Little Birdie Secrets

Showing posts with label wedding. Show all posts

Saturday, March 9, 2013

spring table centerpiece idea {and a silhouette double-sided adhesive banner}

I am still relatively furniture-less (why am I so indecisive?), so I have been relying on my kitchen table to satisfy my need to decorate with seasonal tablescapes. (Love that word, by the way, if it really is a word. Sometimes I make things up.) Anyway, here are a few ideas to get your creative "tablescaping" juices flowing (now I know I made that word up).

Instead of a tablecloth, which might have fought with the display, I used a long piece of kraft wrapping paper as a table runner. This is one of my favorite ways to dress up a tablescape because it doesn't matter if it gets dirty, and it's waaay cheaper than a good tablecloth!

Next, pull out all those apothecary jars you have left over from that candy centerpiece you did for your last birthday party or shower. I love using these for every season--just fill it with something colorful or symbolic of the time of year. Depending on how many you have, that could be your centerpiece right there. I filled this one with Robin Eggs candy. Dangerous, I know, but so colorful and cute!

I "filled" this apothecary jar with a decorative bird's nest with the sweetest blue robins eggs in it (non-candy variety). I stacked it on a few books to give it some height.

I loved this darling tin tub with burlap and "No. 4" stenciled on it. I found it at Taipan Trading in Utah, but you could easily reproduce it with a tub of your own, a small piece of burlap, a stencil, and a black Sharpe marker! I filled it with faux potted tulips (I added a few more after this photo because it was looking a bit bare, but you get the idea).

I also added a couple of other fresh-looking spring pieces (more silk flowers, a ceramic bird, and a moss-covered bunny), then anchored it with a green wreath in the center. After I had it all put together, I thought the wreath looked a little bare, and I also wanted to make it more of an Easter display rather than simply Spring, so I added an Easter bunting featuring the words "He Is Risen". Here's how to make one:

Cut the pennants out of book pages either by hand or with a die cut machine (I used my Silhouette SD). Next cut the letters out of double-sided adhesive paper (mine is from Silhouette). See this tutorial for more into on this great stuff! Then add silver German glitter glass to the adhesive letters and hang the pennants on some baker's twine.

And, since I"m completely incapable of simplicity, I added a few embellishments, like yellow pom-pom trim. . .

. . .and little paper flowers from Bazzill. But that is entirely up to you and how crazy you personally are.

Ta-da!

Then I hung it on my wreath.

My poor family is getting used to eating at the table but not being able to see each other over the various vases and floral arrangements I've been covering the kitchen table with. I'm just too lazy to move it. Plus it just makes me so happy to look at my little piece of Spring while this winter drags on!

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Tuesday, April 17, 2012

framed dresses centerpiece {tutorial}

Last month I was put in charge of centerpieces and other decor for a celebration of our church's women's organization's (Relief Society) 170th birthday. We used a popular theme that has been passed around during the last couple of years. It was based on the children's book The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes, which teaches love, acceptance, and forgiveness.

We also set a goal to collect 100 dresses to donate to the local women's shelter for women entering the workforce. You can find some great ideas here if you want to plan a similar activity for your group. And here are some fun centerpiece ideas that would work for this theme or for a bridal shower, tea party, or little girl's birthday party! These would even be cute in a little girl's room (something I would know nothing about).

I cut this dress out of several patterned papers using my Silhouette machine, then mounted them on a book page (to go with the literary theme). Then I framed them in various frames to use on the tables (this one was on the buffet table).

I made about 30 frames, and I had to do it on the cheap. Enter the $1 Walmart frame.

I had originally planned on having several people loan me frames to use, but I later decided I wanted them to match. In addition to a couple of thrift store finds, I found a couple of sizes of plain black wood frames at Walmart for a buck. But they looked like they cost a buck. Bring on the sand paper and spray paint!

I left some frames plain black and just sanded the edges for a distressed look. I was surprised at how much cuter they looked with just a little distressing!

My colors were aqua, pink, and black. So I sprayed some of the frames aqua and let them dry. Then I took my sandpaper to them as well. I loved how the black showed through a little.

I didn't have a chance to take pictures at the dinner, so use your imagination. We had white tablecloths and each table had a vase of my coffee filter flowers surrounded by 3 of the framed dresses.

In the area where we were collecting dress donations, we hung this cute dress bunting (which I also used as part of my Easter mantel display.

I just hung the leftover dresses from the framing project on a piece of jute with cute mini clothes pins.

And in between dresses I folded a paper doily in half and glued it together. Probably the quickest bunting/banner I've ever put together!

This was such a sweet activity, reminding us of our responsibility as daughters of God to reach out and include others in our circle of friends, not to judge others by appearance or circumstance, to forgive others when they do not show the same kindness, and to show God's love through service. I love that I got to help my sisters in the gospel enjoy a wonderful night together with a few $1 frames and some doilies! Hopefully these simple decorations will inspire you for your next girly get-together!

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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

custom vases {tutorial}

Wedding season is almost upon us, which means right now is bridal shower season! Most of my friends are married already, but that doesn't mean I don't like to set a pretty table once in a while. I just shared a tutorial for these quick and easy (and extremely cheap!) custom vases for wedding, shower, or holiday centerpieces over at Make and Takes. The best part is you can use the same vases over and over for all these different celebrations, or even just for everyday use! Check out the full tutorial at Make and Takes. . .

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Tuesday, June 14, 2011

easy recipe card holder {see us on make and takes!}

As you might know, we are regular contributors at one of our favorite blogs, Make and Takes. If you're looking for an inexpensive yet thoughtful bridal shower gift, today we're showing one that costs only about $1 and takes less than 30 minutes to make! Check out Make and Takes to learn how to make this darling recipe card holder, perfect for bridal shower season!

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Thursday, June 9, 2011

"hitched" banner {wedding photography prop idea}

Some of you know that I used to work at the Stampin' Up! corporate offices (best job ever!). If you are a Stampin' Up! demonstrator you may know my friend Pam Morgan that I worked with for many years (and you're probably jealous that I can call her my friend!). She is seriously amazing. I also had the chance to manage her son Kristjan for a while, and he is a great guy. Recently Pam asked me to make her a Kindle cover like the one I made my mom, and during the course of our conversation Kristjan came up. She sent me these pictures of his wedding last summer and I about died. Isn't she a gorgeous girl? Wow, good job, man! I am impressed.

Anyway, I fell in love with this darling "hitched" banner the couple was holding in one of their pictures and asked Pam if I could share it. Isn't this the cutest idea? (And isn't her dress to-die-for?) With summer wedding season in full swing, I thought some of you would love to have this idea for your big day. Pam made it using Stampin' Up! supplies. I bet if we bugged her enough she'd even share what they were on her blog. Leave me or Pam a comment and let's see if we can get it out of her! (Click on the picture for a closer view.)

Oh, and in case you were wondering, here's the Kindle case I made her. I knew she liked bright colors, and this piece in my stash from Heather Bailey just screamed Pam. Makes me want a Kindle or Nook just so I can make a case for myself! If you already have one, get the tutorial here.

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Thursday, July 29, 2010

tissue flower puff {tutorial}

Tissue Flower Puff Tutorial

This video originally appeared on the Lasting Memories store web site when I worked there. Now that the store is closed, I figured we needed it here for future reference! Enjoy the video, or scroll down for the step-by-step tutorial.

Tissue Flower Puff Tutorial

Supplies:
*10 rectangular sheets tissue paper (our mini flowers started with 10" x 8" sheets)
*5-6" length of fishing line, wire, string, or ribbon (longer if you want to hang it)
*Scissors

1. Lay out your stack of sheets and start folding accordion-style. Fold the entire length of your sheets, like a fan. The width of your folds will change the look a little, so experiment. Our folds were about 1" wide for the mini puffs.

2. Using scissors, round the two short ends of your folded sheets. Or, try cutting a sharp point or inverted v-shape for a different look.

3. Tie your fishing line around the center of your fan tightly. Leave a long end if you want to hang your puff.

4. Start "puffing" your flower by separating your tissue sheets.

5. Continue until your flower is nice and round. Leave one side flat if you want to use it to top a gift.

6. Another great idea--string a series of puff ball flowers into a cute garland! I simply stapled my puffs onto a piece of ribbon. Easy peasy!

You can make these in bigger sizes--just start with bigger pieces of tissue paper. These are gorgeous for baby showers, wedding showers, birthday parties, and more!