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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 #11: Yarn-Wrapped Wreaths

By Lauren on January 21, 2013 in DIY/Crafts

A décor element that’s enjoyed a place in wedding ceremonies for centuries, the humble wreath has meaning and longevity. Our craft expert, Polly, put a delightful spin on the traditional floral version with these colorful and crafty creations, which make wonderful use of yarn and felt. Here’s our girl to share today’s doable do-it-yourself project.

These charming wreaths are a crafty classic that will fit right into your DIY wedding! Styrofoam wreaths come in all sizes, so they’re versatile depending on your wedding needs. You can make a bunch of small wreaths to adorn chair backs or the ends of church pews, or you can make a few big ones to decorate doors and windows. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can even make memorable wreath favors!

Supplies needed:

1. Styrofoam wreath (available at your local craft store in all sizes)

2. Yarn in contrasting colors

3. Moss

4. Spun cotton mushrooms (I get mine here!), feathers, felt, or other décor

5. Hot glue gun

Step 1: Wind up a ball of yarn that will fit through the wreath’s center. Tie yarn in a knot around the wreath and begin wrapping tightly. Keep wrapping! This part is a little tedious and takes a while, but it’s kind of relaxing once you get into the groove.

Step 2: When you’re ready to change colors, tie the original yarn color off and begin with the new color in the same way. You can snip the tails of yarn or wrap around them. Keep going until the entire wreath is covered in yarn.

Step 3: If you like a simple, clean look, you can stop here! These wreaths look lovely on their own, but you can add easy felt flowers for added flair. Google “felt flower tutorial,” and you’ll find oodles of varieties, or check out the felt poppy tutorial right here on Limn & Lovely! Figure out what kind of décor fits in with your wedding theme, and lay out a little grouping of decorations. Using the glue gun, stick ‘em on there. You can also use pins to attach décor to the wreath; they’ll disappear into the yarn.

Step 4: Tie a ribbon around the wreath for hanging. You’re done!

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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 #8: Hand-Embroidered Mason Jar Wraps

By Lauren on November 12, 2012 in All Posts, DIY/Crafts

The use of Mason jars is one wedding trend that we have yet to grow tired of. As far as we can tell, the budget friendliness and versatility of these humble canning containers will keep them in the wedding game for years to come. Since they make an appearance at so many weddings, however, the trick is dreaming up an original way to use them. It tickles us pink when someone comes up with an idea for breathing new life into a tried-and-true trend, and our crafty girl, Polly, has done just that with her enviable embroidery skills. Fear not; they’re easy to learn!

Hand embroidery is one of the traditional crafts that’s been transformed by the current crop of DIY enthusiasts! While it may seem intricate and intimidating, embroidery doesn’t have to be hard. It’s easy to learn a few basic stitches that look pretty darn impressive, and you can use your newfound skills to adorn anything from napkins to gift tags. I like this project because it’s super inexpensive; embroidery is a wonderfully low-cost craft (thread still costs 39¢!), and the result is a totally adorable and customizable accoutrement for your cozy outdoor wedding.

Supplies needed:

1. Canvas fabric

2. Embroidery thread

3. Embroidery needle

4. Mason jars or vases

5. Scissors

6. Pencil

Step 1: Cut a strip of canvas about an inch wide and as long as you need to tie around your jar or vase.

Step 2: With a light pencil, draw or trace the image you’d like to embroider. For this project, keep it simple! You can freehand a heart, initials, a flower, or anything else you want to represent the new couple. (There are also lots of simple patterns online; Sublime Stitching or Wild Olive are great resources for chic and modern images.) Don’t be scared of imperfection; embroidery is a homey, rustic-looking art anyway.

Step 3: Thread your needle and tie a knot at the end. Begin stitching. I like to use the backstitch, one of the easiest embroidery stitches, which is great for outlining. It’s basically a series of even up-and-down stitches; here’s a little extra instruction on the details.

Step 4: When you’re done stitching, cut your thread. Tie the strip of canvas onto a Mason jar or vase, and you’ve got a special table centerpiece that can double as a take-home for some lucky guests.

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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!