Showing posts with label guest book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guest book. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Inspiration #80: Wedding Poster as Guestbook

Another Esty find: April Ink, a graphic designer who also makes wedding guest book posters in a variety of themes, from Western to recipe, to this lovely Pretty Lovebirds. This would tie in well with our theme, and even the motif and fonts are what we used in our Save-the-dates.



 

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Inspiration #78: A Blank Canvas Goes "Up"

I got a pair of blank canvases at Michael's tonight for only $6. I had thought I'd make a guest book tree like the one inspired by this awesome wedding, but I had another idea. What if the thumbprints were balloons? [I'm sure you saw the sweet engagement session posted on Green Wedding Shoes and Wedding Chicks shot by Wildflowers Photography!]

Should I trademark my idea? ;)

{Photo via WeddingChicks.com}

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

An "Animal Crackers" Wish Tree

Wish trees are a popular alternative to the traditional guest book these days and often, paper tags are used to adorn a manzanita branch. Manzanita branches are pricey ($20-45) and I wondered how well the paper tags would hold up after the wedding.

Initially, I thought ceramic ornaments, where guests could write on the back would be the solution. But, I couldn't find them at Michael's. What I found online cost $2+ per ornament, plus shipping. Then, I dug deep into my childhood memories: salt dough ornaments! 

Guitar Fred and I made a batch (4 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup hot tap water). Super cheap. We let it rest for 12 hours (half a day) and then rolled it out and used cookie cutters to punch out the ornaments. I only have a hippo and dog cookie cutter and I'll need to buy some more. We'll need to paint them with colored paint and then clear varnish to preserve them before guests can write their recipes for a good marriage on the back. They're still a work in progress, but I'm pretty happy with the direction we're going in so far. Ultimately, I can see the theme of our wish tree turning into "Animal Crackers." Super cute!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

DIY Keepsake: Recipe for a Good Marriage

I've been researching fun ways for our guests to leave well wishes for us: wish trees, guests books, murals, photo mats, and more. Then, I reached into memories of my early childhood. Remember making salt-dough Christmas ornaments? Yeah, you know those ones you rolled out like cookies, baked and painted? I was then inspired to make a long-lasting recipe card so guests can tell us their recipe for a good marriage. It's a nice fit since food/throwing dinner parties is one of my passions.

I envision making these ahead of time and shaping and painting them as if they're index cards. We'll leave Sharpies in a variety of colors so that guests can easily write and share their love notes to us. It'll be a nice keepsake for us every Christmas!

Here's the recipe for the salt-dough ornament (from GiftIdeaCenter.com):

Classic Salt Dough Ornament Recipe

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water

Directions:
1. Mix salt and flour.
2. Add in half the water, then gradually add the remaining water.
3. Knead until the dough is smooth, this can take up to 10 minutes.
4. For flat dough ornaments roll out the dough on baking paper
Or be creative and make odd shapes and wreaths (takes longer to bake)

Create:
Use cookie cutters, cut-out templates, or just use your hands.
Dust dough with flour and begin to add details to the ornaments with a toothpick, popsicle stick, and knife.

Don't Forget:
Use a straw to make a hole so you can hang the ornament.

Baking: Time varies based on thickness of ornament
Temperature: 325 degrees
Time: 1 1/2 hours - or until dry

Decorate: Let cool before you begin
Paint with acrylic paints
Glue on beads, buttons, or any fun accessory

Preservation: Making them last a long time
Coat with acrylic varnish when everything is dry

*** Color Variation Notes from our Visitors***
- Substitute coffee for water - great for gingerbread people - Thanks, Shelly
- Add food coloring to make dough a unique color - white, blue, red, etc...
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