DIY Bride

Wouldn’t this be an awesome ring pillow with the initials of you and your beloved? It’d also be a nifty “thank you” gift for your maids.

JCaroline has generously offered a tutorial for making this gorgeous monogrammed felt pillow.

[found via Craft Magazine]

Happy August! This month I’m bringing you several articles, tutorials, and resources to get you merrily on your way to a life (or at least a few projects worth) of stamping.

Today I’m introducing the necessary tools and products to get you started. These are, in my opinion, the essentials every stamper should have in her toolbox (besides the stamps themselves).

1. Basic black dye ink pad. (We’ll go over dye ink vs. pigment ink in a later post.) A black ink pad is like your favorite little black dress: it’s perfect for any occasion and it’ll serve you well for years. (My fave inks: Stampin’ Up!, Close To My Heart, Tsukeneko, Fresh Ink!)
2. Rubber stamp scrubby and stamp cleaner. After you’ve used your stamp, you’ll need to clean it. While some people use non-alcohol-based baby wipes, I prefer stamp scrub. It’s a hinged tray with a scrubby material on the inside lid and base. When open, I spray stamp cleaner on one side for cleaning and leave the other side dry for wiping off excess. (My fave: Stampin’ Up! Scrubber and CTMH’s cleaner)
3. Embossing/heat tool and embossing powders. Heat embossing is an awesome way to add dimension to your stamping projects. It’s the act of heating a powered plastic on a stamped image. When the powder melts, it leaves a raised image. Embossing powders come in a vast array of colors, including metallics. (My fave: Marvy)
4. Stamp positioner. This tool helps you perfectly position a stamp where you need it on a page.With clear stamps, you don’t really need this because you can see right through the stamp, but for wood-mounted or red rubber stamps, this is an absolute essential for accurate results. (My fave: Stampin’ Up!’s Stamp-a-ma-jig)
5. A good, sharp pair of scissors. You’ll need great scissors for cutting ribbon, trimming stamps (some rubber stamps need to have excess rubber removed), and other projects. (Any shears by Kai are awesome.)
6. A paper cutter for trimming cardstock and decorative papers. A 12″ one is sufficient for most DIY paper projects. I have 4 different ones. You can read my review of each in the forums.
7. A selection of dye inks and pigment inks in your favorite colors. Inks are available in, literally, hundreds of colors.
8. An eyelet-setting tool and eyelets. I prefer an all-in-one tool that will both punch the holes and set the eyelet. “Setting” the eyelet usually refers to putting a small, metal eyelet into a hole and smashing the back to flatten it onto the paper. (My fave: Crop-o-Dile)
9. A bone folder. Bone folders are smooth, slim pieces of bone or acrylic that are used to create creases and folds in paper. (These are all pretty much the same. I do really like the feel of the ones from Martha Stewart Crafts.)
10. Adhesive. There are so many tapes, glues, and sticky substances on the market right now that it’d take a whole post just to cover the basics. I love double-sided tape and can’t live without it. (My default is the tape runner by Tombow. However, it’s hit or miss in longevity and stickiness. My ongoing quest is to find a good tape dispenser with tape that’s consistently sticky.)

Hi. My name is Khris. I am a stamper.

It all started when I was planning my wedding some years ago and needed a way to decorate some favor boxes. My then-MIL-to-be (now just my MIL) introduced me to the wonderous graphic design tool known as the rubber stamp. She was (and still is) a demonstrator for a direct sales stamping/scrapbooking company and quickly became my connection, doing all in her power to fuel my addiction. It worked.

See, stamping is my creative fix of choice and it served as my slide into the subversive, sordid world of craft. It was my gateway drug. Soon after I got hooked on stamp, I started scoring vintage glitter on eBay, loitering at craft stores on days I knew new products were released, and bogarting my stash of hard-t0-find cardstocks — all because of my insatiable desire for images vulcanized into rubber. (Don’t even get me started on my lust for clear stamps. It’s too painful.)

I tried to hide my addiction but, alas, the tell-tale inky fingers, the paper cuts, and scraps of ribbon gave me away. (And that middle-distance stare after obsessing over the right color & embellishment combination for hours at a time.)

My decision to “out” myself was difficult but one I’m ultimately happy to make. Because, instead of a recovery program, I’m out to get you hooked, too. (When you’re most vulnerable, planning those wedding crafts. Bwahahaha!)

I’m dedicating the month of August to writing about and tutorializing (is that even a word?) rubber stamping. Stay tuned for projects galore, video tutorials, and a whole bunch o’ resources, tips and hints. Prepare to get those fingers all inky, dirty girls.

Most seating card holders leave me pretty uninspired.

http://www.curbly.com/DIY-Maven/posts/1071-How-To-Make-Roach-Clip-Memo-Picture-Clips

If you’re considering going DIY on any of your catering or baking items, you must visit Epicurious.com. Not only do they have incredibly yummy recipes for, oh, EVERYTHING, they have a section devoted to weddings . Featuring everything from tips and ideas for showers to easy-to-follow video tutorials, this is a must-visit spot on your wedding surfing journey.

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Rain and Peter Kwan are a couple after my own heart. They went DIY on their wedding portraits! Do check out their great site that takes you step-by-step through their process. They also offer tips and hints on everything from makeup and posing to selecting equipment and lighting. Very inspiring!

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I stumbled upon this cute little project at the Kitschy-Koo blog. It’s a paper flower with a lollipop center that I thought would be a fun favor for kids and adults alike.

Project Details and Directions: Kitschy-Koo

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It’s no secret that sewing is my Sworn Mortal Enemy. Oh, I’ve tried learning. Even bought a machine. I can reattach buttons and mend the odd seam but, otherwise, sewing is just a skill that eludes me.

If you don’t share my fear of needle ‘n’ thread, I have some great resources for those of you considering sewing your own gown (and aren’t accomplished seamstresses).

* Sewing.Org - The official site of the Home Sewing Organization has some excellent tips and tricks for bridal sewing projects.

* A Vintage Wedding - Not only a neat little resource for researching vintage weddings, they offer a collection of vintage sewing patterns for sale.

* Fashion-era Forum - Another awesome vintage wedding resource, the Fashion Era forums offer a whole bulletin board topic dedicated to weddings. Lots of great projects and helpful peeps.

* SewBridal - A resource for that highlights tips and hints for creating your own gown from McCall’s sewing patterns.
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Did you know that some churches/houses of worship require brides to have covered shoulders/arms (in other words: no strapless gowns)? Maybe your church requires it or maybe it’s just your preference to be a little more covered than your gown allows. Perhaps, even, you’d just like a sweet little cover-up to keep warm. Whatever your situation, this adorable mini sweater (a.k.a. the boobholder) project from Glampyre Knits perfect. Imagine it done is a soft, fuzzy white knit (cashmere) or a sleek metallic. Chic!

Project Directions: Glampyre Knits

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This one’s for you, my crochet-savvy friends. Behold this lovely vintage gown created from crocheted organdy ribbon. If any of you endeavor to make this: please send pictures! I’m dying to see it (but am not crochet-friendly myself by any means, thus I won’t be making it).

Project Directions From The Fabulous Me Did It

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