CasaSugar

DIY: Tissue Paper Pom Poms

CasaSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 06:15:42 -0700

I spotted these great Paper Pom Poms on Etsy, and thought they'd make fun décor for a bridal shower, if you have a friend getting married. But, at three for $15, I think the prices are steep. It'd be much more economical to make them yourself, seeing as they're fairly simple. I like to craft small ones for gift wrapping. To learn how, read more.

Supplies:

Tissue paper (20 inches x 30 inches). Choose one to three colors, or similar shades of the same color, to keep things from looking like a circus.
Scissors
Monofilament
Floral wire. White, if you can find it.

Here's how:

Stack four to eight the sheets of paper on top of one another, depending on you puffy you want them to be.
Now, fold the sheets into 1.5-inch accordion folds, all the way across.
Prune the ends of the tissue into round shapes, to give them a petal-like look.
Cut about a foot and a half length of floral wire.
Wrap the wire around the center of the folded tissue and secure it by twisting.
Now the fun part! Pull apart each layer, separating it from the center one piece at a time.
Measure the length you'd like to hang your pom pom from and cut a piece of monofilament accordingly.
Knot the monofilament to the floral wire and hang!
Repeat until you've created a pom pom fantasyland. The more, the merrier!

Be sure to check out all of the Sugar network's wedding coverage here!

The Card Shop: Papeterie Bridal Shower Invites

CasaSugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 09:00:44 -0700

At home, I'm a modern woman with the décor to match. But when it comes to weddings, I'm a traditionalist. No matter how laid-back (or wild and crazy) a girl may be, I'm all for elegance and sophistication on the big day. That notion applies to the bridal shower as well. Papeterie's Bridal Shower Invitations ($33.75-37.50 for 25) fit the bill when it comes to elegant stationery. Choose from an array of beautiful designs inspired by textile patterns, including antique roses, flower toile, garland, scroll, Moroccan patterns, and more. Beyond that, you can choose from 18 different colorways to fit your gal pal's personality. Since they're digitally printed, you won't pay the price of letterpress, but you'll still get the look, and that's key!

Create This Bridal Shower Table Setting

CasaSugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 07:00:03 -0700

Why settle for boring floral arrangements when you can create a chinoiserie-inspired table setting instead? If you're in charge of hosting a bridal shower at your home this Spring, take inspiration from stylist Rebecca Thuss's look for this table setting. To re-create it, simply purchase bird figurines, vases, and branches. Alternately, you can take advantage of Spring blossoms and trim flowering trees or hedges to use, which will cut down on the cost of this look.

Feeling ambitious? You can also create a matching overhead light. The look is so seasonally appropriate, and would be sure to impress the bride, as well as the other bridal shower guests. Have you created a similar look at a bridal shower?

Source

Cool Idea: A Colander As a Vase

CasaSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:00:44 -0700

I recently polled you on your love for Todd Oldham's ice cream cone carnation floral arrangement, and you were pretty split on it. I on the other hand was not a fan; although in general, I feel that the world-renowned designer can do no wrong. Today is no exception to that notion, though. Oldham has created another arrangement for FTD, the Todd Oldham Green Salad ($79.99), this time using a colander as a vase. I adore this innovative use of a colander, not only for its good looks but because it is something everyone can achieve. Of course, it helps to have a vibrant, kelly green colander to perk things up, but I love it regardless of color. It's also a great housewarming gift, as the colander can be used in the kitchen once the arrangement falls by the wayside. Love it?

How-To: Throw a Garden Bridal Shower

CasaSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 06:15:54 -0700

My lovely sister recently threw me a garden bridal shower. She knew that I wanted a low-key, simple affair that focused on my friends, and with that in mind, she came up with the concept of a garden tea party. This casual affair was a fun, backyard gathering that my sis made elegant with her decorating choices and signature style.

View Slideshow ›

How Would You . . .

CasaSugar — Sun, 18 May 2008 08:27:43 -0700

For the next round of this challenge, I'd like you to look at this Decorative Crystal Glass Ware ($550) from the Czech Republic. Now, imagine that you've been asked to integrate this glass ware into the decorating scheme of a good friend's bridal shower. How could you use this crystal glass ware at a shower? Yes, they'd be great as vases, but how would you make them stand out? What else could you use them for? How might you change them to really amaze the guests and bride-to-be? Tell me by commenting below!

Have You Helped Make a Ribbon Bouquet?

CasaSugar — Fri, 16 May 2008 11:00:27 -0700

If you've ever been to a bridal shower, you may have been responsible for helping to DIY the ribbon bouquet. At bridal showers, it's traditional to gather all of the ribbons together from the gifts and construct a bouquet, which will then be used at the wedding rehearsal.
Source

DIY: Wine Cork Placecard Holders

CasaSugar — Fri, 16 May 2008 05:36:07 -0700

I spotted these Wine Cork Placecard Holders ($23.95) at Bright and Bold, which are actually made of resin, and thought they'd make a fabulous and simple DIY for a bridal shower brunch (or any other event). It's kind of a sad fact that these are being mass produced, but we won't get into that. I'm sure most guests would get a kick out of them, especially my girlfriends who are staunch wine fans. If you can handle drinking a few bottles of wine to save up for this DIY, then I think you'll be in the clear, supply-wise. But, you can also have cork stoppers special ordered from an industrial retailer and personalized with "Mrs. X" or "Angie & Brad" etc.

Supplies:

1 wine cork per place setting
Razor blade or X-acto (craft) knife
Cardstock
Calligraphy pen
Optional: Hot glue gun and magnet strip

To hear the steps, read more.

Here's how:

Using the razor blade or craft knife, slice off one side of the cork lengthwise, so it can lay flat on the table. Make sure to use a fresh (sharp) blade, otherwise the cork may crumble.
Then, with the cork set flat on the table, make a slice down the middle lengthwise, but not all the way through.
Cut the cardstock to a rectangular shape (or a fun shape) a bit larger than the width of the cork.
Scribe your guests names using a calligraphy pen.
If you like, you can hot glue a magnet strip to the bottom of the cork placecard holder. If your table happens to be metal, this will keep it in place and weighted down. If not, you can slip an adhesive magnet under your table cloth to make sure it stays in place.

You can also use this cork placecard holder to display photographs or your bridal shower invites at the center of each table. I love the recycling factor of this DIY, but if you'd like to have your corks personalized, some retailers include Manton, Widget, and Amorim.

Wedding Planner: Bridal Shower Thank You Gifts

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 05:30:52 -0700

If you're planning a bridal shower, you're probably scouring your local shops looking for cute, inexpensive party gifts for your guests. These Cherry Blossom Gift Tins (10 for $22.50) are a great find. I don't know a lady out there who doesn't love pretty, small tins and boxes that can be used for stashing everything from earrings to sewing pins or change. There's just so many uses for little, pretty containers. These Japanese chiyogami (old-paper) gift tins would be a gorgeous, colorful, and unique keepsake tin for your party favors. You could fill them with something small and heartfelt, such as flower seeds, decorative small soaps, or chocolates. It's definitely a unique party favor that everyone will appreciate.

The Card Shop: A Botanical Bridal Shower

CasaSugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:00:40 -0700

I love this set of bridal shower invitations ($14.50 for a set of 12), in part because it reminds me a little of my recent trend alert. The design is simple, classical, and absolutely beautiful. Just send in the details of your bridal shower, and within a few days you'll have your invitation sent to you. You can specify numbers of invitations, and they'll be printed on 100% recycled card stock with matching envelopes. I have a bridal shower coming up myself, and I think I may have found the perfect card . . .