DIY Bride™

Bless YouTube and British comedy.

Can you relate? [warning: PG 13 language]

[Thanks to NicBlog for posting it.]

Oh, I missed a bunch of wonderful people in the last post!

Please give some visitor love to:

• Radiant Magazine
• Budget Weddings Guide
• WeddingWire Blog
• Parisian Events
• A Bride in the Making
• Polka Dot Bride
• White Veil Studios Photography
• The Future Mrs. Darcy
• We Love Pandas
• El Mustango Meets Betty
• Laura Massie, Charlotte, NC Planner
• J. Cricket Weddings & Events
• Mandy & Joe
• MTK Creations
• The Event Essentials
• Timothy & Dana
• Ever After (Jen & Rod)
• Lucie’s Events
• Nuptial Musings
• The Adventures and Mishaps of the Future Mrs. B
• Della Stella
• Brown Eyed Girl

As an ongoing expression of gratitude, I periodically send out some linky love to all of the wonderful sites and bloggers who’ve either given DIY Bride a mention or a direct link. If you’ve missed my previous linky posts, do check out the fine sites I’ve mentioned here and here.

I’m truly blown away by the fascinating, creative, funny, and all-around-awesome sites that are coming in. Thank you all for being online and sharing your talents!

• The Bride’s Guide by Darcy Miller for a very lovely mention of DIYBride.com and the book.
  
• Terrica at Fabuluxe for the including me as part of the DIY movement mention on #18 on her list of The Top 20 Concepts/Trends that Have Changed the Wedding World.
• From “I Will” to “I Do”  at iVillage for featuring the chuppah/canopy project from the book.
• Always Fabulous Events for making me blush with the kind words and awesome review of the book.
• The Willrich Wedding Planner for the awesome review of the book.
• Elite Bridal Concierge for the lovely book review. You rock!
• Blue Orchid Designs for all of the awesome support and mentions on her blog.
• Events by Carol for the enthusiasm and book mention.
• Bridal Buzz for the swell link.
• SJB Weddings and Events for the link to the chalkboard votive tutorial.
• Lasso’d Moon for the sweet words and link.
• Offbeat Bride for pointing over to the At Home Wedding Guide.
• Dream Weddings on a Budget for being so excited about the book and recommending it.
• Travel Betty for the link in her betties’s getting married list
• Stampin’ When I Can for the link to the heat embossing tutorial in her Tutorials of Note post.
• A Book Bloggers Diary for the link.
• Tie The Knot for the link.
• Wedding Dish for the kind mention.
• Waiting on Vienna for the ubersweet mention.
• Soiree Special Events for saying nice things about my Xmas card swap.

{I’m so sorry if I’ve missed your link or mention! These are what I’ve found in my recent backlinks log.}

Last week I introduced you to the basics of heat embossing. Thank you to everyone who added questions and tips in the comments. That was very cool!

Today I’m going expand your embossing repertoire with 3 different ways to use the embossing skills you learned last week. Using 4 different products, we’ll create some really beautiful and unique textures to give your projects that “wow” factor. We’re going to cover: clear embossing, glitter embossing (my favorite), and flocking.

Because this post is going to be super long, I’m putting all of the how-to stuff after the jump.

Continue Reading »

Fab Finds Friday is a weekly showcase of some of the fabulous resources available to the wedding community. This week’s wedding awesomeness comes from Andrea Singarella’s blog, Everyday Beauty.

Andrea’s blog is one of my new favorite reads. Her eye for detail in all things  beautiful, feminine, and vintage is so perfect.

I generally don’t go for overly frilly or dainty things though I have secret weakness for them. When I saw her Tulle Heart project, I knew I had to share with you. This would make such a gorgeous and fun gift for a bride or it could be easily become a lovely decor piece at a shower. (And this is going to be a great way to use up all of that tulle I’ve been hoarding for the last few years.)

Click here to get the instructions and to check out Andrea’s blog.

One of the coolest things about having this blog is being able to alert you to fun contests and events from extraordinary people in this industry.

There are two contests going on right now that you should know about.

The ever-fabulous Liene of Blue Orchid Designs is giving away a free wedding day consultation package worth $2000 to one lucky couple. The contest is open to anyone in the US. Applications must be in my midnight PST on 31 January. That’s next week! For all of the contest details, go to the Blue Orchid Designs blog at: http://blueorchiddesigns.blogspot.com/2008/01/wedding-day-giveaway.html

For those of you looking for a smart and talented photographer, you’re in for a treat! Karen from Karenscape Photographers also happens to be hosting a contest. Karen is giving away free complete wedding photography package worth $9700. She’s picking the winners from video entries submitted by couples. How fun! Get contest entry details at Karen’s blog: http://karenscape.blogspot.com/2008/01/win-free-wedding.html

{Workshop Wednesday is a new weekly feature at DIY Bride. Every Wednesday, I’ll be presenting a new technique to help you create some crafty wedding goodness.}

That I am a rubber stamping fiend should come of no surprise to long-time DIY Bride friends. I’ve professed my undying love for it many times in these pages. Part of the reason is that it’s what got me started in crafting and part because stamping is just plain fun. The technique I’m sharing today is one of my favorites and one that adds a beautiful finish to nearly any paper craft project you can stamp on.

Heat embossing is the act of melting a plastic-based powder onto paper. The result is a shiny, slightly raised surface on the embossed image. It’s a great way to add a little pizazz to invitations or favor packaging. And it’s pretty darned easy to do.

While the finished project (above) is black-on-white embossing, I’ve used white embossing on black cardstock to better illustrate the technique.

Tools & Supplies

• Paper or cardstock
• VersaMark Watermark stamp pad or pigment ink stamp pad
• Embossing powder
• Rubber stamp
• Heat embossing tool
• Scrap paper
• Embossing buddy or anti-cling dryer sheet (not shown)

Directions

1. The first step is to rub the face of the paper project (in this case, the invitation) with an Embossing Buddy or a used dryer sheet. This helps remove static from the paper which will help the embossing powder stick only where it’s supposed to. Set the project aside.
2.   Ink a rubber stamp with the VersaMark pad. For larger stamps, I like to turn the stamp on its back and tap the pad onto the surface of the stamp. This lets me see where I’m putting the ink to make sure the stamp is evenly covered.
3. Stamp the inked image onto the invitation. Set aside for a sec.
4. Fold a piece of scrap paper in half.  Open it. Place the invitation on the opened scrap paper. The scrap paper is to catch excess embossing powder. The fold will act as a funnel when you pour the unused embossing powder back into the container. (One of my favorite tips. Ever.)
5. Pour a generous amount of embossing powder onto the stamped areas of the invitation. Do be stingy here.
6. Now carefully pick up the invitation and shake off the excess embossing powder onto the scrap paper. Set the invite aside.
7. Pour the unused embossing powder back into its container. (Spilled e.p. is a pain in the butt to clean up! It’s almost as bad as glitter.)
8.   Turn on your heat embossing tool and let it warm up, about 30 – 45 seconds is usually sufficient.
9.   {Shot of grainy embossing powder, before melted}
10. Now, point the heat tool over the embossing powder, about 2″ – 3″ away from the surface. In slow, steady movements move the tool back and forth over the powdered images. You’ll be able to see the powder melt and go from slightly grainy to glossy. It’s important to note that the heat tool is HOT. The air coming from it is HOT. It will burn the paper (or you) so keep it moving. Linger too long on a spot and it’ll turn brown or it’ll catch fire. I know this from experience.
11. Once the embossing powder has completely melted, you’re done! That’s all there is to it.

Notes:

• Embossing powders come in hundreds of shades, different opacities, several textures and can even be found metallics and with glitter.
• If you’re going to do a lot of embossed projects, I recommend getting a wide, flat Tupperware type container with a lid.  Pour all of your embossing powder into it. Hold your paper projects over the container and use a spoon to pour powder onto the paper. The rest will just fall back into the container.
• Embossing Buddys are small bags of cornstarch that you rub over paper to help prevent static cling. Because most embossing powders are plastic-based, the powder often will stick in places you don’t want due to static cling. Embossing Buddys (there are different brand names for them) are available at most craft stores in the stamping section.
• We’ll talk about VersaMark and pigment inks in another post, but I wanted to give the reason you need either one of these. Pigment inks and VersaMark are “sticky” inks that give embossing powder something to grab on to. Dye-based inks dry too fast and aren’t sticky enough (they don’t have as much glycerin) to use embossing powders with.

The finished project measure 5.25″ x 7.25″. The template for the invitation is available here: 5×7template.doc. It measures 5″ x 7″ and is mounted on a 5.25″ x 7.25″ piece of contrasting cardstock.

Rubber stamp: Baroque Motifs set from Stampin’ Up!

Cardstock: Unknown

Ink: VersaMark

Embossing Powders: Imprintz, White ; Personal Stamp Exchange, Black

Heat Tool: Uchida

Thank you to everyone who participated in the book giveaway contest! I appreciate all of the funny jokes, the sweet compliments, and enthusiasm about the book. You guys rock!

The contest entries were printed out, cut into strips, and then placed the Happy Magic Sorting Bag. The HMSB was then shaken vigorously. I then placed my hand inside the HMSB and grapbbed 2 strips.

The lucky ducky winners are:

Commenter #41 (Meg) and #4 (Emily). Both have been notified by email.

For those of you who didn’t win this time, don’t fret! I’ll do one more contest at the end of the month.

Fab Finds Friday is a weekly showcase of some of the fabulous resources available to the wedding community. This week’s wedding awesomeness comes from HJK Imports’ eBay Store recommended to me by my friend Geralyn from Red Carpet Events in Chicago.

If you’re in a situation where you can’t rent glass vases for your reception (a common DIY problem), do check out HJK Imports. They offer nearly every imaginable size and shape of vase (plus lots of rocks, gems, and other inserts) at wholesale-to-the-public prices. You’re sure to find some nifty container for your centerpieces or candy buffets.

Set your TiVos, VCRs, or just cuddle up in front of the TV tomorrow morning. Martha Stewart is showing a special wedding episode this Friday, January 18. (Check local listings for exact show times in your area.)

Featured:

• Kings of glamour, Badgley Mischka, are showcasing their gorgeous gowns for brides and maids.
• Learn how to select the perfect cake and dessert options with Martha and cake goddess Wendy Kromer.
•  Weddings guru and editorial director Darcy Miller is presenting some of the best “Good Things” for every aspect of your wedding day.