DIY Bouquets

by Meredith

I'm thinking about making my own bouquets this summer with flowers from a small business I love at the Minneapolis Farmer Market.  You can plan ahead and create a custom order, then pick them up the day before the wedding.  Then I could create my own bouquets and centerpieces.  It can't be that hard, right?

I've found a lot of videos and tips online and in magazines, but any other suggestions?  Have you tried it before?  I want to know how it went.

table numbers

by Meredith

Now on to place settings...  below are some of my favorites.  Nothing I want to copy exactly, but I will use pieces from each.

Jesse and I love to travel, so this theme is perfect.

aisle decor

By Meredith

This week I'm thinking about aisle decor and have many ideas.  Below are my favorites.

{Aisle decor: a single gerbera daisy, tied with black ribbon}

{Flower cones made from sheet music}

{Ribbon in your colors wrapped around chair ends for a simple aisle decor}

{Hymn pages made into flowers}

Mirror Transformation

by Meredith

I found an old mirror while sorting items at my Gram's house.  It's a beautiful white painted antique, wood mirror.  It's perfect except for the chipped paint.  You can easily pick up some spray paint and fix it.  Just remove the mirror and go outside to spray on a few layers until it's completely covered.  Let it dry and wala!

No Sew Blanket

by Meredith

My Mom's friends gave us a no-sew blanket kit for Christmas, in hopes that we could make together.  It's been quite busy lately, but this weekend we found time.  It was so much fun.

This is one lovely, yet simple project you can work on with someone else.  It creates not only a wonderful keepsake, but a beautiful memory.

{Lay the two pieces of fleece out so that the wrong sides are together (both right sides are facing out) and the edges are even.  If the edges are not even, trim the larger piece of fleece so that both pieces are even. Cut off the selvage edge from the both pieces.}

 

{Cut out a 5" square from each corner.   On all four sides, cut slits all the way around that are 5" deep and approximately 1 1/2" apart.  You should cut through both layers of fleece at one time.}

{Cutting the slits in the edges makes fringe.  Since you cut through both layers of fleece at the same time, the fringe will be in pairs.  Knot each pair in an overhand knot - just like you tie a balloon. The knot should be close to the actual blanket.  Continue knotting each of the pairs all the way around}

Hand Painted Ornaments

by Meredith

In need of a few little gifts this holiday season?  Here's a creative idea.  Pick up some ornaments (plastic or glass) and acrylic paint, then create your own beautiful tree ornaments.  You can make the design as complicated or simple as you want and they will still be stunning.  Guaranteed your friends and family will love them.  This makes a nice, small thoughtful present, or use them to decorate the outside of a present by attaching it near the top by the bow for an add-on.

This can also make for a fun activity to do with kids this holiday season.

{Ideas courtesy of Thomas Pacconi and ShopNBC}

{Ideas courtesy of Thomas Pacconi and ShopNBC}

{Ideas courtesy of Thomas Pacconi and ShopNBC}

{Ideas courtesy of Thomas Pacconi and ShopNBC}

{Ideas courtesy of Thomas Pacconi and ShopNBC}

Clever Pumpkin Carving Idea

by Meredith

Still need some pumpkin carving inspiration, but running out of time?  Here's a clever idea.  Last year I cleaned out a pumpkin and used a drill to put holes all over.  It took about 1/3 of the time as a very detailed design, but I think is just as awesome.

Want some other pattern ideas?  I like Better Homes and Gardens' website.

Shutterfly Photobooks

by Meredith

I love to take pictures. I take so many, usually I don't print them off very often.  I share them on Facebook and once and awhile I'll print off photos from a trip to scrapbook.  I really like the newer Photobook idea from Shutterfly.  They actually allow you to create your own hardcover scrapbook online where the pictures are the actual pages.  I've done this for the last three trips my family and I have taken and they think they are the coolest things.  This is the latest about our trip to DC and Virginia Beach.

 

Painting

by Meredith

Painting and wine sessions for rookie's I've noticed have become very popular this summer. I myself have not done one yet, but one of my very best friends Amie is a professional artist on her own.  She's always inviting others to come paint with her, so I took her up on it.  Both times were absolutely wonderful and I think I've found a new 'happy place'. My mind and body felt so inspired, relaxed and creative.  This is what a painted last week.  The artwork on the left was my first, and I used her backyard fence as a model.  The painting on the right is a sunflower.  It will be a gift to my mom at her birthday next week.

More about Amie:  Amie is a beautiful, passionate artist. I'd describe her artwork as colorful, dramatic, lifelike and vivid. She is on the edge of launching her new website (which I will share soon), but if you want to see more of her work come to her art show next week. Let me know if you're interested and I'll share the address:

AK ARTISTIC PRODUCTIONS
Presents...An Outdoor Summer Art Show and Sale:
AUGUST 17th and 18th!
4-8pm in Rosemount, MN

Homemade Bows

by Meredith

With all the gifts I've been wrapping lately - I'm obsessing over making my own bows with the leftover scraps of paper. What do you think of the one I made this past weekend for a friend's wedding? I used the end scraps and folded them over numerous times. Then, stapled and taped pieces together. I think they are just as beautiful as anything I buy in the store - if not better.

 

 

Invitations

by Meredith

This year I've discovered Wilton printing. One of the many things this company does is help you create beautiful, polished invitations at home, then print them off with ease and bring them to life. I like to add some loose confetti to my envelopes for a little something extra.

Patches

by Meredith

Last week I made one of the most klutsy mistakes I have in a long time. I thought the cap of my black permanent marker was on, and it wasn't, and made two big marks on my brand new pants.  Now they are perfect, except for two large black dots.  Solution? Patches!  I know they sound somewhat childlike, but I found this beautiful one at Michael's last weekend. I think it will be perfect and still look stylish for a 20-something year old.

Here's the patch on the pants... what do you think?

Simple and Sweet

by Meredith

Dani and Mike had a perfect wedding day Saturday June 9, 2012.  It was beautiful indoors and out.  The feeling of the event: pretty, simple, sweet, homemade and vintage. Check out the highlights below.

{Centerpieces}

{Entrance}

{One gift from the bride to her bridesmaids - Redneck wine glasses}

{Vase for the bridal bouquets}

{Vintage frames}

{Homemade photo booth background made by the Groom's father}

{Photo booth decor}

{Table numbers}

{Seating list}

{Day off - mimosa cheers! Robes - another gift from the bride to her bridesmaids made by the mother of the bride}

{Homemade jewelery made by the bride - another gift from the bride to her bridesmaids}

Homemade Flowers

by Meredith

This weekend is my friend Dani's wedding.  I've known her for along time and I'm so excited for her to begin this new adventure with Mike.  I'm looking forward to being a bridesmaid too - my first time ever!  Back in January a group of us got together to make her floral centerpieces - homemade ponies, that will sit in blue mason jars.  I promised her I wouldn't share pictures of it until the wedding - so staying true to that promise I have, pretty close at least!  These are just adorable and 100% Dani.  Now, I'm just excited to see what they look like at the actual event!  She found the pattern online.  All you need is a lot of good material, scissors, cardboard and twigs.  Each take about 30 minutes to make.

Cheers to Dani and Mike!  May you have many years of love, happiness, success, good health and a little luck.

Antique Photos

by Meredith

We went to Storm Lake, Iowa this past weekend to celebrate my Grandma's 90th birthday with her family. One of my gifts to her was a photo board made up of many family photos from her past.  When I started, I asked Gram if she had any old pictures tucked away and she dug up a box from the basement filled to the brim with old family snapshots.  One problem - many didn't have names on them!  Her and I did the best we could despite my lack of knowledge and her aging memory, but in the end I think it turned out pretty well.  My challenge to you now is if you're interested in this same thing, ask your elders ahead of time to go through their old pictures and write down names and relationships statuses!  The earlier you do this the better.