Blog / DIY wedding accessories

DIY Wedding Programs

There are so many little items and accessories that are a part of your wedding day. Keeping track of all of them and finding the perfect item for every item you need, can be difficult.
Posted on February 18, 2014
wedding-collectibles
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Exploring DIY: Fabric Flower Edition

Alternative bouquets are beautiful and fun, but putting one together yourself can be a little scary, especially if this is one of your first experiments with Do-It-Yourself. Fabric flowers are a lot of fun to make if you find the right patterns, but figuring out which ones are within your skill range can be tough. Here are a few patterns that I’ve experimented with (as a relatively unskilled DIY-er), and my mixed results: Rolled Fabric Flowers   Their Result:
Click for Tutorial
These simple little fabric rolled roses looked easy enough, so I grabbed some scraps of fabric from my junk drawer and got to work (that was my favorite part – because the roses are made in strips, it was easy to use anything I had). I used plain white glue instead of fabric glue, and it seemed to work fine, but I would definitely recommend something stronger and a little less messy if you’re making something much bigger and/or more delicate.
I didn’t roll my flowers as tightly as the original designer, but I prefer the looser design I ended up with. These were the easiest of the three, but the little blue one turned out a little rough around the edges. Final Size: between 1” and 1 ½” inches   My Result: Buttoned Fabric Flowers   Their Result:
Click for Tutorial
These were the most fun to make, but they also took the most work on my end. After printing out the pattern, cutting all the fabric, and laying out the final design, my fingers didn’t grip the needle as well as I would have liked. Maybe I just need to sharpen my scissors.
The thicker fabric seemed to work best, and I definitely recommend a nice big button for the center.
Final Size: between 2” and 2 ½” inches. My Result: Ribbon Fabric Flowers   Their Result:
Click for Tutorial
This was the only flower I had to buy material for, but it was worth it. I love the way the scrunched ribbon bends to various shapes (though it does stain, so watch out!), and the shiny material makes for a great addition to an otherwise flat bouquet.
The sewing got a little intense near the end (I think I could have used a thicker needle and thread), but it resulted in a beautiful final product. When I fluffed the resulting bloom, I was happy to see how sturdy it was, even if it didn’t look 100% like the picture.
My only complaint is that this design doesn’t work well for all types of wired ribbon. I bought a few yards of a lighter, sheer purple ribbon as well, but the wire was much less cooperative and it wouldn’t scrunch. I scrapped it and stuck with one. Final Size: 2 ½”   My Result:
Posted on August 06, 2012
wedding-collectibles
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Inspired DIY Centerpieces

Centerpieces are one of the biggest design pieces of your reception. If you hire a florist to design them for you, it can get expensive quicker than you would expect. Flowers ARE one of the biggest hunks of your wedding finance pie. So what are some simple, cost-effective centerpieces that any bride can whip together in a weekend with a little help from her loyal bridesmaids?   Vases within vases   The vase-within-a-vase technique allows you to present a complex-looking finished product with almost no hard, sweaty work. You don’t need florist-quality bunches of flowers with this technique, because it’s all about what goes in between the spaces of the vases. Even grocery store-quality blooms will look professional when you whip out this secret weapon.   After you’ve made sure your flowers  have access to plenty of water in the bottom of the inner vase, fill the space in between the big and little vase with whatever fits the style of you wedding. Jelly beans, gum drops, or other candies are a sweet option (plus, you can design according to your wedding colors or go crazy with the variety pack), but the inspiration doesn’t stop there. Many brides choose less-sticky filler options like whole fruit or gift wrap. For a more formal affair, smooth river rocks or sand give your blooms a natural and elegant look.   An Alternative plan for the not-so-crafty bride:   Teapots!   Fill assorted teapots with your favorite seasonal flowers (or paper blooms!). This is a particularly fun option for the bargain-hunting bride who would love to wade through thrift stores looking for quirky pots and odd containers. Offering tea (or favors!) in mismatching teacups to your guests will make your centerpieces feel more connected and completed. Make any garden party into a whimsical event!
Posted on February 28, 2012
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