Red papers

As I am a lover of paper, it is not surprising that I’ve started daydreaming about wedding paper goods. I’ll need to edit all my daydreams, of course, but here are some of the ways I’m thinking of using paper in the decor. 

I’ve asked a friend to create a papercut piece that represents Sweets and me, and our wedding, as a kind of centerpiece for our wedding — we’d display it on the guest book table, or with the cake, or with the place cards… somewhere where everyone will see it. It will incorporate themes from our wedding, our lives together, our families. I hope it will be very meaningful especially to the Sweets’ family, as it is one of the ways we’ll incorporate their Chinese/Taiwanese-American heritage. And of course it will be a piece of art that we can display in our home forever. 

I found this lovely piece on Etsy (though it's not the same artist as ours).

And I’m thinking about paperwhite bulbs as a favor, in brown paper packages tied with red and white baker’s string (yes, that does sound like a lyric to a much-loved song!), with sweet red tags with our thanks and growing instructions printed on them. Like these, maybe? 

favorite things...

sweet, simple, unfussy.

 I know I have a long way to go to get this in line, cohesive, and beautiful, but I like playing with these ideas. Thoughts? Suggestions? I’m open!

berry mad

If I’m running with my Winter Berries ideas, Wedding Paper Divas have paper goods!  Pretty! And with craft paper accents, it coordinates so prettily!  

winter berries invitation?

 

 http://www.weddingpaperdivas.com/product/5745/signature_white_save_the_date_cards_fresh_berries.html 

And an Etsy seller has these, though the pricing is certainly higher. But I do love: 

from Sweet Bella Cards

http://www.etsy.com/listing/50851026/winter-berry-love-birds-wedding

gathering more inspiration

I stumbled upon this blog today, and Emily’s wedding invitations are in the same spirit I want mine to be. Only mine will be red. Enjoy this lovely post.

And this real wedding from OnceWed has so many elements that I’ve been envisioning for ours. The red tissue poms, balloons (we love UP and I’ve been hoping to incorporate that romantic story somehow), the fabric (I’m a quilter/crafter and LOVE the Amy Butler red), and I’d LOVE to have a photo booth (we’ll see if it’s in the budget.)

Photography by Brooke Schwab

Thinking DIY and books

After I thought more about the book decor post yesterday, I remembered a half-finished project on the back of a shelf. Months ago I was inspired by book art on Etsy — probably something from Rhymes with Magic — and I turned an old paperback novel I knew I wouldn’t read again into a practice project. Last night while the Sweets and I were watching TV, I decided to finish folding the pages, and I made this:

forgive the silk flower and dusty window pane, please!

While I was shooting a few photos of this basic concept, I got to thinking about the other DIY things I could do around books. Not too long ago I bought up several yards of gorgeous home deco fabric from Anna Maria Horner when I found it on sale; I love its subtle nod to rickety piles of much-loved books. I didn’t have a plan for how I was going to use it in any of my sewing projects, but now I wonder….

Display tables? What do you think? Any comments appreciated to help me fine-tune this idea would be most welcome.

Oooh, and look what else I found: http://www.etsy.com/listing/46631993/folded-heart-book. I LOVE!

My save-the-date inspiration

As soon as I have a wedding date to announce, I know exactly what I want to do! 

Adorable, yes? Image from http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/

A few weeks ago I happened upon this adorableness from Martha Stewart Weddings and the ideas started flowing. Since my Sweets is of Chinese heritage, I thought that little RED envelopes would be perfect on the back of some custom-designed postcard. So of course I’ve been hunting around Etsy for the perfect little red envelopes and cards. Chelsea Paper has these adorable ones. 

tiny red envelopes for big news!

I’m all kinds of inspired for a great DIY project to launch my wedding designs, as soon as we have a date, of course!

Big puffy fluff balls of joy

No, not puppies, not fuzzy dice, but paper poms! I remember making flowers out of tissue paper in elementary school, but I spotted something like them yesterday that made my harried heart lighten just a little. In the window of a stationary store in Grand Central Terminal, there were these lovely poms of joy:

poms of joy

I’ve seen Etsy sellers like PartyPoms and A Dash of Color who create poms of joy in the colors of your choosing, and I think they’d be great for shower or even reception decorations, depending on the formality of your theme or venue. Or of course they’re very accessible for the DIY Bride.

So happy and exuberant, aren’t they? Has anyone decorated with these recently? Link to your pictures, please!