TODAY YOU'LL FIND ME . . .

Janay A Handmade

You lookin' for me?  It's Friday so I'm over at Savvy Scoop Blog talking about the long and short options you have all in one dress . . . That's right and not only can you doff your hemline and have a whole new look on your wedding day, you can go green at the same time.  Check out Janay A's incredibly chic and practical gowns here!

Meant To Bee - Invitations and Paper Goods

I thought we should start off with the first thing you need to send out when you are planning a party - the invitations. Your invites will be the first insight your guests have to the type of party you are planning and what theme you are going with. All of your paper goods will also coincide with the invites. As I have stated (numerous times) I consider myself "craft challenged" and my instinct is to head straight to Etsy to find the real "pros". I had someone in mind to do my invites and paper goods but, I found myself 14 days out from the party (not good advice and please do not follow my lead on this!) without a confirmed order. I was close to panic mode and knew I had to get the invitations done so, I ventured into what I consider a foreign country - Michael's Craft Store. I found some A7 card stock with envelopes, a 4x6 white card stock and some little wooden bee self-adhesive stickers. 

I have a program called PrintingPress from Moutain Cow that I bought years ago - a good investment at $29.99 since I have been using it for many years now! It makes printing invitations, RSVP cards, envelopes and more super easy!


I knew there would be certain paper goods I would need: stickers, banners, table tent cards, decorative cupcake sticks and address labels. The stickers and the address labels proved to be the easiest out of the bunch! I have used these labels (the same boxes mind you!) for years and multiple projects! I have perfected the round label using MS Publisher! I used the round labels to print the invitation envelope seals and stickers used on the push cake pops. I changed the sticker up, a bit, for this post. But, this can be used to seal the envelopes to the party (before, during and after!) or to seal a favor bag or box. There are so many uses! This is what it will look like:

This file was created using MS Publisher - if you use any other program you may need to change a few things to tweak it. This can also be reinvented for so many other needs like changing the text to say - SAVE THE DATE and then add your date underneath or change the words to "THANK YOU" to use on favors! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE BEE STICKER

*Should be used with Avery 8293 labels

One of the next projects was creating table tent cards. These are pretty easy to make. Simply print out on heavy stock paper and then cut into four. I actually used a heavy photo paper I had (to give them a shiny look) but, card stock will also work. I then used some ribbon I had to go with the theme and used a little bit of gorilla glue. Boy, that glue really could work on a gorilla...it's amazing! You can download the template for the table tent cards here. Simply change the text to work for your party - these can also be used for seating cards or escort cards! I do all my work in MS Publisher - if you use another program you may have to adjust the specs.

Cupcake topper or party sticks can be used for a variety of goodies. These were fairly easy to make - the hard part was finding the right size puncher to use! I think checking online would be a better way to go because, honestly the selection at craft stores  near me was somewhat limited! They had a lot of them...just not the perfect size or shape. My first purchase was for a scalloped 2 inch circle - that just did not work though! It just seemed too small once you punched them out. I then purchased a 2.5 inch round circle punch. I bought some fun scrapbook paper at Michael's ($0.69 per sheet). I used the 2.5 inch puncher to get the polka dot circle, printed out the smaller decorative circles on photo paper and just used some household scissors to trim and of course some 6 inch lollipop sticks. The lollipop sticks were $4.99 for 100 sticks! My gorilla glue came in handy once again to assemble. These were fun to do and I plan on using this idea for some other upcoming parties. You can download this image to use for the smaller circle - just add text or image you want to use. You can also use your photo editing software to change the color of the circles!

One of my craft friends, she is in the "pro crafter" category, made the Happy Birthday banner for me. She has all the fancy gadgets, like the Cricut, which would have made a lot of my DIY projects easy! I couldn't see investing that kind of money into my own projects although, I do think that it would be fun to own one to see what I could come up with! Bee Creative, my friends business, has all kinds of banners, invitations and well, pretty much anything you can think up - she can do!

This finally wraps up my post on the invitations and paper goods! I hope all the files I uploaded will help you with your crafts projects! And if you are on Facebook, head on over to Bee Creative and "like" them! Now, let's talk about one of my favorite things: the sweets!!

Our Meant To Bee Giveaway is now open! 

Click here to enter now!

INCREDIBLE LOOKS FROM DOWN UNDER

I've found the perfect combo of contemporary meeting timeless fashion.  Australian designer Kristi Bonnici has launched a breathtaking collection of accessories for brides including jackets, capes and head wear to die for.  French laces, flocked tulle veiling and exquisite and rare materials make up her stunning pieces--each as gorg as the next. Kristi's philosophy about wedding fashion has more to do with topping off and pulling together a stylized look for her brides than embracing The Big White Dress Concept.   The result: every one of her pieces have that truly one-of-a-kind look you can only find in top drawer couture

 The Look of Love Cape

 Forever Always Cape

 The Only One Jacket

Hand in Hand Cape 

 Dotty with Love Cape

   Hand in Hand Cathedral Veil

Dotty with Love Beaded Lace Headpiece

 Wrapped Up In Your Love Birdcage Veil

 Young Love Birdcage Veil

Full Bloom Birdcage Veil

Fields of Love Veil

Young Love Shoulder Veil

 Twinkle In My Eye Mantilla Veil

 Floating On Air Mantilla Veil

10 DRESSES FOR THE INCURABLE ROMANTIC

Bonzie

It's easy to tell if you're a romantic--you tend to swoon over ball gowns, full skirts with trains and love either a nipped in waist or corseted bodice.  Lace, organza, tulle and chiffon with layers of netting are your fave fabrics.  For those of you planning grand entrances, check out these designers spinning dreams and storybook images--this post is dedicated to you 

Above: Layered tulle Bridal skirt is  thousands of layers of soft bridal tulle, a signature " Bonzie " piece. Pair this up with a corset to get this Steampunk meets Victoriana look . . .

Below: Gown by Caroline Calvert of tulle with a silk Shantung underskirt 
Bodice is see through lace with a corseted back

Caroline Calvert

Rebecca Schoneveld

Want to feel royal without layers of uber pouf? The Alison bridal gown is perfect.  All silk chiffon and Charmeuse, it's made out of three layers of silk fabrics and ribbons

rowanjoy

Above: By Rowanjoy, bodice and neck interest create vintage chic. The bodice is highlighted with a gold silk and lace neck piece echoing at the waist line. A gently draped crossover skirt falls gracefully into a flowing train and has a draped mermaid skirt underneath.

Amy-Jo Tatum Bride

Yours Truly designed this little number above out of a mix of imported laces.  It is a silk dupion and tea-dyed silk gauze strapless gown with separate petticoat lined in silk with a back insert of Chantilly lace. The gown can be worn with the front sash draped around the neckline or as a tie down the front.

Thread Head

Hemp, silk and tiers of ruffles make up this eco-chic stunner by Thread Head

Claire La Faye

Above: You can always count on Claire La Faye to bring on the romance in this sweep light and airy of silk chiffon and Charmeuse.  

Joan Shum

Above: Joan Shum's A-line skirt in ruched tulle paired up with a fully boned corset.  Truly one-of-a-kind . . .

Carol Hannah

Above: Carol Hannah of Project Runway fame designed this tulle ballgown with feather drape, ivory sequined overlay and gold English net bow.

Pure Magnolia

Pure Magnolia's tulle ballgown is eco-chic made from cotton. 

Everything underneath the tulle is of Organic cotton sateen making this dress wearable and comfortable. The bodice is made from Cotton Silk Satin, and all you see is the beautiful golden shine of natural silk.

Busy as a bee!

I have been a little quiet on the blog lately but, not without good reason! I have been working feverishly to plan my daughters 5th birthday. Without a doubt, any party planning always makes me think about weddings - because a wedding, engagement shower or bridal shower are simply parties. They are celebrations where you have a lot of people coming together and they inevitably cost a lot of money. One of my goals with the blog is to show you how to save money on your wedding - or any celebration you are having! My daughter finally chose her birthday theme: Bumble Bee and my wedding brain kept telling me "Meant To Bee" with every detail I was planning. Because there is SO much information and detail to share, I am going to break it down into a couple of posts so, bear with me, because at the end you, my faithful readers, will be rewarded for buzzing a long with me on this journey! I will provide you with all these great things to make your event and planning MUCH easier:

• Tutorials - how to make all the DIY items
• Templates - blank templates for you to use
• Vendor tips and reviews

And...finally, you will be rewarded with a giveaway! I have an amazing giveaway planned for you! Please share this blog or these posts with your family and friends: anyone planning a party or a wedding - especially if you feel it is meant to bee!

THE REDHEADED BRIDE

source

Redheads come in all shades: auburn, ginger, cinnamon, chestnut, henna, strawberry blond, carrot top.  Hair is not all that characterizes the real redhead though.  Fair, sometimes alabaster skin with a peach undertone and freckles are all hallmark of the quintessential celtic beauty, marking shades like ivory, peach and eggshell a redhead's best pick.  Why are these yellow tones best for you?  Your complexion is most likely fair and pale ergo most whites and stark whites will wash out your complexion. On the other hand, ivory and eggshell tones will warm up skin tone and once they're put on do seem to belong to redheads exclusively. Silk whites--which is to say off or muted whites like the shade in the header photo and last photos below can work for the bride with red hair as long as they stay matte or muted . . .
Left: top and bottom photo
Right photo

Amy-Jo Tatum Bridal Couture

 
 

Leah C

STALKING THE LOOK BOOKS: ROSA CLARA

I'm loving Rosa Clara 2012 with simple lines in classic silhouettes that will withstand the test of time.  You'll never find noise or too many embellishments on these gowns, nor will you find more than one to two fabrics combined on one design.  Rosa Clara is a  purist in the true sense of the word.

  Images via Vogue Novias