Wonderful Wedding Gift Card Boxes

1. Mail Parcel Box   2. Antique Mail Box   3. Luggage   4. Custom Made Wood Photo Box
5. Standing Antique Letter Box   6. Terrarium Gift Card Case

Need a place for all the gift cards on your wedding day? I'm begging you, please don't use a cheep white birdcage! Above are some great alternative options for your gift cards! So you may have to do some DIY, antiquing, or creative shopping! But it's all worth it to have a beautiful place to collect all those cards to start off your life together with! 

HAND LETTERING: Know Who You Are, Know It's Enough

Another little bit of hand lettering. Corny but true! This weekend is one of my good friends weddings, one I have been designing non stop. I am so excited to finally set everything up and see it all come together! Pictures will be coming soon! Have a great weekend!

Working on a Wedding for this Weekend!

I've been working non stop the past two weeks on a wedding for this coming weekend. Sometimes for a bride planning a wedding, it can seem like the gods are working against you and getting all the info for the final details (programs, table charts, place cards, etc.) can seem impossible. This wedding was one of those, which means that it's been crunch time the last two weeks getting everything together. I'll be sharing all the fun details with you in the coming weeks, but I thought in the mean time, I'd share some process photos with you! I've been able to do a little bit of everything for this wedding, graphic design, wood working, wood burning, making stencils for large scaled logos, sewing custom bean bags for games, and more! I can't wait to put it all together on Saturday! I think this might be my favorite wedding yet!

Industrial Style Storage

We all know that industrial inspired design is big right now. When mixed with modern and contemporary pieces, they can help create a curated design. I like mixing design styles to keep a room from feeling like you just ordered everything from one page in a catalog. These are some industrial pieces that would be a great addition to any home.

1. Industrial Cabinet $149  2. Industrial Box Shelves $119 for three  3. DIY Industrial Shelves  
4. Industrial Kitchen Rack $298   5. Industrial Hamper $185  6. Industrial Metal Tote

Toy Magnet Letters to Fabulous Magnet Letters!

 I bought some cheepo toy magnet letters on a whim the other day. I mean they're super fun right? But after sticking them on the frig, they just looked a little tacky. As we don't have kids to blame cheesy things on, I decided to do the obvious thing. Spray paint. A couple coats of gold paint and they transformed into a classy little decor detail!! LOVE them!

Flowerless Wedding Bouquets

 So if you've done any research or read any bridal magazine, you know that the floral arrangements and bouquets can be one of the most expensive parts of your wedding! I love fresh flowers, I always have at least one bouquet in the house, and if my husband doesn't buy them for me, I go out and buy them for myself! That being said, there are some great flowerless bouquet ideas out there! You can buy them from vendors on etsy, have an event designer (ahem, me) design one for you, or, if you're crafty and feeling up to it, DIY that bad boy yourself! These are some of my favorite flowerless wedding bouquet alternatives.

1. Feather Bouquet   2. Paper Flower Bouquet   3. Pom Pom Bouquet   4. Paper Butterfly Bouquet 
5. Sea Shell Bouquet   6. Brooch Bouquet

Hand Lettering: Luck Favors the Prepared

All the women in my family are amateur hoarders. Not hoarders in the scary sense, there are still clear pathways through their houses, but every storage space is packed.  The hoarding tenancy lessens with each generation, My grandmother and great aunt could not go into a Christmas tree shop and leave without a basket full of tsotchkes. My mom on the other hand cannot part with old furniture, tools, scrap metal, or a broken window that could have a second life down the road. For me, hording manifests in things I could make awesome. If inspiration hits, I almost always have all the necessary tools and objects to create something fun. That being said, I could really use more storage space! As Edna Mode from The Incredibles, would say, "Luck favors the prepared." Come the zombie apocalypse, we'll be able to hold our own because of everything my family members have saved!

Quick Cake Decorating Tip

 Sometimes when baking in a kitchen that is not your own, it's hard to make perfect desserts. At my friends bachelorette a couple weekends ago, I knew I would want to bake a cake, but I also didn't want to pack my entire cake decorating arsenal to bring with me.  I decided instead to pack the basics, cake pans, a cake stand, my ingredients and a canister full of gold sprinkles. I knew I wanted a cake topper, so I had bought cheep plastic polar bear toys (I've been buying lots of kids toys lately!) and spray painted them gold before I left. So to elevate an ordinary cake, I put it together and frosted it like any ordinary cake. Then I got down to business! I dumped that whole canister of sprinkles over the cake, spinning it as I went to be sure to cover every inch of frosting. It adds a lux level and elevates a standard homemade cake to something special that will get you lots of "oohs and ahhs"! A little added bonus, the sprinkles add a lovely little crunch and sweetness making the cake even tastier! 

Ordinary Objects, Extraordinary Design

 So there are things that every house needs, those ordinary objects that we just can't do without.  Why not swap your ordinary objects with extraordinary designs! Here are some products that you can find in every household, but these versions refuse to be overlooked!

Happy Dustpan: My current dustpan is just a shoddy little plastic thing from ikea, I think the $14 upgrade to this happy dustpan is totally worth it! Being metal means it will probably have a long and happy life too!
Fabric Covered Extension Cord: I wouldn't mind tripping over an extension cord so much if it were as beauteous as this one.
Cloud Hangers: I mean they're awesome right??
Whale Song Radio: Ok, so this isn't really an ordinary object, I thought it was just a regular radio until I read the product description in detail, but it's so pretty that I decided to pretend it's something everyone has. I mean whale sounds could be used like a white noise machine right?
Hedgehog Shoe Cleaner and Door Stop: I love this cute little fella, and combining a shoe brush and a door stop is ingenious!
Little Watering Cans: I currently have an enormous watering can, and it's a bear to carry around. I have a black thumb, but maybe if I had this cute little watering can I would remember to water my plants more?

DIY $3 Animal Candlestick Holders

At Michaels the other day, while standing in line, I was looking through those bins they cleverly surround the exit row with, and I saw these plastic animals for $1 a piece! I grabbed them knowing there would be something fun I could do with them. I'm not usually a fan of candle tapers because they tend to have a more formal vibe. I decided that making candle stick holders from the plastic toys was the perfect remedy! Check out the images below for the how to as well as a full description below the images.

Materials & Tools:

1. Plastic Animal Toys
2. Electric Screw driver with a 1/4in bit and a 7/8in bit 
3. Spray Paint, I used Valspar Classic Bronze Metallic
4. Tapered Candlesticks

Process:

1. Spray paint animals
2. Drill pilot hole with 1/4in bit
3. Drill large hole with 7/8 bit
4. Do a second coat of spray paint
5. If your animals were hollow, you may have to stuff some paper towels in them to keep the candles strait

You're done! Now place them on your table for a fun and whimsical centerpiece!

Inspired Table Numbers

1. Doorknob Number   2. City Numbers   3. Balloon Numbers   4. Wooly Numbers   5. Bottle Numbers   6. Cactus Numbers

Table numbers are a great place to get creative in your wedding and show some of your personality. Whether it's using all your favorite cities for table names, using thread to to create a warm vibe, or raising them up with balloons, doing something different is sure to make an impact!

Hand Lettering: Penny For Your Thoughts

Happy Friday! I've been wondering if there's anything you think would make Wouldn't it be Lovely's blog better? Anything you'd like to see more or less of? Shoot me an email or comment on this post if you have any thoughts!

DIY Bachelorette Dinosaur Crown

 For those of who planning a bachelorette party and not wanting to go the traditional route of male privates made into crowns, necklaces, and more, I thought I would share this little tiara veil that I made for my friends bachelorette. I made her a dino crown because when we were little she had this amazing dino stuffed animal that came everywhere with her. Lets just say, she was much happier to wear the dino crown than the alternative!

Supplies:

1. Pre made veil (I got a children's veil at Michaels for only $10)
2. A clear hair comb
3. Floral wire
4. Gold spray paint
5. Fake flowers or greenery
6. Two small plastic animal kids toys. 

Process:

1. Wire your animals to the comb, make sure to attach them at multiple points 
2. Wire your  greenery together so that it's mirrored on each side. then attach it to the comb behind the animals
3. Spray paint the whole shebang and let it dry
4. Attach the veil with the wire behind the spray painted bit and you're ready to go!  

Back To School Supplies for Adults

Ok, so we've all been barraged lately with back to school shiznit for the kiddos. As cool as kids back to school/ back to college things can be, as an adult, I want better designed and well made products for my office. These are some "back to school" items that I've been lusting over,

1. Metal Folder Holder: I love how colorful this would be sitting on your desktop, It's also great because it can shrink to take up less space when not holding much, and expand for those busier times.
2. Pencil holder: I am obsessed with this pencil holder. Its designed like those old straw dispensers you'd find in diners, but the wood and brass details just take it over the top. Too bad I can't justify $80 for a pencil holder. It's on my wish list!
3. Dodo iPad Case: These are the cutest iPad cases around. I have major guilt over reading books solely on my kindle and iPad. I used to go to the book store on a weekly basis, and there is nothing I like more than curling up with a REAL book. After getting the kindle however, I succumbed to the lower prices and convenience of having every book at my fingertips! I think having a case like this would help my guilt because at least it would make my iPad LOOK like a real book!  
4. Wood Tape Dispensers: Do I really need to say anything about these Washi tape dispensers? Their wood, cute and hold the amazing creation that is washi tape. What's not to love?
5. Handmade Metal Shears: I love pretty scissors, I already have a pair with gold handles, but these just have the most amazing shape!

DIY Leather Studded Camera Strap

Time for a new leather project! I decided it was time to upgrade my standard nylon camera strap with some studded leather awesomeness! See below for pics of the process and directions.

Materials and Tools:

1. Make sure to salvage the plastic pieces from your current strap, I could not for the life of me find new ones ANYWHERE.
2. Nylon webbing the same thickness as the current ones so you can use the same hardware
3. Leather cut in two strips to the length and width you desire
4. Gold rivets, mine are 6mm wide
5. Basic rivet tools (you can get them at any craft store)
6. Leather hole punching tool (you can get them at craft stores or online)
7. Hammer
8. Candle 

Process:

1. Mark where you want the studs to go on one strap
2. Punch the holes with your leather punch tool
3. Once you finish the first strap, lay it on top of the second to insure that the rivet holes will line up
4. Punch holes in second strap, line up the straps so the nice side of the leather is on the outside of both.
5. Place rivets together, then hammer them to permanently secure them.
6. Once you have finished all the rivets, punch two holes in the middle of the ends of the straps. 
7. Mark where those holes are on the nylon webbing, cut small holes and then hold webbing over the candle so that the holes won't fray. You should repeat this process with the ends of the webbing as well. 
8. Put the rivets trough the leather, then the webbing, then the other layer of leather. Hammer to secure. 
9. Rethread the new strap through your camera and hardware to secure it.
10. Now you are ready to go take your pictures in style!

Incorporating Prints and Graphics on Your Wedding Day

1. Pattern Backdrop   2. Triangle Cake   3. Striped Wedding Dress   4. Chevron Stationary
5. Patterned Cake   6. Polkadot Bow Cake   7. One Shoulder Patterned Bridesmaid Dresses
8. Patterned Skirts

Adding prints and graphics to your wedding day is something most people are hesitant to do. The color pallet always seems to be the first thing brides hone in on, when in reality, it should be a feeling, and then you can build the color pallet from there, and colors don't have to all match perfectly to create a cohesive look. One great way to add interest and personality to your wedding design is to work in prints and graphics. Some easy places to do this is in your bridesmaid dresses, table linens, cake decoration, invitations and other paper goods. For more impact, bring in a large printed backdrop or even don a lovely printed wedding dress!

HAND LETTERING: Dreams Don't Work Unless You Do

Since I started Wouldn't it be Lovely about two years ago, I've been working my little butt off. I have a full time footwear design job, I work on weddings and other events that come my way, all while blogging daily. Meanwhile, I also take time to live and enjoy my life to the fullest. I've been asked by people where I find the time to do everything and the answer is, I'm working constantly. As a designer, you are always creating, I'm thinking about ideas for blog posts, decor, and wedding invitations when I'm showering, driving my car, or grocery shopping. Basically, inspiration is EVERYWHERE. I don't just sit and relax. When I take time to "relax" and watch some TV, I'm on Pinterest and doing research at the same time or sketching in my notebook. But you know what? I love every single crazy minute. The busier I am, the more creative I become. Once you start creating, its hard to stop, and new ideas grow out of ones you've used up. So, work hard, and maybe your dream will come true!

DIY: Quick Party Photo Display

This past weekend was one of my good friends bachelorette party. We all stayed at a house in New Hampshire and had a weekend full of fun! As we prepared for the party, we knew we had lots of photos we wanted to display and wanted to do it ahead of time so it would be simple to set up. We decide to make a photo curtain that we could make before hand and easily assemble once we got there.

Materials:

1. Ribbon, LOTS of it.
2. Photos, a plethora of them! 
3. Double sided tape
4. Scissors
5. Command Hooks
6. Sewing machine (optional, you can tape or staple the ribbon to make loops as well)

Process:

1. Cut ribbon in 6 ft lenghts, I cut the ends in Vs for a nice extra touch
2. Sew, tape, or staple ends in a loop
3. Attach pictures to the ribbon leaving space in-between and backing each photo with another photo so the ribbons can turn and be appreciated from both sides
4. Once all your photos are attached, adhere the command hooks to two opposing walls (doorways work the best) cut ribbon the length of the doorway and tie loops on the ends.
5. Thread photo ribbons through the other ribbon and hang in the doorway! 
6. You're all set and the photos are ready to be viewed, and times reminisced with all your guests! 

Ordinary Objects as Art

 I haven't done an art post in a while and thought it was about time for another! Today I wanted to focus on ordinary objects that have been transformed into art with just a little but of paint, vision, and creativity!

Painted Oars: These painted oars by Norquay are amazing, they run about $225 a pice but are really amazing and impactful. These could also make an amazing DIY project!
Painted Leaves: This takes pressing flowers or leaves to another level. Putting a couple painted leaves in a nice clean frame makes for some lovely wall art.
Painted Antlers and Ax: I love these painted antlers and painted tools from Cassandra Smith, she has a wonderful eye for adding color to ordinary objects and elevating them to art.
Log Bowl: These log bowls from Loyal Loot are amazing. They're pricy, $75-$335 each, but can you imagine what an impact a cluster of these would make on a wall?
Graphic Saw: Another basic tool made fabulous with a well chosen quote and amazing hand lettering!

Target Table to Upholstered Stool

I saw this cute little table at Target not that long ago, and when I was there the other day, it was in the sale section for only $15! Though it's a nice table in it's own right, it's meant for a dorm, and the inexpensive top material really reinforces that. The metal bottom is amazing and had great potential! I've been looking for a little seat for our guest room and knew instantly that this would be the prefect base for a cute little upholstered stool! 

Materials:

1. Target side table
2. Wood cut into circle the same size as the top of wire table
3. Cotton Batting, some super thin and some 2 in thick
4. Fabric for top
5. Pom Pom trim (optional) 
6. Button for tufting (optional)

1. Tools:
2. Electric screw driver
3. Staple gun and staples
4. Hammer
5. Scissors
6. Glue gun

Process:

1. Unscrew bottom and top of table
2. Screw a hole in the middle of the wood you have already cut to size
3. Layer thin batting, the 2 in batting you have already cut to be the same diameter as the wood, and the wood circle on top
4. Pull thin batting tight and staple to wood top. Work from one side to the opposite side, then across the other direction, pull tight and continue in the same manner so that it is evenly pulled and there are no wrinkles.
5. Repeat process with fabric
6. If you want the bottom to be neat and flat, cut another piece of fabric a little smaller than the diameter of the wood and glue over stapled area
7. Glue trim to bottom (you can glue instead of sewing it in this instance because it's not a high abrasion area so it will not be pulled off or stretched when people sit on it)
8. Feel where for the hole you drilled earlier and push needle and thread through to the other side. 
9. Thread through the button and go back through the hole.
10. Pull both ends through another button, pull tight and knot to create tufting on the top. 
11. Screw the upholstered piece to the metal base the same way the top was attached. 
12. Flip it over and you're all done! Hurray for easy upholstery projects!!

Lavender and Mint Wedding Color Pallet

1. Color Explosion   2. Plaid Tie   3. VW Van   4. Bouquet   5. Lavender Lemonade   6. Aisle Lavender Bouquets   7. Pastel Dresses

I'm loving this top image for color inspiration for a spring or summer wedding! Mixing lavender shades with mints and green tinted blues creates such a lovely mood. Add in hits of yellow and peach, and ground them all with mid tone and dark grays to bring this pallet to life!