by | Oct 29, 2014 | DIY Embellishments, DIY Invitations Ideas, DIY Paper & Card Stock, DIY Wedding Invitations, Wedding Speciality Paper
Being engaged is a blissful feeling, isn’t it? In the midst of all the daydreaming of the wedding, you are making plans for your big day. Like most brides out there, you want something unique that has not been done over and over again. As a sophisticated and modern bride, you want to DIY, and you can, with the likes of using everyday embellishments combined with DIY wedding invitations.
What you will initially need to sort out would be your DIY wedding invitations, and you can acquire those from a reputable wedding invitations retailer that deals with DIY kits. Make sure you have the right colour in mind, and the style in terms of whether it is folded, has a special featured (such as a pocket flap) or flat cards (that are free-standing with no folds). Once you know the basis of the wedding invitations card and the accompanying invitation accessories, figure out the invitation wording you want and even add your guest list into their system and have those printed and kept aside to add on your embellishments.
When we say arts and crafts, we mean decorative items and/or handmade trinkets made using items that you will find in your own home. It is what you make out of those materials with the help of tools that offer you a myriad of options to make something beautiful come alive. Some of these very items could be hose found in your sewing booth, while the others in the kitchen. However, certain tools that go the extra mile to make a beautiful creation will need to be acquired. These tools include the likes of punches whether it is for a singular design or a border design, to decorative scissors, stamps, ink, and paint. In terms of materials, you may use paper be it the paper or card stock, which depends on the paper weight, cloth and paper ribbons, burlap, lace, doilies, origami paper, embroidery thread, and beading.
To make the likes of quills (with paper), pin-wheels, ribbon and paper flowers, hand-print art, stamp illustrations using stamps, or stamps cut out of fruits and vegetables and the list goes on, there are techniques that need to be used. For example, when involved in paper quilling, you need to cut out thin strips of paper that are 1/4 cm in width and roll it tightly. Once this is done, you can shape it to make the design you want and glue it to paper so it stays that way.
These are just some ways in which you can transform your DIY wedding invitations into something beautiful and truly unique. Add your own touches and make your wedding one that your family and friends will talk about for years to come.
by | Oct 24, 2014 | DIY Invitations Ideas, DIY Paper & Card Stock, DIY Wedding Invitations
Black is one of the most fashionable colours in the world, whether it is for gala black tie events to sleek looks in modern architecture and not forgetting design. It is only natural that it transcends to the wedding industry, whether you are in the market for luxe black wedding invitations or DIY wedding invitations to the big day’s decor accents. It is easy to team up black with other colours in the colour wheel as it compliments them whether it is a traditional or modern setting.
If you are opting for a DIY wedding, you can truly come up with one of the most unique DIY wedding invitations that is styled with a black theme. Many of us know that the process of going DIY for wedding stationery can be either one of two options. One is to buy your own paper, rulers and cutters and the whole she-bang, where as the other option is to get yourself acquainted with DIY wedding invitation and stationery kits that have set template for you to work with.
The latter option offers you several styles in which your DIY wedding invite can be presented in terms of how the invites are folded, the sizing and also the placement of key invitation wording and text. If you are opting to have those printed beforehand with the necessary customisations (which is a bonus because then you do not need to go through the process of either printing those yourself or hiring a calligrapher to do the work for you). Opting for the DIY route can be difficult, so it’s always a good idea to cut down time spent doing up processes or focuses on the items that needs the most work, time and patience.
Nevertheless, getting back to black wedding invitations styles, a la DIY, if you have a blank canvas being the DIY wedding invitation kits, then the next step is to style them. The most elegance choice would be to opt for soft pastel tones to be accompanied with the bold black, and they say the lighter and whiter the better. However, there is no rule that you cannot go down the modern route with bold contrasting colours to make your invite design pop.
When you work on the DIY aspects, you can use creative elements such as stencils that consists of flourishes to stripes designs for a crisp look, to stamps, and even use watercolours for a beautiful outcome of art. It is always a great idea to know what you want in terms of the wedding theme you will have for your wedding apart from the colour, of course. Though the basic norm is to opt for black on white, there is no stopping you from going bold and opting for white or any other colour on a black wedding invitation kit.
by | Oct 17, 2014 | DIY Embellishments, DIY Envelopes, DIY Invitations Ideas, DIY Paper & Card Stock, DIY Wedding Invitations
More and more brides are getting more and more involved in wedding planning, right down to the making wedding items and elements themselves, such as DIY wedding invitations and stationery to the wedding decor. However, at the time of the wedding, the decor needs to be handled by somebody else, but the wedding stationery and invitations can be sorted out way in advance, and therefore is a convenient choice to DIY when it comes to their wedding.
You have the option of going with both DIY Wedding Invitations and Stationery Kits or to start from scratch with DIY wedding paper, trims, embellishments and more. Depending on which choice you opt for, the next stage is done accordingly. Let’s look at both options.
DIY Wedding Invitations and Stationery Kits
When choosing this option, you need to have a theme or vision in mind to make sure that you do not purchase the kits and then later change your mind. Therefore, sketch it out and then look for the type of kits that match your criteria. Whether it’s shape, sizing or the way it is styled or folds, there are many things to look at, not forgetting colour, of course.
The next stage would be to opt for printing or to do it on your own. Some of the best wedding invitations retailers allow you to customise your DIY wedding invitations kits from the start, just by giving them the guest list and they will print it for you and have it delivered. If you opt of out this option, then you can go with a calligrapher, or if you have beautiful handwriting, then you can go ahead and do it yourself. However, if you are going to have the wedding invitation wording printed separately, then that item can be left as the final touch, which then needs to be attached to the wedding invite creation. You may opt to add ribbons, floral embellishments, studs, buckles and so more for that added glam.
Start from Scratch with DIY Wedding Invitations and Stationery
If you are doing the wedding invitations and stationery from scratch, you will need tools and materials. Here are some items you will need, and it is always best when you have a vision and theme before starting and even buying the materials in question.
- Paper (either regular, shimmer or recycled paper – 200-250gsm)
- Cutter and Cutting Tool
- Scissors
- Paper Punches
- Rubber Stamps & Inkpads
- Watercolour Paint and Brushes
- Adhesive & Glue
- Embellishments
- Bows (card variety, organza, ribbon, satin, etc)
- Buckles
- Diamante Gems
- Flowers
- Ribbons
- Jewel Sprays
- Calligraphy Pens
- Envelopes
With these tools and materials, you can set about making the vision of your DIY wedding invite and stationery come alive. Make sure to be careful when using these tools, especially the cutters and scissors to not hurt yourself, and enjoy creating your masterpiece. Always create a sample beforehand to make sure you know what you want and you can see the intended result so that all your DIY wedding invites and stationery maintain the same standard.
by | Sep 3, 2014 | DIY Embellishments, DIY Invitations Ideas, DIY Paper & Card Stock, DIY Wedding Invitations, Wedding Invitations Ideas, Wedding Speciality Paper
Embossing is a great way to add a touch of pizzazz to a simple design. What this design technique is a way of creating a raise or 3D image out of a piece of paper. This can be done using a myriad of options and shapes, and though it can be professionally done, a DIY bride can have a go at it too, as long as you have the right utensils or know what to use. With a little bit of know-how, you too can dabble in embossing to make your very own DIY wedding invitations with a beautiful finish.
There are many types of embossing, and we will look into each item so that you can be informed of what type you should opt for when making your very own DIY wedding invitation and putting embossing to use.
- Combo Emboss: The combination of embossing with a foil printing is known as combo embossing, and it gives of a glamorous effect to your cards.
- Debossing: Debossing is the indentation into the paper as opposed to the raised effect see in embossing.
- Dry Emboss: Dry embossing is where you use a stencil and stylus and press the paper down not the stencil to create outlines and then the embossed shapes, so that when you flip the paper, you have a beautiful embossed finish.
- Multi-Level Emboss: This type of embossing is similar to the single-level emboss, but done at varying levels or tiers, giving it a further 3D look. For example, if you want to do a three tiered heart design embossed onto your DIY wedding card, then this would be ideal.
- Printed Emboss: A printed emboss is where you have a specific image printed onto your DIY wedding invite, and this particular shape or image is where the embossing will be carried out, giving it a raised effect to the entire image. For example, let us take a red heart design on a white background. The red heart would be embossed to make it ‘pop’.
- Sculptured Emboss: This is considered the DIY form of embossing, as it involves a handmade process, using tools, and the likes of stylus to give it depth of field. It is always best to use it with the likes of a photographic element printed on the paper to give it a realistic look.
- Self-Emboss: Using a piece of paper, with the same colour on the entire surface, you can use an emboss stamp on the underside to create a definition and shape on the paper to give it a special look. For example, if you want to use a starry night DIY wedding invite theme, then you can opt to use star shaped stamps on a midnight blue coloured paper and have yourself raised stars to give it that finish and texture.
- Single-Level Emboss: This type of embossing involved the DIY wedding invite and the element or design being embossed, being raised to the same level, creating a unilateral finish.
Sculptured embossing, self-embossing, single level embossing, printed embossing, multi-level embossing, dry embossing and debossing can be easily done using a few simple utensils, such as a light box (when debossing and dry embossing), stencils, stylus, card stock, rolling pins and stamps, and stamped templates for a patterned effect when creating your very own DIY wedding invitations.
by | Aug 15, 2014 | DIY Invitations Ideas, DIY Paper & Card Stock, DIY Wedding Invitations
Table accessories are important when you want a finished look for your tables at your wedding reception. Now, if you have delightful wedding invitations sorted out, which you made yourself, then why not go the extra mile and also do up DIY wedding table accessories to carry on the same theme of your DIY wedding invitations. You can draw the same inspiration from the wedding invites theme, and then start from there. These themes can be anything from floral designs, garden inspired elements, hearts, or even a beach theme. Some truly unique wedding invites have origami creations attached to the front facing, so why not continue that throughout your wedding stationery as well, including your placemats and napkin bands.
Here are some ways n where you can purchase yourself some DIY stationery kits for the likes of placemats and napkin bands, and add trims and accessories to make unique creations for your special day. Having categories them by floral elements, paper art and origami, and beads, buckles and diamante, here at DIY Invitations, we will present to your options which you can use, be inspired and enhance upon to make your big day truly special.
Floral Elements DIY Inspirations
Flowers are great inspirations for weddings, be it a specific flower in mind, the flowers of the season or even a garden. When it comes to DIY and floral elements for your wedding invites down to table accessories such as placemats and napkin bands, there are some options which you can put to use, such as the following;
- Flowers added to DIY Napkin Bands. You can both use a real flower, or artificial flower, and then pin it to your napkin band, to add glamour to the ensemble. You can do the same to the placemat, by adding it to a corner. The same can be done with paper as well.
- Burlap flowers for Napkin Bands and Placemats. You can add burlap onto the base of a DIY paper placemat to create a texture and contrast as well as make a burlap flower and pin it to the napkin band.
- Ribbons and Lace materials for Table Accessories. You can put ribbons and lace into great use. Not only can you make various flowers out of these materials, but also they are also great to use as placemat, be it as a lace material in whole, or intertwine ribbons and lace streamer, in a weave pattern. There are many ways to put them to use.
Paper Art and Origami DIY Inspirations
- Paper flowers added to DIY table accessories. You can use paper art or be creative to make floral origami and add it to the napkin band and placemat, which would be similar to the first options given in floral elements.
- Tissue Flowers added to DIY table accessories. Similar to paper flower, you can use tissue materials to make tissue flowers or pompoms, which can be added to your table centres, napkin bands, and placemats.
- Paper Doilies for Table Accessories. You can use paper doilies in varying colours, as the base of your placemat, or use then to highlight your napkin band, or even turn it into a flower.
- Laser cut or cutouts of designs according to your theme. If you do not want to use doilies, and want your own designs, you can use the laser cut technique on your DIY stationery, and make yourself an ornate and intricate design for your placemats and napkin bands.
Beads, Buckles and Diamante DIY Inspirations
- Beads for your DIY Stationery. Using a design of beads, make it as a flower, a shape, or something from your theme, can spruce up for your napkin bands and the placemats in a great way.
- Adding buckles to your DIY table accessories. Buckles either made out of beads or diamante, are great additions to your ensemble. Add a splash of glamour with these options.
- Mix and Match your Materials for your DIY table stationery and decor. Using all the options given here, you can make a beautiful array of creations that will be ideal for your big day. Choose wisely, and make samples to see for yourself and pick the best one out of the lot.
Image by Belle & Chic
by | Aug 7, 2014 | DIY Paper & Card Stock, DIY Wedding Invitations, Wedding Speciality Paper
Most of the bridal couples out there want something different and memorable to represent their special day. Some of them opt to go down the DIY wedding invitations route, some look for handmade layered wedding invites and the rest, they look for ways in which to make the most unique wedding invites out there. In this article, we will be looking at ways in which you can make DIY Wedding Invitations with pop-up designs and styles.
Firstly, you will have to decide where you are going to host your special day, in terms of the ceremony and the reception. Once that is sorted out, you will need to figure out the dates and times which the venues are available to you. Accordingly, you will have all the information you need to start on your wedding invite wording. If you want to create a pop-up wedding invites, then there are several steps to take, as mentioned below.
Steps for a DIY Pop-Up Wedding Invite
- Look around for inspiration and ideas on what your masterpiece will be like. What will be the colour, or the theme and other decorations you will include in the final product? What will pop-up when the card is opened?
- Acquire the DIY wedding invitations kits from your wedding invitation retailer, such as DIY Invitations. Make sure that you have selected the best option for you in terms of colour and design. If you are not too sure at this stage, order some samples and then use them to create mock-ups of the design. Try out various layouts and locations of the wedding invitation wording as well as the designs to see what is best suited for your type of wedding invites.
- Make sure to select the styles for the wording, colours for the text and the background, as well as how the entire text block will appear. You could stylise it to imitate a shape on the card, or something else entirely. However, make sure that you leave enough room for the pop-up material.
- Come up with a design or pattern which you want to use with the pop-up. Order the materials you require, in terms of extra coloured or speciality paper, to scissors, cutters, rulers and more. Make sure to leave a percentage off the edges for construction, and even use tissues or fanned paper when making mock-ups.
- Once you have a design or pattern figured out, make sure to have then cut out in the template of your choosing and ensure that they have been cut out correctly. Fix these to the DIY wedding invitation sample card and try it out by gluing the main component on side A, which gluing on the sleeve, which will allow the item to pop up when opened. Make sure that folding the card is easily done, because you need it to close properly and pop out when opened.
Image Credit: Wedding Wire
