Logo Follow Up

As I've mentioned before, I don't have a fancy design program. Yet, I was still able to create a logo/monogram for our wedding.

Inspired by Miss Sea Breeze over at Weddingbee, I have decided to talk more about the creation of our logos. I used Microsoft Publisher, it's a basic program that you should have and may not even know it. It's great at creating shapes, allowing you to play with fonts and alignments. You can even save your image as a picture by simply right-clicking.

Did you design your logo using a "basic" program?

P.S. Leave a comment if you need assistance using Publisher, I'd love to help!

A New Twist

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I love this Good Things from Martha (of course). The only problem is the colors available at For Your Party don't really match our theme (and I'm a ruthless color/theme snob).

After months and months of scouring the internet and following dead end leads, I may have found someone to who can provide them in either black or white. It's a nice man in Taiwan and it will take over a month to produce them and get them to me in the Deep South.

I'll let you know how it goes and provide contact information at that time.

Has anyone done this project or something similar?

Black Calla Lilly

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I saw some of these in person last weekend and fell in love! I finally have a vision for my bouquet....

It would be mostly white roses.

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With a few black calla lillies.

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And also some kermit green spider mums for a punch of color.

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I hope it will be as gorgeous as I think it will be!!

Have you experienced love at first sight with a wedding item?

Too Plain?

I created this basic logo right after we got engaged, but lately I've been feeling that it is too plain. So I created a few more options.

What do you think? Which should I use? I'm leaning towards all of them. For example, maybe use the simple one on the invites and the more ornate logos for different DIY projects.

I'm having a buffet reception.

There. I said it.

We're having the same amount of food as a sit-down dinner, just more selection and in a different format. Some of the food will be set up as live stations and some will be in a traditional buffet.

In the Southern city I call home, sit-down dinners are extremely rare at weddings. I've only been to one in my life and I've been to my fair share of fancy expensive weddings. I was actually very surprised when I heard that most brides do a sit-down dinner.

Why is this? I think it has a lot to do with the Southern culture. First, Southerners want to invite everyone and their mother (literally) to the wedding, so a buffet meal makes more financial sense. Southerners are extremely social and want to "visit" with everyone and buffet style offers the freedom to do that. Lastly, the South is a little more casual than the rest of the country and a buffet dinner fits right in down here.

Does anyone else want to hop in the buffet line with me?

I can't decide on a cake

I'm really having a tough time deciding on a cake. I know want something simple and sleek, but nothing I have seen yet is "THE ONE." Here is what I'm looking at:

I like the simple design and the lopsided tiers makes it different.

This one sorta reminds me of dress.

I like the striking look of this cake, except I would do black and white.

I really like the monochromatic pattern on this cake, it's the frontrunner as of now.

Also, I want a cake stand just like this one:

As usual, suggestions encouraged!

Envelope Guest Book

When I saw this Good Things several months ago, I knew immediately that I had to do it! I like this idea for several reasons:

1. It's different
2. It will give the guests the opportunity to write something besides their names if they choose
3. It will hopefully speed up the guest book line by allowing more than one guest to sign their name at the same time.
4. I'm already looking forward to opening all the envelopes after the honeymoon

SUPPLIES

• Scrapbook
• 12 x 12 card stock
• Glue Stick
• Scissors
• Die-Cutter (not necessary, but makes it easier)
• Envelope Die Cut
• Square Die Cut

I got my black fabric scrapbook from Michael's for $12. I originally wanted a black silk dupioni album with our monogram, but the $90 price tag was too much for me.

I used all the Die Cut supplies mentioned in my previous post.

I bought all my card stock from Michael's. I am using the black and white linen 12x12 sheets for everything. The official names are Solar White and Charcoal Black. TIP: Figure out how much you need before you go! I went 4 times for all the card stock!

I used two different types of glue. First, I used the Michael's brand glue stick for glue the envelopes closed and Elmer's Memory Book Glue Pen for pasting the envelopes to the backer sheet.

If you're using the same die cuts, here are some helpful size tips: 6 envelopes can be made per 12x12 page; 21-23 square envelope inserts per 12x12 page and 9 envelopes displayed per 12x12 page.

I choose to use the same size envelope throughout the book because I like uniformity and it was easier. I used alternating colors with black envelopes and inserts on white backer sheets and vice versa to spice it up some. I am alternating black and white pages throughout the book. I also plan to make some stickers to seal the envelope in our accent color, lime green to add some color.

Here are some pics....

OVERALL REVIEW
Difficulty: Really low

Labor: Medium

Price: Low, pretty much just paper and glue.

Sizzix Big Kick Die-Cutter

Yesterday I bought the Sizzix Big Kick Die Cutter at Michael's. It is normally $99, but the entire collection was on sale for 40% off! So I splurged! I have several DIY projects planned and after a cost/time/laziness analysis, I decided it was worth it. Here's what I bought: I bought the envelope die cut and square die cut, which I will use to make this (just a little preview of things to come:)).

I also got this tag die cut. I haven't tried it yet.

So far, I LOVE it! It's super simple to learn and use. The hardest part is getting it out of the box.

Also, there are plenty of die-cut options available online!

What craft/wedding related products have you splurged on?

Z Gallerie

Maintaining my Z Gallerie obsession for the week, here are some fab things from Z Gallerie that would look great as a part of your wedding decor:

http://www.zgallerie.com/pc-7133-10-beaded-candles.aspx

http://www.zgallerie.com/pc-7072-10-yardley-pillar-holders.aspx

http://www.zgallerie.com/pc-7063-10-quintet-taper-holders-set-of-5.aspx

http://www.zgallerie.com/pc-6959-10-occhio-votive-holders.aspx

http://www.zgallerie.com/pc-6927-10-bella-pillar-holder-10.aspx

http://www.zgallerie.com/pc-7174-10-lumiere-glass-bowl-red.aspx

http://www.zgallerie.com/pc-7165-26-talia-table-linens-brown.aspx

http://www.zgallerie.com/pc-7116-26-squared-jeweled-trays.aspx

http://www.zgallerie.com/pc-7038-26-silver-rhinestone-napkins-set-of-4.aspx

http://www.zgallerie.com/pc-4888-15-mirage-tray.aspx

http://www.zgallerie.com/pc-2298-15-large-atlantis-clam-shell.aspx

The Inartistic Take A Bough

I really want to do this as a part of my programs...but the colors aren't right. So, after a few days, I finally figured out how to change the color of the original picture! I'm not really good with this computer thingamajig, and the most advanced program I have is Microsoft Word....seriously. But, I did it and I found another tree picture I like too. I can't decide which one I like better! Opinions?

Take a Bough

Image via marthastewart.com

I love this Good Things! I can see it now….all the guests whispering to each other as they compare their personality traits to those listed from their respective tree…and it will make long ceremony a little more interesting.

You can download the template here. Only problem is, the file is a PDF, and these colors don't necessarily go with my wedding....

I am insane.

This is why.

WTH was I thinking? 1250 toothpicks? UGH!!!

Has anyone else gotten in over their head with DIY projects?

P.S. When I googled "insane," this picture of my beloved B. Spears showed up on the first page.

Source: Lonestar Times

Marquis Cake Server

I bought this gorgeous cake server from Z Gallerie today. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

P.S. Is anyone else as obsessed with Z Gallerie as me?

Crystal Beaded Toothpicks

Here's the instructions for making the crystal beaded toothpicks seen here.

SUPPLIES

• Square Round Tip Toothpicks (I bought 1250 for a 250 guest wedding, I don't know if this too much or too little, I should probably google this.)
• Beads
• 3mm acrylic jewels
• Aleene's Glass & Bead glue (I don't know if this is the right glue, I should have researched this, but I'm lazy.)
• Plate--you'll want to use an old one because of the glue

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Wash your hands and get a clean old plate. Your guests will be eating off these, so keep it hygienic!
2. Dip the toothpick in the glue.
3. Insert the toothpick into the bead.
4. Place the beaded toothpick onto the plate with bead on the bottom (see pic above).
5. Let dry.
6. Put glue on the top of the bead.
7. Place the crystal on the center of the bead to cover the hole.
8. Place the toothpick into a bowl or other container with beaded end up. I originally put them in a ziploc bag and several of the crystals fell off, so I definitely recommend the bowl route.

I bought everything at Michael's. Here are a few pictures:

OVERALL REVIEW:
Difficulty: Low
Labor: High
Price: Cheap

RELATED:
http://theinartisticbride.blogspot.com/2009/01/inartistic.html

My first DIY

As you can tell by the title, I'm not exactly Martha Stewart. I'm not even qualified to take out her trash. The problem is, I want a fab wedding with all the fancy details you see in her magazines. So, I must DIY!

For my first project, I needed something simple and not crucial. I decided to start with some fancy toothpicks from Martha herself.

Image via marthastewart.com

I'm not really a paper flower fan, so I used crystal beads instead and tiny rhinestone on the top to cover hole in the top of the bead.

Here's the end result (I don't have a very good camera, sorry):

I love them! I will post the full instructions in another post.