Papercraft on Etsy

Hi everyone! I've been missing out on my blogging time lately and I think I'm having withdraw. It feels so good to be posting again. Why didn't anyone warn me that the last few month of wedding planning are down right hectic? :)

Today, I want to share an adorable little shop on Etsy with you called pghpapercraft. I actually found this shop when I won a giveaway on a fellow blogger's website for a gorgeous handmade burlap guestbook. You will absolutely love this shop! The guestbook is unbelievably cute – all of you burlap-loving brides won't even be able to believe the cuteness. It's perfectly rustic and polished at the same time. Such a winning combo. And the best part? It's fully customizable. Maile (the shop owner) made it incredibly easy to pick out your favorite color of ribbon (to match your wedding colors), and let her know what you'd like the front of the book to say. It's such a beautiful keepsake that you'll want to save long after the wedding.

Papercraft even has matching stationery so you could get menus, invitations, programs and place cards to match. I LOVE this idea. Everything would look so polished and put-together. Personally, I'm digging the purple and burlap look!

Be sure to check out Papercraft on Etsy if you're looking for some handmade goodness to spice up your wedding. It's affordable and oh so cute.

Here's some of my other favorite pieces. Enjoy!

Blue, Gray, Brown Beach Wedding

I'm so excited to show you guys a beautiful inspiration board that was requested by Kishah – a 2013 bride-to-be. It's an October wedding in...wait for it...HAITI. Ugh. The jealousy is sinking in. Beach weddings always turn out beautifully. How can they not, with the ocean as a backdrop?

Kishah had a vision of blue and gray, with possibly some golds/deep yellows thrown in. It needed to be rustic, vintage and beachy of course. I seriously LOVE this inspiration board. I adore the different shades of blue mixed in together to give it an eclectic, laid-back vibe. It should NEVER be a requirement to stick to one color/shade of color. The golds and browns keep the whole thing earthy and grounded. And, it's beachy without being over-the-top and typical of what you would expect. It's really quite romantic. Kishah's wedding is going be gorgeous – no doubt about it!

Photo credits
Center: bouquet
First row: groomsmen, necklace, lantern, cake
Second row: flutes, place setting
Third row: silverware, bride
Fourth row: shoes, Jones Soda, couple, napkin



What do you guys think? Thanks Kishah for the beautiful request. Good luck on wedding planning!

Email me if you'd like a board! Shardiy@b-y.net

The Dress & The Cake

First of all, I'd like to say congrats to L.O.A.H for winning my giveaway hosted by From Kristen, With Love. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Now on to my post. I must say that I had a lot of fun writing this post for you guys. For me, cakes and dresses are two of the most beautiful parts of a wedding. They set the whole stage for your big day and help it come together so wonderfully. I know all of you brides-to-be are probably looking at countless pictures of dresses and wedding cakes, trying to find the perfect ones. But, have you ever thought about a cake and a dress that seem to be perfectly inspired by one another?

I think it would be so much fun to take an element of your wedding dress that you love (the texture, the sash, the beading) and incorporate that into your cake design. I mean, why not? You love your dress (hopefully!) and chances are, you'd love your cake if it was inspired by your gown too.

OR if you're looking for a fun, colored wedding cake, why not match your bridesmaids' dresses to the cake? As long as you don't go overboard and try to recreate a cake that looks just like a dress, it will be a perfect subtle reflection that will have your guests thinking you're so clever, NOT cheesy!

Here's some examples to get you started.

Cake; Dress

Cake; Dress

Cake, Dress

Cake; Dress

Cake; Dress

Cake; Dress

Cake; Dress

Cake; Dress

Sleeping Beauty Engagement

Hello my lovelies!

Today I have an inspiration board to show you that is a little different – it's an engagement shoot board! How cool. Sam contacted me the other day and said she was having trouble with her idea for a Sleeping Beauty inspired engagement shoot. If you ask me, she had it all figured out. She knew the poses, the scenes, the parts of the movie that she wanted to recreate. But, she was having trouble with the outfits and the props. How do you take something that could easily be over-the-top and cheesy and make it cute and modern?

Well, here's my take on it.

Photo Credits
Center: Happily Ever After
First row: couple, flowers, key, crown
Second row: shoes, tent
Third row: perfume, rabbits
Fourth row: couple, bouquet, couple, finger prick

I think it is perfectly whimsical and magical– but not corny. It just screams "fairy tale" to me! I love the patterned dress for something a little more modern than Aurora's long, fuschia gown, and that jacket for Prince Phillip is the perfect alternative to an over-the-top prince outfit. Can't you just see Sleeping Beauty asleep in that little tent, waiting for her true love to kiss her? I love me some Disney movies!

Thanks Sam for the fabulous request! Hope you like your inspiration board.

If you'd like me to make a board for you, don't hesitate to email me at Shardiy@b-y.net!

From Kristen, With Love GIVEAWAY!

Hello everyone! I've got a great giveaway to share with you all today – isn't that exciting? When Kristen contacted me to do a giveaway with her, I was beyond thrilled. I avidly follower her blog, From Kristen, With Love. She has the greatest, most creative posts.You definitely wouldn't regret checking her out. If you're looking for a new blog to follow, she is your best bet!

On to the giveaway! Kristen just opened up her Etsy shop (congrats, girl!), and is kind enough to give away an item for you guys to win. 

Here's what you can win:

These hand painted wooden signs read "Mr." & "Mrs."... the perfect addition to your wedding decor and/or used as a photo prop. Let the world know you're officially a Mrs. by using this statement prop in your wedding photos. Hang it on the back of your chair at your reception to add a personal touch. After the wedding, you can feature the signs in your home to remind you of your special day each and every time you look at them.

The signs are painted white & measure 1 foot by 6 inches and come ready to hang or hold with attached twine.

What could you do with them, you ask?

 Here are some examples!

 

See how cute? Use them one of these ways, or get creative and come up with a different use all together! Thankfully, I have some pretty creative readers and I know your brains are going a thousand miles an hour right now. I know mine is. 

How to Enter:

Fill out the Rafflecopter below and you'll be good to go.

Winner will be selected May 13.  

Red & Silver DIY Wedding

Today I have a gorgeous board for you to look at that was requested by a reader. Yay! I love those. Jenn is getting married June 2013 on the beach. Her colors are red and silver with a little bit of black thrown in. She wants a country style (she's wearing cowboy boots) with lots of DIY opportunities. She's a crochet guru, so that gave me the perfect opportunity to thrown in all kinds of handmade goodies. For example, the red hearts could be tied around napkins, doubling as a decoration AND a favor. Or you could sew tags on them with names, making for cute place cards. There are so many great options – as long as you're willing to sew up a couple hundred :)

Isn't the bright red so fresh and summery?

Photo Credits:
Center: centerpiece
First row: couple, flowers, dessert, bouquet
Second row: boots, cake
Third row: hair, flowers
Fourth row: bridesmaids, crochet bouquets, crochet hearts, boutonniere


Jen's wedding is going to be absolutely gorgeous. I want to point out, for all you DIY brides that know how to crochet (or are willing to learn), the three bouquets in the bottom picture are all crocheted! How stinkin' cool is that? And just think, you could save your bouquet forever. Get to crafting!

Photo credit: The Offbeat Bride

Thanks Jenn, for the request. If you'd like me to make a board for you, please don't hesitate to email me! I'm happy to help. Shardiy@b-y.net.

XO

Thirty-One Giveaway WINNER!

As always, thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway! I'm fairly convinced that I have the best readers of all time. And thank you to Megan, who was kind enough to offer up her second bag to give away on the Blushing Bride. So very sweet.

Without further ado, the winner of the polka-dot bag is:

Maureen!

Maureen, I will be in contact with you shortly to get your mailing info. Thanks again, everyone. Check back for more giveaways in the future. XO!