Wedding Favors

When we were planning our wedding, the favor issue became particularly challenging.

Should we offer favors? 

This is most of the advice I got:

"Don't worry about them!" 

"Half of your guests will forget them at the table!" 

"Guests aren't there to get a gift!"

"I can't remember the last wedding favor I got that I actually used!"

If you're like me, you may want to offer your guests something (especially for making a long trip to attend or in case your wedding is taking place on a big holiday). The key is finding a favor that is both unique to the couple and useful for the guests. 

Option #1: Make your reception dessert your wedding favor. This can cut down on costs since you're killing two birds with one stone. (Of course, you could also have a dessert station in addition to a traditional reception cake or dessert.)

• On the more grand scale, I've seen people set up candy, cupcake and dessert stations for guests, providing little baggies or boxes to take them home.

(From a wedding featured on Green Wedding Shoes!)

(From a Green Wedding Shoes feature!)

• On a smaller scale, I've seen people offer individualized desserts with optional boxes as their wedding favors.

A friend of ours offered bacon and apple tasties from Dynamo Donuts as their dessert/favor. This picture above is from Thistle and Finch Event Design.

Option #2: Sweet Little Nothings

From a wedding featured on Green Wedding Shoes!

• Leaving your guests a sweet little treat to take home can be cost-effective and easy. And except for guests who have health concerns preventing them from eating sweets, you can be sure that this type of favor will be useful!

(From a wedding featured on 100 Layer Cake)

(From 100 Layer Cake's Tasty Favors post.)

Option #3: Make a homemade edible favor. This could be from a treasured family recipe or something made with love. (All pictures are from 100 Layer Cake's Tasty Favors post.)

(Homemade jam from a wedding featured on Green Wedding Shoes.)

Looking for non-edible favors??? We went that route, too! Here are a few options:

Option #1: Plantable paper. You can print a thank you message on it, then guests can take it home to add it to their garden or start a garden! See an older post about how to make this useful and cute favor!

Option #2: Offer small herb plants as favors. (They can also be used to decorate tables, cutting down on costs!!!!) This is the option we used, and every single one of our favors went home with guests!!!

(See how to make it at Ruffled!)

Option #3: Offer small succulents. They will transport well and require little maintenance, making them ideal for a wedding and guests with little gardening experience!

(From Martha Stewart Weddings)

Option #4: Offer some personalized item for the home. I've seen couples hand out personalized handkerchiefs, bottle openers, coasters and match boxes (which would've probably been cheesy 10 years ago, but they're making a comeback). 

If going with this option, I'd recommend choosing something you know most of your guests will use. As much as you might love the idea of your guests sporting a refrigerator magnet with your picture on it, there are other options that will remind guests of your special day and also help out around the house. 

Your wedding favors don't have to cause you stress (or cost a lot). If you decide to offer them, make sure they are personal to you and functional for your guests!

Baby Shower: Onsie Decorating Party

I went to a baby shower last year that had a onesie decorating contest. The organizers brought onesies, puff paint and permanent markers for guests, and the mom-to-be got to vote for her favorite. The winning onesie designer got a cute prize, and new momma got 12 personalized onesies for her new babe!

Beyond the benefit of having onesies that your close friends and family have made for you, it can also be a cost-effective way to add some cute bodysuits to baby's wardrobe.

Being a DIY crafter, I'm always inclined to check out what ETSY's offering. (Not only are you supporting independent artists, but you can find stuff that isn't on the commercial market.)

I found quite a few cuties!

(This one's from O'Dell Sisters, $16)

(This one is made by Sue Czechowski, $12)

(This one's from SwankyShank, $18)

(Cute tuxedo onesie from Lil Ladies and Gentlemen, $22)

(Paisley Prints Spokane, $19.95)

(So cute! From The African Llama, $20)

(The Lil Nest, $25)

Buying these individually can add up quickly, but finding cute ideas like these and making them yourself (or offering them as ideas at your own onesie decorating party!) is a great alternative!

In addition to providing puff paints and markers, I suggest bringing fabrics as well. This way, guests can cut out shapes and designs. (You'll probably also need fabric glue, buttons, thread and needles and other cute little details!)

This pic from Pizzazzerie is exactly what I'm talking about...

  

Pregnancy: Week 22

This week, baby is about 11 inches long! Considering how noticeable his movements are these days, I'm not surprised. His kicks are visible through my clothes!
The major developments for baby this week are more defined lips, eyebrows and eyelids. He's even developing tooth buds this week!

This week, baby's about the size of a spaghetti squash:

Week 21:

(By the way, it was really difficult to find a picture of a carrot that wasn't too phallic.)

Week 20:

This week, baby is swallowing and producing meconium (digestion by-product).

Cinco de Mayo Wedding

Check out this inspirational elopement shoot from Ruffled!

I love this necklace!

(The creative power behind this shoot is A & B Creative.)

Simple, vintage and rustic with a Cinco de Mayo twist - love it!

Succulents

Using succulents for a wedding or home decor is very "in" right now, and for good reason! With the right presentation, they can be lovely and charming! They're low maintenance and can be found year around!

If you plan to use them for wedding centerpieces, I might also suggest offering them as favors afterwards. This way, you're not stuck with a lot of them at the end of the day. Also, their double purpose will cut down on costs. 

If you're looking to buy in bulk, I suggest doing your research. This trio at Home Depot runs about $16:

 

You can buy 12 small succulents at SucculentsGalore (ETSY) for $36:

Green Wedding Shoes has a great intro into Succulents... Check it out!

NEW Cricut Expression Guide! (By Cathie Rigby, Gibbs Smith Publisher) PLUS! FREE DOWNLOAD!

I was very lucky to recently review a guide for the Cricut Expression (and Expression 2), written by Cathie Rigby (Gibbs Smith Publisher). 

Upon receiving this hefty guide in the mail, I was immediately struck by its attractive design (even the text is cute!). But how practical is it? Is it worth purchasing? See below! 

The guide is clearly designed to offer in-depth instructions and support for new Cricut users. For those of you who bought the machine, stared intimidatingly at the parts in the box, stumbled through the manufacturer’s guide and asked yourself, ‘How and where do I begin?’ – this guide is for you! (It’s also meant to help skilled Cricut users get the most of their machines, utilizing all of the features it has to offer!)

I really wish the manufacturer’s guide came with an introductory section as in-depth as this. Rigby includes a lot of personal advice about purchasing cartridges and materials, as well as helpful tips for operating the machine. She has sections called “The Cricut Way” and “Cricut Handbook Strategies” to help users get comfortable with the machine and prevent new-user frustration.

To give new users a wide variety of ideas, Rigby has compiled projects from real users for everything from paper cards to fabric banners. What I love about the projects is that they look complex but are actually easy to complete! The instructions are easy to read and follow, with lots of step-by-step pictures:

(Pictures from the project "Smile Banner")

First, each project lists all necessary materials:

Next, you’ll find a handy matrix listing all of the die-cut cartridge pieces required in full detail:

In sum: The introductory sections of the book are, by far, the most helpful. The rest of the book features amazing project ideas, which are helpful for new-users (and comfortable users looking to spice up their skills!). You can also generate a lot of inspiration from the featured ideas, customizing them to meet your creative needs. But once you’ve experimented with the projects and become comfortable with the machine, those beginning chapters are going to serve as “refresher courses.” With any guide like this, the timeline of usefulness will have an end. You will outgrow it. However, it will give you the solid foundation to ensure you use your machine for a long time! 

If you’ve purchased a Cricut Expression or Expression 2 and don’t have the time to surf blogs for tips and ideas, this book is a quick and easy resource for you! At a retail price of $19.99, it’s a solid investment for new users, or those feeling like they need to add some variety to their Cricut crafting!

Find out more by visiting Gibbs Smith Publisher! (Test it out by downloading four projects (PDF) for FREE!)

Unique and Personalized Infant Crib Bedding

Finding crib bedding you really like can be difficult and expensive. After poking around on sites a bit, I was surprised by the lack of variety. If you're looking for themes beyond the princess and safari options, guess what? There's something out there for you!

Option #1: Search for alternative styles already on the market. (Probably the cheapest of all options.)

Land of Nod (Crate and Barrel) offers a cute unisex option (gray and yellow are very "in" these days):

(This set ranges from $24-$79.)

Here's another Land of Nod option:

(Khaki in the Mix, ranges from $24-$138)

Kids Line Nursery (diapers.com) have a cute forest theme (and it's organic!):

(Ranges from $16.99-$44.99, but does not feature a blanket or quilt on diapers.com)

Option #2: Customize your own set at Carousel Designs (BabyBedding.com). The items are listed from $19-169. I LOVE their design page! You can pick from a wide variety of fabrics to construct your own set and customize even the smallest details (like trim or tie strings)! 

Here's one I made:

Here's another! (This is way too fun!):

One last design (because why not, right?):

The price can get steep pretty quickly, but I love that you can customize every detail without having to make it yourself or find someone to make it for you.

Option #3: Find it on Etsy.com! Etsy features handmade baby bedding (and everything else handmade) by independent designers. These sets (or partial sets) tend to be more expensive (because they're homemade), however, you have the option to personalize most items. This can make it easier for you to construct your perfect nursery. 

Here's one I found from Miss Polly's Piece Goods when I searched for "crib bedding":

She also has these patterns:

($250 for the complete set.)

Here's another I found:

(These are the fabric samples offered by ETSY shop SweetDreamsBedding. How cute are these? A handmade set costs $229.)

From the All Nestled In Bed ETSY shop:

(This handmade partial set is $225. These patterns are made of brushed twill, making it unfit for bedsheets, but great for the bumper and bedskirt. Pricey? Of course! This is something I'd recommend for those looking for one-of-a-kind crib bedding.)

This one is totally and ridiculously out of most people's price range (at a whopping $425 for the set), but I love the subtle details and clean look!

(Check it out at the Poids Plume shop.)

Option #4: Make your own! (So, I know this task instantly seems daunting, but there are SO many helpful options out there to make it an easier task!)

Step 1: Visit Spoonflower.com - Not only can you find THOUSANDS of prints and styles, you can create your own! Because they have so many options, I highly recommend searching by color scheme or category. 

(Note: Many fabrics start at $18/yard for cotton material. I would roughly buy 6-8 yards of fabric to make a complete set, costing between $108-144 for fabric. This would not include lining, padding, thread, etc.)

Here's one I found under the Category "Animals," called Night Owl (by Leanne):

When you find a print you like, the site instantly recommends complementary prints to coordinate with it!

(Downpour, by Leanne)

(Featherland White, by Leanne)

Obviously, you can also take a trip down to your local fabric or craft store and pick up fabrics. I highly recommend searching for a fabric warehouse or discount store in your area, as these places tend to have a wider variety and are (typically) less expensive. 

Step #2: Decide whether to sew yourself or find someone who can for you. This really comes down to a time vs. money situation. If you have the time, patience and tools to do it yourself, I highly recommend it. I made my daughter's first quilt, and it's a family treasure to this day. If you don't have the time, energy or tools, it's very easy to find someone who can do the work for you. Often times, they won't charge much. 

There are SO many options for unique and personalized crib bedding! Your best bet is to establish a budget and determine your options from there. Have fun!!!