Monthly Archive for: ‘February, 2013’
DIY Tutorial: Push the envelope!
Ready to get a little wild? Well throw caution to the wind, erode all boundaries, unleash your inner rock star, and let’s decorate some wedding envelopes!
Oh, not what you thought we were going to say? (And is that a bottle of tequila in your hand?). Perhaps it’s true — embellishing envelopes is not everybody’s idea of living life on the edge, but that’s only because they’re going about it all wrong.
Envelopes are the perfect way to add a pop of the unexpected to your wedding. After all, when your guests receive your wedding invites they’ll expect a modest envelope with a sensible background. But instead – POW! – you’ll give them a flash of color and intensity. Now you understand. Good. Let’s get started…
Materials:
- Envelopes
- Thin craft paper (in or matching your wedding colours)
- Scissors
- Glue
- Paintbrush
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Paper or cardstock
Directions:
Step 1: Measure the width
Using your ruler, measure the width of the envelope.
Step 2: Measure the depth
Starting just below the opening, measure the distance to the edge of the flap. In the example above this is 5 centimeters (or roughly 2 inches).
Step 3: Draw the base
Using the width and depth measurements that you just acquired, draw the base of the envelope on a piece of paper or cardstock.
Step 4: Draw the flap
Align the envelope with your drawing of the base, so that the top line is in line with the base of the flap and trace around it.
Step 5: Measure the border
Measure the width of the lickable part on the envelope flap. Using your ruler, and your envelope as a guide, draw this border onto your envelope pattern
Step 6: Cut out the template
Follow the inside border line to cut out your pattern. Trim either side of the envelope base so that it can easily slide inside your envelope. Test it out once you have cut it to ensure that it is the correct size.
Step 7: Trace onto pretty paper
Using the cutout, draw the pattern onto the reverse side of your pretty paper and cut it out.
Step 8: Place in envelope
Slide the pretty paper pattern into the envelope and align it so that the flap has an even border. Once you’re happy, fold the flap down to form a crease in the pretty paper. This will act as a guide.
Step 9: Glue flap down
Paint a thin layer of glue on the flap of the envelope, then fold it over the pretty paper to stick it down. Using the back of the pencil, gently smooth it down and get rid of any air bubbles or creases.
Step 10: Repeat
Repeat with your other envelopes until they all pop with colour.
You’re not really limited by anything here, so exercise a bit of reckless abandon and get creative with the paper!
{Infographic} Find Your Wedding Guest Style
Lookie what popped in the DIY Bride inbox today from Phase Eight! I couldn’t resist sharing this awesome infographic. Use this quiz to help you figure out what to wear to every wedding you’ve been invited to in 2013!
And there’s a bonus at the end of this post for the brides – an adorable new wedding dress style for Spring 2013 brides.
And, for the brides:
A charming new wedding dress style for Spring 2013, “Carolina.” It has that old-world, vintage look that is so popular this year. You can find this style from Phase Eight starting March 1st.
Shop Phase Eight: http://www.phase-eight.co.uk/
Meet Jessica: Fine Arts Student Goes Pro as an Invitation Designer
Today we have a short and sweet interview with an invitation designer who loves working with DIY brides, just like all of you. Jessica’s story is an example of how you can still get a degree in Fine Arts and end up an entrepreneur in the wedding/craft industry. We love Jessica’s creativity, and we hope you will enjoy “meeting” her on the blog today. Her work is on display throughout this post!
What do you love most about your work?
I wake up with a smile on my face knowing that I get to spend every day doing what I love – designing for life’s special events. I’m so lucky to take part in my clients’ big day, and I am honored that they chose me to bring their ideas and personalities to life on paper!
What did you do before this?
I graduated from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and an emphasis in Graphic Design. I was hired on at Kohls Corporate one month after graduating to work as a production designer.
Do you have a blog and social media pages?
Yes!
- Blog: http://clarkcreativewi.com/blog (<– this is a great looking blog, btw!)
- Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/clarkcreativewi
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClarkCreativeWI
- Facebook: facebook.com/clarkcreativewisconsin
Did you start your business from scratch? Tell us how you got started.
I did start my business from scratch. I was constantly designing on the side for friends and family. When it was time to design my very own wedding invitation suite, I fell in love with the process and knew that this was ultimately what I wanted my full time career to be. After two and a half years at my corporate job, I said a bittersweet goodbye and decided to take a leap of faith to pursue Clark Creative full time. My husband joined me to pursue his photography dream at this time as well, so it’s great to be partners in this together.
How do you customize your products/services for brides?
Some couples want to be as hands-on as possible (and are quite crafty), so I break down the cost of everything individually in case they wish to do some (or all) of the work on their own. If the couple needs me to design and print the invitations for them, but they want to do all of the assembly, they can do so. Or if a couple has already designed their entire wedding suite themselves and needs me to order paper for them and print everything, I can do that as well. I try to accommodate everyone’s needs because every couple is unique!
What’s new for 2013?
For the new year, my husband and I are working on a more personal project. We have decided to reach out to local creatives and interview them for our blog. We are interested in hearing about other areas people are being creative – other than photography and design. We are hoping to gain inspiration after learning more about their craft and hopefully inspire our readers as well as we share what we have learned.
It was a pleasure meeting Jessica and we’re so happy she could share her story with us, and showcase some of her work. Thanks, Jess!
Disclosure: DIY Bride does NOT have a financial relationship with Clark Creative, meaning this is NOT a sponsored post. If you would like to be considered for a “Meet the Makers” story, please submit your story here: http://www.diybride.com/submit-an-article/.
{Sponsored Post} Producing Real Wedding Videos with Borrowed & Blue
Sponsored Content Disclosure
Greetings, DIY brides! Today’s sponsored post comes to us from an Australian wedding videographer, Terence Hooi, of Borrowed & Blue Productions. We asked them to share a bit about videography in general, and talk about their unique style of capturing wedding memories on video. In the images below, you’ll see some “behind the scenes” photos that show the crew in action, as well as a few high quality photographs also taken by Borrowed & Blue (yes, they also do wedding photography). If you’re planning a wedding in Melbourne, Australia, we give Borrowed & Blue a big thumbs up!
Take it away, Terence!
The demand for wedding videos have spiked in recent years as couples are starting to see the value of having intimate moments of their big day recorded in motion. While it’s great to reflect on photographs, and share those with friends and family, there is an audio visual experience that is left wanting that only a video can produce. The reality is that in today’s world, the demand for visual stimulation through videography is higher than ever; and wedding videos are no different.
Filming wedding videos at a certain production standard exceeds what a HD camera and a tripod can produce. Filming this momentous occasion in a person’s life is all about the approach and envisaging what the final product will look like.
Borrowed & Blue Productions – Behind the Scenes
At Borrowed and Blue, our main goal, as videographers, is to create a piece of wedding memorabilia that captures the emotions expressed on the day. Weddings are about beauty and drama. On no other day will a bride and groom take such meticulous effort to look their absolute best. There are also going to be tears and laughter throughout the day, as well as the tribulations of “getting there”.
Borrowed & Blue Productions – Behind the Scenes
Our approach to capturing the essence of a wedding requires clever angles and dramatic lighting. We’re creating an effect, a magical retell of the day from our eyes as it unfolds in front of us. We try not to have a pre-conceived idea of how the day will play out, rather aim to be a fly on the wall that secretly steals slices of the day, preserving it for eternity. Unlike photography where the couple is often directed for poses and positioning, we film for natural emotion, as it occurs. This is critical in presenting the bride and groom naturally, which is the only way that their screen presence will be believable.
Borrowed & Blue Productions – Behind the Scenes
How is this done? It fundamentally boils down to having a creative mind, and a good understanding of how the wedding will unfold, in order for us to get the best positions. We plan on paper and in our heads where these angles are based on the available lighting and be prepared to move at a moment’s notice. Keeping a variety of lenses for a number of different effects close-by is vital; while keeping bread and butter lenses glued to us as we move around the bride and groom is additionally important. It is also vital we be intently observant, so that we’ll know when the laugh is about to happen or the tears are about to drop. As a videographer, I find myself entwined in the couple’s story and I try to see everything through their eyes.
Borrowed & Blue Productions – Behind the Scenes
Borrowed & Blue Productions – Behind the Scenes
Borrowed & Blue Productions – Behind the Scenes
As much as our style and approach of filming is based on real emotions, capturing special moments, and instinct, this does not exclude us from having pre-planned actions and “set shot” sequences ready. For example having seen thousands of kisses, it’s our duty to know how to be able to elicit a variety of these very intimate moments: from the tender to the passionate.
Borrowed & Blue Productions
Although we use high production gear to film these cherished moments in a couples union, the REAL bits are more important; capturing those moments with a cinematographers eye is how we produce real wedding videos which record treasured memories for years to come.
Borrowed & Blue Productions
Check out Nick And Julie from BorrowedAndBlue on Vimeo
This is a guest post by Wedding Videographer Melbourne, Terence Hooi, who is the owner of Borrowed and Blue.
Tools of the Trade: DIY Guide to Designing Your Own Invitations
When I first accompanied my friend to her visit with a professional wedding invite maker, I was literally crushed by the options available. And I mean that in the actual sense of literal, not in the way people misuse it today. Sitting there in her doily-laden lounge thumbing through a massive invite binder for two hours, I was relieved I was even able to walk when I was done.
None of the invites ‘clicked’ and the price tag was overwhelming. While my friend did eventually find something decent, I’ve wondered more than a few times after seeing so many funky and original DIY invite out of an envelope, how do these people come up with these ideas?
So, when yet another friend of mine got engaged, I thought I’d do a little investigation. What exactly is it like to design your own invitations, and how is it done? Here’s what we found.
1. Choose Your Paper
As I found out that day with the invite pro, there are — no exaggeration here — a zillion and one kinds of paper out there. You can have straight up white or just off white or bright red or subtly red and even more subtly crinkled or stained or lacy or…(I could go on).
To narrow your choices, you might want to go with your chosen wedding color, the color of your bridesmaids dresses or flowers, or a simple white. Then choose between regular old flat paper, recycled paper or embossed for a nice glossy look. If your invite design will involve any kind of folding, make sure you go for a pliable yet sturdy construction.
In general, it’s good to order about 20 – 25% more than you’ll need to send out, so you can practice with prints.
2. Choose Your Design
There’s much to consider in terms of design. For the sake of brevity, I’m going to assume here you’re going the easiest DIY route, designing with user-friendly software like Adobe Photoshop (though I’ll discuss a few non-computer options below).
● Font: The text styles and size you choose will have a great impact on the look and feel of your design. A fairy tale wedding will require a much different font than a punk wedding. Your best option is to try a few out in the software, either using the program’s fonts directly or choosing from a variety of free fonts online with a site like DaFont. You’ll also want to experiment with various treatment options, like italics vs. bold, uppercase vs. lowercase, and don’t be afraid to mix and match between several different fonts.
● Ink Color: Again, the color palette is wide open to you. Narrow your choices by complementing your wedding color, or trying on several hues to glean their emotional tenor.
● Background: Have fun experimenting with background as well. While going plain is a simple option, even small embellishments like a few tree leaves can spice things up or add a nice touch. If you’ve got a hand drawn background in mind, or if you have a beautiful or interesting material, just scan it in and drop it into the program.
● Photo: Most wedding invite software will have space for a photo of you and your soon-to-be. Pick one that really captures your personality, and that’s not too dark or blurry.
● Line Spacing and Alignment: That beautiful text and photo won’t look so beautiful if it all bleeds together. Decide whether you want to align towards the center, left or right, and find a nice balance.
● Logo: If you’ve really got an eye for design (hey, maybe you’re even a graphic designer), a logo can be a fun way to “brand” your wedding theme and personality, especially if you’re doing something offbeat or tongue and cheek.
3. Decide on Your Content
Whether you’re a writer and want to give your invites an injection of humor or you’d just like to keep it cut and dry, there are certain things all invites need to include.
● Who, what, where, and when. Who’s invited to your wedding? When will it be taking place, and is there a reception or rehearsal dinner? And where will all of this be happening?
● Helpful hotel information. Give guests options for a variety of budgets.
● Transportation tips. Car rentals, public transport, you name it.
● Things to do in the area. This is especially good for people who are coming from out of town.
● An RSVP card… with a tracking number on the back in case the respondent doesn’t specify who they are.
These latter four can be inserts rather than info on the invite itself if you so prefer.
4. Print
You loaded up on ink, right? Yeah, you should load up on ink. You might also want to get a cheap paper cutter, too, if you’re going to be cutting larger pages into smaller forms, or even a nicer printer than that old clunker. Then it’s time to just sit next to your printer and feed it pages. And, FYI, you won’t lose any of your DIY cred if you go to a professional printer for this part instead. Doing so can save you a lot of headaches, and hey, it’s still your design!
5. Add Final Decorations and Match With Envelopes
You may want to add a few little sparkles or ribbons to make things manageably 3D, or simply add a splash of color by pasting that white invite onto a green background.
Then decide on an envelope look, whether you want something that’s matching or complementary, plain or full of designs. Even a fun stamp can add the little bit of personality you may be looking for. While you could go to specialty stores, even places like Staples have a good mix of envelope options. Now just fold those invites, stuff those envelopes, write out those addresses, and voila!
Other Approaches
While computer software is great, it’s not the only option. Here are a few more awesome routes to go.
1. Stamps. Yep, custom ordering stamp designs like this bride can mean making something as ordinary as an index card look cute.
2. Invitation kits. There are a number of companies that sell DIY wedding invite kits, which are fully customizable to the bride and groom.
3. Online template sites. Don’t let “template” give you the wrong impression. Sites like Minted are stuffed with interesting and customizable designs, and while, yes, someone else in the world will also choose your design, I’m betting none of your friends will. This is an easy, fun way to do something new and you yet still impress.
So there you have it! A number of approaches for going DIY. I highly recommend going this route and saving yourself from the professional invite book of DOOM.
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