DIY Wedding

With summer just around the corner weddings are back in full swing again and what could be more classic and beautiful than a  diy bridal up-do? Fafinettex3 on youtube was kind enough to share a video detailing step by step how to create a gorgeous classic updo that would work wonderfully for all of you upcoming brides (and bridesmaids too!). Whether you are getting married in a church or on the beach I think this diy wedding hairstyle would be perfect for you.

All you need are some hair clips for separating your hair while you curl, a curling iron, some bobby pins, hair spray and maybe a pretty clip in flower or fascinator to complete the look!

Watch the video below…

As always if you use this video to diy your own wedding hair we would love to see photos so please send them in!

Photo courtesy of: InStyleWeddings.com

If you’re looking for a beautiful, modern centerpiece that is easy on the wallet and is can be done yourself these submerged flower centerpieces  are for you! Submerged flower centerpieces have been all the rage the past year or two..and why wouldn’t they be? They look so elegant and contemporary plus you don’t need a ton of flowers to make a big impact. Tulips and orchids look stunning..but so can many other flowers (and branches too!).

Let’s get started! You will need…

• Flowers/Greenery/Branches to be submerged (Fresh or silk/latex flowers can be used..both have their own pros and cons. Fresh obviously won’t last forever so they are best put together  the night before to ensure they stay fresh for the big day. Silk will never die BUT water works as a natural magnifier so if the silk flowers have frays, loose threads and flaws they will be more obvious once submerged in water. Latex seems to be used more often when a fake flower is used for this reason! Also, when using fake flowers test them underwater first before putting them into the centerpiece. Colors may bleed and you don’t want that happening on your big day!) Some ideas for things to submerge: Tulips, Stem of Orchids, Calla Lillies, Ferns, Hydrangeas, Oriental Lillies, Cherry blossom branches, branches of hibiscus berries, gladiolas, roses.. etc! Avoid flowers with paper thin petals or flowers with a ton of pollen..and you’ll be fine!
• Pretty vase (Often tall rectangular or cylindrical ones and fish bowls are the vases of choice..but there are no rules. If you have another pretty vase you think would work well that your flowers would fit into..use it!
• Stainless steel washers and/or fishing sinkers to keep the flower submerged. (Washers and sinkers come in a multitude  of sizes and weights. Use the smallest size you can that will keep your flower(s) submerged! The more flowers you submerge or the larger the flower the more weight you’ll need.)
• Decorative rocks, gravel, stones seashells (to hide the wire/fishing line/weights)
• Floral tape (Needed if you are using multiple stems)
• Floral/fishing wire or Fishing line to attach the flowers/greenery to the weights
• Distilled water (Distilled water will stop the bubbles from forming on the flowers. If you don’t mind the bubbles then any water should be ok!)
• Optional: Floating candles, Submersible LED lights to give the vase a pretty glow

Now all there is to do is assemble!

1. Take your vase (make sure it is nice and clean!) and your flowers/branches/greenery and plan how you would like it to look once in the vase and submerged. This is easy if you are using only a single stem of orchids or  a single tulip but if you plan on having more than one stem you may want to practice how they will look grouped before taping/wiring/tying them together.
2. If you are using fresh flowers now might be a good time to give them a fresh cut (at an angle) under running water to keep them fresher longer! If you are using fake flowers make sure you test them first to make sure the colors will not bleed once under water.
3. (If you are using a single stem skip to the next step!) If you are using more than one stem and know how you want them grouped you can now floral tape the group of stems together to hold them in place near the bottom (You are going to want to hide the tape with rocks/stones so don’t tape them too high!)
4. Now with your floral wire or fishing line tightly wrap around the stem(s) and then tie/attach the wire or line to the steel washer or fishing sinker. (Some flowers/branches may not need to be weighted at all..I cannot stress enough that practicing beforehand is key! A stem of orchids may push into a tall skinny vase and not budge..but you won’t know unless you practice first! It all depends on the type of item being submerged and the vase being used!)
5. Now you can gently slide your flowers/greenery/branches into the vase, letting the weight rest at the bottom.
6. Next, hide the ugly washer/sinker with your decorative stones, river rocks, gems, sand..whatever you decided would be a pretty!
7. Now all you have to do is fill it up! You may choose to submerge the flower completely or just half way..Both can look very pretty! Just make sure the water is distilled water if you do not want the little bubbles to form on your flowers.
8. That’s it! You may choose to leave it the way it is or you may decide to float a candle on top. Both would look very nice!

Some final thoughts..

The project itself is really simple! The biggest problem you are going to have is getting them to your venue. Some people recommend seeing if you can bring the weighted flowers, stones and distilled water to the venue the night before and set it up to avoid transportation issues. Otherwise make sure they are secure in your vehicle and not completely full of water (enough to allow the flower to drink). Finish filling them up once they are at your venue!

As always if you use our instructions to make your own centerpieces..We want to see! Please e-mail your photos to us

Photos courtesy of: theknot.com

Manzanita branch trees have been growing in popularity in the wedding scene  as both beautiful centerpieces and stunning decor (like a manzanita wish tree!).  Tree centerpieces and decor give your wedding an ethereal, whimsical beauty that can give your wedding a modern fairy tale feel or even a lush green forest!

Buying them already made can be quite costly.. So why not make them yourself? The branches aren’t exactly cheap -BUT- it is much cheaper than buying the whole tree already completed. You could also skip using manzanita branches altogether and gather branches from your backyard for an even cheaper alternative!

You will need (for one tree):

• Manzanita Branch(es) or branches you have gathered in the park/backyard (Make sure you allow them to dry out a bit before building!) Also – If you plan on hanging heavier objects from the branches (like votives) make sure the branches you have collected/purchased are strong enough to hold them without breaking. You don’t want your guests attacked by falling candles!
• Container to use as a base of the tree (A pretty wide mouth vase, a cute pail, a clean flower pot…Use your imagination! Just make sure the mouth of the container is wide enough to allow arranging of the branches.)
• Something to keep the branches in place (I have seen marbles, river rocks, floral foam, aqua beads, etc!) If you use floral foam you will want to hide the foam with marbles, rocks or moss when you have finished arranging.
• Optional: Silver/White paint(or any color you like!), Glitter paint, Glitter & Glue (If you do not want to leave the branches in their natural state!)
• Things to hang/decorate the branches – The possibilities are endless! Butterflies, silk or preserved flowers (preserved orchids would be stunning!), strands of crystal, lush amaranthus, fake petals strung on fishing line, lights and even hanging votives if the branch can handle the weight! Little squares of pretty paper would also look pretty for guests to write their wishes and advice upon to hang.

Let’s get started! It’s SO simple

1. First, if you plan on painting or glittering your branches do this first! Spray paint them in pretty metallic silver or a clean white…You may need more than one coat of paint! Then, add some glitter paint or glue on crystals/glass glitter as well if you like! (Which would be stunning for a winter wedding!) To be safe it is best to allow the branches to dry overnight before moving onto the next step. If you are leaving the branches natural skip to the next step!
2. Add your river rocks, marbles, aqua beads….(whatever you plan on using!) to the container. Add the branches and play around with them until you get them to look the way you want them to look. You may also choose to hot glue floral foam into the bottom of your container and then arrange the branches in the foam. Then just hide the foam with moss, crystals, rocks or marbles!
3. Now all that is left is to decorate them! Glue on silk flower and butterflies, drape sparkling strands of crystals or strands of flowers, hang votives..etc! So gorgeous!

That should do it! Whether you make one tree or multiple trees for centerpieces I’m sure your guests will be impressed by their beauty…and you can say you created them yourself!

For further inspiration I found this fantastic video on youtube to help you make your tree:

As always please share your photos if you create your own – we’d love to see!

(Photos from Nettleton Hollow Blog and Real Simple Magazine Article)

I found this fantastic how-to video on youtube showing step by step how to make your own wedding card box.  Wendy Dahl from Dahl Wedding Company does a beautiful job explaining and showing just how easy it is to make an adorable card box that will match your wedding theme and colors. It’s affordable too! All you need is a chip board box with a lid (she ordered hers from papersource.com), some glue, pretty wrapping paper to match your wedding, scissors, a pencil for tracing, pretty ribbon and a craft knife.

Here is her fantastic video!

Please send us your photos if you make your own..We would love to see!

I found this DIY project browsing around the web and just had to share it with all of you! It would be a beautiful diy project for autumn wedding decor like centerpieces or decorations or even in wedding bouquets! Plus, it is extremely affordable as you can get the leaves just walking around your neighborhood..for free!

Some tips before the photo tutorial…

• Choose bright, freshly fallen leaves – the more colorful the more vibrant your flowers will be! Avoid the crispy dry leaves..they will not fold and form into flowers without breaking.
• It is best to use leaves of a similar color for each flower..a group of yellow leaves make a beautiful yellow flower..etc.
• The original tutorial is not written in english but the translation mentions soaking the finished bouquets in vegetable oil for a few days to maintain color and freshness. I have not tried this though – so don’t take my word for it! Other preservation methods would be dipping the finished flowers in glycerin(1 part glycerin to 2 parts water, left in solution 2-6 days) or spraying with acrylic spray from your local craft store.
• The thread can be covered with a matching floral tape to give the flowers a more finished look.

The full original tutorial can be found on Natalia’s Site.

As always I would -love- to see photos if you create these beautiful autumn leave flowers! Make you e-mail us if you do

flickr: that’sdebscakes

My mom got married last year and around this time I was painstakingly trying to create a cake for her shower using fondant. I LOVE baking..but in the past I never had any luck making my own fondant for my cakes. The fondant would be either too dry and flake all over when trying to roll out..or it would be too moist and just break apart in gooey pieces! Then I cam across a recipe for marshmallow fondant…and fell in love! Needless to say, with a little practice my mom’s shower cake turned out beautifully..despite being a newbie fondant user!

If you (or a friend or relative!) are making your own wedding cake and want the clean, smooth look of fondant..this is the recipe for you! Marshmallow fondant (sometimes referred to as MM fondant) is extremely easy and affordable to make..rolls out nicely…and tastes really yummy too! After all..its main ingredient is little marshmallows!

Here are the instructions for whipping up a batch of your own…(And a youtube video I found as well!)

You will need…

• 16 oz. bag mini marshmallows (the better quality you buy the better it will turn out!)
• 2-5 tablespoons of water (Usually I use about 2-3!)
• 2 pounds of powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup shortening
• Optional: Food coloring (I find the gel colors work best for me!)

Let’s get started!

1. Put marshmallows and 2 tbsp water in a microwavable bowl. Heat in microwave for 30 seconds and then stir. Repeat heating at 30 second intervals with stirring until the marshmallows have completely melted. (It will look like a liquidy fluff!)
2. With a rubber spatula slowly begin to stir in the powdered sugar, adding the sugar in small batches and stirring until the fondant gets thick enough to be removed from the bowl.
3. Once the fondant is thick enough, cover your hands and work area with a thin layer of shortening to prevent sticking and knead in the remaining  sugar like you would knead bread. (It will be messy at first! This is why you grease your hands and remove all jewelry before starting this process. It will still stick to your hands a bit at first and almost look like silly putty until you finish adding the sugar. It will become more like bread dough as you knead!) If you are coloring your fondant you can add some of the coloring to the fondant during the kneading process. Knead until the color is uniform. It usually takes me about 8-10 minutes to knead to the point the fondant is no longer sticky and is more elastic in nature. If you have any doubts keep kneading..it will turn into a firm elastic ball if you keep at it!
4. Once the ball has formed coat with a thin layer of shortening to prevent cracking.
5. It is recommended you cover in plastic wrap and put in an air tight container to store overnight and then when ready to use remove the fondant from the wrapping and microwave 10 seconds so it is once again flexible. (If you are in a rush you can probably skip this step! The few times I made this fondant I made it right before draping my cake with it and it still worked out just fine. Remember – practice makes perfect! So try making the fondant and draping it on a cake a few times to get a feel for it before draping your wedding cake!)

Tips & Tricks:

• It is best if the marshmallow and water mixture is slightly watery before adding your sugar for the best consistency. This allows for enough flexibility when you are rolling out and working with it! Be careful not to make it too moist though – you don’t want it so gooey it droops off the cake!
• After kneading if the fondant still seems too sticky you can add a little powdered sugar. If it is cracking it is dry and you can either add a little more water or try greasing the ball a little more.
• When not using the fondant cover it with plastic wrap or drape a damp towel over the bowl so it does not dry out.
• If not using the fondant immediately you can refrigerate it for weeks. Just make sure you coat it with a thin layer of shortening and store it in an airtight container.
• Make sure you put a thin layer(1/4″) of butter cream icing on your cake before draping it with the fondant. This will act as a sort of glue to hold the fondant in place and give the fondant the smooth look you are after!

That’s it! Now it is ready to be rolled out and draped onto your yummy cake! Here’s a video from youtube showing the steps visually:

As always please send in your photos if you use this recipe…We would love to see!

flickr: annasophiaconfections2009

flickr: jchow11

Fortune cookies are always one of my favorite parts of ordering chinese take-out..Who doesn’t love the fun of reading a random, fun fortune and eating a delicious crisp cookie along with it? I found a delicious well-reviewed diy fortune cookie recipe on the food network for some yummy fortune cookies that would make perfect wedding favors!

You will need…

(Makes 6 cookies..You will need to multiply the recipe depending on how many cookies you will need.)

• 2 egg whites
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 4 Tbsp melted butter, cooled
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 1/2 tsp lemon extract
• 2 1/2″ x 1/2″ fortune strips (Already printed, cut and ready to go!)
• Optional: Food Coloring
• Optional: Chocolate and sprinkles/nuts/colored sugar (SugarCraft has a huge variety of colored sprinkles!)

Let’s get baking!

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a cookie sheet thoroughly.
2. Whip the egg whites on low speed until light and foamy. Blend in the sugar and continue to beat until soft peaks form.
3. Pour in the melted butter, flour, salt, and extracts; mix until well combined. If you want to color your cookies add a drop of food coloring to the batter and mix well!
4. Drop a tablespoon of the batter onto the prepared cookie sheet. Using the back of a spoon, spread the batter evenly into very thin 3-inch rounds. Alternatively, use the lid of a jar with a 3-inch circle punched out as a template, pour the batter in the ring, and remove. Because you must work quickly to shape these cookies, bake just 3 at a time.
5. Bake for about 5 to 8 minutes or until the edges are a light golden color.
6. Optional Step – Once cooled you may decide you want to dip your yummy cookies in chocolate and then either roll the dipped cookies in fun sprinkles, crushed nuts or colored sugar. If this is the case melt your chocolate in a double boiler or microwave following the package instructions. Then just dip, roll and place on a piece of wax paper to cool! Sooo delicious! Plus, you can further customize the cookie favors to your wedding theme by dipping them in colored chocolate to match or rolling the dipped cookies in sprinkles or sugar to coordinate with your wedding. Maybe you’ll get a little crazy and do both! Heehee.

Once your cookies are cooled off and the chocolate has set just wrap them in a little cellophane bag or favor box, tie on a pretty ribbon and add on a cute favor tag! Your guests will love these homemade treats and they will be so impressed you made them yourself!

Some tips….

• Visit Fancy Fortune Cookies for some wedding themed fortunes for your fortune strips!
• Make sure when you drop the batter on the cookie sheet it is spread very thinly. If it is too thick you will not be able to fold them!
• When pulling the cookies out of the oven work quickly! If you allow the cookies to cool they will crack and crumble when you try to fold.
• If the cookie is too stiff or brittle when trying to fold place them back in the oven 2-3 minutes and try again!
• Place cookies in a muffin tin after folding to help them keep their shape when cooling.
• Practice makes perfect! Be prepared to have some screwy cookies at first until you get the hang of it

Lastly – If you have issues with the recipe or are tight on time you can by prepackaged fortune cookies, unwrap and just dip them in the chocolate and sprinkles to skip the whole baking process. They may not have wedding fortunes but it will obviously save you a lot of time! Then just wrap up and tag and you are set!

Recipe modified from Foodnetwork.com, photo credits: nofussfabulous

I found this fantastic video on youtube that I thought all of you thinking about doing their own hair for their wedding would love! AshleyVictoria’s video is a detailed step by step to creating your own half up half down style with the currently trendy back pouf. It looks really elegant and romantic while still looking pretty modern and trendy. She makes the diy wedding hair look so easy to recreate on your own with just a curling iron, a hair clip or bobby pins, comb, spray mousse and some hair spray. Check it out here…

I actually used this video as inspiration for my own wedding hair which I will be wearing in almost a month! That explains my current lack of posts..I’m so sorry! I’m about a month away from my July 4th wedding so everything is getting really hectic on my end..but I haven’t disappeared! Thanks for still visiting..More DIY posts are always in the works so please keep coming back!! <3

If you use this video to create a practice style or for your actual wedding day please send photos! We would love to share how skilled and crafty all of you diy brides truly are

I was watching Martha Stewart last week (as I always do!) and she had a beautiful spring craft on that I thought would be absolutely perfect for weddings! She created stunning fabric floral bouquets and it seemed pretty simple to do too. I’m definitely tempted to add another project to my growing list of diy things for my July wedding…fabric hydrangeas!

Here are her fantastic instructions! (If you’d rather watch the video click here!)

You will need…

• fabric (voile works nicely!)
• tray (something shallow like a clean baking sheet)
• medium paint brush
• liquid fabric stiffener
• petal and leaf craft punches (available at Michael’s and Walmart)
• micro hole punch
• floral pips (or stamens)
• contact cement
• floral wire (if making bouquet)
• wire cutters (if making bouquet)
• green floral tape (if making bouquet)
• hair comb(s) or pin(s) (if making hair combs/pins instead!)
• needle and thread and/or a strong glue (if making hair combs/pins)

Instructions

1. Begin by punching your fabric flowers: Lay a piece of fabric in a shallow tray. With a medium paintbrush, apply enough fabric stiffener to saturate, but not soak, the fabric. Let it dry, about 1 hour. Repeat with any remaining fabric.
2. Using craft punches, punch out petals and leaves as close together on the fabric as possible.
3. Using a micro hole punch, make a hole in the center of each bloom. Slip a pip through each hole, and secure it with a dab of contact cement.

For bouquets:

1. To make a stem, cut a length of floral wire, and wrap it around each pip with green floral tape.
2. For leaves, glue floral wire to each one to create veins and stems. Wrap stems with floral tape.
3. Gather blooms and leaves into a bouquet, and either tuck them in a vase or wrap the stems in more floral tape to join them.

For hair combs and pins:

1. If using a comb gently sew your flowers to it with needle and thread, reinforcing with a dab of strong glue (hot glue maybe?) if you like. If using pins place flowers where u want them at the top of the pin and glue with strong glue.

credit: Martha Stewart

There you go! with those easy instructions you can fill your ceremony and reception with your own handmade bouquets and centerpieces that will last forever! Beautiful keepsakes you will cherish. The hair pieces would also look good not only in your bridal hair..but your bridesmaids and flowergirl’s hair too!

Make sur eyou send in some pics if you create your own..we want to see!

If you are one of the diy brides doing their own makeup for the big day I think you’ll love these youtube videos by TiffanyD. The first video she goes over step-by-step how to create a fantastic bridal makeup look from prepping with primer, applying foundation and concealer and then creating a beautiful natural look for the eyes. It would be perfect for morning and afternoon weddings or girls who don’t want to look too made up but still want to wear makeup to play up their natural beauty on their wedding day.

The second video continues with this gorgeous bridal look by finishing up the eyes , grooming the brows, applying blush and lip color.

The videos are perfect for both those looking to look as natural as possible..all the way to those wanting to be glam! Just follow the videos and add as much or as little as you wish to personalize your wedding day look for you..You’ll be stunning!