DIY: Easy Mirror Makeover

 

The object of hate: IKEA "Ram" Mirror with wooden frame, 7€

Photo by IKEA

However, not the untreated version but the very special lousily-painted-by-Ann-Kay-version:

I think my original idea was to create some kind of carribean vibe in our old apartment's hallway, therefore i wanted a turquoise mirror. Unfortunately the paint turned out yucky green and i opted to put my awesome stupid idea on ice.
That ugly green thing stands in our bedroom now, which is mainly decorated in red and white hues. As you can tell from the curtain's reflection in the mirror this not a pretty color combination, at all. Time for a makeover!


Total material costs: 2€
( I don't include the costs of my mirror here because i bought it several years ago and it's 'paid off' already)

Time: a few hours ( anything between 2 and 6 hours, depending on how concentrated and motivated you are)

Level of difficulty: Easy.
Not a kids project though! Working with the hot glue gun needs some concentration and skills as the hot glue can cause severe burns

Materials/ Tools:

- 1 ugly old mirror
- 1 full roll of white Crepe Paper ( 1€)
- Hot Glue Gun + at least 2 hot glue sticks
- Pre-used thick cardboard. I used a fruit packing box from a grocery store
- Scissors
- Paper Twine or Raffia or anything similar (1€)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Hot Glue Gun.

2. Cover the edges of the frame.
Measure the inner and outer lengths and cut off the paper twine according to your measurements. You should end up with 8 strings, 4 for inside and 4 for the outside edges. Now untwist the twine just a little bit. It's easier to work with if it's less stiff.

3. Place a small dab of hot glue into one inner corner and attach the end of the first string. Let the glue cool off to make sure that the string stays in place, then draw a fine line of hot glue along the edges and attach the string bit by bit. Repeat three times to cover all four edges.

If you wonder why i have some flowers attached already, well that's because i realized i need to cover the edges after i glued on a row of flowers. Stupid me...

4. This step is actually the same like the third step but you have to cover the outer edges now. It's quite complicated to hold the mirror, the glue gun and then glue on the twine at the same time, so it might make sense to ask someone to help you. ( I asked my hubby to hold the mirror.)

In the end it should look like this:

5. Cut the crepe paper into strips, each should be about 2-4cm ( 1 or 2").
I cut some wider strips for the large flowers, moreover i cut some in half to make small filler flowers. You don't have to measure exactly or cut precisely straight lines as the size of the flower actually does not depend on the size of the strip but on how tight you roll it. See my messy strips:

6. Making flowers.
To make a flower take one strip into your left hand, crumple one end and roll it 2-3 times to create a shape similar to a ball. This is the base of the flower. Then put a small dab of hot glue onto the bottom side of the base, let it cool off and then twist the rest of the strip around the base while rolling the flower in your hand. Apply glue every once in a while (after two or three twists) and finally onto the end of the strip to secure the flower.

You can create different looks with this technique. Spinning the longer end of the strip around itself while twisting it around the base will make your flower look like a rose, whereas twisting it in a straight line will create a shape that resembles a ranunculus.

7.  Attach flowers.
Put a good amount of hot glue on one of the frame's corners and press the flower into the glue. Subsequently add flowers of different sizes. Fill small gaps with small flowers. Leave ca. 30cm of one side of the frame uncovered and have a few flowers left over.

8. Now cover up the free space with the paper twine, this is similar to step 2 and 3.
Measure the gap and cut off three strings of twine in a matching length and untwist it. First apply the hot glue, then attach the strings to cover the frame. Attach more strings if the wood keeps shimmering through.
Glue on the left over flowers to cover the starting points of the strings.

9. Draw a word or single letters on the cardboard and cut out the letters. We are newlyweds hence i chose the word  "Love" :)

Pull off parts of the cardboard's top layers on both sides of the letters until some of the grooves underneath become visible.
You can use any kind of cardboard but i prefer to process old stuff that otherwise would be thrown away, that's why i used a piece of thick cardboard from a packaging box.

10. Lastly paint the letters.  (You could also cover them with pretty scrapbooking paper or fabric scraps)
Apply just a small portion of paint and brush vertically towards the grooves to paint only parts of the cardboard. I used white acrylic paint and a tiny amount of red and golden glitter.
Brush parallel and paint the grooves if you want to cover the letter completely.

Once the paint is dry carefully apply some hot glue and glue the letters on to the mirror frame.


And that's it!

You probably have to clean the mirror afterwards, wipe off dirt and fingerprints from the mirror face and remove those nasty filaments caused by the hot glue.

I plan to embellish the centre of the flowers with pearls or some sparkly stuff but so far i am extremely happy with how the mirror turned out!


P.S. A more detailed description of how to make crepe paper roses can be found at "Homespun with Love"

DIY-Tutorial: Button Ring Bowl

Prepare your working space. You need:

- air dry modelling paste or clay
- a solid non sticky base
- a rolling pin ( i don't have one, i use a tumbler instead)
- a ceramic bowl, or a large teacup or mug
- buttons in different sizes and colors

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1. Grab a portion of the modelling paste and form a ball by rolling it between your palms.

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2. Lay the ball onto your base, press it down and roll it flat with the rolling pin. You need twice the height of the buttons, otherwise the ring dish might crack.

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3. Use a bowl to cut out the shape. If you don't want a round shape use a cookie cutter or a square vase or anything you like. You can cut out the desired shape by hand as well; i often use a small potatoe knife to do so.

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4. ( Skip this step if you don't want to attach ribbons)
Cut off two ribbons or twine, each about  8" (20cm ). Choose the color carefully as you can not replace the ribbon once the paste is dry. You can remove it though.
Select a large button that has four holes and thread each ribbon through two holes.

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5. Push the button into the middle of the clay circle, next up add the rest of your buttons. Make sure to press them deeply enough. Their surface should be even with the clay's surface.

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6. Now lift up the circle from your base very CAREFULLY. If it keeps sticking onto the surface use a small knife to raise it.

7. Gently place the circle into the ceramic bowl ( or any other mold). Now let it dry.

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8. Clean up your working space and base. Small crumbs dry fast and it's easier to remove them immediately. You don't want to risk ruining your countertop or table.

9. Let the modelling paste dry at least 24 hours. You can intensify the drying process by placing the bowl into direct sunlight- but still, it needs at least one full day to dry through completely, depending on the thickness and the room temperature it might even take 2 or 3 days.
Do not touch it while it is still soft. I know you can't resist but let me assure you: it t won't be dry after 5 hours, not after 10 hours and not after 15 hours. DO.NOT.TOUCH!! ( I'm mainly adressing myself right now...)

10. Once the paste is dry it should slip out of the mold easily. If it doesn't try to unfix it by sticking a needle between the clay and the ceramic bowl. Again, do it carefully.
If it keeps being stuck means that it is not dry yet. If you can bend it then it's not dry either.

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11. Gently polish the edges with fine sandpaper until they look smooth. I usually start with 180 but then change to 600 grade grit-paper. You can also use the fine sand paper to fix small imperfections and minor cracks on the ring bowl's surface.
The refining process takes anything between a few minutes or several hours, it actually depends on the thickness of the bowl, but more so on your accuracy during the building process.

12. Damp a tissue, Q-Tip or a small paintbrush and wipe off the dust from the buttons.

And that's it!

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P.S: I listed this button bowl in my Etsy Shop, so if you are too lazy to make one yourself you can buy it there :)
Just contact me here or via Etsy if you don't see the listing.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/81396403/ring-bearer-bowl-with-buttons-ringschale

Living: Homegrown Vegetables

During winter I made the decision to grow our own vegetables on our balcony. The first time ever.
MisterT liked that idea and one day he came home with at least twenty little bags of seeds. I know i don't have a green thumb so instead of wasting them all at the same time I only planted the seeds of tomatoes, lettuce and carrots.
I was so excited about this project that i checked their status almost daily and after a while i could see their progress. The lettuce was the first to be harvested and it tasted quite good.

But then came the rain. It rained almost every day this summer, the lettuce wilted and the tomatoe vine drowned before it could produce tomatoes.

But the carrots survived! They are tiny because they don't have enough space in their flower box, which is obviously my fault. I should have read the instructions before planting the seeds...

This is my first homegrown vegetable ever:

Isn't she cute?? And she tasted gooood.

A couple of days ago i pulled out some more, in the hope that the rest of the carrosts will have more space now and grow a bit larger.

Screechy-birds loved them too:

I'm definitely going to plant more seeds next year and I'm really proud of my first attempt.
Growing my own food is such a great feeling!

Budget: 20 Money-Saving Tips

1. Try to avoid the words "wedding" and "bride".
Obviously that doesn't work when hiring your photographer or officiant, but with things like bridal shoes and the wedding cake. The latter can be extremely expensive, order a birthday or anniversary cake instead.
We paid $16 for our cake, the same baker gave us a price quote of almost $200 for a similar "wedding cake" of the same size. Insane! I admit our cake wasn't an eye candy, but i rather have an ugly yet delicious cake than a dry and inedible stunner.

2. Do you really need all those lovely handmade embellishments and sugar flowers on your cake?
The more complex the more expensive. Decorate it with paper flowers instead. Crepe paper flowers are easy to make and look gorgeous! See the how-to here.

Photo by Martha Stewart Weddings

3. Speaking about cake again, why not buy it from a grocery store or ask a talented friend or relative to make one instead of a gift?

4. Think twice before you saddle yourself with thousands of DIY projects.
While they make your wedding look more personal and unique they can turnout as pricey or even more expensive than store-bought items. Always calculate the total costs of the materials and tools before you start a project and don't forget to consider the time factor. Time is money, so ask yourself if it's really worth the effort?

5. Buy preowned.
Most couples want to get rid of their stuff right after the wedding. Regularly check sites like Craigslist, Ebay classifieds and the Weddingbee classifieds for decorative items, and POWD, Oncewed, Encore Bridal, Bravobride and Recycled Bride for dresses, veils, accesories, rings etc.
Most items have only been used for a couple of hours and are still in perfect condition.

6. Sell your stuff on the websites mentioned above after your wedding to get back at least some of your expenses.

7. Visit trunk shows if you don't feel comfortable wearing a used dress. You might be able to get a discount on your dream dress. Most designers and bridal salons publish a list of upcoming events on their website. Moreover, stores often sell their sample dresses at reduced prices, especially those of discontinued styles or with seasonal collection changes.

8. Skip Save-the-Dates, read my arguments here

9. Buy seasonal and local flowers only. You really don't need tulips from the Netherlands in your november wedding bouquet.

10. Also try growing your own flowers in your garden or on the balcony.

11. Skip unneccesary stuff. All those "oh, it doesn't cost a lot, let's do it"-ideas sum up quickly and combined they can blow your budget.
Always ask yourself if you really must have it. Don't think as a bride but take a look at each idea from a guest's more distant point of view: Will you ( as a guest) care about it? Will you even notice it? Will you still  have a great time at the wedding regardless of this certain idea?
Here are three examples:

12. Bathroom baskets.
Yes, they are indeed adorable and represent attentive and thoughtful hosts. And yes, they don't cost a fortune. But as a female i always have at least one tampon in every purse as well as a pocket sized deodorant. I know i can survive a few more hours without creaming my hands and what the heck am i supposed to do with a Q-tip at a wedding?

13. Personalized and monogrammed items
People just don't care if a napkin is imprinted with your names and absolutely nobody wants to keep a favor that has your monogram on it, so don't waste time and extra money on that. Something edible makes your guests happier.

14. Customized Water Bottle Labels
Nice, for sure. But thirsty people are only interested in what's inside the bottle and empty bottles will be thrown away, no matter how cute the label is. In other words: Your money will be thrown away. Save that money. Buy a regional product instead and help supporting your local economy.

Photography by Paul Johnson via Southern Weddings

15. Rent a tux/suit instead of buying.

16. A large portion of the wedding budget goes into the venue. Consider having a backyard wedding at a friend's or relative's house, get married in a public park or hold your ceremony in a local museum, library or a church's community center. Most public beaches are free as well and from what i have seen so far botanical gardens offer relatively low rates and most of them have a stunning greenhouse or lovely gazebo. Saying "I Do" between tropical plants, birds and butterflies sounds amazing!
If you want to get married in a hotel stay away from major chains.
Unfortunately brand chains don't really need you. If it's not your wedding they are hosting than it is someone else's event. They don't care.
Small and independent hotels are usually more affordable than those with a famous name and need your business. They still depend on establishing a good reputation, hence they are probably more willing to work with your budget and wishes.

17. Consider the option of an out-of-town wedding. You don't need to have a destination wedding in a foreign country, but if you live in a quite pricey region like a large city it might make sense to accept a one or two hour drive and tie the knot in a rural and less expensive area, e.g. rent the barn of a secluded farm.

18. Plan and buy anti-seasonal: Get married in winter or early spring. Rates are lower than during the peak months ( May through October) and chances are higher that your dream vendors are still available in off-season months. Having a christmas wedding next year? Buy the decoration after this year's christmas.
Easter blowout sales are perfect to buy pastel colored items like ribbons and silk flowers.
In general, end-of-season sales are the best way to save tons of money- prices are reduced drastically because stores must get rid of these goods.
Constantly keep your eyes open for reduced items and become a regular visitor of thrift stores. But only buy an item when it's a real bargain and you know exactly that you need and are going to use it.

19. Borrow glassware, vases, cutlery and china from family and friends. Mismatched table decoration looks charming and doesn't cost you anything.

Photo via Dandelion and Grey

20. Be patient!
I know getting proposed to is extremely excited and you are dying to go shopping for the wedding when you see all those "Ooooh, soooo pretty" and "Awwww, must have this" bridal items in magazines and blogs.

But don't rush things, especially when you have a long engagement and lots of time to plan your event. I can almost guarantee that you are going to change your mind about colors, themes, your attire and accessories at least once before the wedding. ( Unless you are one of those brides who have been planning everything since kindergarten).

Shop in a logical order. Don't buy a veil before you go dress shopping, just because it is "goooorgeous and such a steal" and you can't wait to feel like a bride. It will most certainly clash with your dress and you will need to buy another one.
I bought almost everything twice. I bought a few dresses, two veils, two pairs of shoes and also two hair flowers but then decided to make a third one. All those multiple items weren't expensive but like i mentioned above, small sums add up and in the end i spent more than originally intended. I wasted money because i did not have a clear vision of what i wanted.

Wait until you have set a date, found a venue and determined a certain style to avoid senseless " i might be able to use it" impulse buying.

Image via Salina Post

P.S. One more aspect to think about: 

Always keep in mind the real meaning of a wedding. 

You are not entering an “event of the year” contest and it’s not your top priority to be featured on an awesome blog.

Don’t pressure yourself with the thought of having to have an extraordinary event.

Don’t overrun your budget because you feel like you must include never-seen-before elements.

Guests are there to celebrate with you and simply want to have a good time. 

You are there to be married to the love of your life!

Happy Weekend!

It's a beautiful day! The sky is blue and the sun is shining brightly, which hasn't happened quite often lately and it's almost like a big suprise. I guess i will have to shift my plans for the weekend.
I wanted to give our hallway a makeover and then work on at least one or two bridal bouquets.

But life is short and you never know what happens next. So instead of working i will grab my wonderful husband, go outside and just enjoy life!

Happy weekend everyone!

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P.S. Dark Dahlia look even more stunning when you add some Billy Buttons! A nice combination for a beautiful bridal bouquet!

DIY-Tutorial: Floral Initials

Initials are a pretty and personal decoration for your ceremony or reception space. You can hang them on church doors, the altar, backs of a chair, place them on tables, ...

My floral initials are approximately 6x8 inch and made of recycled cardboard and a bag of potpourri from Ikea. I think it comes in different colors depending on the season but you can buy colored potpourri in every well-assorted Home Decor store.

Total project costs: 2 $

Total time: 2,5 hours

Difficulty Level:  Beginner. All you need is a lot of patience because this is a bit like doing a jigsaw puzzle, and if you have never worked with hot glue before you might want to practice first to get a feel for the gun.

Materials:
- 1 bag of Potpourri, but depending on the size of your initials you might need two bags
- Recycled cardboard. I bet you already bought tons of wedding stuff, re-use the boxes! Or a cereal box or any other cardboard box you already have. It's really not important what it looks like as long as it is solid and not too floppy.
- Hot glue gun, scissors and a pencil ( I tried three different kinds of glue and hot glue worked best for this project )

Instructions:
- draw a sketch of the letters and cut them out. You don't have to be too precisely because the cardboard will be covered by the flowers anyways.

- paint the cardboard in a color similar to the potpourri. Watercolors from a paintbox dry very fast on paper and cardstock
- empty the bag of potpourri and spread the single pieces. This way you get an overview of the different shapes and you can act faster while working with the glue gun.
- preheat the hot glue gun
- once the glue is hot and liquid take one of the smaller pieces of the potpourri, apply a dab of glue and stick the piece to the cardboard. Start with the edges and construct a frame, then add more pieces of a similar size and matching shape little by little.

I tried a different method first when i made the "N" . The cardboard shimmered through as i did not paint it, and instead of building a frame i just glued the flowers randomly. It was difficult to fill the gaps subsequently.
See the difference:

Now just fill the center with larger pieces until it looks full and bloomy and covers the cardstock completely. Trim the corners of the cardstock with scissors if necessary.

That's it!

Ann-Kay Design: My new ETSY Shop

I recently opened my own shop on Etsy and my creations kept me busy for the last two weeks or so. I hope i will be able to find more time to update this blog soon, but until then i am going to share my work with you.

Two paper bouquets are finished:

And i set up a Facebook page as well. Follow the link below the image and check it out :)

Ann-Kay Design on ETSY

Ann-Kay Design on Facebook

DIY: Free Printable Invitations

Have a look at these 16 invitation templates provided by the fabulous HGTV.
They are perfect for your engagement party or bridal shower, and with some minor editing using Microsoft Paint or Gimp they can even serve as wedding invitations.

Images by HGTV

♥ Our wedding was featured ♥

So excited to share the news! Our wedding was featured on the WeddingBee Blog!
Click the badge to see our photos and learn more about me and my husband :)

N+T= LOVE

We are celebrating our 3 months wedding anniversary today! 

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In addition, exactly 6 years and 6 months ago we became a couple and since the first day of our relationship we agreed that we would never to go to bed angry which is quite easy because we hardly ever fight.
Moreover we promised ourselves that we would always kiss each other goodnight. Well, this is more complicated because my job requires a lot of travel, but on those nights where i can't be at home we kiss over the phone and then i lie down in my hotel bed, close my eyes, imagine my hubby's face and give him a mental kiss. This might seem cheesy to you, but i would feel terrible if i ever fell asleep without doing it.
A promise is a promise and i love and need our sweet little "tradition".

A few days ago i stumbled upon a blog post on DotDotDot and squeed of joy when i saw the most adorable and perfect template:

Image by Jessica from Craftily Ever After via DotDotDot

I had to have it!
The colors in our bedroom are white and red so i changed the template's blue to red and grey, printed it out on photo paper and framed it. For some strange reason the printer cut off the edges and i might reprint it one day but it's ok for now.

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I love having our promise displayed in our bedroom, above our bed, every night.


Happy Monthaversary Sweeto! ILD!

Colors: Seafoam & Mint & Yellow

Oh how i love these vivid, fresh and cheerful colors! They put me in a happy mood instantly and are just perfect for an outdoor wedding on a sunny summer day!

La Posh Style

NinaShoes "Galiza" via Zappos.com

The-Perfect-Necktie

PaperLanternStore

Etsy seller woomi

Image via Wedding and Cakes

custom-made feather bouquet by Etsy seller Ardesign, Photography by Curt O'Neil

I LOVE: Free Pretty Things For You!

Keren Dukes creates the most lovely and adorable Vintage Clip Arts and she is kind enough to share them with her readers for free!

Head on over to her blog, download the templates and be inspired by her pretty DIY crafts.

Think Green: Save the Dates

Skip them!

Frankly, i do not know when and where and by whom Save the Dates were invented, but believe it or not: back in the good old days guests were very well able to attend a wedding although they got nothing but a simple invitation.

However if you are having a destination wedding or want to invite out of town guests you should inform them as early as possible to give them enough time to save money for the trip and book plane tickets and hotel rooms. Tell them about your plans when you meet them in person or simply call them. 

Why physical Save the Dates are not necessary:

1. Creative and unique STD's require a lot research and work, especially when you want them to match your theme, your colors, include a photo of the happy couple, have a pretty font and an awesome design. Trying to make everything look perfectly can become very time consuming and nerve-wracking. There is so much you have to do while planning your wedding, why make it even harder by adding "extra-stuff"?

2. Costs can easily sum up and even simple DIY cards need to be made of something and you have to pay for material and stamps.

3. People who are not that much into wedding trends or especially the elderly might be confused about getting a STD because they have never seen one before.

4. People who get a STD must be invited to the wedding. This can cause some trouble in case you have to cut down the final guest list due to unexpected budget restrictions or a limited seating capacity of your venue, or when you are not that close anymore with one of your friends or relatives and do not want this person to attend your wedding.

5. Actually the main reason why i am writing about Save the Dates:
I know it is a special day for you. But think of all the thousands of weddings that are celebrated all over the world, every single day. Imagine all the paper products that are used for each of these weddings. Save the Dates, shower and wedding invitations plus envelopes, programs, place cards, menus and so on. Sad but true, couples put so much love and energy into their wedding but most of these items are thrown away right after the event. Imagine the waste that is caused by your wedding. Now imagine the waste that is caused by all weddings worldwide on your day and every other day
GOSH, what an awfully giant pile of stationary! Frightening!

Waiving Save the Dates is one easy way to help protecting our environment.

A modern and eco-friendly option of notifying your guests are emails.
These are some of the websites that allow you to create personalized E-cards, however they require a registration: The Knot, OurWeddingDay, Oriental Trading Company ( Firefox users must disable AdBlockPlus to enter the site)

Some people might say this is tacky*, i say it is tree-friendly, fast and free and serves the purpose.



* If there is an award for the english language similar to the "unword of the year" the word tacky should definately be considered for nomination.

Budget: Wearing a bridesmaid dress...

...is a great alternative when your budget is small or you simply do not see any sense in spending so much money for a gown that can only be worn once in your life.

Below are some of my favorites from The Dessy Group, one of the leading bridesmaid dress manufacturers who offers a huge variety of different styles and colors. Each dress can be ordered in at least one shade of white or ivory.

The complete collection can be found online, but almost every designer carries floor-length bridesmaid dresses in the style of a "real" wedding dress.

Have a look at the gorgeous dresses of Watters as well as Alexia Designs. Their websites have a tool that allows you to select by color which makes it easier and faster to find the perfect dress.