Wedding Window Frame

There are loads of window frame pictures around, so I decided to jump on the band wagon and create a wedding craft for our home. (The dining room was turquoise when we moved in, pure coincidence!)

1. Get the materials together
- Window frame (I found mine at the flea market - I then found two more in the shed in our garden, they must have been saved after the windows were replaced a few years ago!) 
- Paint and brushes
- Tape
- Photo (Engineer print) 
- Cardboard (for the back of the picture)  
- Little nails
- Hooks and rope (to hang) 

2. Paint the window frame
Tape off the glass, and paint the frame.

2. Get the picture printed and cut to size
Staples does a great engineer print for about $7.29. The image is not as sharp as a photograph, but it still looks great, and is a fraction of the price. 

Zoom of the engineer print 

Place the window frame over the print to ensure the print is in the correct place. Then trim half an inch from each of the edges (change according the the depth of the frame). 

3. Attach the picture to the window frame

Use glue or tape. 

I used some left over painting tape. 

4. Back the frame

To avoid the print getting damaged, attach cardboard to the back. 

(I had a tri-fold display board left over from another project, I cut off one of the flaps, and attached it with little nails) 

5. Add the hardware to hang the frame

You can hang the picture how ever you want, I went with eye hook and Sasil rope. We used a sturdy hook to hang the frame as it is heavier than a standard picture frame. 

First Craft for our First Home!!

So, we recently moved into our first home!! I wanted to make the entrance more personal, so I set about making a wreath.

1. Get the materials together
- Foam pipe insulation
- Duct tape
- Twine
- Burlap
- Stanley knife
- Large sewing needle

 2. Create the loop
Cut the pipe insulation to the desired length, then use the duct tape to secure the ends of the pipe insulation (I didn't want a typical circle, so I made a teardrop)

3. Cover in twine 
I started by tying a knot and just kept going until I had gone all the way around. This is a great job to do while watching TV or a film. 

4. Create the flowers

I did some (YouTube) research and found out how to make burlap/material flowers. 

This is a great tutorial: http://craftingmom.com/burlap-flowers/

I didn't have a glue gun, so took a thread from the burlap and sewed the flower together on the back as I went. 

5. Attach the flowers

Attach more thread on the back of the flowers and tie on the wreath.

(If I had a glue gun, I would have just glued these in place) 

6. Add a hanging loop

Attach a loop of thread at the top of the wreath. 

There was a nail in the door when we moved in, so I just used that to hang the wreath. 

Wedding Invitation

So, the wedding invites... this was a big deal for me, not only were these going to be sent to everyone we know and love, but my granddad was a printer and I had always thought that he would be the one to do my wedding invites. Unfortunately, my granddad had passed away a number of years prior and I could not bring myself to have someone else do them for me.

We knew the colour theme of our wedding, and I had some A4 card, ribbon and A4 paper. I had no idea what I wanted to achieve and no idea what was supposed to be included in the invite, so I went on the (Google) hunt, and finally figured out what we needed to do. I knew that we didn't want a simple 'card' design, so sent with a tri-fold.

It look me way longer than it should have, but I was in no rush and it helped pass the days while I was not able to work.

1. Create the wording
I figured I needed the following information in the invite:

- Standard invite wording
- Registry information 
- Information sheet - local hotels, taxi numbers, etc. 
- RSVP - This also included the dinner selection

We found a heart stamp that we incorporated throughout the wedding, we also included it on the invite wording. 

2. Cut the card
Take a piece of A4 card (or 11X17 in the US) and cut exactly down the middle, I used a guillotine to ensure a straight edge. 

Cut the paper 

3. Fold the card
I decided on the right flap being larger than the left and set about folding all of the cards. Once I knew how much space I would have inside the cards (for the invite wording) I knew how large to print things.

4. Print everything
I printed the invite wording, guest information, RSVP and registry info on the turquoise paper. 

5. Add some personal details
I used some left over card and created the detail for the front of the card, printed "Wedding Invitation" on turquoise paper (I also printed some "Evening Invitation" for the evening guests). 

I glued together the wording and cards, added a bow and stuck it to the front of the invites. 

6. Put the invites together
I folded the guest information (I designed this to be 4 times bigger than the RSVP and Registry information). These were then placed together, held in together with a ribbon and glued to the inside of the right flap, and added the invite wording. 

7. Putting everything in the envelope
I decided that I wanted to make the envelopes a little more personal. 
I used the stamp and cut hearts into the envelope flap, and then glued a turquoise triangle on the back. 

(Sorry for the lack of pics, I guess I never expected to document the process)

Name Cards

The place cards were very simple, once the Order of Service image had been edited. 

I had run out of card, and had to resort to scraps that were left. I cut all of the cards to size and was then unable to print on these. I had to print the place card names on cream paper and cut to size, then glue in place (friends were drafted and wine was consumed!) 

Here is how I botched the name cards...

1. Find the graphic to use on the place cards

I took the Order of Service graphic and just shortened it. 

2. Add names to the graphics

I created a table in Word and added the image to each box. I had created an RSVP list in Excel, so simply created a mail merge and added all first names to the table.

3. Putting it all together

I printed the document on paper, cut and glued onto the pre-cut place cards. 

We offered our guests a choice of three started, three mains and three desserts. I am always forgetting what I have ordered in advance, so I put everyone's dinner choices on the back of the name cards. (I had to provide the venue with this information in advance of the wedding, so had everything saved on my computer)

Not how I would have liked to have done these, but they worked and I was short on time and materials. 

Order of Service

So, as previously mentioned, I made as much stuff for the wedding as was possible.

The Order Service (OS) was one of the easier items to make.

I didn't really have any inspiration for this, I just went with it.

You will need card for the cover and paper for the insert (like a very short book).

1. Design the cover

I found a lovely image online, but it was on a cream background, as I was printing in black and white, I needed to edit the image, I opened the image in Paint and set it to the highest zoom, then got to editing! 

2. Add the details to the cover

I found guides/templates online and took bits and pieces from lots of different places. 

Here is what we used:

THE CELEBRATION AND BLESSING

      OF

Bride's Name 

   &

Groom's Name

Date

Location (Hotel/Manor House)

City, State, Country

3. Design the inside

Ensure that your margins are correct, and print a test first. 

I created the Order of Service using Word in two columns. 

We then printed it on cream paper. 

4. Putting everything together

Cut half a cm from each edge of the insert, this will ensure that it does not stick out when it was all put together. 

Using a flat surface fold all of the covers and inserts (I used a butter knife along the fold to create a sharp crease).

Take the folded insert and apply glue to the crease (I used a glue brush to keep things from getting messy), place the insert in the cover, and repeat. I had this on a production line. 

5. Adding a personal touch

I decided that this needed something extra. I took some very thin ribbon, measured the ribbon (double the length of the OS with a few extra inches) and cut it to size. I then tied the ribbon around the OS and tied it at the bottom. 

                                             

6. Distribute

My brothers were the ushers and they handed out the Order of Service, along with a Thai fan (Or dear friend Sina had flown in from Thailand to be with us, and she brought enough back for all the ladies). 

Confetti Cones

I am not one of those girls who dreamed of a big wedding since being a kid, but I did have this ingrained image of how I wanted to get the 'throwing of the confetti' picture after the ceremony. 

In order to achieve my dream photograph, I first had to make sure that our guests had confetti. So, provided it myself (I'm not sure if this is a common thing to do, but I loved it).

I kept my eyes peeled and bought boxes of confetti when it was on sale, I think we paid about 50p / 75c per box and bought about 20 boxes.


1. Cut square pieces of paper

I used the coloured paper that I also intended to use for the invitations. I also glued a piece of lace down one side to add decoration. 

2. Put some doublesided tape alone one edge, roll and secure. 

I had a bunch of friends and wine to help with this process. 

3. Fill the cones and display 

I found a cute basket at home that worked really well to hold ever

We got our perfect confetti throwing photo from the wedding! 

My First Wedding Craft - Favour Boxes

Here is where it all started! The favour boxes!!

Before moving to the US, I had to wait for my Fiance Visa. I decided that the time would be best spent at home with my family and friends in England. It ended up being a long six months, but it allowed me plenty of time to get wedding plans together and some much needed quality time with some amazing people! 

I loved the idea of the personalized M&Ms and just needed a way to get them to our guests. So I got to Googling some images and came up with a simple 'box and bow' combo. I borrowed my brother's craft knife and cutting board, got some card and ribbon, and got to work! I bought the cream card from WH Smith in the UK and the ribbon from Hobby Craft, I am sure that there is something similar available in Hobby Lobby or Michael's in the US.

1. Find a template online, I can send you the template that I used if you need it.

 I printed it on paper and cut out a master template on a thick piece of card (I think I used the back of a pad of paper!) 

If you would like a copy of this template, please let me know and I will email you the PDF

2. Cut out the box bases and lids

I made a test box to make sure that it was what I was expecting and to ensure that the lid fitted. 

Then, I cut out all of the box bases and all of the lids, I then scored along the folds to make the creases sharp.

3. Putting the boxes together

I used PVA glue, Elmers will work fine. I would advise leaving the glue to become tacky before folding the flaps to create the box. I also held the flaps in place using paper clips, it was better than holding them in place myself. 

4. Add decoration

I wanted to have bows on my boxes but was not prepared to tie the bows in the days leading up to the wedding, so I bypassed the base of the box and just put the bows on the lids. 

5. Fill the boxes

I found some theme coloured tissue paper and shredded it (well, mum did that!), I put the M&Ms in netting and tied it up with ribbon, and then they were done!