Pretty My Drink

Finished Nursery

2012-01-08T19:13:00.008-05:00

The nursery is finally finished and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out! We went with a neutral color palette and accents of pink and green throughout the room. I managed to incorporate a bird theme into the room through the use of a bird cage photo holder above the dresser and a bird mobile that I made by hand.

On the wall behind her crib, I painted a white tree with our initials "carved" into it. We'll hang the letters of her name on the branch which are blocked out for now until we formally reveal her name when she arrives :)
Reading has always been a big part of our childhood growing up and we would like to continue this with our children. We created a special place to house her books that will also inspire her to read and to hopefully nuture her imagination. And now we wait for her arrival!!

Ball of Treasures

2011-12-31T14:20:00.006-05:00

I have tons of old jewelry, pins & beads that I wanted to display in a unique way rather than having them collect dust in my drawer. I like the look of decorative decor balls, so I decided to make one of my own to feature all of my treasures. I bought a 4" styrofoam ball from my local craft store, painted it brown and then glued all my little items onto it. I started with the largest pieces and then filled in the gaps mainly with beads & buttons. This took a while to finish, but the ending result is beautiful and the perfect way to display all of these neat treasures.

Bird Mobile Project for Nursery

2011-12-23T11:01:00.030-05:00

In preparation for our first baby, I decided to take time off around the holidays to put the nursery together. The baby's room will get a new coat of paint which will include a handpainted mural along with other handmade items, so I thought I would post pictures on our progress. The first craft project that I decided to work on is a bird mobile that will hang above the crib. The idea along with the pattern for the fabric birds came from a knitting blog called Spool. Sewing has never been my forte and I feel like it took a while to just make one little bird. For those that are visual learners, here are pictures of each step in the process. 1) First, start with the bird body pieces cut from Spools' PDF pattern
2) Next, line up one side of the belly with one side of the body. When you start sewing those pieces together (starting with the un-patterned side out), you'll need to keep lining up the pieces together due to the curves of both pieces.

3) Once you complete sewing the belly side to the body, you can move on to the opposite side of the belly and start sewing and will continue sewing until the head is sewn shut

4) Next, you will turn the sewn bird inside-out and then fill it with stuffing. Once stuffed, sew the tail shut.
5) When you are finished with all the birds you'd like on the mobile, select 2 branches. I cheated and used decorative branches that were in one of my vases. You can find these at any craft store. What's nice about these is that they have a glossy coating to prevent any bark from being shed.

6) The hardest part for me was getting the birds to hang right-side up. I first glued the birds how I wanted them positioned on each branch with a glue gun.

7) Next, I used stretchy, clear string bought from the craft store and tied the ends of the top branch to a key ring that will be used to hang the mobile from the ceiling. You'll need a little patience to balance the bottom branch which was the most difficult, but once it's all set you'll have an adorable bird mobile that will be enjoyed for many years to come!

My L.A. Experience

2011-06-27T17:03:00.004-04:00

I decided to take a trip across the country to visit a close friend of mine who recently moved to Santa Monica, a town located right outside of L.A. I was thrilled to find out the Tim Burton exhibit had opened at LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) and since I'm such a huge fan, I made sure to visit the exhibit. It was definitely one of the best exhibition's I've seen. There were more than 700 drawings, paintings, films, puppets and costumes that included the infamous Edward Sissorhands outfit (one of my favorite films). There was so much to look at, so many sketches and drawings from his childhood, of characters from some of his popular films like Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas & Alice in Wonderland...just to name a few. Overall, I thought the exhibit was astounding, comical and a little wacky- a must see if you get the chance to view it!

During my visit, I also got the opportunity to attend a flea market.
This flea market was different from the ones I've gone to in Ohio- there were no dusty trinkets, musty smelling clothes or broken toys. Instead, I found tons of really cool vintage items that included gently used shoes & clothing, shabby chic furniture, one of a kind artwork and handmade jewelry- I was in heaven! And not to mention everything was so cheap! I ended up purchasing a hat, picture frame, necklace and 2 rings for only $50. This is definitely worth attending if you are ever in L.A.

DIY Project: Stylish Chalkboard

2011-04-07T19:27:00.008-04:00

My goal this year is to organize my craft room which is a tough task given all the craft stuff I've collected. I wanted a way to nicely display my "to-do list" on some type of stylish board that complimented the color scheme in the room. I really like the look of framed chalkboards and decided to make one on my own. The project was super easy and I couldn't be happier with the results! SUPPLIES: Picture frame, chalkboard paint, magnetic paint (paints can be bought at home depot) DIRECTIONS: Start by painting 3 coats of the magnetic paint on the glass portion of the picture frame. Wait 30 min. between coats before applying the next coat. After your third coat, wait 24 hours to dry and paint 3 coats of the chalkboard paint. I just love the resulting look- it's functional, yet stylish! Stay tuned for more pictures of my craft room as I try my best to get it organized :)

What I Paint To

2011-03-24T13:42:00.004-04:00

I thought I'd share the newest CD I bought...yes, that's right, I'm probably one of the few that still purchase CD's. Maybe I'm a bit old-school, but I enjoy reading the CD covers and looking through the pictures. The album is called "Lungs" by Florence + The Machine and their style has been described as being a combination of various genres, including rock and soul. It's not often I come across an album that I can play on repeat all day long which is basically what I've been doing lately while I paint :) They are definitely worth checking out!

Accessory Review

2011-02-22T08:43:00.004-05:00

I wanted to share my latest Etsy purchase with you- the “Olivia Feather Headband” which is created by Kaang. I can’t get enough of headbands and have been searching for one with feathers that was eye-catching, but not too dramatic. I came aross Kaang’s shop and instantly fell in love- all of her headbands are stunning. I actually had difficulty making a selection and finally settled on one with fabulous peacock feathers. Every time I wear it, I get tons of compliments. It’s classy, unique & a little funky- just my type of accessory.

Stylish Travel Mugs

2010-10-29T10:27:00.004-04:00

I'm excited to share my newest product offering- stylish travel mugs that are eco-friendly and are fun to use, especially at the office! I'm so excited about these items because they not only help reduce waste since they are re-useable, but they help convey your personal style. I developed a set for my own personal use and I've received a ton of compliments...I now find an excuse to use them whenever I can :) Here are a few of my favorites:

Alaskan Adventure

2010-09-14T11:21:00.005-04:00

To celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary, my husband & I decided to embark on an Alaskan cruise, filled with lots of adventure. We both love nature and the outdoors, so Alaska seemed like the perfect destination.

Our favorite part of the trip was our glacier trekking experience- I highly recommend you try it if you like adventure. We started off by being fitted with proper trekking gear from head to toe- snow pants, jacket, boots & gloves. Once we were dressed and ready to go, we were escorted into a helicopter, which is the only way to get to the glacier. This was my first time in a helicopter and I got the opportunity to sit in the front, next to the pilot, which provided me with breathtaking views of the Alaskan scenery.

Once we landed on the glacier, we were then fitted with helmets, ice picks & “cramp-ons” that are razor sharp cleats that attach to the bottom of our boots.

From there, we trekked across the glacier for two hours where we learned different techniques for maneuvering around the steep inclines and slopes of the glacier.

The colors of the glacier included pure white & ice blue- a truly beautiful environment. The streams of running water carving their way through the glacier provided our drinking water…and I have to say, it was the coldest & purest water I’ve ever tasted!

Getting My Hands Dirty

2010-08-11T13:26:00.004-04:00

We moved into our house 3 years ago and my favorite “renovation” project to date was our updated first floor bathroom (really, this is the only renovation we've done...but it's still my favorite!). I love watching all the design shows on HGTV, but I feel like I have no ideas when it comes to decorating my own home. So to help keep me focused, I selected a few inspiration photos:

I became obsessed with vessel sinks and had to have one! They add so much interest to the space and in my opinion, they are beautiful & functional pieces of art :)

Here is the “before” look:

The bathroom had hideous floral wall paper from floor to ceiling and let me tell you, that was a hoot to take off. For those dealing with wall paper, save yourself a lot of hassle and rent a steamer…the paper & glue slides right off (for the most part!).

After a lot of hard work, lost sleep over paint color decisions…this is how the space turned out:

And I couldn’t be happier! I painted the walls a warm beige and I kept the existing vanity, but I decided to paint it a rich, chocolate brown. I picked out a bronze colored vessel sink and had a beautiful granite counter top installed. My husband was a little concerned about the paint colors I selected, but once he saw the look come together I won over his approval.

2010-07-22T09:52:00.002-04:00

10 Things You Might Not Know About Me
1) I lived and worked on an island for 3 summers with my 2 best friends
2) I can do the worm backwards
3) I’m the first in my family to graduate from college
4) Although I’m not Irish, I have an odd fetish with the Irish culture and I did manage to marry an Irish lad
5) I’m part of Generation Y
6) I love different & unique jewelry pieces- I own more jewelry than I do shoes
7) I have the cutest and most rambunctious golden retriever named Logan

8) Excluding family, I’ve had 22 different roommates throughout the years
9) I prefer dessert over the meal
10) I’m both athletic & musical, analytical & artistic

My Guilty Pleasury

2010-06-18T16:50:00.003-04:00

I have a guilty pleasure- cuff bracelets. I love them and I admit, I’m constantly searching for more to add to my collection. I’ve come across a few fabulous ones on Etsy:

By theshagbag

By TrilbyMade

By RholmesCustomLeather

Maternity Photo Shoot

2010-05-18T09:56:00.010-04:00

One of my best friends is pregnant…so naturally, I nominate myself to take their maternity and newborn pictures. I decided to do that for a couple reasons….and no, it’s not due to my stellar photography skills. I wanted to do it because I think it would be a lot of fun, especially when the baby arrives! Second, it’s selfishly a way to force me to improve upon my editing and photography skills. I just recently finished a series of Photoshop classes, so I now know the basics of photo editing and can apply some of those skills.

We started off at their house taking some pictures in front of a plain, white background:

I wanted a picture of her silhouette and without the proper “professional” lighting, we had to get creative. I took this from inside their house, in front of their front door. I think it turned out pretty cool!

Here are a few of my favorites:

The photo shoot ended up being a ton of fun and my friend was very pleased with how the pictures turned out....maybe I have a new calling :)

Mother’s Day Crafts- Free Ebook!

2010-04-28T10:10:00.003-04:00

I’m a contributor to a free ebook that details several fun Mother’s Day crafts that can be given as gifts that every mother is sure to enjoy! Find easy homemade gifts, fun sewing projects and wearable crafts Mom will love. Handmade gifts are much more thoughtful and they can be tailored to the person’s style.

My specific article is on bottle cap wine charms – these are cute, fun ways to dress up your drink and a great way to recycle bottle caps. There are so many cool crafts listed in the ebook, but my favorite is probably the "fancy rubber gloves". I'll have to make myself a pair so I can garden in style!

If you’re interested in hearing more about me and my glassware shop, make sure to tune in to Fave Crafts Radio this Sunday May 2nd at 7:30 for my interview!

My Newest Product Offering

2010-04-19T10:22:00.005-04:00

For the peak wedding season, I decided to start offering personalized platters. I think this is a unique gift that can be given for weddings that the bride and groom can cherish forever.

To me, this type of gift is much more thoughtful than a card & check. When I got married, I thought the most memorable & thoughtful gifts were the ones that were either handmade or personalized in some way…but maybe I’m just a little biased :-)

My Short Trip to Key West

2010-04-12T16:44:00.013-04:00

My Key West trip was fabulous. I got to not only visit with one of my best friends (who happens to teach at the Key West high school), but also experience all that the island has to offer.

I’ll start off with some introductions. This is my friend’s pup- a super cute French bulldog named Parker. And yes, his tongue permanently hangs out of his mouth, which makes him even cuter.

My friend’s neighbor is an interesting older woman who was a dance instructor, but she’s now trying to save the ocean, one fish at a time. Although I didn’t personally meet her, I did get to meet her car:

An interesting observation about this island is that instead of stray cats & dogs….Key West has stray chickens. It’s actually quite funny to be walking down the street and see random chickens running around. One of the many things Key West is known for, is its art galleries. I got to see lots of talented pieces of artwork in all different forms. And with any popular tourist destination, there are tons of boutiques. During your shopping trip, make sure to stop by Key West’s most famous sandal shop called Kino Sandals. This was one of my favorite shops because the sandals are handmade and constructed right in the store! And although these are handmade sandals, they are super cheap. I purchased this lovely pair for only $13- such a steal!

No visit to Key West is ever complete without a sunset sail. It’s a two-hour sail that provides you with the best ocean sunset views and it is the perfect ending to a fabulous vacation.

A Few of My Favorite Things

2010-04-05T13:21:00.004-04:00

So it’s my birthday this week and I thought I’d center this post on some of my favorite Etsy finds. There are so many cool items that I come across because I love to shop, but in my attempt to cut back on my compulsive buying, I end up forgetting about these lovely items. Well, what a perfect time to take another look at them and maybe treat myself to my own birthday gift.

I love love love these aprons by lemontreeaprons…if only I cooked! I’m sure I’ll get into cooking at a later point in my life, and once I do, I’ll definitely be getting one of these.

If you don’t already know…I have a slight jewelry fetish. I’m obsessed with different & unique pieces and this item by kirevi8 is definitely right up my alley. I love that it incorporates both metal & fabric.

I came across this unique necklace by sammi84 that can be personalized with initials. I love items that can be personalized, and it’s also a piece that can be worn with any outfit.

I like to class up some of my outfits with a fabulous belt. Belts can really turn an average outfit into a glamorous one. I’m in love with this elegant lace belt from LittleWhiteDresser:

Cool New Magazine

2010-03-22T09:44:00.004-04:00

I came across this fabulous online fashion magazine called VivaLaModa. In addition to fashion, this magazine covers topics on beauty, handmade goods, home décor, green products and more. The editor is also an Etsy seller and I had the honor of contributing to this month’s issue! I was so excited to be apart of this since it’s such a cool magazine and its readership is growing more and more each month.

My article is centered around Earth Day and features some awesome eco-friendly items that I found on Etsy. There are so many ways that people can help contribute to a cleaner environment and I hope that my article helps inspire people to do so.

If you're interested in reading my article, make sure to check out pages 58 & 59!

I cant wait for the beach!

2010-03-16T12:07:00.003-04:00

I’ll be traveling to Key West at the end of this month to visit one of my closest friends. I’m super excited because 1) I get to spend time with one of my favorite people, 2) I get to travel to a new place that I’ve never been to before and 3) And I get to go to the beach which I haven’t been to in a few years which further validates that this trip is much over-due.

In preparation for my trip, I’d like to liven up my closet with some cute summer / beach apparel & accessories.

A tote is definitely a must-have for any beach trip…at least for me since I have to bring a million things with me to the beach. I love this nautical inspired tote bag by bayanhippo:

During my search for a cute summery top, I came across this beautiful piece by poorpitifulpearl. I love the mix of fabrics and that it’s sylish, yet practical.

In my opinion, an outfit is not complete without some type of jewelry. I tend to associate summer with turquoise and I think this fabulous “world traveler” necklace by threebirdsdesigns is a great addition to any summer outfit:

And of course some type of flower hair accessory is needed to keep that unruly hair in place at the beach. I found this super cute & unique Flower Headband by everydayfairytale that can be worn to the beach and during a nice evening out:

The Magic of Dandelions

2010-03-15T09:06:00.001-04:00

I’ve always been captivated by the magical feeling I get from dandelions. As a child, I would make a wish and blow while watching them fly away into the sky. It’s not surprising that I have chosen to incorporate them into some of my glassware designs. I just recently painted this set of matching cups & saucers:

I love how they turned out- modern, simple & magical. Here is a fabulous collection of handmade items, in addition to my cups, that also feature dandelions:

Update on the Dress

2010-03-10T11:51:00.001-05:00

In November of last year, I decided that I would attempt to sell my wedding dress. My friends and family initially reacted to this with confusion and then began drilling me with questions, some of which included: why on earth would you want to sell your wedding dress? It has so much meaning, how could you just get rid of it? Don’t you want your future children to see the dress that their mother wore on her wedding day? These are all legitimate questions and concerns, but for me, I just don’t view the dress as an important, sentimental object that I’d like to hold on to my whole life. I am not a fan of clutter and I know this dress will sit in a closet or attic and mostly likely will never be looked at for at least a few decades.

For those reasons, I decided to try to sell it. At least selling it to another blushing bride will ensure that the dress is appreciated and will perhaps make someone else as happy as it made me on my big day. I listed it on a newly developed website specific for those looking to re-sell their wedding dress- http://www.preownedweddingdress.com/ . I immediately received several inquires and to my surprise, I was able to sell it about two months after I listed it. The individual who bought the dress couldn’t have been happier with it and even after shipping it off, I had no doubts with the decision I made. May the dress live on…

Featured on the Front Page!

2010-03-02T18:21:00.001-05:00

I'm so excited to find out that one of my glasses was featured on the front page of Etsy . This is huge for new sellers because it automatically boosts your visibility. This is the collection of items that was featured along with my glasses- they are inspiring & dreamy!

A very talented artists wants to interview me!

2010-01-16T09:21:00.000-05:00

I received an email from a very talented artist who's interested in interviewing me for her blog about my hand painted glassware- what an honor! This is definitely motivation to continue this hobby...and it's good to know my items are appreciated by other people :-)

The interview is being posted today at her blog so make sure to check it out! She has a good amount of followers and I'm hoping it will help drive traffic to my shop...I'll keep you posted on the outcome :-)

Easy Ways to Update Your Photos

2010-01-12T19:57:00.001-05:00

There's been so many times in the past where I've taken photos in poor lighting and just deleted them off of my camera. Because, why would I hold on to a bad picture, right? Well, that was then...before I knew anything about photo editing software. After teaching myself the basics of Photoshop (during my free 30 day trial), I was able to salvage some photos I had taken and enhance other ones...including some of my wedding photos! I wanted to share this information, because it's so easy!

There's a few popular software types that people often use- Picasa (free) & Photoshop (pricey). I just started using Picasa, because it's free and it's super easy to use. This is a before & after of a photo I edited in Picasa using the "tuning" options:

Pretty cool, huh? It's amazing how much difference there is in both pictures and the amount a picture can be enhanced. If I only knew then what I know now!

Woo Hoo

2010-01-12T19:45:00.000-05:00

I was honored to get a message from another Etsy artist Explaining that they featured one of my glasses in their blog! How cool and on top of that, it's free advertisement of my shop :-) Here is the link that also features some other cool hand made stuff:
StudioHaus Blog

My newest additions

2010-01-05T21:13:00.001-05:00

I've started making wine charms, but I wanted to make something different so I've incorporated bottlecaps. Sounds a little odd, but they actually look nice :-) For these, I used a beer cap and then cut out an image from a stack of scrapbooking paper that I had laying around. I glued the image to the inside of the bottlecap and sealed it with a resin that waterproofs the image and prevents it from fading over time. My goal is to make more collections with cooler images and new, unused bottlecaps....so more to come!!

Avatar Inspiration for Painted Design

2009-12-29T10:16:00.000-05:00

I saw Avatar for the second time in 3D over the weekend…if you can’t already tell, I love that movie! I was so inspired by the beautiful colors and nature that were incorporated, I decided to use some of them as inspiration for my next set of painted wine glasses. I especially loved the “Enwa” tree that is somewhat reminiscent of a Weeping Willow. I started painting a tree that ended up turning into something that looks more like a cherry blossom tree:

I love it though- I think they are pretty and there’s actually a lot of symbolism behind cherry blossoms. The Chinese see the cherry blossom as a symbol of power and beauty while the Japanese view a fallen cherry blossom as the beauty of snow and it also has represented a warrior whose life was ended early in battle. Learn something new every day!

Be the change you want to see in the world

2009-12-21T16:41:00.001-05:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about how I'd like to give back in some way and do something that either impacts people's lives in a positive way or the environment. For that reason, I decided to donate a portion of my sales to The Water Project. This organization helps provide clean water to people in Africa & India who don't have access to it. It's amazing that something so accessible in the United States is hard to come by in other areas of the world.

I was recently challenged on my decision to support a cause that impacts another country when I could support a charity that impacts Americans. Well, my reason for doing so is because every person in the U.S. has access to clean water...you can walk into almost any public place and use their drinking fountain for free. That is not the case in other places in the world and I personally feel that all people should have access to this basic resource. Here are a few interesting facts on the size of this problem:

1 out of every 4 deaths under the age of 5 worldwide is due to a water-related disease
Nearly 80% of illnesses in developing countries are linked to poor water and sanitation conditions
A small amount goes a long way...$10 provides 1 person with clean water for 10 years!

Those are just a few of the reasons why I feel this is a cause worth supporting. If you're interested in learning more about this specific charity, visit http://thewaterproject.org/

What to do with the dress after the wedding

2009-12-16T10:59:00.001-05:00

I'm not the kind of person that likes to collect things and I certainly don't like clutter around my house! This brings me to my wedding dress- I decided not to get it preserved because I don't plan on keeping it. I thought about keeping it (for a second) to perhaps turn into a Christening outfit for my future baby, but even if I kept my dress it would probably just sit in a closet for many years. So instead of keeping it, I'm trying to sell it! For those that would like to sell their dress after the big day, I suggest using www.preownedweddingdresses.com . You're more likely to get a better cost by selling it through that site instead of Ebay (just my two cents based on researching the bids on wedding dresses via Ebay). This site will charge you $25 to have your listing up for 12 months. I just listed my dress and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that someone will purchase it. If there are other good ways to sell your wedding dress, please let me know!

My Christmas Gift has Arrived...

2009-12-13T11:06:00.001-05:00

And although I can't technically use them until Christmas, I snuck them on anyways because they are so cool! They are hand-made fingerless gloves with an adorable flower, made by The Yarnival:

It is a mother-daughter duo that makes tons of cool hand sewn items. Check them out: http://www.theyarnival.etsy.com/

I had my husband buy these for me for Christmas and because I get to the mail first, I couldn't resist taking a peak at them and I couldn't be happier! I just wish I could start using them now- it's so cold out :-(

My first custom order!!

2009-12-08T11:04:00.000-05:00

I got my first custom order- woo hoo! I’m taking baby steps, but that’s fine with me at this point because I’m still perfecting my technique and deciding which products are best to use. I prefer working with non-toxic paints only (I’m a bit of a health nut) which cuts down on the selection I can choose from. And I’m still working on my time management- although I love painting, I’m finding it hard to squeeze in time for it during the week after coming home from my “real” job. My goal is to complete 1-2 glasses every other day….we’ll see how long that goal lasts.

Now that I’ve started this hobby, I’ve started to habitually check my Etsy account for any sales, client feedback & hit rates. Over the weekend, someone “hearted” my shop, which I was clearly ecstatic about. I get excited over the smallest things, but it helps keep me motivated!

If you’ve never gone on Etsy, I highly recommend checking it out. It’s a site for artists to sell their handmade items and you will find anything and everything on this site. I’m slightly addicted to it because there are so many stylish items that you wouldn’t be able to find at a store and I love having unique things. And of course, check out my shop while you’re there: http://www.prettymydrink.etsy.com/ . Happy shopping!

The Wedding Album has arrived!!

2009-12-01T21:35:00.000-05:00

My album arrived today and I couldn't be more pleased with it! I am so glad I decided to do it myself rather than going through the photographer. First of all- I saved $500 and was able to do an album twice the size of what the photographer quoted us for. I went through http://www.nationsphotolab.com/ - their prices were the cheapest I came across and the album quality is outstanding. The flush mount album I got is 11 by 14 (it's huge!) and has a leather cover:

The inside pages are very thick:

I used the company's already existing templates and found them very easy to use. If you are ordering product and live outside of Maryland (their location), you pay no taxes on your purchase which is an added bonus! Here are a few pictures of the inside pages:

I highly recommend making an album yourself- not only will you save a lot of $$, but you'll be able to organize the pictures yourself. If you don't feel comfortable making the album, this company also offers a design service :-)

My first art show!

2009-11-29T14:07:00.001-05:00

In my spare time, I've been painting wine glasses. It's fun and something to occupy my time and a great creative outlet :-) Well my mom and I worked our first art show and it was a success! It was held at this cool, old mansion and featured 7 other artists. The place was very nice and they had a band playing which added to the fun atmosphere. I would have been happy with one sale and we ended up selling 16 glasses! Here is a picture of our table:

Here are a few of my favorite glasses:

And I plan on giving these to my newly wed friends....the are so darn cute:

How to Change Your Name

2009-11-20T13:27:00.000-05:00

When I went to get my name change once I got married, I did not know where to start so I thought I'd help out those who have yet to get to this step.

1) Order a few certified copies of your marriage certificate (I ordered 20 and that was waaay too many...most of the places just asked to see a copy and returned it)

2) Get your updated license first. Bring a copy of your marriage certificate and if your address is changing, you'll need an actual bill with your name on it and your new address before they can make the address change to your license. Something to keep in mind- if your license happens to expire within a year, make sure to have them renew your license at the time you are getting it updated with your new name (which means you need to take the eye exam). If you don't, you'll just end up paying an additional $30 to get your license renewed in a year.

3) Take your new updated license, marriage certificate and utility bill (if your address is changing) to the social security office to get your new card (they mail it to you within 2 weeks).

4) Then on to update everything else: checks, credit cards, mortgage, insurance, employer 401K, emails, etc.

Credit card was easy- I just called them and they sent a new one...they didn't ask for any verification, but I'm sure it's different for each company.

If you want to change your middle name to your maiden name (which I originally wanted to do), call the BMV & SS office first to find out about the steps that you need to take. I tried to change it when I got my license, but I was informed (by what looked like a summer intern) that I needed to have this change reflected on my marriage license first. HOWEVER, my co-worker got it done at the BMV with no problems, so it seems the "rules" vary depending on the person you speak with. Good luck!

Brides with a Budget

2009-11-18T10:28:00.000-05:00

For those looking to cut corners during their planning process, here are a few ways you could save some extra money:

Cake- Consider a fake one. Fake cakes look real (no one will ever know!) because real icing is used on Styrofoam tiers rather than real cake tiers. You could always mix a real cake tier for the cake cutting portion of the reception with fake ones- this is what we did…here’s a pic of the cake:

Photographer: consider hiring a student photographer or someone looking to build their portfolio- their prices are going to be a fraction of a professional’s prices. Or, you could opt to make the photo album yourself instead of having the photographer make you one. Depending on the quality of album you go with, you could save hundreds making it yourself! And yes, there are sites online where you can make your own flush mount album (the highest quality album out there).

Flowers: Re-use the bridesmaids bouquets as reception centerpieces. Just have a vase ready at the venue for the flowers to go in. Or, you could put all the bouquets in vases for the head table décor.

Veil: if you plan on wearing a veil for the ceremony, consider buying one online. There are many places online that sell beautiful beaded veils for a fraction of the price that bridal stores are selling them at.

Anything paper: if you like to DIY, save money by making all things with paper yourself (i.e., invitations, programs, escort cards, etc.). If you don’t know where to start, order samples of invitations online…then take them apart to figure out how to make them yourself, using the sample as your template.

Shuttle service: Instead of hiring a shuttle service to transport your guests from the reception to the hotel, have taxis available. This will provide your guests with a safe way to get home without having to pay the additional cost yourself.

DIY Wedding Programs

2009-11-17T11:31:00.004-05:00

Here are easy directions for square programs that measure 5.5" by 5.5".

Using Word, alter your margins so you have two text sections that follow the 5.5 by 5.5 measurements (or you can create two text boxes using those measurements). I had my text box lines tinted grey to serve as a guide when I cut the paper down to size.

Once you create your template, print the paper...make sure to print on both sides. Using a scrapbooking paper cutter (can be found at any craft store), cut the paper down so each page measures 11" by 5.5". Then fold both sides so you end up with a 5.5" by 5.5" folded piece of paper. These will be the inside pages of the program.

To create the outside of the program, cut a blank piece of paper down to 11" by 5.5" and fold. Using Word, create a 3" by 3" text box and fill in the box with the information you'd like showcased on the front of your program. I included the following: The marriage ceremony uniting (bride) to (groom).....Date, church, church address. You can copy and past this box several times on one piece of paper so when you print, you have several per page.

To help highlight the program information on the front page, cut a 3.5" by 3.5" paper square using a contrasting piece of colored paper. In my program, I used cream for the main pages and maroon as the contrasting color. Use glue, double sided permanent tape or glue dotes to secure the small squares together and then secure that onto the front cover.

To hold all the pages together, use a small hole punch - I used a size smaller than the traditional hole punch that I got at a craft store. While the program is folded, punch two holes where the fold is (1 towards the top of the program and 1 towards the bottom). Make sure to punch half way across the paper to create a semi-circle. When you open up the pages inside, you should have a full circle punch-out.

String the ribbon through the holes and tie with a bow. I personally found that the sheer ribbon looked more elegant :-)

DIY Pomander Balls

2009-11-17T09:34:00.000-05:00

Here are directions on how to make pomander balls - perfect for wedding ceremony decor. These are what I put on the pews for my wedding ceremony. I wanted something different and this look was exactly what I was searching for.

Supplies: 5" styrofoam balls, satin ribbon (or seam binding as a cheaper alternative), pins with pearl heads, flower craft puncher, glue gun

First, wrap the ribbon around the ball and secure to the ball with glue. I found that it was harder to wrap the ribbon continuously because the ribbon would crinkle, so I ended up cutting the ribbon in strips (enough to cover one section from the top of the ball to the bottom). This method isn't as clean b/c of the ribbon ends, but this can easily be covered at the end with the paper flower punch-outs. Continue this step until the entire ball is covered in ribbon.

Next, using the flower puncher, make about 150 flowers. There will be 2 flower punch-outs on one pin which explains the high number of flowers needed. Poke the pin through one flower and slide it down towards the pin head. Fold the petals forward and then poke the pin through the second flower and slide towards the pin head. Continue doing this until the ball is completely covered in flowers. Remember to leave a small open space at one of the ends for the loop and bow so it can be hung.

To make the loop and bow, first cut a piece of ribbon to the desired length and make a loop by glueing the two ends together. Securely pin the loop to the ball - you can also add some glue for more security. Cut another piece of ribbon and make a bow out of it- then glue this right next to the looop that you just secured. I purposely did not glue the bow directly onto the loop because I wanted the bow to be more visible, so I secured it right next to where the bow was glued.

Because I used regular ribbon, each ball cost ~ $8. This cost will be cheaper if you use seam binding.

DIY Wedding Invitations

2009-11-16T08:26:00.003-05:00

Because I spent so much time on my DIY wedding projects, I wanted to give directions on how to make some of the things I did for those that are interested :-) DIY is a great way to save money and create a very unique item for your wedding! I'll start with directions on how to make a pocket fold invitation. Here is the completed invite:

I purchased the actual pocket fold from http://www.cardsandpockets.com/. Their prices were very reasonable and I didn't feel making them by hand would save me much money...and plus, I didn't want the headache! Our pocket fold was on their metallic paper and is 5" by 7". Once I received the pocketfold, I determined the measurements for my inserts and made a mock-up to ensure they would fit nicely in the pocketfold.

I created the inserts in one word document using 4 text boxes. Each text box was 3.5" in width- once you create the text box, you can right click...select "format text box" and then type in the height & width you want. The heights obviously varied for each insert to ensure only the title was showing. These are the heights I used: Directions- 6.5", RSVP- 5.5", Accommodations- 4.5", Reception- 3.5". The RSVP insert was a post card that included a stamp and our return address on the back-side. The 5.5" by 3.5" measurement is an approved post-card size by the post office. We did not have any problems sending or receiving them and plus, they helped reduce the overal weight of the invitation.

Instead of using the traditional "belly band" for the invite, I decided to glue ribbon directly to the invite and then seal the invite shut by using a square monogram. I first made two 2" slits (using a scrapbook paper cutter) in the middle of each fold on the inside of the metallic pocketfold. I then pulled the ribbon through each slit so the ribbon crossed the area where the invite will eventually go and glued the ends to the pocketfold.

For the invitation portion of the invite, I first cut a 5" by 7" piece of maroon cardstock and glued it directly to the pocketfold, over the ribbon. I then glued the actual invitation (6.5" by 4.5") onto the maroon cardstock. This helps create a more finished look. The invitation was made in Word, using a text box.

To seal the pocket fold shut, I made a square monogram in Word (1.3" by 1.75") that include the first letter of the Groom's last name and the wedding date. I glue this to maroon cardstock to mimic the look of the inside invitation and then using a glue dot, adheared it to the pocketfold so the two sides were shut. I wrote the names of the guests on the back of the invite (since it also serves as an inner envelope). Happy Crafting!

My New Endeavor!

2009-11-15T19:33:00.000-05:00

First, a little about me. I love to laugh and I try to see the good out of every situation. When I start to complain about some aspect of my life, I try to remember that there are many people out there who have less than I do and in fact, there are many things for me to be happy for.

I recently got married and being the crafty person I am, I did a lot of DIY projects...like my card box, pew decorations & memory tree...just to name a few!

My last wedding project was our flush mount wedding album that I am anxiously awaiting to arrive in the mail! I spent many hours editing the photos our photgrapher took (I'm a little picky when it comes to the wedding photos!) and on the page layouts. I was debating on whether to have the photographer make the album, but I decided to do it myself after receiving his quote (yikes) and after researching album vendors. I found that I really enjoyed making the album and it was VERY cost effective.

Now that our wedding has passed, I've been spending a lot of my time painting...on wine glasses! It's fun and a great way to add some style to the typical boring drinking glass....well at least I think plain glass is a little boring :-) Here is a set of martini glasses I worked on today:

I think these colors are beautiful and a little funky :-)