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Something Crafty #15: DIY Etched Glass

By Lauren on April 5, 2013 in DIY/Crafts

When it comes to do-it-yourself weddings, more and more brides are upping the craft ante by dreaming up or recreating elaborate projects that hardly look homemade. These complex creations can be terrifyingly unnerving to the Sunday crafter who wants a little piece of the wedding crafting action, so today’s tutorial offers a comfortable middle ground. Etched glass has an appearance of sophistication, but mastering the technique of simple glass etching is actually quite doable. Our resident crafter, Polly Conway, is here to show you how to jazz up ordinary glassware using this centuries-old art form.

Etched glass is a perennial wedding favorite; it’s classy, personalized, and . . . totally doable at home! Glass etching is kind of intimidating (and a little bit dangerous), but it’s so worth the extra effort. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be amazed at how professional and, dare I say, beautiful your etched pieces will look. Wedding-wise, you can etch champagne flutes, candle holders, pint glasses, Mason jars, mirrors, and more, creating unique heirloom glassware. If it’s glass, you can etch it! And it’s versatile; go for a classic Victorian look or something more modern, such as the look we achieved by using simple geometric shapes.

Supplies needed:

1. Glass (Use an old jar for your first try.)

2. Etching cream

3. Contact paper

4. Wooden popsicle stick

5. Painter’s tape

6. Rubbing alcohol

7. Rubber gloves

8. Stencils

9. Scissors

Step 1: Clean glass surface with alcohol. If the glass is dirty or smudged, the etching process won’t work.

Step 2: Choose your stencil image and trace it onto a piece of contact paper. For beginners, it’s easier to etch a larger area without too many details. Fun options include letters, stripes, polka dots, or hand-cut geometric shapes. Reminder: The area that gets etched is the part that’s exposed, so cut your stencils accordingly. You can cut out your own letters and shapes with the contact paper, but you can also usepre-cut alphabet stickers for ease.

Step 3: Peel and stick contact paper stencil onto the glass. Press around the edges to make sure it’s secure, adding painter’s tape on all sides. Swipe area to be etched with alcohol again in case of fingerprints. (This stuff can be fussy!)

Step 4: Put on gloves. (Etching cream is crazy toxic: If it can change the properties of glass, you don’t want it on your skin. See packaging for more safety details.) With popsicle stick, spread an even layer of etching cream onto the area you want etched. Wait 3-5 minutes, then spread the cream around again, moving any crystals to create the most even finish. Leave cream on for a total of 5-10 minutes.

Step 5: With gloves still on, rinse cream off with warm water. Remove stickers and tape. Dry glass. A frosted image should remain!

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Something Crafty #12: Neon Skeleton Keys

By Lauren on February 5, 2013 in DIY/Crafts

You’ve probably seen rusty old skeleton keys turn up at quite a few vintage-themed weddings. Given their symbolism and their beautifully ornate look, with the tops, or bows, featuring Gothic trefoils, quatrefoils, and other intriguing shapes, they’re an unsurprisingly popular wedding décor item. Today, our crafty girl, Polly Conway, has given these antique icons a modern makeover using acrylic paint and washi tape for a fun, updated twist on the trend. Here’s Polly with all the colorful details.

Keys! They’re a classic, symbolic piece of wedding décor. I wanted to create a modern, versatile take on the skeleton key by combining two of my favorite trends: washi tape and neon. These bold keys can adorn favors, hang from floral arrangements, or be used as color-coded escort cards. Read on for this super-simple how-to!

Supplies needed:

1. Vintage-style keys (I used these inexpensive replicas meant for scrapbooking!)

2. Acrylic paint in chosen colors

3. Paintbrush

4. Washi tape

5. Scissors

6. Kraft paper tags

7. Baker’s twine

8. Optional: letter/number stamps

Step 1: Decide which parts of the keys you’d like to paint. Paint a thin layer on each and let dry for 10-15 minutes. Repeat until the color you want is achieved. One or two layers will create a distressed look, while three or four will give a more uniform color. (Waiting for the paint to dry is by far the hardest part of this project.)

Step 2: Wrap a length of washi tape around the body of the key, sticking it together to create a little flag. Tear ends of tape, or use scissors to snip simple designs.

Step 3: Almost done! The painted and taped keys already look great as is, but depending on your needs, you can add more detail by attaching them to kraft paper tags with baker’s twine or stamping words directly onto the washi tape tags.

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Guest Post: Wedding Party + DIY Photo Placeholders

By Lauren on January 15, 2013 in All Posts, DIY/Crafts

Today’s guest post comes from Stephanie of Wedding Party, which has developed an amazing free app for iPhones and Androids that allows your friends and family to more actively participate in the joy of your wedding by enabling them to easily capture and share all the fun, candid moments from the day—the ones that might easily be missed by your photographer! Here, Stephanie shares a simple and sparkly DIY photo project that’s easy on the eyes—and the wallet!

Photos are a great way to add a personal touch to your décor and to share memories with your friends and family. There are tons of unique and easy ways to incorporate photos into your wedding celebration, and one of my favorite ways is with photo placeholders!

Finding your spot at a wedding reception can often be a chaotic experience. However, this can be solved easily (and gorgeously!) with a photo placeholder for each guest. I was so inspired by this Thanksgiving-themed placeholder from Photojojo that I decided to adapt the concept to make it suitable for weddings. Photojojo used pumpkins for their placeholders, but of course, those are seasonal and not for everyone’s wedding! I put my own twist on the idea by using a small glass bottle filled with glitter instead. Not only will these photo placeholders brighten up your wedding reception, they’ll also make it easy for guests to find their seating assignment. Plus, they take about five minutes to make—a definite bonus when you’re a DIY bride crunched for time!

What you’ll need:

A photo
Cardstock
Glue
Scissors
A ruler
A paperclip
A small glass bottle with a corked stopper (I got mine at Michaels for a dollar!)
Glitter!

Step 1: Trace and cut out a square of cardstock on which to mount your photo. Use a ruler to measure and trace a large enough square of cardstock.

Step 2: Cut out the square of cardstock. With a glue stick, apply glue to the back of your photo and mount it on the cardstock.

Step 3: Write your guest’s name and his or her table number on the back of the cardstock.

Step 4: Take the outside prong of the paperclip and straighten it out so that you can stick the end into the stopper.

Step 5: Fill the glass bottle with glitter! It was easy enough for me to pour the glitter directly into the bottle, but you may need to make a paper funnel to minimize glitter spillage.

Step 6: Put the stopper on the glass bottle, with the paper clip stuck on the top. Clip your photo to the top (bent end) of the paper clip. Your photo should stay, and—voila!—you now have a pretty placeholder!

If you’re guest list is too long to make a photo placeholder for everyone, these work great for bridal showers or bridesmaid brunches, and they make cute keepsakes. We hope that you try this idea out and let us know what you think! Would you make these placeholders for your special event?

To learn more about Wedding Party’s fabulous app, visit their website here, or stop by their daily blog for inspiration, tips, DIY projects, and more!

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Something Crafty #10: Pinecone Cake Toppers

By Lauren on January 8, 2013 in Cakes and Desserts, Décor, DIY/Crafts

When it comes to wedding details, there are few things we love more than an adorable handmade cake topper. Although this little bauble may seem like a trivial element, it’s kind of like the Magi’s star atop a Christmas tree—a little bit of magic happens the moment it’s shifted into place, and a tree just isn’t a Christmas tree without it. Created by Polly Conway, our crafty girl extraordinaire, with the cute-minded bride in mind, these retro-inspired pinecone toppers have a little seasonal sparkle and are the perfect finishing touch for a homespun—think spackled buttercream—winter wedding cake. Here’s Polly with all the details.

I fell in love with spun cotton a few years ago when I thrifted some incredibly detailed Christmas ornaments, painstakingly crafted from simple supplies like crepe paper, pipe cleaners, and yarn. They were so sweet, and their little faces had so much personality! I wanted to see if I could replicate that retro look on my own, and after some experimenting, I’m sharing my process with you in the form of bride ‘n’ groom cake toppers. Again, these little friends can double as favors or table décor; heck, you could make one for each member of the bridal party!

Supplies needed:

1. Spun cotton balls (Get any size here, and have fun browsing the other gorgeous millinery treats!)

2. Pinecones

3. Felt-tip pens

4. Hot glue gun

5. Craft glue

6. Various supplies like pipe cleaners, crepe paper, yarn, German glass glitter, millinery flowers, or dollhouse miniatures

7. Wood or cardboard base

Step 1: Hair! To create glitter hair, spread craft glue around a spun cotton ball (the head), then dip into a tray of glitter. Let dry. For yarn hair, add glue, then gently drape pieces of yarn onto the head. Let dry. You can trim later.

Step 2: With the hot glue gun, attach the spun cotton balls to each pinecone, creating a head and body.

Step 3: Use felt-tip pens to add features to the face. Keep it simple: two black dots for eyes, a small red line for the mouth, and a little pink blush if desired. You can also add freckles or lashes if you’re feeling ambitious.

Step 4: Wrap a length of pipe cleaner around the neck to create arms. Bend as needed. You can also add legs with the glue gun.

Step 5: With glue gun, attach figures to the base. Now you can give your bride and groom some character and create a little scene using your extras. Have fun!

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Something Crafty #9: Felt Poppies

By Lauren on December 9, 2012 in All Posts, DIY/Crafts

In creating today’s DIY project, Polly drew inspiration from one of our recent mood boards: Icelandic Poppy. Although poppies are extraordinarily beautiful, they can be hard to come by, and they’re not exactly cheap, so we decided to make a more economical alternative using one of the craft world’s most versatile materials: fun and funky felt! Here’s Polly to fill you in on all the DIY details.

Having grown up in California, I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for the poppy. It’s the state flower, and my parents’ front yard fills with them every year. They’re such a delicate but vibrant flower, and when I saw Limn & Lovely’s Icelandic Poppy mood board, I was struck by poppy love and wanted to replicate that heavenly bouquet immediately. Using simple supplies such as felt and yarn, I tried to mimic the wintry beauty that poppies bring! You can make a whole flower in just a few minutes; these felt poppies are great for bouquets, of course, but can also easily be made into boutonnieres, pins, or hair clips. Have fun!

Supplies needed:

1. Felt (Regular ol’ felt is inexpensive and works great, but you can upgrade to a wool blend for more vibrant colors and a gorgeous texture.)

2. Paper for template

3. Green floral stems

4. Floral tape in green or brown

5. Black or yellow eyelash yarn

6. Scissors

7. Thread

8. Needle

Step 1: Create your petal template using printer paper or another type of thin paper. There are lots of printable options; I used these and also made a few of my own. You can freehand some uneven circles and some lumpy bow-tie shapes; honestly, the less perfect they are, the more they’ll look like real poppies once they get stitched together. Try a few combinations and see what you like best. Pin the template to your felt and cut out a bunch of petals.

Step 2: Stack two smaller petals on top of the large round one. Then wrap a 5-10″ length of eyelash yarn around your finger. This will create the middle (the stigma, if you wanna get technical) of the bloom. Slide it off and place it in the middle of the flower.

Step 3: Thread the needle and tie a knot at the end. Grab all the petals and bring your needle up through the middle, including all layers. Bring it back down, stitching to secure the yarn to the petals. Do this a few more times, then tie the thread off and snip ends.

Step 4: You now have a flower! To give it some shape, stitch a circle around the back, then pull it tight and tie a knot. Arrange the petals.

Step 5: Snip two small slits in the back of the flower, then loop a wire stem through, twisting to tighten. Wrap with floral wire.

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Something Crafty #7: Handmade Envelopes and Liners

By Lauren on November 1, 2012 in DIY/Crafts

Everyone loves getting something pretty in the mail, something shiny and bright and sent with love tucked in among the piles of angry-looking bills and obnoxious junk mail. A wedding provides the perfect opportunity to fill your loved ones’ mailboxes with lots of mood-lifting prettiness, so why not try your hand at making your own envelopes instead of settling for the generic store-bought kind? It’s easy, we promise! Here’s the lovely Polly to show you how.

If you’re getting married, you’re going to need a lot of envelopes. You’ve got save the dates, bridal shower invites, bachelorette party invites, the actual wedding invitation itself, thank-yous—it’s quite a list! If you feel like going the extra mile, making your own envelopes is pretty darn easy and super satistfying, and it gives you the power to create the exact patterns and color combinations of your dreams!

Supplies needed:

1. Scrapbooking paper/card stock in colors of your choice

2. Envelope and liner templates (I got mine at Paper Source (they’re sturdy and reusable), but you can also download your own templates and print ‘em out.)

3. Bone folder or letter opener

4. Double-sided tape or glue stick

5. Scissors

6. Scalloped scissors (optional)

7. Pen or pencil

Step 1: Trace lightly around the envelope template with your pen or pencil. Keep the template in place.

Step 2: With the bone folder or other non-sharp device, score (press hard along) the paper where you’ll be folding it later. This will make the folding easier and ensure that your envelope will look extra tidy. Cut.

Step 3: Trace around the envelope liner template and cut out. You can use scalloped scissors to give the liner a softer and more detailed look. Place inside the unfolded envelope, then, when you see where you want it to be, add some double-sided tape or glue and stick it.

Step 4: Add tape to the appropriate areas of the envelope itself and fold it into its final shape. Everything should stick nicely, and you now have a lovely handmade envelope!

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Something Crafty #4: German Glass Glitter Leaves

By Lauren on October 7, 2012 in DIY/Crafts, Fall

The Rolls Royce of glitter meets the rustic charm of October foliage in today’s DIY tutorial. Here’s Polly to show you how you can add some autumnal sparkle to your fall wedding using German glass glitter and fallen leaves.

California doesn’t get a lot of extreme seasonal changes, but here in Oakland, we’re lucky to get a bevy of falling autumn leaves from our namesake oak trees. This week, the colors took a turn for the amazing, and I was immediately inspired! I’ve seen lots of wedding projects using fake leaves, but I wanted to make use of the real deal, especially since they’re beautiful, plentiful, and right outside my front door.

German glass glitter is one of my favorite craft supplies; unlike your average preschool-style glitter, it’s made from real glass and adds real class to anything you sprinkle it on. It’s wildly versatile and comes in all colors of the rainbow, so it’s perfect for wedding celebrations! I created a simple way to turn your fallen leaves into sparkling decorations for favor boxes, garlands, or to enhance place settings and tables with a bit of autumn magic.

Supplies needed:

1. Leaves (If you’re in a leaf-free zone, you can buy real pressed leaves on Etsy.)

2. White craft glue

3. German glass glitter (I get mine here)

4. Optional: archival pens in contrasting colors

Step 1: Make sure your leaves are clean and dry. With a popsicle stick or straight from the tube, spread glue on your chosen part of the leaf. You can add glue to just the tips, follow the natural veins or outline of the leaf, or cover the whole thing. It’s up to you!

Step 2: Dip the glue-covered area into the glitter. It should adhere right away, but if you want more to stick, press the leaf down into the glitter and hold. Allow to dry for 30 minutes.

Bonus step: Before gluing and glittering, you can dip the leaves in hot wax for added shine and posterity. (Here’s a more detailed tutorial for the waxing process.)

Step 3: If you like, write a message or draw a picture on each leaf with a pen. Now you’re ready to turn these leaves into tags, flags, table number cards, or whatever your creative mind comes up with!