastic cups
• cement
• approx. 5” wide stucco corner
• approx. 20-gauge tie wire
• gloves and wire cutters
• tape, glue, and scissors
• tissue paper
• dried moss
• zip ties

Head over to Designsponge for the rest of the directions. I listed the materials just so you could judge if these were something you could make yourself.  As usual, be sure to read all the comments for great solutions to any questions you might have.

So if you're feeling Alice-in-Wonderland-ish and want that look for  your wedding without breaking the bank, here's the answer. Some people are just soooo creative (nope I did not mean me!).

From Designsponge site:

Our creative team brainstormed ways to turn our spring lookbook, Enchantment, into a daydream. When the idea of oversized flowers came about, we couldn’t wait to make them a reality! Josh, the CFO of Ruche, used his engineering background to design the stems, and with the help of additional Ruche team members, they created them by hand at our warehouse. Surrounded by tissue paper and scissors, our talented set-design interns designed and created the rest of the flower pieces at our warehouse. Once they were finished, the whimsical daydream came to life. — The Ruche Team

Conversation Heart Soaps - Yes You Can DIY!

Source: marthastewart.com via Cindee on Pinterest

Conversation heart soaps? Perfect for wedding favors! Directions and photo from Martha Stewart.  Just so you have an idea what is involved so you know what you'd need to buy to make these the tools and materials are listed below from Martha's site.  Head to Martha's site to get specific directions.

This is NOT a craft I've tried because I don't  have the supplies needed.  Presume Martha has frequent use for metal letter stamps but I can't imagine when else I'd use them. But if you're a DIYer who would use these again (or you feel like investing in the metal letter stamps) the directions don't seem too bad.
Tools and Materials (quoted from Martha Stewart)

Nonstick 9-inch square pan
Heart-shape cookie cutter
Glass measuring cup
Glycerin soap
Bench scraper
Soap colorant or food coloring
Spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol
Cutting board
Needle nose pliers
1/8-inch metal letter stamps
Masking tape

Parmesan Panko Zucchini--A Delight To Your Tastebuds!

Source: bakehouse.squarespace.com via Jill's on Pinterest

Parmesan Panko Zucchini, oh what a great food! Perfect for a parties or weddings. And if you are like many brides, the party doesn't end with your reception. Often there are events the day after the wedding, even if you have already left on your honeymoon. The best thing (in my humble opinion (hey! Stop SNORTING, what do you mean I never had an opinion that I thought was was humble!) OK, so you're right...anyway as I was saying... the day after your wedding is not a time your parents or whoever is hosting the day after party wants to have to make complicated food, the easier the better.

This is the perfect time for EEEBCDI (Easy Enough Even Bill Can Do It) food. To be totally fair my husband, Bill, is a good cook on the grill, but inside the house? He's always trying to use one less pan, or skip a step, so the results are sometimes...unusual unless it's a simple recipe with very few ingredients!

(For those just starting to read this blog, my husband frequently tests out my DIY projects to see if they really are EASY DIY projects. I'm not crafty but he... well he can paint, he can wire the house but oh please DO NOT give the man anything from the craft store!)

Anyway, back on track... these are from a recipe for Baked (yes that's baked NOT fried) Zucchini with Panko Crumbs and some shredded Parmesan Cheese.  For the exact recipe see the post about it on Blackjack Bake House.  While it still isn't low cal, it certainly is LOWER cal than frying the squash!

You may never eat squash any other way again! And if you happen to have put in a garden this year, add a few extra zucchini plants and you'll save more money! (Because we all know those things always produce way more than we need anyway!)

Enjoy taste testing these beauties, soon you'll be as addicted to this simple squash recipe as everyone else is!

Your Place Card Is A WHAT?

Source: hatchcreativestudio.com via Shopbop on Pinterest

I'm always on the look out for a creative place card. I think this would be a great place card for a rustic wedding, especially one in a refurbished barn or at a picnic with a roast pig.  The animals can differ from table to table or choose your favorite animal and then spray paint them.  Hang a little tag around their neck and voila!

DIY Shower Decorations

Source: bhg.com via Kim on Pinterest

This spring door decoration is perfect for the front door of the hostess of a wedding shower.  Use real or silk flowers, add them to an umbrells in a pretty colors and tie it with a ribbon the same color as the flowers.  Add a bird's nest (from the craft store!) and some blown out eggs or just fill it with flowers on both sides. BHG suggests if you're using real flowers "create a simple vase with water in a plastic resealable bag. Secure at the base of the flower stem with a rubber band." Simple and effective way to keep your flowers alive! Then just hang on your front door. 

Use a photo of your front door for the shower invitation.  This will help your guests recognize your house and get you started on planning your decorations ahead of time!

Hand Kites For Flower Girls

Products from Apple n Amos store on Etsy.com

Looking for something unique for your flower girl to carry instead of trailing flower petals or carrying a flower wand? How about this hand kite form Apple n Amos on Etsy.com? While the hand kite shown above is multi-colored rainbow hues, Apple n Amos make these fun 'toys' in a variety of colors.

Photo from Apple n Amos Store on Etsy.com

This 'toy' would make for some great photos, and your flower girl will have fun waving it as she goes up and down the aisle! Why not choose something a little different for your flower girl? She can take it home after the wedding and play 'wedding' or just 'fly' her hand kite running around outside.

Who Sits Where?

Source: rusticweddingchic.com via Nancy on Pinterest

Don't want to have your guests divided by 'bride's side' and 'groom's side?' This easy chalk board is a simple DIY  project that politely directs guests to become one group all wishing both of you well as you start out your marriage. Love the sentiment and the simple way they bride and groom carried it out.
Photo from Pinterest; source of photo: Rustic Wedding Chic.

Unique Table Numbers

Photo from Martha Stewart Weddings

Are you and your groom comic book fans or collectors? Get some plastic photo cubes and add your favorite superheros! Either choose a single hero per table and add a number on the top cube in the stack or mix and match heroes and just change out the numbers! Love this idea, not a comic book collector myself but can see the appeal!

DIY Creamy Mints

Photo courtesy of Isn't Everything In The Kitchen Trial And Error?

The blog "Isn't Everything In The Kitchen Trial And Error?" offers you this easy DIY project to make your own   Creamy Mints. The author offers comments based on all the questions received from readers so hopefully your first try will be successful! Make them in creamy white or pastels, you choice.  

Serve these mints in a bowl or put them in a tiny bag or container for your guests to take home with them as a wedding or shower favor. These are a little more personal than Jordan Almonds from food store! Enjoy!

Shoes Whose Soles Have Soul!

Photo courtesy of YouTube

As you watch this YouTube video of Rosso Solini Secret Soles, you'll find great ways to turn the bottoms of your shoes on your wedding day into part of your decor! Solini Secret Soles come in red, pink, as well as prints like leopard and polka dots. This product looks like fun for any time, not just your wedding.

While I suspect the solid red is a take off on Christian Louboutain's trademark designs, the other designs are just as much fun and give your shoes a touch of whimsy. So if you're looking for an inexpensive way to turn your 'Payless Shoes' or 'KMart's Best' into a top of the line fashion statement, just grab a box of Secret Soles.

Doilies Turned Lamps

Photo courtesy of Mod Vintage Life

Looking for lighting you can make yourself? Take these pretty doilies and turn them into vintage-look lamps. Doilies aren't just for grandma anymore! Brides are using them for everything from lamps to table runners.

I love the daisies! They'd be so pretty with a summery wedding! Indoors or out, these lamps will light your special day in a special way!

Tall Display Of Succulents For Wedding or Home

Photo courtesy of  Mod Vintage Life

(Primary Source Missing "Page Not Found Message" on link)

Succulents can take your wedding decor from drab to fab. This great display, shown on Mod Vintage Life is made from an old lamp base, re-purposed to give you a tall but stunning base for your display.

Just remove the lamp shade (save it for another re-purpose project, you never know!) and add a lined basket filled with soil. Clever? Yes! Perfect to use to designate a ceremony space or to put behind the head table. I love the trailing lacy look and the pink coloring!

Looking for a different look or color for succulents? If you missed them read "Blue and Purple Succulents For Your Wedding" (source Flowers by Bournay Inspiration) and "Painted Ladies, Glamorizing Succulents."  Just looking for other color combos? Check all my other succulent bouquets and just transpose into your tall lamp 'vase.'  Key to this look? The trailing succulents and some colorful succulents.

If you don't want to have a bouquet that is all succulents add some trailing succlents to your bouquet and a few succulents to pull together your flowers and the pure succlent look above. (And be sure your groom has his own succulent bout!)

I will find a space to do this, if not for a wedding for my house. I think I'm in love! Succulents are great for the DIYer because you can put them together well in advance of your wedding without worry about wilting and fading. I'm off to my garden center to see what I can find!

Fruit Salsa and Chips

Source: the-girl-who-ate-everything.com via Jay on Pinterest

Having a bridal shower? Or maybe a bridemaid luncheon? Try this fruit salsa with cinnamon chips for dipping. Always a favorite! Fast and easy to make and healthier than a cheese based dip!