Pintrest: Marquee Letter

Today marks a month adventure though the world of Pinterest Crafts!

I'm Maggie, one of the interns (I like to think of myself as the crafty one. Paige is the brains!) here at Bliss Wedding & Event Design.  I have been given this month to show you how doable some of these crafts we see on Pinterest are.  Lucky me because I'mm ambitious and would like to think that I can do everything I see! But as a recreational crafter, I have limits and some of those crafts we see are done by people who do nothing other than that!

But when it comes to weddings in particular I would have to say that most times, I can only do the same thing about 5 to 9 times before I want to hurt everything mostly because I find the work to become too tedious. At a wedding you have at least 10 tables and well I am reaching my upper limit at that point, BUT that should not scare you away from doing maybe one DIY project! So I am going to show you the good the bad and the ugly from my month of DI[wh]Y projects. Some will look awesome others may not. Keep your eyes peeled for the photo lantern. I am already having nightmares about that one! But today's craft was pretty simple and lost cost. It would be a cute decoration for your wedding.

Supplies:
Large Cardboard letter ( I got mine at Joann's)
White paint Globe Christmas tree lights ( LED or Normal, but I saw use LED they get less hot)
X acto knife

1. You will need to paint the letter white and let dry fully.



2. Next you take the X-acto knife and cut out the back, but not to close to the edges. I would say the cut needs to be about two inches wide.

3. This is the tricky step. You will need to space the light blubs and then cutting an X pattern on the painted side of the letter you will mark where all the letters go.



4. after cutting all the X's you will need to push the end of the light bulb thought he middle of the X. Do this for all of them.

5. Then if you have a letter like mine you need to remove the zig zaggy cardboard, so that you can do the next step.



 6. Time to reach the light blubs with the cord. This takes some patience and a willingness to fiddle with it. But once you get the first few the rest are as easy as pie!

7. PLUG IT IN!

 

 Very cute and inexpensive was to put your initials up somewhere at the wedding.

Happy Crafting!

 xoxo, Maggie

Wedding Trend: Bow Napkin Fold

These past few weeks have been quite the blur. With weddings, the beginning of the holiday season and getting to give a presentation to the hospitality students at The Ohio State University, there has been little room to breathe. But that is what makes my job so great. It is fast paced, always evolving and you get to learn from all different avenues! Take our wedding next week for example. The bride has seen a napkin that is folded into bow cuteness! So Paige, Maggie and I are going to be folding all the napkins next week, but we wanted to give you a sneak peek at the fold! Our example is by no means perfect but keep an eye out next week sometime to see it perfected! Check out our facebook page! It is what I would call the command center. It gets updates from everything! Happy Wednesday!




 xoxo, Kasey & The Bliss Girls

Home and Garden Show: Deck your Holiday Parties!

We are working a little behind, but a few weekends ago we had the pleasure of doing some demonstrations at the home and garden show! We did a few really easy and simple centerpieces.

 The lime topiary was done with a foam cone that you can buy at any craft store and about 40 to 50 limes depending on the size of the cone. To attach the limes you can use wooden skewers. Cut the skewers at an angle and put the skewer into the lime at an angle so it won't fall off. Then you can throw in a few little flowers! We used button mums that you can buy at your local grocery store. So simple and easy peasy! Just add a little ribbon to the top and your are done.

 The lime and blueberry centerpiece you will need a 4" square and 6" square. You will need to cut up the limes or any fruit of choice into thin slices and then slide them in between the two vases. You could add things like blueberries or cranberries (for more of a holiday feel). Then water goes in the smaller vase and whatever flowers you would like!


 Wishing you the happiest of late september!

 


xoxo Kasey & The Bliss Girls

Fingerprint Hearts

Annette and Dan, as featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, made these adorable wedding favors by incorporating Dan's love for music and their fingerprints. Fingerprint hearts are an unique way to personalize any wedding detail. Apply them to your own favors, invitations, or even use your guests' prints to make an adorable guest book. Any way you use them, fingerprints are a personal touch that will add sentimental value to the wedding for both the bride and broom and their guests.

Photo from Martha Stewart Weddings

Photo from Bleudetoi's shop on Etsy

Creative Centerpieces

Trying to find something fun yet creative for your wedding shower. These are adorable little centerpieces. You can also do this with fruit - cranberries (they float fyi), lemons, limes or oranges for a little added punch of color.

In this centerpiece, coffee beans are being used to ground these flowers and candles. Just simply fill your vase with coffee beans and the flowers you choose, add some green palm accents to get a creative and contemporary centerpiece!

Picture courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens

Bride & Groom Chocolate Covered Strawberries

When considering wedding favors, small deserts are a cute and delicious way to say thank you. One of our favorite picks are bride & groom chocolate covered strawberries. With a simple double dip, you can create these fun deserts, and all you need are strawberries, a bit of shortening, white & milk chocolate. (Add one tablespoon of shortening to the chocolate when melting it)

To make the wedding dress, dip the strawberry into the melted white chocolate. Once it is dry, you can paint on the detail with a paintbrush (used for food purposes only). If you want to add accessories, like the pink necklace shown here, just add a little food coloring to the chocolate to get the desired color.

The tuxedo is made using a double dip. First, dip the strawberry into the white chocolate. Once dry, dip each side of the strawberry into the chocolate to create the tuxedo jacket. To finish the look, simply add on the bow tie and buttons with a paintbrush.

If you are not comfortable using a paintbrush to add the detail, simply fill a plastic baggie with the chocolate, then cut a small hole in the corner of the bag. Simple use this the same as you would a frosting bag.

Summer Fair Party Ideas

photo from www.goodlifeinthecity.com

You can celebrate the summer and add some state fair flair to your next cocktail party without going into fried-cheese-on-a-stick territory!

Start things off with a sweet cocktail - try this cotton candy recipe or this caramel candy appletini. Enjoy some funnel cakes, Rachael Ray style. And at the end of the day you can send your guests home with a goldfish in a bag that won't require any fish food - these fish are encased in clear glycerin soap and tied with a cute orange ribbon. Check them out at Spoon Sisters.

Bridal Shower Centerpieces

It's spring and that means summer wedding season is almost here. In addition to summer weddings we'll also see all of our brides having their bridal showers. Bridal showers can be so fun to theme and decorate for. I saw this adorable strawberry wheat grass centerpiece month or so ago and thought it would make for an adorable summer bridal shower centerpiece. I'm sure your local florist could help create something like this with other fruits like lemons, limes or oranges for your perfectly themed shower! Or for you brave DIY brides, you can tackle this on your own by watching and learning how to create your very own.

p.s. They also make great favors for your guests to take home with them!

Cocktail Thursdays: Jalapeno Martinis

photo credit: www.cbsnews.com

Ah, the simple pleasure of the dirty martini. Crisp vodka combined with nippy olive juice makes a cocktail that is so refreshing amongst the sugary, syrupy cocktails that seem to be everywhere these days. Next time you feel like a martini, try this recipe for one infused with the spice of jalapenos. Making the jalapeno vodka takes a bit of prep work, but a bottle lasts for ages and the taste makes it well worth it!

3 ounces jalapeño vodka
1 teaspoon dry vermouth
crushed ice

1. Pour the vermouth into a chilled martini glass and swirl to coat the inside of the glass.
2. Dispose of excess vermouth.
3. In a shaker full of ice, gently swirl or stir the vodka before straining into glass.
4. Garnish with thin slices of fresh jalapenos.

Jalapeño Vodka:
1 750-ml bottle best quality vodka
2 fresh red jalapeno, slit in 1/2 lengthwise, stem left intact
2 fresh green jalapeno, slit in 1/2 lengthwise, stem left intact
2 cloves of garlic, peeled

To prepare vodka, pour out a little from the bottle to make room for the jalapenos. Drop peppers and garlic into the bottle. Put cap back on and store in freezer over night, but preferably for a week.

Classic Cocktail Comeback: The Sidecar

The Sidecar was created in Paris during World War I and enjoyed popularity for many years before seemingly falling off the map in the 70s. Any good bartender should know how to make this classic, but many mix it poorly (probably the reason for its decline in popularity). Recently, however, the Cognac Martini has been making a comeback at trendy bars in New York City. Try this recipe for yourself and see why it's fast becoming a hipster favorite!

• 1 1/2 oz bourbon, Cognac or Armagnac
• 3/4 oz Cointreau
• 1/4 oz lemon juice

1. Pour ingredients in a mixing tin with a scoop full of ice.
2. Shake well (6-8 times or until tin is frosted over).
3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
4. Garnish with a lemon wedge (try pineapple or orange if you're feeling sassy!)

What's the Number?

Table numbers can be tricky. I find that most clients don't think about them until the very end and either a) end up creating a simple custom piece or b) using the generic table numbers the facility owns. Most times than not, we end up creating a custom piece.

This week the new Martha Stewart Weddings arrived in my mail box and I saw the cutest template for table numbers. I had to share this with you because I think these are so useful and add just a little bit of flair for not a lot of money. They are easy to use - find the style you like (there are two options) and print the numbers on the appropriate paper, trim and place in table number stand. So easy!

A Banner Day

Last week my latest issue of Martha Stewart Weddings arrived.  There was one article in particular that grabbed my attention.  There are several downloadable templates online now that you can use to make customizable banners for the wedding.  I absolutely love the templates for creating a banner that can be used in a number of locations.  My first thought was a new twist on the Just Married sign on the getaway car.  Whether you are spelling out Just Married or your monogram and date this can be a unique and very personal way to add to your wedding decor.   Another idea is to create a banner that can be hung somewhere in the wedding - Welcoming your guests or saything 'Thank You' at the end of the night. 

Pretty Little Maids

Distributing all the correct information to you bridesmaids can be a challenge for even the most organized bride. This is especially true if your special girls are spread out all over the country. These handy little cards from Martha Stewart are just the thing you need. They are so adorable and they have all the information you need. It has Dress style/color info, attach a fabric swatch, shoe details, jewelery and the bridal parties' contact information. If you use a rotary cutter with a perforating blade you can make the contact information section a card that you can tear off to keep in your purse or bag. Download the handy little template and customize just for your wedding!

Oh and the envelope can be found at Paper Source - another favorite site of mine.