Biggest DIY Project Ever!!!

My wedding was the biggest DIY project I think I've ever taken on. I've been involved in weddings before, and even currently have a couple people sucking up to me because they know they'll need my crafty skills when their big days arrive. (Yeah, Brandy Jeanne & Tiffany, I'm talking about you!)  
 

I shared several projects with you, but there were quite a few last minute ones that I didn't have time to post before the wedding craziness set in. 
 

Let's start with our save the dates! 
 

I was so proud of how these turned out, and more people seem to remember these unique save the dates better then our actual wedding invitations! I borrowed the idea from this Etsy store and loved it because we decided not to take engagement pictures so we didn't need to use pictures to make these. 

This brings me to my invitations!

It was a simple gate card with a green card printed with all the details. The gate card was then closed and put into a sleeve of burlap and ribbon. They were very time consuming, but I LOVE how they turned out.

We used mason jars as decor for the wedding. I decorated these jars that we hung on shepard hooks that lined the aisle. 

photograph by Heidi Hoffman Photography

I also used mason jars as vases for the tables. I wanted blue mason jars since I loved the look, but I didn't want to have to pay the price. So what's a girl to do? I painted them! 

photograph by Heidi Hoffman Photography

 Can you tell? 

The other table decor that I used was burlap table runners, baby food jars wrapped in lace for citronella candles and little thank you notes on every table. 

photograph by Heidi Hoffman Photography

Very simple and easy set up and take down. I loved it! 

photograph by Heidi Hoffman Photography

I wood burned bride and groom signs to hang on our chairs for our sweetheart table. 

My friend. Naomi found the perfect old fashioned drinking mugs for me, and I etched the bride and groom into them using the same font that I used on our invitations. 

photograph by Heidi Hoffman Photography

I used the mason jar design on our programs as well. They were three pages that stacked, hole punched and tied together with twine. Brandy, Tiffany and I did them in one three hours session just a few nights before the wedding. 

I also wood burned the heart sign for the card box, which was an unfinished crate that Matthew used a blow torch to bring out the wood grain on. 

photograph by Heidi Hoffman Photography

Brandy, Tiffany and I wrapped 200 sets of silverware in napkins and tied them together with a piece of burlap and ribbon. It made it easy in the buffet line to grab a roll and go through the line.

photograph by Heidi Hoffman Photography

I wrapped a candle with burlap and ribbon as a memory candle in honor of those loved ones that couldn't be with us to share in our special day.

photograph by Heidi Hoffman Photography

Speaking of people who couldn't be with us for our special day, I made these charms with pictures of both sets of my grandparents, Grandpa & Granny Bradley and Grandpa & Grandma Hiseley. I tied them to my bouquet and they were also able to walk me down the aisle, along with my parents. 

photograph by Heidi Hoffman Photography

I also wood burned little hearts and put pins on the back for my Dad, Matthew and Jason to wear instead of traditional boutonnieres. 

I also made these corsages for the Mom's and Grandma's to wear out of paper flowers and ribbon. 


My wedding was the biggest DIY challege that I ever took on, and I know that if I could go back and do it over, I wouldn't change a thing. The day was perfect! And all the little details that I made myself just added to the uniqueness of the day. 


If you're interested in seeing more wedding pictures from our special day, click here.


I'm sharing this project at the following link parties: 

~ Show Me What Ya Got @ Not Just A Housewife ~ Love It & Link It Up @ The Little Giggler ~ Talent Tuesday @ Vintage Wanna Bee ~ Wow Me Wednesday @ Ginger Snap Crafts ~ Your Whims Wednesday @ My Girlish Whims ~ Wicked Awesome Wednesday @ Handy Man Crafty Woman ~ Show & Share @ Southern Lovely ~ Creative Juice Thursday @ Momnivore's Dilemma ~ Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Creek Cottage ~ BFF Open House Link Party @ The Answer Is Chocolate ~ Weekend Bloggy Link Up @ Serenity Now ~ Strut Your Stuff Saturday @ Six Sisters' Stuff ~ Weekend Wrap Up Party @ Tatertots & Jello ~  

The Power Of Pink!!!

Did you know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month? 

Of course you did, you probably already had your mammogram too! 
(If not, what are you waiting for?) 

I was going through link parties the other day when I found this wonderful post by Mandy aka The Project Queen. She made PINK PUMPKINS!!! 

So of course, I had to copy borrow such a genius idea! 

And I already had just the perfect person to give it to! 

 

I might have mentioned before that my Mom is a chemo nurse (which is like the rock stars of nursing...at least in my opinion). In August, one of her long time co-workers was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was shocking to everyone in her office, because when you spend all your time taking care of people that have cancer, you never suspect that you could have it, too. But this wonderful woman, is a true fighter and is handling her situation with such grace. When I saw Mandy's pink pumpkin I knew that I had to make one for her, because I want her to know that I'm sending good healing thoughts her way!

Mandy is urging everyone to paint some pink pumpkins this October because according to her, pink is the new orange!

It's Fall, Ya'll!!!

When I began plotting the wreaths that I was going to be making for the fall/Halloween season, I asked my Mom if she wanted a fall wreath of a Halloween wreath. I wasn't surprised when she said she wanted a fall wreath, since she it's something she didn't have to change out until after Thanksgiving and it's time to pull out the Christmas decor. 

So I kept my eye out for fall wreath ideas and ran across this idea on Pinterest.  I figured it would be pretty easy to find fake pumpkins at the craft store, so it would be the perfect idea. That's when the search began. It wasn't too hard to find the pumpkins, but they were either too big, or they were grouped with gourds as well, so you would have to buy more packages just to get the amount of pumpkins that were necessary. 

I spent one Sunday afternoon searching two different dollar stores, before deciding on a whim to check out Craft Warehouse. Of course, since that was the last place I checked that was where I found exactly what I needed. And they were even on sale! 

I decided to keep my pumpkins orange, since my parents front door is white. I took my flat wreath ring and painted it bronze. It won't really show very much from the front, but I still wanted it to match the ribbon I was using. Then I glued on my loop of ribbon that I was using for a hanger. Then I laid my pumpkins out on the wreath form to position them before I glued them down with my trusty glue gun, Debra.

I'm so proud of this bow!

Pretty, isn't it?

I'm so happy with how it turned out. It's a really simple idea, but it's very autumn-ish. And I'm so proud of my bow! I feel like I'm getting much better at making bows. 


I do have one more picture for you guys. 

My parents have a screen door on their front door, which is essential for when strangers come to the door to keep my parents' 95 pound Pitbull from rushing out the door to greet people. It's not conductive to picture taking, however. So once I had the wreath hung and went to take pictures, I needed the door to stay open. Since Kirra came outside to see what I was doing, I had her hold the door for me. Such a great little assistant! 

Happy first day of Autumn!  

I was featured!!!

I'm sharing this project at the following link parties: 

 

Show and Tell @ Blue Cricket Design