My DIY Wedding Thank You Cards

Ok....so this project was a bit time consuming, but I think it was worth it.
I'll give you the rundown on how I made this:

(1) I sketched a cartoonish picture of us by going to some other sites to see how they did cartoons of people that I thought looked similar to us.

(2) I scanned the sketch and saved it as an image. I then opened it with Windows Paint to color it in.

(3) Painting it was the most time consuming. Not easy to color inside the lines using my mouse as navigation......but I finally finished it.

(4) I then used a collage application in Picasa to put 2 pictures together side by side to make the front and back of the card.

(5) All that was left was to add words of sentiment to finish the product. I haven't printed this card out yet, but that's next. I think when I print it out on my printer, it won't be as brilliant a color as it is here. I'll print it soon, and then publish the result.

So....what do you think? Is it ok, or kinda childish looking? I was looking for a happy, fun look.

Our "Well Wishes" Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

This what I decided to do with this

free 8 x 8 picture book from Shutterfly,

since I had already purchased my

guest book several months ago.

I added a few blank pages

at the back of the book

so that our guests could leave us their

well wishes, words of advice, or whatever

else they would like to jot down.

Now, I'm just waiting for it to come in the mail!

I Love These DIY Fan Programs!

I so totally love these DIY fan programs that I came across at Aylee Designs. But alas, 'twas not meant to be. I downloaded the FREE template (woohoo! I LOVE free!) and ran it across the Mr.
He said they were O.K., but liked the layered sample program I had made a few months back. ((sad face) )
Oh well........maybe next time.....(you know I'm joking right?)
So here it is for YOU my friends, if you find it as adorable as I did. My loss....your gain. Aylee will also do them for you if you're not the DIY type. So head on over there....she's gots lots of other FREE templates there too! (did I mention I LOVE free?)

Look What I Made!

Well, o.k., not actually made, but printed up.
When I first started looking up wedding stuff to get ideas, I saw water bottle wraps and thought it was a really cute idea. I kept the idea saved in the back of my mind, not knowing whether we would have water bottles at the reception. Well, I think we've decided we will. And before I could begin looking for a template to use, Pink Avenue Bride posted one in her blog. Thanks P.A.B.! You can click on her link if you'd like the free download for yourself.
Here's a closer look at the "nutrition facts" portion of the label. The pics came out a little blurry, but you can see it better if you click on the pic to enlarge.
The next pic is the front of the label where you can personalize yourself by adding your own monogram, picture, or whatever else you can fit into this space.
The next pic shows the cute little saying on the barcode. 4 ever frm 2day! Awwww......so sweet.
And of course.....here it is double stick taped onto water bottle. AND you can always use colored papered if you want. I think it's another wonderful way to personalize for your wedding.

Thanks again Park Avenue Bride! You should go on over and check out her site. Every Wednesday she posts FREE wedding templates! Can't wait to see today's.....
Ahhh......I love free.....................

Save The Date Etiquette

I got this off of OurMarriage.com:

Save the Date Etiquette
Save the Date cards can be mailed up to one year, or more, in advance of your wedding and should mention that an invitation will follow. Make sure that your guest list does not need any thinning as every guest that receives a Save the Date should receive an invitation and vice versa. Keep the wording simple. All you really need are your names, wedding date and the location. You may opt for a Save the Date that matches your invitations but don't limit yourself. There are also many fun designs that just may speak to your lighter side.

I Forgot To Show The Back Of The STD Card

So here it is....with magnet and a sticker.

Save The Dates Are Ready To Go!

I've been working on these things for quite awhile....on and off of course, but they're finally done. Well, besides writing the addresses and stamping them.
The above picture is disassembled. I used the same paper for the belly band and the lining of the envelope flap. I know...I've seen them more fully lined, but this was a last minute decision when I saw that I had a small extra piece left over from each belly band. I thought....I know there must be something I can do with this little piece. So after cutting it to size I glued it on the top flap to make it matching stationary! I also created our own monogram. What do you think? Cute, or not so cute?
Here it is with the STD card already nestled into the DIY inner envelope I made out of regular white paper trimmed with wavy craft scissors, double side taped on the sides, and band slid into place.
Ta Da! Ready to lick, seal (oh yeah! I do have sticker seals not pictured here), address and stamp! Fun!
All together for 26 STD cards, ready to go minus the stamps....it cost me $5.20!
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How-To
1. To make an envelope liner, measure the width of your envelope, and subtract 1/4 inch. For the length, fold back the flap of the envelope, and measure from the bottom of envelope to tip of flap, just under the gummed strip. Using a paper cutter, cut a sheet of paper to these dimensions.

2. Slip the paper into the envelope, and fold the corners down just below the glue line, using a bone folder to create sharp creases. Remove the paper from the envelope, and cut off the corners along the folds.

3. Insert liner sheet into envelope, and fold down flap. Lift up the envelope flap, keeping the liner folded. Slip a piece of scrap paper under the liner flap to protect envelope from glue. Run the glue stick over the edges of the back of the liner.

4. Slip out scrap paper. Close down the outer flap over liner, and rub with fingertip to adhere glue to flap.

Idea Courtesy of Martha Stewart

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Here's the breakdown:

*13 -4x6 prints developed by Walgreen's at .10 each (2 STD's were put on each print) = $1.30
*Inner envelopes ( I already had the paper ) = $0
*Scrapbook lined paper for belly band and flap liner ( I already had this) = $0
*Monogram ( I already had white cardstock ) = $0
*Outer envelopes (large pkg. of thank you notes with envelopes from thrift store) = $0.95
*Self Stick Magnets (from Walmart) = $0.95
*Sticker seals (not shown - Big Lots) $2.00

Note: I was planning on doing all sorts of scrapbooking at one time in my life, and collected tons of scrapbooking supplies. And I mean TONS! I still to this day have not completed one book!.....just in case you were wondering why I already had some of this stuff. You know how that goes!

Our Rings

I love our rings. I got to pick mine out at the mall when we got engaged. It was a pretty difficult task, seeing as every ring seemed too bulky for me. I really don't like the whole "bling" factor for myself. It's just not me. I was looking for something petite, and something that looked natural on my hand. I finally ran across this baby at the very last jewelry store there. I knew this was the one!
His ring I found online. I asked my Mr. if he wanted to pick out his ring, and he gave me the go ahead to pick it out myself.
When it arrived, I told him he had to close his eyes to try it on because I didn't want him to see it until the wedding. But I had to make sure it fit, right? Well, he put it on and was ooohing and ahhhhhing about how smooth and comfortable it felt. I knew it felt good, because I tried it on my thumb.....like, it felt sooooo goooood! I never felt anything like it! They said it was a "comfort fit". They weren't kidding.
Well anyways, I was so afraid that if he saw it he might not like it....so I couldn't resist. Better to know now and return it than to find out when it's too late. Right? So....
Me: "You wanna see it?"
Him: "Well, do you want me to see it?"
So, he saw it. And absolutely loved it. I was relieved.
On another note, I just bought a bunch of stuff to make my own necklace! I've never made ANY jewelry before, but I will definitely post it when I find the time and patience to make it. Well......if it turns out ok, that is.
Actually, I might post it regardless. I am a Lucy fan, you know.

Oh, and by the way......I had to sneak the wedding band when the Mr. was at work. He doesn't know I know where it is.....shhhhhhh.....