Flip Flop Basket

Materials:
Ribbon- 3 colors (I used our wedding colors)
Stencil
Foam brush
Paint
Flip flops
Basket

I ordered some flip flops from Old Navy for the reception during the $2 sale. I had 170 guests attend the wedding and ordered 50 pairs of flip flops and it seemed to be the right number if not a few too many.

I used the three colors of ribbons to indicate sizes, pink small, silver medium, and navy large to make it easier to discern the sizes. My sister and I then stenciled on a S, M, or L onto the ribbon so people would know the size. 

When stacking the flip flops in the basket I ordered them smallest in front to largest in the back so it would also make sense when ladies were trying to find the right size. I found the basket at Home Goods and then hot glued the navy ribbon around the edge to tie it into the wedding colors.

Petal Program Fans

I decided to test my DIY abilities with these program fans. I was originally going to do a normal paddle fan, but I just loved the way the petal fans look. There is the easy DIY kit way and the way I did it. I chose to use the template from Alyee's Templates and use the same paper I used with my invitations from paperandmore.com.  Just a warning, doing it the hard way is very time intensive and a little painful for your hands!

What you need:
Paper
Template- The one from Alyee's Templates is free
Design- I made my own using my invitation flourish on word
Scissors- spend the money on a good comfortable pair
Crop-a-dile
Eyelets

Steps:
Make your design and do a few test prints to make sure it's all straight. Cut out the petals. Punch a hole, I used 3/16 using the crop-a-dile in your petals. Then use the crop-a-dile to add the eyelet to hold them together.

Yes, the directions seem short and easy, but it took FOREVER to hand cut all the petals, so just be weary. Everyone loved the fans and they were one of the favorite things I made at the wedding, so it was worth it. We had them placed on all the guest's chairs so they were there when they sat down.

Table Numbers

I DIY'ed my table numbers because I wanted to add something a little more personal to the tables. I had seen the table numbers on pinterest with photos of the bride and groom at the number of the table, but I went through an awkward time of my life during those numbers, so there is no way I was putting that on someone's table. I also had a lot of extra engagement photos printed so I thought, why not make my formal engagement pictures the table numbers?! The our outfits happened to perfectly match the linens and feel of the event so it worked perfectly.

Materials Used:
Black picture frames- purchased from Michales in 4-packs for about $4 a piece during a 40% off sale
Rhinestone Numbers- purchased from Hobby Lobby online on sale for $0.99 a piece
Engagement Photos

This project is super easy to do. Just put the photos in the frames, then line up the numbers on the front with the clear backer still on to see what side is best. I trimmed the clear backers so I could line up the numbers a little bit better. Then peel and stick and you're done!

 They were really popular at the reception, but I don't think I have a picture of them on the table before the guests sat down. Also, these are pictures of pictures so sorry for bad final picture quality.

 

Invitations

I decided to make my own invitations because I had a vision of how I wanted them to look, which was apparently extremely expensive when I started shopping around. I spent a lot of time learning how to use powerpoint to make them, but I'm really happy with how they turned out!

Invitation and Response Card

I purchased the flourish as a jpeg at the top of the invitation from an etsy retailer instead of an entire invitation. I just sent her a message and she was very helpful!

The paper is from paperandmore.com. I used this for the invitation and response card and this for the backer because I liked the textural differences.  I also ordered my envelopes from there as well!

I downloaded fonts on dafont.com for free and used the fonts than came with microsoft office.

I had everything printed and cut out at postnet which was super affordable, ended up costing about $78 for printing.

I spent a couple days and a couple glue sticks gluing everything together during my winter break. I used a book on top of the glued cards to help cement it. Sorry the color is off in the invitation picture, the response cards on the top are the accurate colors.

Sorry the color is a little off!

Belly Band and Ribbon
Once I got all the invitations and response cards glued, I made the belly bands. I had a hard time finding the right lace to put around it because I thought the white lace clashed with the pearlescent paper. Then I hit the jackpot! This lace hem facing happened to match exactly to my navy backers and looked fantastic. Joann's had the best price on the hem facing and always have 40% off coupons which is what I did to purchase it. I also found the silver accent ribbon at Joann's. The best way to attach the hem facing was just to use a little bit of dark tape or clear tape on the back. I tried a million ways of gluing it because I didn't like the tape, but it really didn't work.

Envelope
I used a font from dafont.com and printed all my envelopes at home. I then got an embosser for my bridal shower to emboss the back with my return address to give it a more regale touch. This took a long time to do with my home printer, so just be weary. A lot of them jammed too. I almost lost my mind a little, but I really wanted the font I chose so I completed them.

After traveling across the country in my suitcase

Vodka Gummies

I was looking for something fun to bring to my bachelorette party in a week and a half and thought to myself, alcoholic gummies! After scouring the web for about 15 minutes I could not find a recipe for making vodka gummies aside from the vodka soaked gummy bears. I personally am not a fan of the vodka soaked gummy bears, they always ended up slimy and slap you in the face with the vodka flavor. Also, I wanted something with less sugar to avoid bad hangovers and heaven forbid someone serves you vodka soaked sugar free bears (for a good laugh read these reviews). So I made my own recipe!

Strawberry Lemonade Vodka Gummies
Ingredients

1. 1 Cup of Vodka 
2. 1/2 Cup of Water
3. Sugar free Strawberry Jell-O (the large box)
4. Lemonade Kool-aid
5. 4 packets of Knox Gelatin 

'

Directions: In a large sauce pan, add the vodka and water. Place the heat on low. Be sure to keep the heat on low to not cook off the alcohol. Add each ingredient and be sure to whisk as you add the powders so they do not create a large blob. The vodka and water will become warm and the powders will dissolve. Once the powder has dissolved it's ready to add to your molds or whatever you want to use.

I spooned the mixture into the ice trays from IKEA to make fun shapes. You can also use candy molds. Lastly, I just poured the mix into the bottom of a square large tupper ware and plan to just cut them into squares when firm.

Place the ice tray, mold, or tupper ware in the fridge and wait for 2-3 hours for it to harden. Once it is hard you're good to go!

Store them in the fridge in plastic baggies to keep them fresh. 

Pinterest Potluck Pool Party

This isn't necessarily a craft, but I wanted to share how I asked my bridesmaids because I want to go to more of these parties! I came up with the idea of having a Pinterest potluck pool party. Where each person would pick a recipe they had never made before off Pinterest and make it for the party. The catch is, you have to bring the dish whether it turned out or not. Luckily all of our recipes were super delicious! I made this little design using the Pinterest logo and a font I found on dafont.com.

Here are some of the items we had:

I had just invited everyone to the get together, but I'm not exactly good with surprises so some people guessed what was up. I had placed all the bridesmaid tanks I had made in gift bags with each girl's name on it. I also had a red velvet cake made asking them to be my bridesmaids set up in the other room!

Bridesmaid Shirts

I absolutely love all the pictures of bridesmaids and the bride in coordinating tops or robes! Since I am planning on doing hair and makeup at a different location from the wedding site, robes were a no-go. I am also getting married in Phoenix, AZ in May, so it's hot, really hot. Therefore, tank tops were my solution!

What you need:
1. Racerback Tank tops (2 colors- 1 bride, # Bridesmaids) (I got mine from Forever 21 for 2 for $10)
2. Fabric for the bows for bridesmaid tanks
3. Fabric for the bride bow
4. Iron-on decals
5. Iron
6. Ironing board
6. Sewing machine (thread, etc.) or Sewing needle and thread.

I started off making the bows and kept the shirts aside so I didn't mess them up. I learned how to make the bows from this youtube video. The video is only 4 minutes, so just watch it instead of me summarizing. The sound is a little loud when you click on it so just put your volume a little lower. Also, she uses excess fabric from her tanks, we're using separate fabric, so just ignore that part of the video. Here are all of my bows made, it got a little messy while I was making them. Also, a lesson I learned is to not use special occasion fabric. If you can find a jersey type material that would be easiest. The special occasion fabric I used was very delicate and frustrating for a novice sewer.

Next step, iron on those decals! I purchased my decals at Joann's and Hobby Lobby (here's the one I used). If you check their websites they always have coupons for 40-50% off an item. Just a warning, they only stock 3-4 at a time so if you need more, it requires more than one trip. I made a few trips because I only bought them with the coupons so I never paid more than 60% of the retail price. All you need to do is iron them on the shirt! I tried to measure I believe and inch and a half from the neckline, but I kind of winged it. Everyone has different body types so there's no way it would lay on the same spot even if I did do it perfectly.

Then you sew on the bows to the back of the shirt! Which means back to the youtube video. The first one was a little confusing, but then you get the hang of it. I'll explain this one because it took me a couple viewings to understand. (1) Place the bow on the inside part of the shirt (by the tag), (2) take the arms from the strip and put them together around the back of the tank (The seam of the tube should be on the outside (touching your fingers)), (3) sew as closely to the tank as you can without catching the tank across the arms (it is making it into a little ring/loop), (4) cut off the extra tube past your seam, (5) flip the new tube so the seam is against the tank so you can't see it, (5) slide the bow around to the outside of the tank, (6) straighten the bow and you're good to go!

Here are the tanks I made:

And one of my lovely bridesmaids modeling her's:

 

Getting ready shot day of the wedding