I apologize for the delayed response on the winner of the DIY Series items! According to random.org the winner is number 2, who is Maranda. She said, "These are Great! I love lavender. I'm using lavender and purple with silver and white accents. These would be perfect! I like the buttons. Not something you see everyday. I wish I could be crafty! It would save on so many details!" So Maranda, send me an email so I can make sure you get all the items.
There is a new DIY Series in the works, so stay tuned!
DIY Series - Contest Winner
Just Because...


Simple Centerpieces
Big or small, recession or no recession, we all have budgets for our weddings. There are lots of ways to minimize cost without cutting some of your favorite elements of the day, one of which is flowers. You don't have to have tall centerpieces, or even designs that are overflowing with beautiful blooms. There is always the option of using candles, but if you need to cut costs and still want to use flowers, why not use several small bunches?
Collections of wildflowers and unique stems in recycled mason jars or bud vases can (if you ask me) be just as endearing as any other option. Here are some inspirational examples I found from around the blogosphere, just click on the images to see their source.

Tugboat Printshop
I am completely and totally in awe of how beautiful these invitations are, from the amazingly talented artists at Tugboat Printshop. I've actually seen Tugboat at Renegade before but I never realized that they also commission wedding invitations. The fact that these are hand drawn and hand carved out of wood is nothing short of incredible. I am just going to stop talking and let you watch it all unfold (literally).
I really just can't get over the fact that these are hand carved out of wood! Works of art, indeed. You can find more pictures on Tugboat Printshop's flickr site, as well as their etsy store.
The Speidi Wedding
So I got an email from Michael this morning, turns out he was the DJ at Spencer & Heidi's wedding this weekend. As much as it pains me to give them anymore publicity, I couldn't resist showing you some of these beautiful photos that Noa took. You should really go read her post, it is a hilarious account of the night.
And I also couldn't resist this picture - love the level of concentration. Now we can all say we knew him "when." Have you downloaded his soul mix yet? Because if you haven't, you should.
The B List


Kristina from 100 Layer Cake
Liene from Blue Orchid Designs™
Vané from Brooklyn Bride
Ami + Rebekah from Elizabeth Anne Designs
Anne from From “I Will” to “I Do”
Jen from Green Wedding Shoes
Luzel from iDiY
Nole from Oh So Beautiful Paper
Emily from Once Wed Blog
Anne from Perfect Bound
Kelly from Santa Barbara Wedding Chic
Janice from The Bridal Wishlist
Janie from The Bride’s Cafe
Courtney from The Little White Book
Amanda from Vintage Glam Weddings
Bee from Weddingbee
Christy from What Junebug Loves!
Maria from {ritzy bee blog}



Simple and Pretty
I would have gladly used any of these cake designs, they are all so simple but strikingly pretty. I used that word over and over again when describing what we wanted our cake - "simple." And I really enjoy that the top four cakes are all monochromatic. That isn't a term that you usually think of when considering wedding cakes, but there is something to be said for an all white cake! You can find more pictures and the sources for each of the cakes from Real Simple.

DIY Series: More Button Projects
Last but certainly not least, there are a lots of other ideas for amazing button projects floating around the internet. This first one though, is my favorite by a landslide. Those are candy buttons which you can make in any color imaginable. Bake it Pretty has provided a complete tutorial along with free labels you can download and put onto the top of the packages! These would be some of the cutest favors I can possibly imagine.
And of course, Martha Stewart has an array of adorable button inspired projects. You can go here to see more and also read some of the tutorials they have posted for button cuff links, boutonnieres and more.
Then there are these amazing button bouquets and boutonnieres, which you can find in abundance on etsy. I can't even imagine the level of work that goes into creating each of these.
So, there you have it. I hope you all enjoyed the series! Keep the feedback coming, its the only way that I know whether or not the idea was well received and/or if you would like to see some more DIY projects on varying themes. If you have a minute to take this short survey, it would be much appreciated. Have a wonderful weekend!
DIY Series
We've reached the end of the first DIY Series, I hope you've all enjoyed reading it as much as I liked creating all of the projects. But more than that - I hope it was useful! Even if you've left comments or sent me an email (thank you for that!) filling out this short survey would be a huge help. I want to make sure all of this is as useful as possible so know that any feedback is taken to heart. You can find the survey here. I promise it will only take a few quick seconds to fill out and it is completely anonymous.
Are any of you using or planning to use this color palette? If so, just leave a comment on this post by midnight (CST) on Wednesday, April 29th for a chance to win the ring bearer pillow, the extra fabric I used to create it, the fabric covered buttons and the favor boxes (if you want to use them as templates).
There is one more post coming up that showcases other button projects from the web, so you can get a few extra ideas from that as well. I hope you all have a lovely weekend!
DIY Series: Favor Boxes
Last up in the DIY series, favor boxes. I came up with three different ideas so that you have several to choose from. And remember, these can all be customized to any color palette and type of fabric that you have in mind. There are no limits! We'll start off with the button & fabric wrap. For this box you will need:
Button & Fabric Favor Box:
- Strip of Fabric - Aprox 1" wide
- Button
- Small White Box
- Scissors
- Glue Dots
Ribbon & Button Box
- Cotton Ribbon - I found this particular ribbon at the Container Store
- Small Favor Box
- Scissors
- Glue Dots!
DIY Series - Covered Buttons
If you have some extra fabric scraps from all your DIY projects, why not make some covered buttons? You could use them for ring bearer pillows, boutonnieres (you'll understand what I mean on Friday) or even make them into tacks and use them to pin up your escort cards onto a framed board. I got the idea for this from the ever creative Jessica at How About Orange, who made tacks with her fabric (and took much better pictures of the process!) All you will need is:
Fabric Covered Buttons
- Scraps of Fabric
- Button Cover Kit - I used the 20 (1/2")
- Scissors
- A Quarter
DIY Series: Ring Bearer Pillow
I am definitely no expert on ring bearer pillows, but I thought a simple design (with some buttons incorporated, naturally) could be a cute addition to this color palette. Here is what you'll need to get started:
Ring Bearer Pillow
- Fabric
- Matching Thread
- Sewing Machine or Needle
- Ribbon
- Four (or more) buttons
- Stuffing or Pillow Form





