DIY Bride™

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

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.)

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.

Today’s sneak peak is among my all-time favorite DIY projects and it was one of the most fun to photograph. {Check out the Split Bamboo Centerpiece below.}
We shot this project, the Split Bamboo Centerpiece, at the ultra cool Metropolitan Building in Long Island City/Queens (if you’re looking for a reasonably priced venue in the NYC area, do check this place out!) and originally had another theme in mind for the display. When we got on location all of us – photographer, stylist, editorial team – fell in love with this really neat alcove in one of the Met’s rooms. The ginormous Buddha head, oriental rugs, and silk pillows were already in place so we took advance of the great setting. Hooray for spontanaeity!