wedding project [eight]: gilded place card holders

I'm in still in catch up mode so please bear with me as I feature the remaining details from our wedding. 

The collection of gilded animal place card holders on our head table was the smallest element of our wedding decor and one of my favourite details. I wanted the head table to feature a few unique details and decided that gold would be the perfect accent to our palette of coral + neutrals. I love the look of the bold chevron on the traditional white and gold tablescape. 

The gold chargers were a great addition but they needed something to tie them in. Enter: gilded animals. 

I purchased a tube of safari animals from Michaels and spray painted them gold. To hold the place cards, Ben sawed a small indent with an old steak knife. The plastic was quite hard to saw into and the cards didn't sit quite right. To keep them in place I added a drop of glue from my hot glue gun to affix the place card which worked quite well. Since the glue chipped off easily they can be used again. TIP: If I were to make these again I would saw the notches into the figurines prior to spraying them as the pain chipped off a bit. 

These are way too fun; I can't wait for the opportunity to use them again. Two of my bridesmaids have theirs in their homes and they look awesome just sitting on a shelf or dresser.

Top photo by Adrian Photography.

wedding project [seven]: the L-O-V-E sign

As promised, here are the details of our LOVE sign, one of the most well-received (and well-photographed) elements of the reception. 

It must be noted that this project was a last minute a decision but a decision I am very glad I made. After seeing this tutorial, I became obsessed with incorporating Jordan's fabulous Marquee letters into the reception. "LOVE" was the opportune word. 

details: 

I assembled the supplies and enlisted the design talents of my friend Angie and the fabrication help of my amazing aunt Cath and creatively-inclined cousin Nico. We cut, scored, folded, and taped in the August sunshine, adapting Jordan's tutorial as we went based on the tools we had available. We ended up using the following supplies:

- a string of 25 globe lights

- poster board (x3)

- foam core board (x3)

- exacto knife/ steak knife/ scissors/ pen (for shaping the holes for the lights)

- duct tape

- scotch tape

- rulers

- cutting mat

- spray paint

Once I printed out Angie's template (which printed on 24 letter-sized pages) we taped the letters together and used them to trace onto the foam core board with pencil. There is a "front" and a "back" of the foam core board (one has a slight grid pattern). Once it's spray painted the grid pattern will still be visible; this may or may not be a big deal to you. Consider yourself warned. 

Once the letters were cut out with an array of cutting tools (we got creative) we were left with letters that had somewhat sloppy edges. This is OK as they'll be covered with the strips of poster board. 

Folding the poster board to wrap cleanly around the letters is the tricky part. We followed Jordan's steps which were very straightforward and logical (scoring is KEY). That being said, I recommend that you not attempt this project alone as the logistical/ mathematical/ fabrication part (this includes but is not limited to measuring, determining what part of the edging is the front vs. the back, scoring, folding, holding-in-place, and taping) is a feat in and of itself. Cath and I bounced ideas off of each other, laughed at each other's confusion, and - in the most general of terms - kept each other sane. I couldn't have done it without her.

Another modification we made had to do with the placement of the lights. The string of lights I ordered off of Amazon didn't come with the template that Jordan refers to; therefore, Cath and I divided the total number of lights [25] by the number of letters we had [4] and spaced them out accordingly (the "E" received two extra lights).

Once the letters were sprayed and the lights added it became an instant piece of art. Initially I planned on using the lights in the backyard but I've since decided to keep the letters intact for C Star Headquarters. I love this sign so much and I can't wait to experiment with this project again in the future. Anyone up for craft night?

up next:

Incredibly fun place card holders.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7... Go!

wedding project [six]: string globes

This project has a back story. Last winter I had a great time collaborating and crafting from afar with my dear friend Nicole when her storefront (that would be my favourite Vancouver eco-boutique, body politic) needed a snowy-inspired window. I assembled a collection of cotton snowballs while Nicole tried her hand at mini string globes. I'm happy to report that our crafting resulted in a beautiful window display at bp (and I'm equally pleased to have received several pieces of pertinent advice from my creatively-inclined friend - Thanks Nicole!) 

Once I spotted these string globes I knew how I was going to incorporate them into our wedding: they were going to be the focal point over the dance floor. 

Cue bridesmaids, tacky glue, and mojitos.

details: 

Armed with this tutorial and Nicole's advice*, we assembled the supplies: 

- balloons

- white yarn

- Tacky Glue

- ice cream buckets

- warm water

- Vaseline 

- a shower curtain (used as a drop cloth)

I mixed the glue with warm water using the ratio of approximately 2/3 glue, 1/3 water. We blew up the balloons and covered (read: cov-ered) them in Vaseline. The yarn was then dipped into the glue-water mixture and covered until it was good and slimy. 

Here comes the messy part.

We experimented with holding the top of the balloon and the end of the string in one hand while wrapping string around the balloon with the other hand. We also tried tying the end of string TO the end of the balloon and then wrapping the string around the balloon. In any event, we determined that starting at knotted end of the balloon was the easiest. We also quickly learned that the string has to be wrapped quite tightly (the vaseline and glue will keep it in place provided it's tight enough). When we were satisfied with the string coverage we tied the end piece of string to the starting piece of string and/or the end of the balloon. 

On one occasion Angie's partially-covered balloon exploded in her face, causing Jenn to yell-scream bloody murder and vaseline and glue covered string to fly all over the wall, door, and ceiling. This was the most traumatic and the most hilarious thing to happen to us the entire weekend.  Note: vaseline is near impossible to wipe off the ceiling. 

To dry the globes, we arranged several hockey sticks (thanks, B) on chairs and hung the balloons by baker's twine, ensuring they didn't touch. Our string dripped quite a bit so I'd suggest putting a drop cloth or newspaper underneath. Before I packed them up to travel to Kelowna and again before they were hung at the reception the globes were sprayed with Tacky spray glue which really helped them keep their shape. 

The end result was a gorgeous little cluster cloud over our dance floor that reflected the light perfectly and added a fun element to the space. I'd love to try my hand at these again in the future, possibly on a smaller scale for Christmas ornaments. Big love and many thank you's to Angie, Jen, Jen, and Jenn for helping to assemble these tricky little buggers; to Mike and Amber for transporting them (only one popped!); and to my amazing all-male assembling crew of Brock, Sean, and Chris who teetered atop a ladder while this bridezilla glowing bride art directed from below. I must also thank Nicole for her seasoned advice and crafting encouragement. 

c's advice: 

The ratio of water to glue I used worked well; however, it is very important to ensure your string/ yarn is saturated before wrapping it around the balloon, otherwise as soon as the balloon is popped, the string goes limp. 

Let the string dry for longer than you think it will take the string to dry. I left mine for a couple of months (I wish I was joking).

Leave the balloons intact until they are ready to be hung. We didn't pop them until my assembly team had arranged them over the dance floor. 

*n's advice:

Use white string or yarn in lieu of a heavier string or twine as it's much easier to saturate the string if it's lighter in weight.  Otherwise, be prepared to let the string sit in the glue for a lot longer and give the globes a lot longer to dry. 

Cover all sides of the balloon (somewhat) evenly. It makes a more spherical final product. 

up next: 

Love, Love, Love.  The how-to behind the Marquee-inspired sign in the first photo. 

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6... Go!

wedding projects [four] + [five]: table numbers + photo booth backdrop

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to enlist the help of my crafty friends Sarah and Amber to complete two wedding projects. We crossed “table numbers” and “photo booth backdrop” off the to do list while sipping on watermelon mojitos (my new favourite summer cocktail) in the Kamloops sunshine. I’m so pleased with the results and would love to share the details with you. 

details [table numbers]:

Although I initially received a few funny looks when I uttered the words "string art," my helpers were good sports and followed suit. We started with 2x6 lumber that we (literally, I mean “we”: it was a group effort) cut into pieces approximately 9 inches in length. The wood was then sanded and stained “ebony.”

We printed off each number in Gill Sans Ultra Bold font, placed the paper on top of the wood, and hammered nails along the outline. The paper was ripped off, leaving a nail ‘skeleton’ that we wove the yarn around, creating a 3D number. They turned out so nicely and I love how each one looks like a piece of modern art.

details [photo booth backdrop]:

Sarah, Amber, and I had a great time at the fabric store, throwing bolts of clearance fabric and remnants around to compile a palette of colour and texture that was just right. As fate would have it, our selections paired together perfectly; I don't think I could have envisioned a better final outcome. I'm also rather pleased to say I had no part in the assembly of this project: kudos goes to Sarah and Amber for their fabulous cutting, ripping, and knotting skills. Bravo, ladies: you are welcome back for craft time at your earliest convenience.

up next:

The table runners are finally finished (expect a post later this week) and I've completed a couple of smaller, fun projects that I'll share shortly. I also haven't posted the progress on the "string globes" that three-fifths of my bridal party helped me with last month.

The last big wedding project is the menu board; however, it is 'on hold' until I can transport the pile of salvaged wood from its current home in Delta at my dad's place to my house in Kamloops.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5... Go!

wedding project [three]: the centerpiece vases

details:

The design of the centerpiece vases was inspired by the girls of Bash, Please (I spotted them on one of their Instagram feeds and was immediately smitten). I intended to dip-paint them; however, after contemplating logistics, cost, and other details (drips being one) I decided to pick up a cart of my favourite Martha paint and start sponging. The vases were all thrifted and gifted.

I used painter's tape to make a clean line about 1/3 of the way up the vase and applied 2 coats of paint on the bottom portion. This method worked well but I must note that the lines aren't perfect (in case perfection is what you're going for). All vases have been painted and my next task is to cure the vases in the oven so they can we washed (even in the dishwasher) without chipping and/or bubbling. 350 degrees for 30 minutes does the trick!

As our total number of tables remains to be determined, I've made extra. Truth be told I'm secretly looking forward to being able to keep a couple for myself.

up next:

I'm still on the hunt for cotton lace (and taking any and all sourcing suggestions) so I can finish our table runners. I'm currently stalled, half-completed, and this is a project I'd love to complete in full a.s.a.p.

I have a pile of wood sitting in my dad's backyard that was saved to be repurposed for a wedding-related project. My new belt sander, a can of black-brown stain, and a few nails are going to come in handy for this one. More details to come...

1, 2, 3... Go!

wedding project [two]: the boutonnières

The second wedding DIY project is completed in full: hurray!

progress:

details:

Originally inspired by this boutonnière, I played around with size, shape, and assembly logistics, eventually coming up with similar yet smaller version. As an added bonus, this project was easier and more cost-effective than I had imagined.

The pièce de résistance was the black and white guinea hen feather. Once I sourced a package of these beauties from Pegasus 22's etsy shop the remaining elements fell into place. The stems of the faux pink berries (from Michael's craft store) were originally green; however, I didn't like how they looked with the pink, black, white, and grey, so I painted over them with a brown Sharpie paint pen. A bit of extra florist wire was used to secure the bottoms, the ribbon was then affixed with hot glue gun.

Although it remains to be seen how easy these will be to pin to the suit jackets, they're quite pretty to look at.

up next:

I've acquired a bit more canvas for the table runners (thanks to my future mother-in-law, Lin, for running across the boarder on a craft mission) and once the remaining fabric and lace have been purchased the table runners will be a completed project.

Also, the vases are almost complete (I have several more to add to my collection and paint); more photos and details to come.

Finally, I returned to Kamloops last weekend with several amazing window panes (complete with original glass). These beauties are resting in my office, waiting to be sanded, windex-ed, and prepped for our guest list.

1, 2... Go!

wedding project [one]: the napkins.

It is with great joy that I announce I have completed a wedding project.  In full.  The napkins have been measured, cut, ironed, serged, ironed again, and now reside in a beautiful pile of completion.

progress:

 

details:

I envisioned our napkins as a bold pop of colour against an otherwise neutral tablescape; however, after searching locally for several weeks, it became clear that the amazing patterned fabric I dreamt of wouldn't be so easy to find.  Enter: my fiance, who cleverly diffused a bridal meltdown with his suggestion of etsy.

It didn't take long before I stumbled across Bobbie Lou's Fabric Factory: the answer to my (bridezilla) prayers.  The shop is full of many-a-patterned fabric, one of which being the coral chevron print I had imagined.  I liaised with the shop's owner, Chelsea, and delightfully received a hefty box of zig-zag fabric.  Success.

To be economical and sustainable, my intention was to make the fabric go as far as possible and, as per the measurements of the fabric, decided 14" x 14" was the perfect size for our napkins.  Although somewhat smaller than "traditional" napkins, I decided they are sufficient for the casual nature of our reception. (Furthermore, it helps that the edges are serged rather than finished with a folded edge, subsequently maximizing the surface area of each napkin).  Each napkin has been tri-folded and pressed, ready to be arranged on the tables, 4 months from now.

gratitude:

I must thank my Grandma who serged and pressed a pile of 100 cut napkins whilst listening to Canucks games in her sewing room; my cuzzies Nick (pictured) & Kirsten were there for moral support.  Her work and one-week turnaround period makes my serged pile of 56 look rather insignificant.  Thanks, Grandma!

up next:

I am really pleased with how the napkins turned out.  This project was a great re-introduction into sewing.  On that note, I'm currently doing just that: sewing table runners!  Unfortunately, I only purchased enough fabric for 12 of the 17 runners I required so - needless to say - this one is categorized as "in progress."  Lesson learned: trust your own math and don't get distracted by the cute fabric attendant.

I'm also fiddling around with the boutonnieres so expect an update on those this month, too.

Onward and upward.... Go!