I heart these little bundt cake wedding favors…so cute packaged in their pretty green boxes and adorned with a little note! They make the perfect favor!

Materials

Recipe for bundt cakes on allrecipes.com
bundt cake pans
Favor Boxes purchased at Michaels
Blank Labels

Instructions

1. Make Bundt Cakes

1 package of yellow cake mix
1 package of instant lemon pudding mix(3 ounces)
3/4 cup of orange juice
4 eggs

Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
Grease the mini bundt cake pans ( bought at my local Target store) -Stir together cake mix and pudding mix. Pour the orange juice, oil, eggs and lemon extract. Beat on low speed until blended.

Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool.

Make the glaze. Just use confectioner’s sugar and a couple tablespoon of milk or lemon extract. Brush over cakes. They can be frozen in airtight containers for up to 1 week.

2. Assemble Boxes: I purchased the favor boxes at Michaels craft store and the blank labels were purchased at paper source. It was time consuming to put the favors together but in the end it only cost us a little more that $80 for 120 guests.

Inspired by an Amy Butler design, these DIY wrist corsages are so stinking pretty. Adorable for bridesmaids or flower girls…OR you could use them to tie up napkins on guest’s place setting! Too cute!

Materials

Strips of Fabric
Iron
Sewing Machine/Thread/Needle
Hot Glue Gun
Pretty Strips of Ribbon

Instructions

1. Cut a 4×18 inch strip of fabric – you may need to play with the width and length to get the look you are going for.

2. Fold the fabric hot dog style (so the long edges meet) with wrong sides together. Press with an iron.

3. Using a loose straight stitch sew the open long edges together (leaving about 1/4 inch)

4. Pull the bobbin thread to gather the material. The more you pull the more it gathers. You will have to kind of play with the fabric to make it gather evenly.

5. Once you are happy with the amount of gather begin rolling the strip up – so it looks like a spiral. So start at one end and just roll. The tighter you roll the more open your flower will be.

6. Once you are happy with your flower hand sew the bottom together (the bottom is the edge with the seam – the folded side should be the open part of the flower). Be sure you get through all the layers – don’t worry this part doesn’t have to be pretty.

7. Once your flower feels like it is secure and will not unravel use a hot glue gun to attach it to a piece of ribbon. Voila! You have a corsage.

I love these because they are so quick and easy, but so beautiful. You can also make these flowers to adorn bags or sweaters. My husband’s grandmothers LOVED that I had made special corsages just for them.

This DIY Project is just great. Simple as that. The carved place cards are an unexpected touch to a table setting that not only add a hint of chic, they are also perfect for guests to take home with them so that they always remember your big day!

Materials

Small 6 x 6 piece of wood, depending on the shape you want to create
Wood Carving Tool
Spray Paint
Sand Paper

Oil Based Pen

Instructions

1. Design and cut out the desired shape out of wood. Some scrapbooking stores make pre-cut pieces of wood that make it much easier!

2. Once you have your wood shapes, sand all sides to get rid of any rough spots.

3. Spray paint in your desired color, then let dry.

4. Use a light sand paper on the edges of the piece to give an antique look.

5. Using an oil based pen write the name of the guest on every piece. Be careful there is no going back!

I saw this picture on Design*Sponge and totally fell in love. These cakes alone could inspire a pretty spectacular pink and black color palette. And to be honest, most of the confetti cakes could inspire pretty spectacular palettes. Take a peak if you haven’t already! Oh and definitely check out Elisa’s blog for even more inspiration!

We are continuing on with our DIY week! I am loving it so far and I am pretty sure you guys are too. So, let’s get right to it. This first project was inspired by Martha’s paper bouquets, with the reader’s own twist of course!

Materials

tissue paper cut in 1”x3” rectangles
floral wire and tape
ink or watercolors (optional)

Instructions

1. The first step optional step is to dye your tissue paper to the color of your choice. Just dip several rectangles of white tissue paper in a thin watercolor bath, and dry on paper towels. For deeper colors, you use ink instead of watercolor. Only separate the layers when dry. You can also use colored tissue paper, but this lets you have subtle shade variations, and exactly the palette you want.

2. Twist both sides of the tissue rectangle around a small ball to form a petal (I’ve used a ball of tissue paper scraps wrapped in floral tape). The tissue should be big enough to cover the ball halfway through. You can use smaller balls with larger rectangles, and vice-versa, to vary the flower sizes.

3. Make five of these, and glue them together with a dab of acrylic medium to form a flower (Elmer’s glue would probably work fine too).

4. Attach a floral wire with floral tape to your flower, then cut the twisted ends near the end of the petal.

Repeat to form a bouquet or boutonnière (~15-20 flowers for a smallish bouquet, 1-3 for a boutonnière) With experience, a single flower takes about 10 minutes to make, from start to finish.

This is a really great DIY project that you could incorporate solely for the people you love…custom covered jewelry boxes. PERFECT gift for bridesmaids!

And here is the step-by-step!

Materials

Needle and Thread
Fabric Stuffing/cotton balls
Fabric
Pen/pencil for marking
Scissors
Glue
Ribbon / Pin / Jewel / Embellishments for the box
Glue brush (optional, but makes things easier)

Notes:
I used bookmaking glue because it dries very quickly. However Mod Podge (available at most craft stores) works just as well. Any glue that dries clear and doesn’t cause the paper to wrinkle, or add too much bulk will work.

In making the box shown, I used paper that I found in the recycling. A good way to personalize your own box is to use paper that has a story. For example, instead of a thank you card, one could use the wrapping from a bridal shower gift to cover their box. The options are endless! (however, beware of using tissue paper, as it can be too thin.)

Step 1: Cut Paper

Trace and cut out 4 pieces of paper- one for the base, one for the outside of the lid, one for the inside of the lid, and one for the sides of the box. The outside lid piece will need an inch in of slack around the actual size of the lid, and the base will need .5 inch extra (as shown). Double the width of the paper for the outside of the box, as it will also cover the inside of the box. (see step 5)

Step 2:

Glue lid and base to the middle of each paper cut out. (don’t forget, the lid gets the bigger heart cut out!) Take care to use as little glue as possible on inside of lid- it still needs to fit on the box.

Step 3:

Cut several slits in the surrounding paper edges. As you fold and glue the paper around the edges and corners of the box, this will compensate for the curves (of course, no cutting is needed if you’re using a square or rectangle shaped box.)

Step 4:

Glue the last paper strip to outside of the box, cutting the excess in the same manner as in step 4. Fold and glue the strips to the inside of the box. This excess paper should cover much of the box on the inside. Set pieces aside to dry.

Step 5:

Trace the box shape onto the fabric, leaving about .5 inch excess on all sides.

Step 6:

Turning Fabric inside out, sew the two pieces together in a simple stitch, leaving a small opening unsewn.

Step 7: Turn fabric pillow inside out, and stuff with cotton balls / fabric stuffing (or even toilet paper!)

Step 8: Pillow should fit nicely inside box.

Step 9: Turning lid face down, glue ribbon to inside of the the lid. (as before, take care to use as little glue as possible- the lid will need to fit on the box)

Step 10: Wrap Ribbon around lid and back to the inside, gluing securely. 

Step 11: Glue last lid template inside lid to hide ribbon ends.

Step 12: Glue desired embellishments desired to box.

You can use any shape of box you please! The box can be used for many things: gifts, favors, carrying the rings, flower petals.. you name it!

This next is so thoughtful, I just had to share it with you. Signed Fabric Squares that can then be stitched into a quilt or a great wall hanging. I never would have thought of this idea, and yet I absolutely love it.

Instructions

1.  Draw or design the background pattern, leaving a place for signing

2.  Go to your local t-shirt shop and ask them to make a screen (or, they could do the whole printing, really)

3.  Wash and dry 100 percent cotton fabric–it could be any color, but light enough to see the pen.

4.  Get some textile ink from any common craft store.

5.  Cut your fabric to pieces larger than area to be screened.

6.  Lay down screen, place some ink, and use a squeegee to pull the ink across the openings (there are many excellent web tutorials for this part).

7. Make sure you have plenty of extra fabric–and make a few more than you think you’ll need.

8. Have guests sign them with Micron pigma pens in whatever color you like.

Our next DIY project is all about chic, but approachable style. On a limited budget, this bride set out to make centerpieces that really stood out and looked both expensive and completely style savvy.

Materials

Clay Pots
Black & White Spray Paint (or whatever color you like)
Branches of varying size and height
Rocks
Cardboard Toilet Paper Rolls
Fabric cut to fit rolls
Hole Punch
Wire
Fabric Glue
Decorative Ornaments like feather boa, gems, beads, etc.
Silk Orchids or other Silk Flowers
Green Moss or other flowers

Instructions

1. Spray paint the bottom of a clay pot black, or whatever color you choose. Once dry paint the top portion a difference color.

2. Collect branches to put in your pots. I just cut branches from a tree in our yard and used one large branch per pot.

3. Fill the pot with rocks to help secure the tree branch.

4. Create the toilet paper ornaments.

a. Cut a swatch of fabric that will cover the toilet paper roll. Don’t worry about getting all the way to the top and bottom because your accessories will cover it.
b. Once you have the fabric on the roll, punch two small holes in the top of the roll, one on each side. Then thread wire or string thru the holes to create a way to hang it.
c. Glue beads to the bottom of the roll.
d. Glue a small boa to the top.

5. Gems
a. Collect gems with holes in the top to hang from your branches. I purchased my gems from Michael’s and then thread clear wire or string through them.

6. Glue orchids randomly on the branches.

7. Finally, fill the pot with flowers to cover the rocks.

This DIY Project was done by a bride who really thought through her wedding style. She designed these hanging placecards so that the table remained clean and uncluttered and yet they still had that “pop” of color she was going after!

Materials

8 1/2″ x 11″ cardstock (1 sheet per 3 placecards, or 1 sheet for each sign)
12″x12″ brocade-design paper (1 sheet)
standard white bond paper
gluestick
white gel pen
ribbon

Equipment

computer with Word or Excel software
printer
copier
paper-cutter
holepunch

Directions:

1. Print the guests’ names on the cardstock, three placecards to each 8 1/2″ x 11″ sheet of cardstock (I used Excel, a font I got for free from www.dafont.com, and a standard laser printer).

2. Using the gluestick, glue one 3″ strip of the black-and-white brocade-design paper onto each sheet of cardstock. (I had bought one 12″x12″ sheet of the brocade paper from Papersource, and then Xeroxed it as I needed it, which is a fabulous thing about using a black and white pattern. I reduced it slightly so that the pattern would be centered on the center of each placecard.)

3. Print the small text for the band (I also did this using Excel, another font I got for free from www.dafont.com, and a standard laser printer).

4. Xerox the band using the “negative image” function on the copier so that the text becomes white and the background becomes black. (I had formatted it so that I could cut it in strips – three bands to a strip – and glue one strip on each sheet of cardstock.)

5. Using the gluestick, glue one band onto each sheet of cardstock so that it covers the edge of the black-and-white brocade-design paper.

6. Using the gel pen, highlight the black text of the names.

7. Using the papercutter, cut each sheet of cardstock into three placecards.

8. Using the holepunch, punch holes in each of the two upper corners of each card and thread in the ribbon.

One more absolutely adorable project by the reader who created the DIY Matchbooks and Custom Cocoa Bags. This time, it’s custom sparklers! LOVE!

Materials

Heavy Card Stock
X-Acto Knife
Ruler
Corner Punch Tool
Sparklers
Glassine Bags

Instructions

1. Print pattern / image onto a heavy weight card stock (this helps keep the sparklers flat).

2. Trim each one out using an x-acto knife and ruler. Cut out small rectangles for the sparklers to slide through. Round the edges with a corner punch tool.

3. Weave sparklers through holes.

4. Slide card into glassine bag for a polished look.

Sparklers: www.onlinefireworks.com
Glassine bags: www.loopcreations.com

This DIY project is one crafted by the same reader who did yesterdays Hot Cocoa and Marshmallow bags…and I have to say, they are just as cute! Custom Matchbook Covers are just another detail that your guests will totally eat up!

Materials

Matchbooks, 1 for every guest
Sticker Paper
Xyron Sticker Machine
X-acto knife
Ruler

Instructions

1. To save money we purchased matchbooks from the grocery store. Just break the glue seal and unfold matchbook.

2. Print design onto sticker paper or using a Xyron Sticker machine (www.paper-source.com) make any paper into a sticker. Trim each sticker out using an x-acto knife and ruler to size.

3.Adhere sticker to unfolded matchbook, being careful to get close to but not cover up the striker strip.

5. Using double-sided tape, fold box back up and seal shut. Put matches back in the box.

Guess what…SMP made Modern Bride’s Top 50 Best Websites for Your Wedding! There are only four blogs listed, so needless to say, it’s a huge feather in our cap. Thank you so much to the editors at Modern Bride for giving us a shout out. It certainly made our day!

Our next DIY project is so ridiculously cute, you are going to die. They were filled with homemade snowflake marshmallows and hot cocoa, then placed lovingly into the guests’ rooms as a sweet treat. So great!

Materials

Heavy Card Stock
Labels
Muslin Bags
Thread / Sewing Machine
Corner Punch Tool
Cellophane Envelopes
Resealable Glue Strips
Individual Hot Coco Packets
Recipe for Homemade Marshmallows

Instructions:

1. Print pattern onto a card stock and trim to 3.75 x 3″ then round the right side corners with a corner punch tool.  (You could use any patterned paper for this project and just mount it to a card stock with spray mount.)

2. Print the smaller labels onto a card stock. I used a silver metallic to coordinate with our wedding colors. trim each one out using an x-acto knife and ruler. Then hole punch (only half) on either side for sewing.

3. Line up pieces of paper with the left edge of the muslin bag and sew with a coordinating thread color. I used my basic sewing machine to do the sewing and they turned out well.

4. For the note inside we printed a greeting onto the same silver card stock and rounded the edges with a corner punch tool.

5. The homemade snowflake marshmallows were made from a recipe found at marthastewart.com.

We packaged the marshmallows in cellophane envelopes with a re-sealable glue strip to maintain freshness. Add individual hot cocoa packets in similar colors to complete the gift!

These heart shaped flags are completely adorable. They would be so cute, hanging from trees at a fun backyard style wedding…

(Easy) DIY Tissue Paper Banners
Inspired from the papel picado (cut paper) banners from Mexico, these are a simpler DIY version of tissue paper banners.  They add inexpensive punches of color for any reception.

Materials

Tissue Paper
Craft Punches
Exacto Knife
Scissors
Glue Stick
String

Instructions

1. Collect all supplies.  Tissue paper, craft punches, exacto knife, scissors, glue stick, and string.

2. Cut a stack of tissue paper to the desired size (9 1/2″ x 11″ or 6″ x 7″ for mini banners) and use paper clips to keep stack together.  Account for an extra 1″ at the top of the banner.  This will be folded over the string for hanging.  A rotary cutter or an exacto knife works well.

3. Use a craft punches or scissors designed to different edge effects around the bottom and sides of banner.  Alternatively you can use a smaller punch to add detail as shown.  Artisans in Mexico use chisels of different shapes and “punch” out designs.  There are many interesting shapes available in the scrapbooking sections of craft stores that have similar effects and are easy to use.

4. To create a design in the center, fold stack in half and cut a small heart.  Alternatively templates can be used but this requires a steady hand with an exacto knife.

5. Using a glue stick, place a thin stripe of glue at the top of the banner and fold over a string.  Continue adding banners leaving a few inches between each one.  Allow for a few feet of string at the beginning and end so that the banner can be hung.

6. Hang the banners and enjoy!  The creases in the tissue can be removed by using an iron on a low setting.

This next project was so unexpected, I just had to share…a Map-Inspired Cupcake Tier! Plus, you can use these instructions, substituting the map paper for just about any paper, and still have an absolutely adorable way to present your cupcakes.

Materials

Cupcake Tower
Large Sheets of Decorative Paper or Wrapping Paper
Craft Acrylic Paint
Decorative Ribbon

Instructions

1. Either make or buy a standard cupcake tower.  I bought a basic cardboard frame.

2. Cover with paper.  My fiance is Italian, so I found some wrapping paper with maps of Italy on it.  I just used the tiers as stencils, then cut them and glued the paper onto the tiers.

3.  I painted the levels between the tiers black with craft acrylic paint.

4. Cover edges with ribbon.  I found some trim at Hobby Lobby and used a hot glue gun.

Our next project was sent to us by a reader who clearly has a great hand for crafts! These Invitation Packages are a little more complicated than other projects, but I wanted to share as I think they are so cute…and I think that you can use this idea as inspiration to create your own projects!

Materials

Heavy Weight Decorative Paper in 2-3 styles (I used the purple card stock and a straw-like stock)
Bone Folder
Glue or other adhesive
Decorative Stamp and White Pigment Ink
Doily Paper
Tissue Paper, cut to size
2″ Circular Punch
1/8″ Hole Punch
Satin Ribbon
Twine
Vellum Envelopes

Instructions

1. I made a folder for the invitation using heavy paper.  I cut out a 10×7 rectangle with a triangular section below the right side.

2. I used a bone folder to score the middle (where the folder’s spine is) and at the bottom of of the right side so the triangular part could be folded upward.

3. Then I glued the right side of the triangle to the right edge of the folder to make a pocket.

4. I stamped the triangular pocket of the folder using white pigment ink.

5. Then I cut a 5×7 piece of paper doily and glued it to the cover of the folder.

6. I glued the invitation card on the left inside of the folder and stuffed the enclosures in the right hand pocket with the tissue paper rectangles between the cards.

7. I used a 2-inch circular punch to make a paper disc and stamped our initials on it using white pigment ink.  Then I punched two 1/8″ of an inch holes on either side of it.

8. I cut rectangles of different colored tissue paper to use between the cards.

9. I closed the folder with the contents inside and tied satin ribbon around the middle, threading through the holes in the paper disc and tying it behind the disc.  Then I took a straw flower and glued it on the back side of the paper disc.

10. To make the liner, trace the envelope onto a sheet of pretty paper.  Cut it out and trim the upper triangular portion about half an inch on either side and trimmed the other 3 rectangular sides by about 1/8 of an inch.

11. Finally I stuffed the folder into the envelope and tied the envelope with twine (like a package) and tied a bow on the front with a couple 1-inch paper discs threaded onto it.  I put that envelope into a slightly larger vellum/glassine envelope.  I put stickers that were addressed on the front of the glassine envelope (the font is Memoir from Veer).

I completely heart our next DIY project, sent to us by a reader who managed to bring a touch of unabashed romance into her affair with these beautiful love story books…

From the bride…

I made two of these books for each of the tables at our reception- one containing his version of our love story, and the second with my version. It was a great way for our guests to get to know the bride and groom, especially considering many had never met our betrothed before! They are VERY simple and only require access to a printer, paper, a bone folder, double stick tape, a ruler, and an exacto.

1. Design each page as it will appear in the open book, left side and right side. For my books, I laid out 3 spreads on one sheet of 11×17 paper. It saves paper and cuts on printing costs. I used Staples Coverstock paper: www.staples.com . Also design the cover, back and front, as one long piece remembering to make it at least .5 in larger on all sides.

2. After printing, carefully cut out each page using the ruler and exacto.

3. With the bone folder, score vertically down the middle of each layout, and fold face in.

4. Then using the double stick tape, attach the folded pages together (don’t forget to put them in order first!) to create your little book!

5. Score the spine of the cover vertically before folding and wrapping it around your book, and securing with double stick tape.

We are so thrilled to be doing a Do-It-Yourself Wedding Projects week on SMP. We have been sent some of the most amazing DIY projects from readers that we can’t wait to share…from the simple and chic, to the vintage and fabulous, all are easy to do and practical for anyone. For a glimpse into past contests, check out our DIY archives.

I hope everyone had a great weekend! I am so excited about this week’s posts, as I have finally collected all of your DIY projects, have chosen my favorites to go up on the blog and now we can start the show! If yours didn’t make it up, don’t worry…we will be saving all of them for our next DIY contest.

So, let’s get right to it! I wanted to start the contest with one of my personal favs…these adorable table numbers housed in glass hurricane vases and adorned with the cutest, rustic touches!

Materials

Glass Apothecary and Bell Jars (one for each table – for the bell jars I also purchased metal plates to go under them)
Floral Foam
River Rocks
Moss
Bamboo skewers
Gold (or silver) address numbers
Black Spray Paint
Hot glue gun and glue
Sandpaper
Additional Adornments (ex. Feather butterflies, old keys, peacock feathers)

Instructions

1. Hot glue a bamboo skewer to the back of each address number. Wait until dry.
2. Spray paint numbers and skewers black. Wait until dry. Apply second coat if necessary.
3. Use sandpaper to “antique” the numbers, allowing some of the metal to show through.
4. Cut a piece of floral foam small enough that it will fit in the apothecary jar of choice with a 1″ clearance when placing in the opening of the jar.
5. Use the hot glue gun to attach river rocks to cover the foam on the sides and part of the top.
6. Use the hot glue gun to fill in the cracks between the river rocks with moss.
7. Cover the top of the foam with moss.
8. Place a small bed of moss in the bottom of the jar. This moss will cover the bottom of the foam so that it is not visible from beneath.
9. Place the rock and moss covered foam in the bottom of the jar.
10. Cut the bamboo skewer attached to the address number to the proper height and insert into the floral foam through the moss on top.
11. Attach an additional adornment (such as a feather butterfly) to the base.
12. If desired, on the day of the wedding (or using silk), place a stem of orchids into the floral foam adjacent to the number.

We are posting DIY projects throughout the day for the next five days, so make sure to check back often!

I rarely post on the weekends…it’s usually my catch-up time. You know, laundry, grocery, bills, boring boring boring. So, when I was killing some time looking at Daily Candy and I happened across this absolutely blissful cake company, I just had to share with you!

k. rosecakes makes the most darling cakes I have ever seen. They are a bit reminiscent of April Reed’s little gems, in their delicate, somewhat sweet style, but they have a voice of their own, as well. I just might have a new favorite cake company with these perfect designs! By the way, the one with the lemons on it is my fave.