DIY Card Box

This project is super easy and can create a nice accent incorporating your wedding colors. I got a few tips from one of our mock-up artists at work who is a big scrapbooker.  For this, I used the following supplies:

2 blank craft paper hat boxes purchased at Hobby Lobby (30% off day)
5 sheets of 12x12 scrapbooking paper purchased at Hobby Lobby (50% off day)
1 sheet of 12x12 scrapbooking card stock paper (left over from invites)
grosgrain ribbon (left over from bridal shower gift packaging)

x-acto knife, box cutter, cork-back ruler, bone folder, Jade glue (archivers glue), hot glue gun & hot glue, leftover paper from our invitations

I've been working so fast on these projects that I don't take the time to make pictures and I'm really sorry about that because I had been looking forward to sharing them with you all. However, I can tell you the easiest way to make these.

Start by measuring the sides of your largest blank hat box without the lid. Mine was 6" high. The diameter isn't as important right now. I cut 3 of the five sheets of paper to 12 x 7", leaving me enough paper to cover the entire rounded surface plus bleed. As you are gluing the sides with paper glue, cut 3/4" to 1" slits in the paper that is hanging over. Obviously, you don't want to cut right up to the box, just use your best judgment. This will allow you to fold and glue the excess paper over into the box neatly. Do this for both the top and bottom.

I then cut the 12x12 cardstock sheet into the best approximation of a circle I could manage. I used the small box lid to estimate and cut. No one will see the bottom, but it looks more finished this way. I used the bone folder while the glue was still wet to work out any wrinkles the paper might have developed. The box bottoms went quickly and the notching trick works wonderfully.

 

The lids are trickier because you have to cut holes in the large box lid, the small box bottom and a rectangular slit in the small box top for inserting the cards. This can make wrapping the paper a bit trickier, but with the notching technique, you should have no problem

Cut your holes out first using the box cutter. Again, estimating is fine because no one will see the inside of your box. Then wrap the lids by placing them in the center of a 12x12 sheet of scrapbooking paper, glue down, notch and glue the paper around the edges. On the small box, you will be able to glue to the inside. On the large box, there will be craft paper showing. No big deal because you will cover that with ribbon.

I glued the grosgrain ribbon on with hot glue. I then created a card that says "cards" to match our other stationery. I cut a small slit into the card, ran the ribbon through and under the box lid. I tied it under the lid and then used the hot glue to glue the two boxes together, lining up the holes.

That's it! A card box that matches our wedding theme and colors that is super cute, quick and cheap.

The Joy of Neutral

I found this color palette on Southern Weddings Magazine blog very similar to the one we will be using. Infuse ivory and some yet undeterminded colors for the flowers and voila! There you have it. Life has been so much easier since I decided to use a classy, neutral color palette!

Outside the Box

I am finding more every day that planning our wedding together is bringing us closer as a couple. Big Spoon has been very patient with me as I wane back and forth on the "details", knowing that I will find a creative solution that pleases us both. We do well with the big things - from our decision to not have a traditional wedding cake to choosing our photographer. I'm also finding that if I keep an open mind, Big Spoon has great suggestions and keeps me grounded.

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to go wedding dress shopping with my mom, my MOH (who is also my little sister) and one of my best friends. Although dress shopping wasn't exactly what I had anticipated (as one person described it "it's like shopping for a bathing suit!"), it yielded a fun "girls day out" as well as the inspiration for our color palette.

Upon returning home, I discovered that Big Spoon had started laundry and organizing the office. Being in a relationship with him is easily the most rewarding and joyful experience I've ever had: we work as a team, talk through our problems and allow each other personal "space" - to have a girls day shopping, to work late or have friends over on short notice.

Oh yeah, here's our color palette: black, white, ivory, champagne, silver. Its super neutral and will allow me to detail the event without fear of mis-matching a color, simplify things like linens and bridesmaid's dresses, as well as open up possibilities of flower colors.

Romantic Garden Palette

Image via {Snippet & Ink}


Image via {Once Wed}

I'm in LUV with these two inspiration boards. They would also work well with our venue (fingers still crossed that we can book it).

I'm torn between muted, romantic tones of an old-fashioned garden wedding and bold autumn colors. I suppose that is the peril of having an October wedding. How does one chose colors that do not overwhelm or under-whelm the surroundings of the venue and its natural setting?

*Almost* Perfect Palette

I love this palette. Its fall, but its sophisticated and not over done. I will be incorporating a couple of greens (my favorite color), but for the most part, this works for me. I've been struggling with wanting to go with a modern color but also wanting to take advantage of our autumn date without seeming cheesy.

There are tons of gold accents at the venue we are hoping for. I'm a silver person, so its potentially problematic. I've seen wedding photos recently that mix silver and gold quite successfully, so its possible. I'm just apprehensive about that.

sweet color palette

I've been dancing around a similar color palette on my wall at work from Pantone's S/S 2010 color guide. These softer tones would really compliment the venue we're considering. color palette via {100 Layer Cake} via {Snippet & Ink}