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Secrets Every Bride Can Use to Make
Her Wedding Unique
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Every bride-to-be dreams of
putting her unique stamp on her wedding day. Blending her chosen
wedding colors into many of the occasion's elements is just the
first step toward a creative and beautiful event. Brides in gorgeous
gowns, bridesmaids and groomsmen decked out in the wedding party's
colors and striking flowers are the perfect accompaniment to
the colorful landscape of the summer and fall wedding seasons.
Selecting the perfect ways to
feature wedding colors is a very personal representation of the
bride and groom. If you're a bride-to-be, picture homemade jewelry
embellishing your wedding dress, table decorations that match
your wedding theme and colors perfectly, or all your guests looking
over unique programs that you made at your kitchen table.
"Making wedding decorations
or even gifts for the wedding party allows you to put a lot of
creativity and personality into the project. And, because you
made it yourself, you'll have a customized, one-of-a-kind item
that perfectly matches your wedding and its decor," says
Courtney Talkington, manager of education and inspiration for
Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. "Another idea for your DIY
wedding is to involve your family, friends and wedding party
in making the projects, allowing everyone to be included in the
fun and creativity." |
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Using a centuries-old technique
of quilling is one way to create a homemade necklace with a unique
look in beautiful colors. Not only does the rolled paper look
beautiful in decorative flower shapes, it's also a great way
to incorporate keepsakes such as ticket stubs or love letters
from the dating and engagement years into meaningful, wearable
art. Are you new to quilling? Quilling classes will be offered
at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores starting in September.
Quilled Memory
Necklace
Supplies and tools:
Thin paper strips for quilling:
scrapbook papers, ticket stubs, old love letters and other paper
mementos
Quilling tool
X-Acto knife and cutting mat
Tacky glue
1 spool tiger tail
1 package each of 3 mm and 4 mm Blue Moon glass pearl beads
1 clasp set
Crimp beads
Crimp tool
Bent-nose pliers
Wire cutter
2 6 mm jump rings
1/4 yard Tulle
1/4 yard of 1/4 inch wide Organdy ribbon
Hand sewing needle
Thread
Optional book: "The Art of Paper Quilling, Designing Handcrafted
Gifts and Cards"
Directions:
1. Using paper strips for quilling,
make several flower shapes in various sizes and colors. Set aside.
2. Cut two pieces of tiger tail about 12 inches long.
3. Attach one end of one tiger tail strand to clasp using crimp
bead and crimp tool. Trim excess wire.
4. String glass pearl beads for about 8 to 9 inches.
5. Attach one jump ring to opposite end using a crimp bead and
crimp tool. Trim excess wire. Set aside.
6. Repeat steps three to five for second tiger tail strand.
7. Cut two pieces of tiger tail - one 8 inches long and another
10 inches long.
8. Attach tiger tail strands to jump ring. Adjust the 8 inch
strand to measure approximately 6 inches and the 10 inch strand
to measure approximately 8 inches.
9. Lay paper flowers out on work surface so they fit nicely between
the two pearl strands and on top of the two tiger tail strands.
10. Cut two pieces of tulle slightly larger than your flower
layout, following the outline of the flower shapes. Cut two large
strips of tulle - about 3/4 inches wide and 3 inches long - to
tie onto necklace at the sides.
11. Sandwich the two tiger tail wires between the tulle. Hand
stitch the tulle together close to the tiger tail wire.
12. Tie the tulle onto the necklace at jump rings. Trim tulle
to desired length.
13. Cut two pieces of organdy ribbon each 2 1/2 inches long.
Tie onto necklace at jump rings. Trim.
14. Glue paper flower in place on top of the tulle following
desired layout. Let dry.
15. Add glass pearl beads to flower centers. Let dry.
If you're looking for something
for your guests to take home with them, consider designing your
wedding programs with a keepsake envelope. The directions below
use fall burgundy colors, but feel free to mix and match the
colors to personalize the program to your wedding.
Personalized
Wedding Program
Supplies and tools:
8 1/2 inches by 11 inches of
Burgundy suede cardstock
12 inches by 12 inches of Black Magic cardstock, black/red two-sided
12 inches by 12 inches of Burgundy suede paper
Lime green cardstock
12 inches by 12 inches Vellum sheets, translucent clouds
2 shades of purple, narrow ribbon
5 round beads, grape
5 seed beads, grape
Silver leaf charm
Silver "Follow your heart" charm
5 headpins
2 jump rings
Silver heart brad
20-gauge Silver wire
Grape leaf template
Paper trimmer and scissors
Corner rounder
Hole punches, regular and large
Vellum tape
Adhesive dot runner or glue stick
Jewelry tools: wire cutter, round-nose and chain-nose pliers
Computer (to generate text)
Ruler and stylus (or bone folder)
Directions:
1. Cut burgundy suede cardstock
5 1/2 inches by 12 inches. Score 4 inches up from bottom edge
and fold, using ruler and stylus, to create a pocket. If left
and right edges are not quite even, trim them now, up to 1/2
inch total. Punch top four corners of folded pocket with corner
rounder.
2. Using included pattern, trace
a grape leaf on the back of the pocket flap and cut out with
scissors. Print the bride's and groom's names and wedding date
on vellum, so that it will fit the leaf shape. Attach the vellum
to the inside of the pocket with adhesive dot runner. Attach
a panel of lime green cardstock behind the vellum for a subtle
green hue. Cut a thin strip of burgundy suede cardstock to fit
behind top of pocket. Round corners and attach so the back side
of the paper is visible behind the suede pocket. Using large
hole punch, punch a notch on the left and right sides, using
photo as guide for securing ribbon.
3. Print vellum panels with
wedding information, no wider than 4 1/4 inches. Mount on burgundy
suede paper and Black Magic cardstock; round top right corner
of vellum.
4. To create bead grape cluster,
string a green seed bead on a headpin, followed by a round green
bead. Make six to eight. Create a wrapped loop at the end of
each. Curl one end of 20-gauge wire and string on grapes and
leaf charm. Create a wrapped loop.
5. Wrap narrow purple ribbons
around the wedding program pocket and tie in a knot to the right
of the leaf cut-out. Slip the bead cluster onto a jump ring and
attach over the knot. Tie the ribbon, catching the jump ring,
to prevent it from sliding. Attach the "Follow your heart"
charm to a second jump ring and attach it to the first jump ring.
6. Punch a hole through all
three layers of the program and insert a silver heart brad.
"There are so many ways
to take your wedding from mainstream to magnificent" advises
Talkington. "A little inspiration is all you need to incorporate
your ideas into the wedding of your dreams." |
Beauty Secrets of the
World
