Black and White Washi Tape Tricks

Photo courtesy of  Pinterest

 

It doesn't get much easier than this! Washi tape on plastic cups. If you can't pull this one off ... Face it, if I can do it, you can too! This project is an EEEBCDI! For those of you new to my blog it stands for 'easy enough even Bill can do it' (Bill is my non-crafty husband who tests our my diy projects to see how easy they are to make.)

 

These cups are perfect for a picnic wedding or a bride with a black and white theme. Add some black and white straws to pull the look together. Takes the look from ho hum plastic cups to WOW!

 

You can find washi tape in any craft store, just look for your favorite designs and colors. Or shop online.They even sell colored straws in a variety of colors and designs. .

Fancy Swizzle Sticks For Your Wedding Day

Heart Swizzle Sticks from Pinterest

 

Ah! A DIY project anyone can do! On the off chance you cannot figure out how to make these on your own, head to the links below the photos all of which have tutorials (except the one above which had a Pinterest link only.)

 

 

 

DIY Glitter Drink Stirrers from Cake Events

 

If you've been reading my blog for awhile you know I have projects known as EEEBCDI (Easy Enough Even Bill Could Do It projects).  Bill is my non-crafty husband and he can manage to make these, no problem. So if you aren't crafty (or you are looking for a project your fiance can help out with, this is it!

 

Photo courtesy of The Sweet Occasion

 

Choose any design and any color and go to it! Try to keep your designs simple (K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Stupid is the watchword for this projects. The easier the design the easier the execution (and the less likely you are to want to kill each other before it's finished.)

 

 

Photo courtesy of The Flair Exchange

 

Hearts, Dots, Flags and whatever else you can think of will look great as fancy swizzle sticks for the drinks at your wedding.

 

Elaborate Cupcakes

Photo courtesy of Elisa Strauss

 

New York baker, Elisa Strauss wrote the definitive book on delish desserts called The Confetti Cakes Cookbook.  She loves making her products beautiful and whimsical to please every taste. She's made designer shoe cakes, fancy handbag cakes, cakes that look like they've been embroidered, and cupcakes shaped like pool balls. So if you can think it, she can bake it.

 

Strauss is the founder and sole designer of Confetti Cakes in New York City. A former designer for Ralph Lauren, she is famous for her whimsical, elaborate, fashion-related cakes. Her work has been featured in dozens of magazines, on the Today show, The View, and the Food Network.

 

Her cookbook not only gives you recipes, it gives you exact directions on how to pull off the designs in her book. She tells you which tools you'll need and gives exact tutorials.

 

The cupcakes featured in this post are perfect for a wedding, shower, or even a little girl's princess party. So if you are 'thinking pink' for your wedding, head out and pick up a copy of The Confetti Cakes Cookbook.

Decorating the Getaway Car

Photo courtesy of Pinterest 

 

Don't want someone decorating your car with shaving cream or paint? Try these bows tied to long strands of white ribbon. Easy to make from fabric scraps and some ribbon from your local craft store and tied onto the back of the 'getaway car.' Pretty but easy on your car's paint job (or the limo's!)

 

Tie Bows Like Tiffany's

Photo and tutorial link courtesy of Roxanna at Everyday Treats

 

Wrapping a wedding gift? Have you always wanted to duplicate those simple but elegant bows that Tiffany & Co. adds to their signature 'little blue boxes?'

 

Roxanna at Everyday Treats, The Art of Living Well Every Day has the perfect tutorial to help you execute the perfect Tiffany & Co. bow every time. So now you can go into Bed, Bath and Beyond and when you head over to their self-wrapping station with that slippery ribbon you can wrap like a pro and duplicate Tiffany's basic but beautiful bows, taking the look of  your package up several notches. As someone who always fights the 'wrapping battle' especially with satin like ribbons, this tutorial will turn you into a pro in no time.

 

So thanks to Roxana and Tiffany's for these beautiful bows! Don't forget to take the time to browse through the rest of Everyday Treats to find other special nuggets that you are sure to enjoy as well. (One of my favorites is the one about Coco Chanel.)

DIY Centerpieces With Style

{Design + styling by Cyd Converse for The Sweetest Occasion. | Photos by Alice G. Patterson.}

 

Want a glittery look for vases for your wedding or shower? Try this easy DIY project from The Sweetest Occasion. They offer you the complete tutorial with easy step by step directions for both of these great designs.

 

Better yet, these vases look great using inexpensive baby's breath for your centerpieces so they not only save money on vases but they also let you use inexpensive flowers that look like a million. What bride could ask for more?

 

Wait until you see these vases sparkle at your wedding. Put them on some mirrored squares in the center of your tables and the glitter will multiply. Have fun making these easy fun centerpieces for your wedding day.

Mason Jars For Parties

Photo and inspiration from Little Bit Funky

Having a picnic wedding or a casual bbq wedding (or party?) Why not use Mason Jars with lids to serve your drinks? These easy to make Mason Jars are both fun and practical. Their lids make them perfect  for your wedding, just add a colorful straw and you’re good to go.
These lidded Mason Jars from Little Bit Funky keep the drinks in the glasses so no nasty spillage!! Pefect!
If you don’t feel like DIY, head to their Etsy shop and see if there are any in stock. They may be out of them, because when an idea is this good they probably fly off the shelf.

Technorati Tags: mason jars,diy,do it yourself,do it yourself weddings,diy wedding projects,weddings,signature drinks

Gold Glitter Votives

DIY Glitter Votives from 100 Layer Cake

 

Looking for a fun and easy way to decorate the votives for your tabletops for your reception? Visit 100 Layer Cake for the tutorial on these beauties! Some gold glitter, modpodge, clear votives and you're good to go! Designs can be random or just the top edges or the bottom half of your votives, or just mix and match them. What a great look for a little bit of money.

 

While you are checking out their tutorial for these votives you are sure to want to spend some more time (more like hours) going through the rest of this great creative site. Enjoy!

 

 

 

DIY Floating Canopy For Your Wedding

Photo and directions from Home Interior Ideas

 

Looking for a unique way to mark your wedding location in your local park or back yard? Why not try this canopy that floats courtesy of multiple balloons. How do you do it? The balloons are attached to the grounds using fishing line, invisible but strong. How cool is this? I think this is one of my favorite do it yourself outdoor wedding ideas.

 

Arrange your ceremony under one end, your reception at the other, or use one half the canopy for your ceremony and chairs for your guests to relax on, and the other half for the reception. No matter how you decide to arrange the details the overall look is striking.

 

 

 

 

Sealed With A Kiss? Nope, A Label.

Mail details courtesy of I Still Love You

 

Do you love those little details but don't have the time or skill to add them yourself? Or you lack the calligraphy skills to do these by hand? Melissa Esplin from I Still Love You has figured out a quick and easy way to use your printer and Avery Labels to let you give your invitations a classic look. Not only that she provides you with a free download on her site. So head over there now and see just how simple this is.

 

I tested this on my husband Bill (of (EEEBCDI) Easy Enough Even Bill Can Do It fame.) For new readers, my husband tests my DIY projects to see just how easy they are to do. He's not at all crafty and not graphically inclined. It's a good thing I only had a couple of sheets of clear labels left or he would still be in there printing these! He loves an easy project. So if he can do it, you can too, or your fiance can. No more waffling out of pre-wedding projects by saying 'it's too hard.' This one is EEEBCDI, so if Bill can do it he can do it too!

 

 

Ribbon Cupcakes You Can Make Yourself

Photo courtesy of Wilton

 

Looking for an easy cupcake to make for weddings or wedding showers? Try these easy cupcakes decorated with colored bows. Simple to make, but so attractive your guests will rave. No matter what color your wedding theme is, you can make these Wilton Sugar Sheets and a rotary cutter, also by Wilton.

 

Wilton Rotary Cutter (photo by Wilton)

 

Sugar Sheets also come in a variety of decorative patterns that may be perfect for your occasion. Make everything look special using Wilton tools and supplies.

 

Looking for some guidance using these products? Check your local craft store or kitchen supply store that sells Wilton products.

 

Spell Out Your Love With DIY Love Blocks

Photo courtesy of Six Sisters Stuff

 

If you are planning a romantic centerpiece, Six Sisters Stuff has a great tutorial on how to make these 'Love Blocks.' Depending on how you size them you can use them at each place setting or as part of a centerpiece. Combine with some votives in similar colors and you're ready to rock!

 

I love the variety of black and white backgrounds with the bright red accents, use them for a Valentine's Day wedding or any wedding that black, red and white accents will coordinate with. No doing those colors? Just change out the colors to some that work with  your wedding theme colors.

 

Find the tutorial here at Six Sisters Stuff. (Where they really know their stuff!)

Salted Caramel Sauce To Die For!

Caramel Sauce photo courtesy of Always With Butter

 

Always with Butter, a blog to die for (at least if you aren't on Weight Watchers!) has this lovely recipe for this soft and luscious salted caramel sauce that is perfect for a wedding favor in the fall. It's soft and gooey and oh so so good. Even if you aren't having a wedding or shower that you need a favor for, you REALLY want to make this sauce. (My husband couldn't keep away from it while I was making it!) It smells and tastes great and looks really good too--what more could you want? Well calorie or fat free would be good but the taste would be ruined so... just enjoy and work it off the next day. Your guests will love it and so will you! 

 

To find the recipe head over to Always With Butter. You'll enjoy this recipe and want to try more of their other recipes as well. Enjoy your salty caramel sauce--and share (I know, it will be hard..but...)

A Smart Bride's Way To DIY

DIY Butterfly Cloche courtesy of Country Living Magazine

 

Have you considered making centerpieces out of glass for your wedding day? The Butterfly Cloche above from Country Living Magazine would make a great highlight for a wedding featuring butterflies or nature themes. For the tutorial (and other great craft ideas) go to Country Living Magazine.

 

Mini dome DIY project from Country Living Magazine

 

No bride wants to get so bogged down in a diy project that her wedding planning starts to become work. For a bride planning a DIY wedding, choosing extremely difficult or time consuming projects takes away the fun factor!

 

If you are looking for a less formal look, try these mini domes. They are made using glasses (turned upside down of course) with tiny keepsakes inside. Personalize your guests' wedding tables with 'a few of your favorite things.' To find the tutorial go to Country Living Magazine online. I love the personal look these give you. You don't have to use them for all the tables, but they would be cute added to your guest book table or other side table.

 

The best part of these DIY projects? They are rated EEEBCDI (easy enough even Bill can do it).  For those of you just starting to read my blog you may not realize I am not crafty, but my husband is worse. I mean he's great at some things, fixing things, putting things together, but not tiny little projects like this. So I test out the ease of the tutorial by having him try them out. If it's rated EEEBCDI, your groom should have no problem either, which makes these projects all the more fun. Or if you are all thumbs, they will be easy enough you can do them without the stress no bride to be needs during her wedding planning! Have fun, that's the whole point of this!

 

 

Grandma's Mustache In Wedding Photos

Photo and tutorial at Etsy Weddings Stories and Advice

 

Do you love this idea? Originally from Paper + Craft, a great book available on Amazon or from your local independent bookseller, it was published online on Etsy's link (see below the photo).

 

Can't you just see the great photos of you and your groom? Not to mention your guests and grandmothers! Add lots of fun to your wedding without adding a lot of cost. You can make these yourself and just add them to your drinks! This one is perfect for pink lemonade! Get some great color straws and get to work! Click the Etsy link to get the tutorial.

 

Go and pick up your copy of Paper + Craft by Paper+cup Designs, Minhee Cho at your local independent bookseller or order from Amazon. Your independent may not have it in stock but they can order it for you and you'll be supporting your local economy.

Let It Snow - DIY Winter Wedding Centerpieces

Photo and idea courtesy of Cleverly Inspired

 

Tracie at Cleverly Inspired made these wintery centerpieces from three empty wine bottles. She added some holiday ornaments (also with some 'snow' added) and some votive candles, and placed them all on a tray. Voila! A perfect centerpiece for a wintery wedding!

 

You won't believe what you use to make this--some craft bond spray adhesive (try your local craft store) and Epsom Salts. (If you don't have a box at home already, check near the first aid aisle in your pharmacy.  No fancy fake snow flakes...just epsom salts! Tracie is so clever! Of course you'll need some help drinking all the wine so you have enough wine bottles, so sounds to me like it's time for a PARTY!

 

Be sure to take the time to visit Tracie's blog to get the whole tutorial, not to mention see all the other great ideas she has that are quick and easy.

Peacock Wreaths For Your Wedding

Made using HGTV tutorial

 

I admit, I tried this first without finding a tutorial--big mistake! Because what I didn't realize was you needed a base of green chandelle or turkey feather boas, once I figured that out the rest was so easy you may not even need the link for the tutorial that I posted under the photo of my wreath. Granted, they hung their wreath using a purple satin ribbon, but since I was making mine to add to my 'collection' of peacock feather decorations for weddings, I left the ribbon off.

 

Two critical tips for my success: First: be sure to let the paint dry before you try to attach anything, rushing it will not work. Second be sure to use spray glue, it's so much easier with feathers than hot glue or other craft glues.

 

This is time consuming the first time but if you are making several, by the time you get to the last one you'll be cranking them out pretty quickly. I tossed the first two I tried (one, I didn't let the paint dry, the second, I tried to used hot glue and made a huge mess!) But after that it was pretty easy.

 

Be sure to work where you have plenty of ventilation (I ended up using my front yard.) My neighbors were intrigued. But now my grass has some paint on it (one good reason to work outside, it's not on my floors. Just do it on a calm day and stay away from your cars.) Good luck, have fun and enjoy your wedding day.

Candymaking for Wedding Favors

Photo and tutorial can be found at Brit + Co.

 

Want to give a wedding favor that has the personal touch? Brit + Co. shows you how to make your own candy combining candy you can easily find at your favorite store and combining them so you have a decorative product when you are finished.

 

What do you need?

 

Materials:

- candy bars (above photo used a combination of Snickers, Twix, Milky Way, 3 Musketeers, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and Hershey's Cookies n' Creme Bar)
- Starburst
- Airheads
- a sharp knife
- rolling pin (even better if you have a mini one!)
- aspic mini cookie cutters (I got mine on Amazon, but you can pick them up in your local brick and mortar stores as well to save on shipping.)
- clear gift bags
- string or ribbon (I prefer ribbon, the kind that curls)

 

Cut your candy bars into bite size pieces (no snacking, I saw that!). Next you need to roll out your Starburst and Airheads. They need to roll flat enough that you can use the mini cookie cutters to cut our decorations with them.  Cut out your favorite designs (I like the hearts. What can I say, I'm a romantic!)

 

You can decorate the shapes with sprinkles (see my post on how to make sprinkles in your wedding colors) or use a gourmet food markers to add designs.

 

Place the finished products in clear plastic bags, decorate with a tag, and tie with string or ribbons. Ta Da!

 

 

DIY Favor Boxes

Favor Boxes photo courtesy of Wedding Friends

 

Looking for an easy DIY project for your wedding? These favor boxes, courtesy of Wedding Friends, are easy to put together and fill with your favorite candy or other goodies. Wedding Friends gives you a printable that you can print yourself or take to your local print shop. Choose a heavier weight paper than your usual printer paper because you need it to hold up better. The link for this printable is at Wedding Friends as a PDF document.

 

While you are there don't forget to check out all their other great wedding ideas.

 

Pastel Folding Chairs

Photo from Kelly at The Moon and Me

 

There's nothing I like better than a DIY project that is easy, fun, and looks great with minimal work--just my style! Do you have some old, ho hum brown or gray folding chairs? Or chairs that have nicks and scrapes accumulated over the years that need to be repainted? Kelly, the genius at The Moon and Me shows you how to spray paint your folding chairs and make them part of your decor.

 

Having a pretty pastel garden wedding? The chairs shown above would be perfect! Kelly recommends Krylon, but you can read her review of the other paints she tried and see what you think. She suggests 2 cans per chair. So what do you think?

 

I think this is an easy way to take a wedding from ho hum to WOW! And it's so easy even my non-crafty husband can do it. It definitely rates a EEEBCI rating (Easy Enough Even Bill Can Do It). It's a great project for grooms to do while you're busy doing something else! Start early and you can pick up inexpensive chairs at yard sales or Goodwill.