Monday, August 20, 2012

DIY Kitchen Hamper

In just about every kitchen I've ever had, there's a clutter problem with dirty laundry. Among all the towels, rags, and napkins, kitchen laundry adds up - especially if you're like me, trying not to use paper towels or paper napkins. And I don't know about you, dear readers, but mine usually ends up piled on the floor. Well, not anymore! Thanks to this cute little DIY hamper :)

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

DIY Wedding Planner Tip: Gmail


For most, planning a wedding is a lot of work, especially for those of us who do it without hiring a planner. With so much information to keep track of, there’s one tip I’d recommend relentlessly to every bride:

Create a gmail account for your wedding.

Here's why:

If you already have a gmail account for yourself, you can access your wedding email from your personal account, and switch between accounts with one click.


  • You can grant access to anyone you want – say, your fiancĂ©?
  • You can create category folders and easy-to-read labels for the emails in those folders:


  • Burlap-Bound Advice Booklets


    You’ve seen it before: “Write your advice to the bride and groom/new mom/birthday girl/[insert occasion here]!”  They’re especially great at showers and smaller settings, where people can really pour their hearts out (or, you know, at the right kind of shower, write wildly and wonderfully inappropriate things).
    You see them at weddings, too, but they’re often very public (like writing on polaroid photos or scrapbook papers that are hung up to display at the reception).
    I like the idea of making multiple smaller books: one for each table. That way, every guest is free to write as little or as much as he or she wants – and at any time. It’s so fun to read through them all – what a trip of laughter and tears! (Especially because the advice can get sloppier, wetter (literally), and, well, drunker as the night goes on!)
    These are great because they’re all paper, so they stack and store easily for keeping. Plus, they’re simple and easy to make.





    I used assorted ivory textured papers (I actually got it at Wal-Mart) for the inside pages, and printed cardstock (on sale from Hobby Lobby) for the covers.
    Cut your pages to size, and cut the burlap trim however you like. Fold the burlap around the end of the book to be bound, and attach the grommets. Tie them up with twine or ribbon.
    The keys are metal embellishments I found at Michael’s. Be sure to get the weekly 40% off coupon online before you go!
    I stamped them all on the back with this teeny-tiny, darling little stamp. 

    Glass Etching Cream (Monogram Beer Mugs)


    Has anyone else ever heard of this stuff? It's a cream. You paint it on glass, wait, then rinse it off, and it gives the appearance of frosting or etching. How cool is that?



    You can get this little sized bottle for under 10 bucks, and it goes a long way.



    I tried it out on these beer mugs for a wedding party. My mom cut these stencils out on her Cricut, but you could make a stencil out of anything - probably even tape - pretty easily.
      

    Tada! I was lucky enough to know someone getting rid of a dozen extra beer mugs, soooo... those were free! ;)
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