Trisha and Becka just launched a beautiful new blog by the name of  Color Me Inspired. To kick off their launch, they’re offering up 3 gorgeous fan templates (for free!). Please visit their new site, say hello, and wish them well!

Color Me Inspired Fans

You DIYers are a curious bunch. How do I know this? I look at my email in box every day. Questions, questions, questions come in all through the day and the night. I’m not complaining, of course,  I’m just awed by many of the great queries that await me each day. For example, there’s an increased interest in DIY wedding cakes (and cupcakes) and your questions are totally awesome – smart, thoughtful, and inspiring.

Cake by April Reed

Some  of the most common cake-related questions are related to a popular cake icing called rolled fondant. (Most just call it fondant, though there are different kinds. More on that in a later post.) For those of you not yet in the know, rolled fondant is a thick, somewhat stretchy and slightly chewy sheet of icing that produces a smooth surface on a cake. {Check out the gorgeous fondant design by the outrageously talented April Reed.}

In certain cake eating circles, fondant is a dirty word. There are some who will turn up their noses at the mere mention of the “f word”. See, they think it tastes icky. And, unfortunately, their experience with it was probably not that great. But, my friends, not all fondant has a yuck factor as not all pre-made fondants are the same.

We at the DIY Bride Test Kitchen (well, ok, just me at my kitchen counter) decided to do a taste test among the most popular fondant brands.

The contenders, in no particular order:

• Wilton Pure White Rolled Fondant
• Fondarific Buttercream Flavor
• Satin Ice Vanilla Flavor
• Fondx Virgin White

The methodology: cut off a hunk of fondant, eat it, review it, rate it. Real scientific!

The Results

#1 : Fondarific. Of the 4 fondants tasted, Fondarific had the best flavor and texture. Sweet and creamy with melt-in-your mouth consistency, Fondarific, was by far the tastiest and gets the highest recommendation. No cloying aftertaste, ingredients taste fresh, no chemical smell or flavors detected.

#2 : Satin Ice. Many, many cake pros use Satin Ice as their fondant of choice. The SI sample was very mellow in flavor and had a very pleasant consistency. It wasn’t as flavorful or as smooth as Fondarific but it was still very good.

#3 : Fondx: I had a hard time choosing between Satin Ice and Fondx for the #2. Fondx lost out my just the tiniest margin because I thought the more mellow flavor of SI would compliment more cake flavors. That’s not to say that Fondx has a strong flavor at all, it’s just more flavorful than SI. If I were to make  fondant cake today, I’d be torn between Fondx and Fondarific. They’re pretty similar in consistency and texture, both are quite tasty.

#4 : Wilton: This was by leaps and bounds my least favorite fondant of the bunch. Slightly grainy with a chemical aftertaste, Wilton’s fondant was just nasty compared to the others in the bunch. I have to admit that I used Wilton fondant for a project in my upcoming book (cue shameless self-promotion) The Crafty Countdown and it was perfect for non-edible decoration. {Peep a sneak peek at the Owl Cake Topper.}

Owl Cake Toppers From The Crafty Countdown

More Details

1. Wilton is the most widely-available fondant. You can pick it up at craft stores like Michael’s (and Michael’s often offers Wilton cake decorating classes).
2. The price breakdown (please note that most fondants get cheaper when you buy in bulk – over 5 lbs.) Prices below are approximate. Search around for the best deals.

• Satin Ice, $6.49 for 2 lb. ($3.50 per pound)
• Wilton, $6.79 for 1.5 lb. ($4.52 per pound)
• Fondarific, $11.79 for 2 lb. ($5.89 per pound)
• Fondx, $33.00 for 10 lb. ($3.30 per pound)

Hey, Coupon Queens,

Beginning 30 August, Michael’s coupons and weekly ads will be available only online – no more delivery with your local newspaper. To keep up to date with the latest ads and coupons, go to http://michaels.shoplocal.com/michaels/default.aspx. You can also sign up to receive Michael’s newsletter and ads via email if you click here: https://www.michaels.com/art/online/registrationForm

How adorable would this be for place or escort cards?

Martha Stewart Crafts has a line of coordinating edge and corner punches that make seamless designs so simple. They’d be perfect for invitation sets, programs, menus, thank you cards, place/seating cards, table numbers… you name it. For a limited time, you can get 20% off Punch Around The Page punches at MarthaStewartCrafts.Com. Just enter code PUNCH20 upon checkout! [Check out the spiderweb punches for Halloween. They're awesome!]

Dilemma: I want to give handmade soaps as favors to our wedding guests. My fiance says it’s too girly. Would it be bad form to give them?

Our Take: We love handmade soap – but not as a wedding favor. Giving your guests a personal hygiene product is a tricky undertaking without some kind of context. If you’re getting married at, say, an old soap factory it might be a fun tie-in to your wedding day. If it’s a seemingly random bar of soap, many guests are going to question why they’ve been gifted with it (’Do I stink?’) and I’d expect many would just leave them behind.

If you’re keen on giving your handmade soaps as gifts, they’d be great as shower favors (see?  tie in to a theme!) or to your maids as part of a homemade spa kit.

Hey DIY Bride:

My fi and I are going to do the iPod reception thing. We did a test run at our reception hall (our church’s hall) after a group meeting a few weekends ago and it sounded like crap. What did we do wrong?

-K&S

Hey K&S,

Having an iPod reception can work – and work well – but it needs some serious prep work and the right equipment. Before I can really answer your question, I have a few of my own for you:

• What equipment did you use? (iPod, laptop, PA system, speakers…?)
• How big (square feet) is the venue?
• How many guests will you have in that amount of space?
• What, exactly, sounded like crap? The acoustics? Your choice of songs? The sound quality of your speakers?

Until I know more here’s what you need for kick-ass sound:

1. The appropriate speakers/PA system and set-up for your venue size. An iPod and your laptop speakers aren’t going to cut it in most situations.
2. The right music.
3. Quality music files. Are your files CD quality? What bit rate were they ripped at? Is your playlist all at the same volume output?
4. A properly working iPod and cables.

Hit me back with your replies and we’ll revisit this.

Have a burning DIY question? Lay it on us, baby.

Hey DIYers,

There’s an upcoming bridal event for eco-friendly DIY couples.

About Soi-Meme: The Independent eco-bridal salon

“Soi-Meme” – a French word meaning “oneself” – characterizes the spirit of the modern couple searching for affordable, do-it-yourself solutions to planning a wedding with unique style. Following the success of last year’s “Love is in the Air” eco-luxe bridal salon, Pink Cloud Events is once again hosting a fabulous day-long salon for eco-conscious DIY brides and grooms to connect directly with the most inspiring eco-friendly wedding products and service providers.The event will bring everything needed to plan a sustainable wedding on Saturday, August 29th from 11am – 4pm at the newly renovated James Irvine Garden at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, located in the heart of downtown LA’s Little Tokyo. From the wedding ring to the honeymoon, our experts will be available for one-on-one sessions and workshops to help you find all that you need for your wedding day, in just a few hours!

For only $25, complimentary organic beverages, hors d’oeuvres, great DJs, a resource guide and loads of giveaways will make this a fun-filled day for you and your wedding planning party. Register online now for a chance to win a free 4 night stay at a private eco-villa resort in Tulum, Mexico by Azulik!

Click here to register or here for more info.

Thanks to Doreen from Pink Cloud Events for letting us know!

There has been some recent discussion among my wedding industry peers about serving cupcakes in lieu of a wedding cake. The consensus with planners and bakers is that they’re played out. But, you know, these guys see these things over and over and over all year long. I’m sure they’re sick of things before many of us even know they’re a trend.

What do you say? Are cupcakes in or out?

Times are a-changin’, my friends, and with these changing times comes a fair amount of uncertainty about how old school rules of etiquette fit in today’s lifestyle.  When it comes to weddings – the things etiquette nightmares are made of – there is a lot of confusion around what’s proper, acceptable, or downright tacky. That’s where our new feature, Real Etiquette, comes in.

The Real Etiquette philosophy about etiquette is that it’s a fluid set of rules that’s designed to honor others and treat them with respect and dignity. By keeping the “rules” fluid, they can change with the times and adapt to any situation. Your maid of honor wants her “plus guest” to be that hot fling she met at the beach a couple of weeks ago? Are email invites ever ok? How do you word your invite when your gay father and his husband are hosting? No problem! We’ve got you covered.

We invite you to submit your pressing wedding-related etiquette dilemmas and we’ll set you straight – and give our readers a chance to weigh in, too.

EB, also known as “The Flower Mom” from DryYourOwnBouquet.com, has graciously shared this sweet DIY project that uses dried flowers from your wedding to create a special thank you gift.

Your wedding photos just came back and you’ve set aside a few great ones of you and your mom, maid of honor or any special friend.

So your first thought is “I can’t wait to send them this photo!” to thank them for all they have done for you and your wedding.

But why just send them a photo in a plain envelope, when for just a few dollars and one fun evening of crafting, you can create for them a gorgeous meaningful keepsake?

(Though you can do this for any important wedding guest, we’re going to use Mom as an example today.)
TOTAL
You can make this lovely gift for Mom using the very corsage she wore at your wedding, or if you don’t have that saved, you can use any flowers from your wedding you have kept! Reusing your wedding flowers keeps your cost minimal but the sentiment heartfelt.  Plus – it’s fun and easy!

There are only three elements included in this sample, the corsage (or other flowers), a photograph, and a poem or favorite verse. Of course, you can include as many mementos as you choose….a piece of jewelry or a scrap of lace or perhaps a wedding invite. The possibilities end only with your creativity.

MATERIALS YOU’LL NEED

1.Shadow Box Frame: Available at most craft or frame shops.

2.Wedding Photograph: Any size and cut into the shape of your choice.

3.Dried Corsage or Other Flowers: These flowers can be dried by placing them in a shoebox or tupperware container. GENTLY cover all the petals and leaves with play sand or silica gel purchased from a craft store. It may take a week or two to dry.

After your flowers are dry you can paint them lightly, to maintain the color. You can do this with any color acrylic craft paint, which has been diluted with a little water to make a wash. Add a drop or two of dish detergent to make the paint adhere better.

4. Card Stock: Chose any colored heavy weight cardstock paper, which can be found in the scrap booking dept of your local craft store. In this case, the wedding theme was black and white with yellow floral accents. I chose colored cardstock that would compliment that color scheme.

5. A Poem or Tribute: Choose one that’s meaningful to you. There are tons available on the Internet. I simply Googled “poems about mothers” and found the quote I used in this example. Hand-written sentiments from you would also work very nicely.

6. Pop Dots: Little disks placed behind any 2-D item to make it 3-D.These are also available in the scrap booking department.

7.Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

8. Scissors

Total Cost: The cost of this project was about $18.00. I suggest shopping around at the Dollar Stores for a cheaper shadow box. You can also save some money by using little pieces of corrugated cardboard or foam core in place of the Pop Dots.

Let’s Begin!!

1. Take the card stock that you’ve chosen as your background color and cut a piece the same size as the inside back of the shadow box. This will be the base.

2. Cut the photo into any size or shape that will fit into the shadow box frame. I made a smaller copy of the original and cut it into an oval. To give the photograph a finished framed appearance, I cut two more ovals each one ¼” larger than the other. I cut a white oval ¼” larger than the photo, then cut one more out of my black pin dot cardstock which was1/4” larger than the white one. You can make two or three ovals if you wish. Center your photo onto the first white oval and glue it down. Take this oval and photo and center IT onto the second larger oval and glue it down. Now you have a sturdy, pretty “framed” photograph.

3.  Now for the poem. Center the poem on a slightly smaller oval than the photo one. I used just one other oval to “frame” the poem and cut it out of the black pin dot paper making it 1/8” larger all the way around. Center the poem on the larger oval and glue it down.

4. Punch out two Pop Dots from the card. Remove the backing from all sides of each dot and stick them together. Stick the double dots onto the center back of the “framed” photo. Do the same to the framed poem, but use THREE dots so that the poem will stand out and over the photo when placed on the background.

5. Arrange all three elements: corsage, photo and poem around on the inside back of the frame (which you have already covered with the background colored paper and glued down). Move all three around until you find a pleasing arrangement.

Place the glass and frame over it all to make sure they all fit in nicely. If they do…. hot glue the corsage in place and put the frame back together.

That’s it! You’re done! You’ve created a beautiful, meaningful way for your mom, maid of honor or any treasured wedding guest to remember your wedding – and how very much they mean to you.

Submitted by: EB Designs of http://www.DryYourOwnBouquet.com

EB (AKA Twitter’s TheFlowerMom) is an art teacher and mother of five grown children – including two happy brides. She’s also got 20+ years of experience drying flowers and helping brides preserve their wedding day bouquets…and memories! Details about the flower drying techniques mentioned above can be found in EB’s book “Preserve Your Wedding Bouquet in Six Easy Steps”