Love Is In The Air: Eco-Luxe Weddings

Posted by Khris in Events + Soirees

Thinking an eco-friendly wedding is for you but have visions of granola and tie dye? Never fear, my posh-minded Southern California brides, you’re in for a very special treat. Pink Cloud Events is hosting their first Eco-Luxe event, Love Is In The Air, this Friday, February 29 from 12 – 4 pm at the Avita Co-op in West Hollywood.

Chat up eco-friendly vendors, enjoy on-site manis/pedis, organic hors d’oeuvres, and get make-up consultations with Josie Maran. Proceeds from the admission fee are being donated to the Coalition for Clean Air.

For more info, do visit Love Is In The Air

Workshop Wednesday: Rub-On Vase

Posted by Khris in Decor, DIY Projects & Tutorials

Ok, that title is really bad. Forgive me – I’m nursing a post-bday celebration weekend brain. (Why does it take so long to recover from fab parties? I didn’t even get tipsy and I’m weirdly out of it days later.) Enough about me.

Today’s project uses rub-on transfers and a clear glass vase to create a fun, simple decorative piece. Perfect for centerpieces, a wish bowl, toasting flutes, or even votives this is a quick ‘n’ easy project ANYONE can do. Don’t think you’re crafty? No problem! The rub-ons provide all of the creativity. All you do is … rub.

What you need:

• Clean glass vase with a smooth surface.
• Glass cleaner, paper towel
• Rub-on transfers (available at nearly every scrapbooking shop and craft store.)
• Scisscors
• Rub-on tool. (Most rub-on sheets come with a little popsicle stick to do the transfers with…that’s perfect.)

How to:

1. Clean the outside of the glass with the glass cleaner. Dry the glass completely. Rub-ons don’t work well when there are body oils or dirt on the surface.
2. From a sheet of rub-ons, cut out the design you want to transfer to the glass.
3. Place the cut design, face (sticky-side) down on the glass.
4. With one hand, hold the transfer paper in place. With the other hand, use the transfer tool (popsicle stick) to rub the back of the design. Firmly pressing down as you rub will transfer the design to the glass. Sometimes it takes several passes to get the transfer to stick. Don’t worry. That’s normal.
5. As you rub an area, pick up the edges of the paper just a little bit. You’ll be able to see where the transfer isn’t sticking. Just go back and rub, rub, rub.

Notes:

• Rub-ons are available in hundreds (thousands?!) of different designs.
• Most are available in black or white but many manufacturers also have them in full color. Cool, right?
• The bummer is that most packages have only 1 sheet per package with several different designs/motifs per page. If you need to have all matchy-matchy vases, you’ll need to buy several packages of rub-ons and that can get spendy.
• The package used in this project, from Tinkering Ink, cost $6.99 at my local scrapbook store. Not outrageous, but definitely something to consider when you’re budgeting.
• Rub-ons can be used on paper, metal, class, tile, wood … nearly any smooth surface. And they work on any color surface, too.

Resources: Rub-on designers to check out….

Doodlebug (Great alphabets, pretty colors)

Basic Grey (Awesome designs, sophisticated patterns)

Bo Bunny (Fun, whimsical, trendy)

Cosmo Cricket (Great sentiments)

Fancy Pants Designs (Great colors, fun designs)

Foof-a-la by Autumn Leaves

Hambly Screen Prints (Trendy, hip, fun)

My favorite online places to buy rub-ons:

Two Peas In A Bucket

Lifetime Moments

Quick & Easy Table Decor: Covered Vase

Posted by Khris in Bouquets + Flowers, DIY Projects & Tutorials

This is filed under “Why didn’t I think of that?”.  Here’s a quick way to add instant impact to your centerpiece vases: cover them with placemats.

Home by Sunset has the step-by-steps on how to do this super-easy, super-inexpensive project to take your centerpieces from nice to WOW. (Found via Heavy Petal – a really cool gardening blog.)

I can picture using some really neat beaded or capiz shell mats or how about a gorgeous shantung? Brocade? Start searching at home & bath stores for interesting finds (especially in the clearance bins).

So, I’m thinking how awesome the placemats are and … hmmm, wouldn’t vases be cool wrapped with:

• Vellum (printed and solids available from Martha Stewart Crafts, Paper Source)
• Grasscloth
• Sheets of moss (available at craft stores and floral supply houses)
• Rich, textured fabrics
• Hot wrapping papers (think Whimsy Press, eieio, Midori)
• Vintage wallpapers (eBay!)
• Modern/contemporary wallpapers (Nama Rococo, Design Public)
• Sheets of punched tin
• Tree bark or wood laminate sheets
• Rows of ribbon in coordinating colors and different sizes. (I love this one! This was actually a candidate for the 1st DIY book but didn’t quite fit.)

Craftier-Than-Thou: Feeling The DIY Pressure?

Posted by Khris in Wedding Planning

The ever-wonderful OffBeatBride.Com just posted a recent interview with me about my book and about the current state of the DIY wedding world. (Thanks, Ariel!)

One of Ariel’s questions, “How do you suggest combating the “DIY-er than thou” frenzy that some crafty brides work themselves into?“, has been on my mind quite a bit. It’s certainly been the topic of several conversations I’ve had with both industry pros and brides lately. I honestly don’t have a good answer.

I really want to talk with you about it.  With all of the incredible DIY projects and how-to info coming online, does it help inspire you or does it cause more frustration? Are you feeling the pressure to be more crafty/original/indie/offbeat/xyz? How are you dealing with all of that? Or does it bother you at all?

I’m really curious if you’re experiencing what I think you’re going through. And I’m even more curious what advice you would give to others who might be feeling bad about not feeling/being crafty enough.

Here’s a quick poll. Please feel free to leave comments, too.

Wedding Community Acronyms

Posted by Khris in Wedding Planning

Hello, newbies! If you’re new to the online wedding world, you’re probably scratching your head over all of the wedding-related acronyms found in the bridal community. Here’s a quick cheat sheet of common acronyms to help you navigate your way through the forums.

BF – Boy friend, Best friend
BIL – Brother-In-Law
BM – Bridesmaid, Banquet Manager, Best Man
BP – Bridal Party or Bachelor(ette) Party
CM – Catering manager
CP – Centerpiece
DH – Dear Husband
DIY – Do-it-yourself
DOC – “Day Of” Coordinator (A wedding planner hired for just the wedding day.)
DW – Dear Wife or Destination Wedding
EP – Engagement Party
ER – Engagement Ring
FBIL – Future Brother-In-Law
FFIL – Future Father-In-Law
FG – Flower Girl
FH – Future Husband
FI – Fiance
FMIL – Future Mother-In-Law
FOB – Father Of Bride
FOG – Father Of Groom
FSIL – Future Sister-In-Law
FW – Future Wife
GM – Groomsman (Groomsmen)
GP – Grandparent
GTG – Get Together
HM – Honeymoon
JP – Justice of the Peace
MOB – Mother Of Bride
MOG – Mother Of Groom
MOH – Maid/Matron Of Honor
NWR – Not Wedding Related
OOT – Out Of Town (guests)
PF – Pocketfold, pocket fold (a type of invitation with a pocket)
RB – Ring Bearer
RD – Rehersal Dinner
SO – Significant Other
STD – Save The Dates
TOJ – Tears of Joy packets (decorated tissue packs)
TY – Thank you (or thank you cards)
WP – Wedding planner, wedding party
WR – Wedding ring