30 Before April 30 Project 20 Completed!

I apologize curious bees for the lack of content recently and you may be surprised to hear that it has nothing to do with our wedding. This busy inspired bee has started a new job this week after walking away last week from a company that I have spent well over 5 years with. So as you can imagine, my brain is working overtime learning a new job and getting things ready for our wedding.

Thanks to a dear friend, I saved some money on this next project. As any crafter knows, styrofoam products in any form can be expensive. I was shocked to learn that a plain sheet of styrofoam or any similar product can be well over $20 each. MJ suggested that I pick up a sheet of insulation styrofoam at Home Depot to shape into the 'C' I wanted to make. (I don't have a picture of the product; I lost the picture along with my camera in a cab during my bachelorette party. RIP Cannon.)


Warning: this can get messy. I traced a 'C' and just used an old bread knife and worked some magic. Once satisfied, I covered the styrofoam with moss sheets, using hot glue to secure the material into place.




30 Before April 30 ongoing list ... (this list changes a lot)
- DONE! Totes for the bridesmaids
- Guest bags and all of the pieces that will go inside for out-of-towners
- DONE! Save the dates
- DONE! Wedding invitations
- DONE! Letter pillows for 2 chairs at reception
- DONE! Wedding programs
- DONE! Bags for Program Attendants
- DONE! Bridal shower invitations
- DONE! Bridal shower party favors
- DONE! Reserved signs
- DONE! Escort cards for wedding party
- Photobooth props & sign
- DONE! Rehearsal dinner dessert
- DONE! Rehearsal dinner invitations
- Rehearsal dinner menus
- DONE! Fabric bunting flags for bridal shower
- DONE! Thank you gifts along the way ...
- Groomsmen gifts
- DONE! Bridal Party Table initial
- DONE! Bridal Shower Cake Bunting
- DONE! Dessert bar components
- Sign in *surprise* area (we can't give everything away)
- DONE! Bird cage for cards
- Signs for front of reception site
- Centerpieces for cocktail tables & bars
- DONE! Headbands for program attendants
- Bouquet bling
- DONE! Sign for pictures
- Toiletry kits for bathrooms
- Thank you gifts for our generous vendors, family and friends helping on the big day!

30 Before April 30 Project 19 Completed!

Throughout this wedding business process, there were a few things that I was constantly drawn to - lanterns and bird cages. So I eventually made the conclusion that the two were obvious choices for our wedding. The lanterns are being made from scratch by my brother and I hope to provide an update soon on how that will look on our tables.

The bird cage is a little off the lantern decor theme, but I just needed to include it somewhere! When we first got engaged, I was shopping at the local Home Goods store and found this bird cage. Well, I didn't have a bird cage so I got it and put candles inside for indoor use. Now, we'll ask our guests to stuff any cards with well wishes inside.


The letters and outline were Cricut cut outs, and I made slits along the side about the same width as the ribbon.



30 Before April 30 ongoing list ... (this list changes a lot)
- DONE! Totes for the bridesmaids
- Guest bags and all of the pieces that will go inside for out-of-towners
- DONE! Save the dates
- DONE! Wedding invitations
- DONE! Letter pillows for 2 chairs at reception
- DONE! Wedding programs
- DONE! Bags for Program Attendants
- DONE! Bridal shower invitations
- DONE! Bridal shower party favors
- DONE! Reserved signs
- DONE! Escort cards for wedding party
- Photobooth props & sign
- DONE! Rehearsal dinner dessert
- DONE! Rehearsal dinner invitations
- Rehearsal dinner menus
- DONE! Fabric bunting flags for bridal shower
- DONE! Thank you gifts along the way ...
- Groomsmen gifts
- Door initials
- DONE! Bridal Shower Cake Bunting
- DONE! Dessert bar components
- Sign in *surprise* area (we can't give everything away)
- DONE! Bird cage for cards
- Signs for front of reception site
- Centerpieces for cocktail tables & bars
- DONE! Headbands for program attendants
- Bouquet bling
- DONE! Sign for pictures
- Toiletry kits for bathrooms
- Thank you gifts for our generous vendors, family and friends helping on the big day!

30 Before April 30 Project 18 Completed!

Burlap is all the rage on these blogs and I got sucked into this trend recently when I skipped onto the Victorian Station Etsy shop. Pillows, bunting, oh my! But the 'Just Married' bunting had me at 'Just Married.' The $38 price tag was out of reach and this girl just doesn't swipe her credit card lightly.


Here's how I DIM (did it myself). I made letter templates with the ever so trusty Cricut machine. Instead of using the letters that I actually cut out, I needed the outlines. Half a yard of burlap was enough for this project and each square was 7" x 8".


Center the template on the burlap, but slightly lower so there's more space at the top to fold over. I used basic white craft paint and an inexpensive sponge brush.




Originally, I had intended to hot glue the burlap to the twine but I ran out of glue. The next best option turned out great - with dark blue thread, a quick zig-zag stitch across the top of each letter.




Total cost: less than $5!

30 Before April 30 ongoing list ... (this list changes a lot)
- DONE! Totes for the bridesmaids
- Guest bags and all of the pieces that will go inside for out-of-towners
- DONE! Save the dates
- DONE! Wedding invitations
- DONE! Letter pillows for 2 chairs at reception
- DONE! Wedding programs
- DONE! Bags for Program Attendants
- DONE! Bridal shower invitations
- DONE! Bridal shower party favors
- DONE! Reserved signs
- DONE! Escort cards for wedding party
- Photobooth props & sign
- DONE! Rehearsal dinner dessert
- DONE! Rehearsal dinner invitations
- Rehearsal dinner menus
- DONE! Fabric bunting flags for bridal shower
- DONE! Thank you gifts along the way ...
- Groomsmen gifts
- Door initials
- DONE! Bridal Shower Cake Bunting
- DONE! Dessert bar components
- Sign in *surprise* area (we can't give everything away)
- Bridal Party dinner table monogram runner
- Signs for front of reception site
- Centerpieces for cocktail tables & bars
- DONE! Headbands for program attendants
- Bouquet bling
- DONE! Sign for pictures
- Toiletry kits for bathrooms
- Thank you gifts for our generous vendors, family and friends helping on the big day!

30 Before April 30 Project 17 Completed!

There's something about papel picado that makes me want to put on a sombrero and eat guacamole and chips. The festive Mexican tissue decoration has gained popularity recently and you can now find these eleborate designs drapping weddings and parties alike.

Throughout my year-long web search for the perfect ideas for just about everything we were doing, two papel picado decorations stand out and I just had to use them one way or another. When we decided to host a Mexican food rehearsal dinner, I found the playground I needed to implement papel picado decor! The first inspiration is a DIY rehearsal dinner invite I found on Once Wed. I love the design of the invite and the font really grabbed me.


The second came from the same inspiration I found for the bridal shower cake bunting. How cute is the little papel picado bunting that I found on Eat Drink Pretty?


Together, I had a creative idea! (This was a 'eureka' sort of moment.) I did my best to recreate the design used on the invitation. Once printed on cardstock, I glued colorful paper to the back to add a little punch.



Actual papel picado decor can be expensive, so I chose to go small with my Martha Stewart edge punch and some string.



Email me if you want the template for the invitation on a word document.



30 Before April 30 ongoing list ... (this list changes a lot)
- DONE! Totes for the bridesmaids
- Guest bags and all of the pieces that will go inside for out-of-towners
- DONE! Save the dates
- DONE! Wedding invitations
- DONE! Letter pillows for 2 chairs at reception
- DONE! Wedding programs
- DONE! Bags for Program Attendants
- DONE! Bridal shower invitations
- DONE! Bridal shower party favors
- DONE! Reserved signs
- DONE! Escort cards for wedding party
- Photobooth props & sign
- DONE! Rehearsal dinner dessert
- DONE! Rehearsal dinner invitations
- Rehearsal dinner menus
- DONE! Fabric bunting flags for bridal shower
- DONE! Thank you gifts along the way ...
- Groomsmen gifts
- Door initials
- DONE! Bridal Shower Cake Bunting
- DONE! Dessert bar components
- Sign in *surprise* area (we can't give everything away)
- Bridal Party dinner table monogram runner
- Signs for front of reception site
- Centerpieces for cocktail tables & bars
- DONE! Headbands for program attendants
- Bouquet bling
- Signs for pictures
- Toiletry kits for bathrooms
- Thank you gifts for our generous vendors, family and friends helping on the big day!

Linking up at these parties this week:
- Take a Look Tuesday at Sugar Bee Crafts

30 Before April 30 Project 16 Completed!

There comes a time in the planning of a wedding that a bride has to wave a little white flag and accept defeat. In our case, it was the ceremony program. Now, don't get me wrong, there are so many creative ideas swimming around in my head and I've actually encouraged my own friends to use some of those ideas. But in our situation, the large guest list and the other important tasks led us to the decision that a very simple program would be used at our ceremony.

With my Photoshop skills, I dissected our wedding invitation and designed a 4.25" x 11" program that carries all of the relevant information - front and back. I spent a few months working on this program, piece by piece, and I'm proud of how it turned out. Everything was sent to the printer this week and this task is completed. Can I get a woop-woop!?


30 Before April 30 ongoing list ... (this list changes a lot)
- DONE! Totes for the bridesmaids
- Guest bags and all of the pieces that will go inside for out-of-towners
- DONE! Save the dates
- DONE! Wedding invitations
- DONE! Letter pillows for 2 chairs at reception
- DONE! Wedding programs
- DONE! Bags for Program Attendants
- DONE! Bridal shower invitations
- DONE! Bridal shower party favors
- DONE! Reserved signs
- DONE! Escort cards for wedding party
- Photobooth props & sign
- DONE! Rehearsal dinner dessert
- Rehearsal dinner invitations
- Rehearsal dinner menus
- DONE! Fabric bunting flags for bridal shower
- DONE! Thank you gifts along the way ...
- Groomsmen gifts
- Door initials
- DONE! Bridal Shower Cake Bunting
- DONE! Dessert bar components
- Sign in *surprise* area (we can't give everything away)
- Bridal Party dinner table monogram runner
- Signs for front of reception site
- Centerpieces for cocktail tables & bars
- DONE! Headbands for program attendants
- Bouquet bling
- Signs for pictures
- Toiletry kits for bathrooms
- Thank you gifts for our generous vendors, family and friends helping on the big day!