I'm posting over at snip & scribble today about my awesome experience at Easy Canvas Prints.
Here's a little sneak peak:
Ever since we had Emily’s 1st birthday photo shoot, I’ve been dying to use the images somewhere around the house. I didn’t want to go overboard, but I did want to show off the only professional photos we had as a family. Enter: Easy Canvas Prints.
One of the few perks of living in a frigid tundra like Michigan, is that the temperatures get low enough to do projects like this one, found via Design*Sponge. I’ve seen something similar to this at a recent family holiday party — it was so welcoming to be greeted with flickering ice votives as we strolled up the driveway. In this instance, I really like the addition of some little green sprigs frozen into the ice lantern, it adds a nice pop of color and pattern!
If you’re daring enough to have a wedding in the middle of a Michigan winter, bless your heart. These ice lanterns would be a great addition to welcome guests into the chapel — staggered on the stairs, or at your reception venue — lighting the entry way.
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I just saw this idea on one of my new favorite blogs garnish. The idea and photo came from Amy Atlas via the iced blog, to give due credit. Anyway, how cute is this giving tree! Here it's intended use is for a birthday party or holiday gathering, but I love it even more for a wedding! Placing a little treat inside a simple paper bag and tying it with pretty ribbon would be more than enough to make guests jump for joy.
It seems you can DIY it for little to nothing, as long as you have a few substantial branches hanging around your yard, a bulk supply of white goodie bags and some ribbon. This would really dress up some simple sweets like jelly beans (in your wedding colors of course) or chocolate covered cherries! And if you have the time and resources you could seal them all with a customized sticker to say thanks.
If you’re having a fairly large wedding, it may be smart to plan for two giving trees, or just hang a few dozen goodie bags among the branches and the rest can be situated in tidy rows below it.
I love the romantic glow of candlelight, there’s just nothing like it! I saw a few DIY projects in some of my favorite crafting magazines over the holiday break, and they inspired me to add a little light to my home decor.
You could definitely transform these ideas into wedding décor; like these tall glass pillars with table numbers, or add a sprinkling of tiny votives around each table. I love the idea of using vintage papers or sheet music to decoupage the votives as well, it adds an elegant pattern to the mix.
There’s about a million different ways to cover a votive, so look into it and see what fits your style. Just make sure it won’t catch fire halfway through the wedding!
I don’t know about you, but I think moss can be so beautiful! I love how tactile it is, and how each pieces covers an object so naturally in a thin carpet. There are many varieties of moss, some found in your backyard, and some more exotic, but all will work for a lovely centerpiece.
You can find living moss at your local florist if it doesn’t grow near you, or you can try your hand at making your own with this tutorial. Martha Stewart also has a great how-to for creating your own moss centerpiece.
I also have a recipe for growing moss at home, I’m not sure where I pulled it from though!
1. Place a handful of moss into a blender along with a ½ teaspoon of sugar and a cup of buttermilk or yogurt.
2. Blend just enough to mix the ingredients into a paste.
3. Generously spread the mixture onto the surface where you want moss to grow.
Note: For best results, grow moss in shady areas. Do not wet the mixture once it is applied to the growing surface, it should be able to sustain life on it’s own.
Photo sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
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I love the blue bell bazaar shop on Etsy… so much that I find myself looking for excuses to browse. “Oh”, I think, “I could use this beaker as a trendy vase for my new mod bathroom”. Don’t need it, but must have it!
One thing blue bell bazaar is famous for, are their collection of vintage framed chalkboards. I love the muted colors and heirloom look, which is why I think they’d fit perfectly in a vintage inspired wedding. Indoors or out, you could write the menu on here, or the series of events for your ceremony (in lieu of a program).
Here are a few other ideas:
+ have guests write a message or draw pictures on it instead of using a guestbook. Then photograph it at the end of the night
+ Use it to write out a hand scribed thank you message to all your guests
+ Use multiple boards to point out places like the restroom, parking or beverage stations
+ Use mini chalkboards to name each table. Leave a few pieces of chalk out for the kids (or adults) to doodle.
The framed chalkboards are very affordable and would make a great statement in your home after the wedding as well!
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I see an assortment of milk glass containers almost every time I hit my local salvation army or goodwill, which puzzles me. Why would you ever want to get rid of these relics? I usually snatch up the most unique one for around $1.00 and move on.
My mother even had a collection of 20 matching milk glass vases from her own wedding, which were tragically sold in a garage sale about 3 years before my own wedding. Darn!
Above you see a handful of milk glass items, found on Etsy, if you can’t score any in your local area.
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The glowing look of lanterns swaying in the breeze is always a warm and welcoming way to greet guests, whether in a tent or out under the stars. You too can accomplish the looks above, and still stay under budget with these simple designs from IKEA.
I like these inexpensive lanterns, ranging in price from $4.99 to $24.99, because at this price, you can afford to dress up the entire venue or outdoor space. Go overboard, and switch up the sizes for a more custom look!
lantern product photos from Ikea, night sky lanterns, white aisle lanterns, tree lanterns, dance floor lanterns.
Right about now, in Michigan, the flowering trees are out in full force. Just driving 15 minutes around our little town, you can see and smell the wonderful varieties of flowering crabapple, magnolia, and cherry trees.
Sometimes I think these trees can be even more beautiful than vase full of flowers. The branches have character and accent the light blooms perfectly, which is why I thought they might make clever centerpieces! Trim a few nonchalant branches from some of your neighborhood trees for a harmless way to dress up your wedding décor.
Here’s a how-to straight from Apartment Therapy on a simple branch centerpiece.
By far, the coolest glassware set ever! I love that it’s eco-friendly, and so trendy! The gentle shapes, colors and finishes are unique and don’t scream “I have a beer bottle as a vase”!
tranSglass is produced in Guatemala from recycled and reused wine and beer bottles, andhas been accepted into the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York!
We ventured over to the outlet malls this weekend and happened to stumble in to Smith & Hawken, my favorite garden store ever! I was first introduced to the brand at Target, where they carry a small selection of their pots and garden wears.
The outlet was a dream for me, because everything was on sale! I picked up quite a few garden and home items for under $15.00! There were so many things I wanted, but it’s hard to plan a spring garden with snow still on the ground. I did however have my eye on some amazing outdoor accessories that would spruce up any outdoor reception! Above are a few of my favorites.
Aidan Gray Rusted Urns, Galvanized Carrying Caddy, Small Glass Cloche, Ice Cream Bucket Birdhouse, Modular window boxes, 3-Tier Wire Basket Stand, Vine Light Spheres, Set of 3 Topiaries.
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A new take on wedding wreaths... with paper! Elizabeth Jackson creates these intricate wreaths from pages of antique books, then adds personal touches like the butterfly, or a little message. How delightful would it be to have Elizabeth create a custom wreath for your wedding out of your favorite poetry book, or childhood story?
Before Christmas time, I decided to purchase a few original pieces of art from Etsy seller labokoff. She's based in Paris, France and combines her photography and painting skills to create these lovely digital renderings. I love them all but decided on going with the sous la pluie and the coquelicot. I knew they'd be the perfect addition to our dusty blue bedroom walls, that severely lacked character.
I don't usually flash many pictures of my home on my blog. I'm a little shy, and am well aware that it is a work in progress. There are so many little things I want to change, places to paint, hardware to change, and wallpaper borders (shudder) to take down. But I think I'm getting closer to actually finishing our guest room, maybe because it's filled with flea market finds and bargain buys, what could be easier? I was also very motivated by the latest transformation of my "sewing chair", and decided I had to share. You see, I bought the chair at the habitat for humanity store, in pretty rough shape. I've finally had time to recover the seat and coat the whole thing in a creamy shade of ivory.
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