DIY Guide #2
December 22nd, 2008 by SilviaI hope you all liked last week’s DIY Guide to wedding favors and invitations because we’re going DIY this week as well! Today we have some great ideas for bridesmaid gifts, groomsmen gifts and bouttonieres, an aisle runner, and even a cupcake stand. Enjoy and check out our last DIY Guide on Monday! Also, be sure to check out our selection of DIY wedding favors and favor boxes, bags, and labels for your DIY needs!
1) Bridesmaid’s Double Strand Pearl Necklaces (via Elizabeth Anne Designs)
What You’ll Need:
Jewelry Wire
Pearls
Crimp Tubes
Beads
Instructions:
1. Cut the wire to your desired length, leaving a few additional inches and put it through the crimp tube.
2. String it through the eye where you attach it to the clasp and then put it back through the crimp tube. Pull the tube tight, up to where it’s strung through the clasp.
3. After the wire is secure and tight, string your pearls and beads in whatever pattern you desire. When finished, attach the other side of the clasp the same way as before.
4. To add extra strength, thread the extra wire back through the beads instead of cutting it. Be aware that not all the beads are drilled in the same way so it may be more difficult on some than others.
5. Repeat the process for the second strand.
2) Star-fish Boutonnieres (via Style Me Pretty)
What You’ll Need:
one inch bar pins
small starfish
strong glue
Instructions:
1. Apply glue to the back of the bar pins and to the back of the starfish where the bar pins will be attached.
2. Attach the bar pins to the starfish and lightly press them together. Let them dry completely with the bar pin side up.
3) Bridesmaid Jewelry Boxes (via Style Me Pretty)
What You’ll Need:
Needle and Thread
Fabric Stuffing/cotton balls
Fabric
Pen/pencil for marking
Scissors
Glue (anything that dries clear and doesn’t cause paper to wrinkle like mod podge or bookmaking glue)
Ribbon / Pin / Jewel / Embellishments for the box
Glue brush (optional, but makes things easier)
Decorative paper (no tissue paper)
Instructions:
1. Cut the paper: Trace and cut out 4 pieces of paper- one for the base, one for the outside of the lid, one for the inside of the lid, and one for the sides of the box. The outside lid piece will need an inch in of slack around the actual size of the lid, and the base will need 1/2 an inch extra (as shown). Double the width of the paper for the outside of the box, as it will also cover the inside of the box (see step 5).
2. Glue lid and base to the middle of each paper cut out. The outside of the lid should get the bigger piece. Take care to use as little glue as possible on inside of lid- it still needs to fit on the box.
3. Cut several slits in the surrounding paper edges. As you fold and glue the paper around the edges and corners of the box, this will compensate for the curves (No cutting is needed if you’re using a square or rectangular box).
4. Glue the last paper strip to the outside of the box, cutting the excess in the same manner as in step 4. Fold and glue the strips to the inside of the box. This excess paper should cover much of the box on the inside. Set pieces aside to dry.
5. Trace the box shape onto the fabric, leaving about 1/2 an inch in excess on all sides.
6. Turning the fabric inside out, sew the two pieces together in a simple stitch, leaving a small opening un-sewn.
7. Turn fabric pillow inside out, and stuff with cotton balls / fabric stuffing (or even toilet paper!)
8. Place the pillow inside the box.
9. Turning lid face down, glue ribbon to inside of the the lid. (as before, take care to use as little glue as possible- the lid will need to fit on the box)
10. Wrap the ribbon around the lid and back to the inside, gluing securely.
11. Glue last lid template inside lid to hide ribbon ends.
12. Glue desired embellishments onto the box.
4) Wedding Party Gifts: Books (via Elizabeth Anne Designs)
What You’ll Need:
Books (as many as needed for wedding party)
Wrapping paper
Decorative ribbon
Instructions:
1. Purchase and wrap books in your choice of wrapping paper and tie with a decorative ribbon.
Note: You can buy used hardcover books from thrift stores and used bookstores for $1-$2 each. Find your favorites, or classics like poetry or Shakespeare.
5) Ring Palette (via Elizabeth Anne Designs)
What You’ll Need:
Art palette
Acrylic paints
Ribbon
Crystals or rhinestones
Instructions:
1. Create your design on a piece of paper.
2. Draw the design onto your palette.
3. Use acrylic paints to draw over your drawing.
4. After the paint is dried, glue the silk ribbon onto the back of the palette
5. Glue your crystals or other embellishments.
6. Tie up the wedding rings!
6) Boutonnieres (via The Event Essentials)
What You’ll Need:
Blooms for boutonnieres
Bucket
Floral wire
Green waxed floral tape
Ivy leaf, fern frond, or other greenery
Pearl-tipped corsage pins
Pencil
Resealable plastic sandwich bag
Ribbon in a complementary wedding-day colour (optional)
Stem cutter or sharp knife
Stem stripper
Wire cutters
Instructions:
2. Choose a particular stem and/or flower for the boutonniere. Use a stem cutter or sharp knife to cut the stem to a length of approximately three inches. Create a bed for the flower: Take an ivy leaf, fern frond, baby’s breath, or other bit of greenery and place it behind the flower. Knot Note: The bed should not extend much beyond the top of the flower and should be visible from the sides. Place a six-inch piece of wire behind the stems.
3. Prepare the stems: Starting from the top of the stems, begin to wrap floral tape down the stems in a spiral to secure them together; wrap until about 3/4 of an inch is covered. Trim away the excess stem and continue to wrap floral tape around the wire about three inches down, then wrap the tape back up toward the flower head. Once you’re back at the top, wrap tape around several times to be sure it’s secure. Trim the excess tape.
4. Finish the boutonniere stem by trimming the wired and wrapped stem so the total length is about 1 1/2 inches. Curl the end around a pencil point and pinch the tip to finish it. Attach a ribbon bow (if you like). Depending on the weight of the boutonniere, insert one or two pearl-tipped pins into the stem to use later for attaching it to the lapel.
5. Mist it with water and place it in a resealable plastic sandwich bag (blow a puff of breath into the bag before you seal it to provide airspace around the boutonniere). You can place up to two boutonnieres in the same bag.
Note from Mrs. Designher: Decide if you prefer to make your boutonniere with real or fake supplies. Real flowers will give you a more realistic look, whereas fake flowers will be easier to work with and can be made ahead of time. Besides using just flowers, check out other items such as buttons, leaves, feathers, shells, beads, fabric, or even wire. Be creative! Instead of pinning your beautiful DIY boutonniere on with a pearl pin, find a beautiful brooch that sets the theme for your event. The ladies can even wear these instead of corsages and the brooch will then become a keepsake for them.
7) Aisle Runner (via Style Me Pretty)
What You’ll Need:
White Muslin
Iron
Stencil of your choice
Printer
Acrylic Craft Paint
Easy Hem Adhesive
Instructions:
1. Purchase white muslin that is wide enough for your church aisle (approximately 45″ wide) and long enough to span the aisle.
2. Layout the muslin and iron the section you wish to do the logo. In the above example, the stencil is towards the bottom of the runner.
3. For this design, arrange the stencil so that you will be able to fit two of them angled where the ends almost touch.
4. Complete the circle by rotating the stencil around four times.
5. For the initials, create your layout on the computer and print it. Place the paper under the fabric centered in the circle. You will be able to see the initials through the fabric. Trace the initials with acrylic craft paint. Do the same thing for the date.
6. The edges of the muslin are already serged all you have to do is serge or hem the top and bottom of the muslin.
8 ) Cupcake Tier (via Style Me Pretty)
What You’ll Need:
Cupcake Tower
Large Sheets of Decorative Paper or Wrapping Paper
Craft Acrylic Paint
Decorative Ribbon
Instructions:
1. Either make or buy a standard cupcake tower. The example above is a basic cardboard frame.
2. Use the cupcake tiers as stencils for the paper and cut your paper accordingly. Note: In this example, the bride used wrapping paper with maps of Italy.
3. Glue the paper onto the tiers.
4. Paint the levels between the tiers black with craft acrylic paint.
5. Cover edges with ribbon using a hot glue gun.
