DIY Bride

Creating a custom monogram is simple using Microsoft Word. All you have to do is create a text box for each initial in your monogram and arrange the boxes so they’re spaced to your satisfaction. Easy!

1. Open Microsoft Word

2. From the DRAWING toolbar, click the “text box” button.

3. Type your initial in the text box you just created.

4. Do this for each initial of your monogram. (For example, if you”re monogram is SMT, you’ll need three boxes.)

5. Format your text boxes to feature NO FILL and NO LINE.

6. Now click on each text box and drag it to the placement and spacing that suits you.

Hints & Tips

* For PC users, if you use the arrow keys while holding down the Ctrl key, this will give you more precision in moving the boxes than if using only the mouse.

* Use different fonts and color combinations to create a beautiful and unique monogram.
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1. Create textboxes for each individual element (each letter of the monogram gets it’s own, the date or quote all goes in one)

2. Right click and on the tool bar at the bottom change the box to “no fill” and “no line”

3. Choose colors, fonts and sizes for each element

4. Move the elements around to where you want them. Use the send to back and send to front tool as needed. If you are overlapping elements obviously you need to use different colors or at least shades

5. When you have all the elements placed to your satisfaction press shift while you click each textbox so all are highlighted.

6. Right click to “group” the elements. This allows them to become one image

7. Right click and save picture as

8. Choose the format you want it saved as (I recommend .gif)

9. Now it is a saved image and you can put it anywhere!”
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Clip art are graphic images made available, either for free or for a fee, from a designer or graphic design company. Clip art images range from simple to elaborate, black and white to full color and can be found in just about any theme and style imaginable.
Since most of us aren’t graphic designers, turning to pre-designed images can be a terrific way to add impact to our wedding stationery, websites, and favors. Resources for finding clip art is available at the end of this article.There are some things to be aware of when selecting your clip art: image resolution, your printer’’s dpi capacity, and copyright.We’ll start with the last issue - copyright. When visiting a clip art site on the web, it’’s important that you understand the owner’s/designer’s copyrights. Violating copyrights is illegal. Just because an image appears on a website doesn’t make it available for download or your personal use. In most cases, the copyright information about the site’s images is usually posted. Before you grab someone else’s work, please abide by their copyright stipulations. Copyright can dictate whether you are given permission to modify, share, or even use the work at all.

We assume that you’re law-abiding, intelligent individuals and that just because you’re getting married you won’t put your morals on hold.

Probably the most important aspect of selecting clip art is the image resolution. Most clip-art available on the internet is is optimized for websites and not for printed materials, meaning that internet clip-art will print at a very low quality onto paper.

When images are created digitally (or scanned into digital format), they’re made up of dozens of little dots (pixels). Resolution is a way of measuring how many dots per inch (dpi) are in each image. Computer monitors need images of only 72 dpi to look “right”. For printing, an image needs a much higher dpi to look clean and crisp. We recommend at least 150 dpi for text and simple images and 300 dpi for more elaborate images and photographs. The higher the dpi, the better the quality of printing IF your printer can handle higher dpi.

It’s also worth noting that an image’s resolution can be lowered but it can” t be increased. It’ll be blurry and pixelated.

As for printing, your printer needs to be able to handle high resolution printing. If you’re printer is 3 years old or newer, you’re in luck. Most current inkjet printers will have zero problem with 300 dpi or higher resolution images.

Clip Art Resources

Free Clip Art

Anne’s Weddding Gifs and Backgrounds

Under 100 images

72 dpi only

Art by Cheryl

Approximately 150 images

72 dpi only

Clips Ahoy

Approximately 50 images

72 dpi only

Cool Clips

Approximately 500 images

72 dpi only

George’s Wedpage

Over 500 images

72 dpi only

GranGran’s Wedding Graphics

Approximately 100 images

72 dpi only

Pay Sources

gifART

Approximately 200 images

High and low resolution images

WeddingClipArt

Over 1,000 images

High and low resolution images

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I’ve compiled a list of resources for purchasing (and sharing ideas) for making your own invitations. There is a wide range of styles and price ranges in this group.
Invite Site - http://www.invitesite.com/

LCI Paper - http://www.lcipaper.com/

Impress - http://www.impressinprint.com/items.aspx?R=R&txtSearch=wedding

Grafcomm - http://www.formal-invitations.com/

Polka Dot Design - http://www.polkadotdesign.com/

Chic Weddings - http://www.chicweddings.com/chicweddings/invitations—stationary-imprintable-invites.html

Traylor Papers - http://www.traylorpapers.com/inex.html

Michelle Bukuts -http://www.michellebukuts.com/doityourselfinvitations.html

Invitation Shoppe - http://www.invitationshoppe.com/

Western Winds Studios - http://www.westernwindsstudio.com/

Creative Designs - http://www.creativedesignsol.com/stationary/

Paper Source - www.paper-source.com/

CJ - Paper - http://www.cjpaper.com/products.html

Printed Expressions - http://www.printedexpressions.com/store/customer/home.php?cat=267

Desktop Supplies - http://www.desktopsupplies.com/florpapclich.html

Marco Paper - http://marcopaper.com/

Creative Papers Online - http://handmade-paper.us/

Paper & More - http://www.paperandmore.com/

Colors By Design - http://www.colorsbydesign.com/

Katushka - http://www.katushka.com/

Classic Communications - http://www.classiccommunication.com/

Celebrations Galore - http://www.celebrations-galore.com/

Laura Paladino - http://laurapaladino.com/

Expect Discounts - http://expectdiscounts.com/greetingcards.html

My Expression - http://www.myexpression.com/invitations.cfm

An Invitation to Remember - http://www.aninvitationtoremember.com/

Gaddis Design (Blank Stationery) - http://www.gaddisdesign.com/Diybride.com also has a few invitation projects you may want to check out.

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4.75″ Square Program Booklet

A small booklet-style program. Measures 4.75″ square when finished. Includes 4 pages (2 pages printed front and back) plus a cover. It also doubles as a CD booklet!

Ours cost less than $0.60 cents to make, including beads, wire, and papers! Plainer versions with just paper and ribbon can easily be made for $0.25 each. Please visit our downloads area to get the template.

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A quick guideline for estimating how much wine to serve at the reception:

1/2 bottle of wine per person, per 2 hour period if wine is the only alcoholic beverage served. If you’re additionally having beer or liquor, plan on 1/2 bottle per person, per 3 hour period.

For example:

* 200 guests + 5 hour reception + wine only = 250 bottles of wine (roughly 20 cases)

* 200 guests + 5 hour reception + wine & beer = 200 bottles of wine (roughly 16 cases)
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To keep your youngest guests happy, we’ve come up with some great ideas for a goodie bag. Given at the reception, the contents of the bag will have things to keep the kids occupied and will help them feel part of the festivities.

Goodie bags can be just about any color or size you”d like and are easily found at party-supply stores or online at orientaltrading.com. Oriental Trading is a great place to find bulk party supplies and toys for this project.

Supplies Needed :

* Paper or celophane goodie bags

* Name tag for bag

• Box of crayons

• Notepads

• Assorted Stickers

• Coloring books

• Smile Face Bullseye Games

• Assorted bite-size candies

Directions :

• Simply divvy up the goodies among the bags, write the child’’s name on each tag, and distribute at the reception. Easy!

Tips :

• Make sure the goodies are age-appropriate for the kids. A 9-year old often won”t appreciate the same things one would give a 3-year old.

• Stay away from things that could stain linens, clothes or kids such as markers.

• Remember to include things both boys and girls will like. Our list above is pretty gender-neutral.

Details for this project (1 bag):

Paper or celophane goodie bags $0.25

Ô Name tag for bag $.10

• Box of crayons $0.15

• Notepads $0.15

• Assorted Stickers $0.25

• Coloring books $0.25

• Smile Face Bullseye Games $0.10

* Assorted bite-size candies $.50

Total Cost $1.65
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Supplies Needed :

* Ceramic vase, 6″ diameter.

* 1 3″ pillar candle

* 1 oz. spanish moss

* 1 bunch dried flowers

* Oasis floral foam

* Glue gun and hot glue

* Raffia

Directions :

1. Insert floral foam into pot and using a kitchen knife, cut the foam to fit just under the edge of pot. Use extra pieces of foam to pack the inside so that everything is securely in place.

2. Using the candle as your guide, cut a hole into the center of the foam and insert your candle into it. The candle should extend above the foam by 4″ - 5″ for safety.

3. With the glue gun, glue pieces of moss to the foam to form the base of your arrangement.

4. Insert flowers into the foam. We used 4 flowers, one on each corner for our example.

5. Separate raffia strands and wrap them around the lip of the vase. We placed a few drops of hot glue on the pot to keep it in place.

Tips :

* Candles must be at least 4 inches above the moss to help prevent fire hazards.

* If using real flowers, soak oasis in water to keep your flowers fresh.

Ô Silk, dried, or real flowers work well as do sea shells and pinecones.

* Ribbon can be substituted for the raffia for a more elegant centerpiece.

Details for this project :

Vases: $7.99

Spanish moss: $1.61

Dried flowers: $2.99

Pillar candle: $6.99

Total Cost $19.58

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Tin Can Luminarias

Our tin can luminarias are inexpensive and easy to make! Great for casual weddings as table decor or for illuminating walkways.

Available in our downloads section .

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Excellent for holding birdseed, flower petals or candy, our paper cones are super-easy and inexpensive to make. [Ours cost about $0.20 each.] Instructions are available in our downloads section.

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