Ruffled® » DIY Projects

DIY Dip-Dye Ribbons

Amanda — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:16:52 +0000

The ladies from HEYLOOK created this quick Valentine’s Day gift packaging for the last minute gift you got your honey, complete with watercolor gift tags (also great for favors)! These lovely dip-dyed ribbons for packaging remind us of hand dyed silk ribbons, though for much less. You could use one of these ribbons and fabric stiffener or cornstarch to create a bow to embellish your a simple white wedding cake. Just sayin’.

For this project, you will need:

- White cotton fabric (or any other non-synthetic fabric) torn or cut into strips. You can use muslin fabric (available at craft stores) or sheets
- Cloth dye or liquid fabric paint
- Water and dipping dishes

Prepare your fabric strips by rolling them into small rolls that will fit your dipping dishes. If you’re using fabric dye, follow the instructions on the package to prepare the dye (most likely you will need hot water). We used liquid fabric paint and mixed it with water in a ratio of 1:2. The more water you add, the lighter the color will be. Just experiment a little.

Dip the fabric rolls into the dye as shown on the picture. For the two colored ribbon, let the paint drip off a little, then turn the roll around and dip the other side into the other dye. For larger gradients, just let the roll sit in the dye for a moment until the paint is soaked through the roll about half way.

For softer color, soak the fabric roll in water first, then dip shortly into paint. Try out different ways to get variating effects. Play around. Let the dipped rolls dry on a paper sheet until they are not wet anymore, only moist. Unroll and hang the ribbons to dry.

Download Watercolor Favor tags. For personal use only.

DIY Zip Tie Chandelier

Ashley — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:32:26 +0000

The Event Stylists HEYLOOK are back with another DIY Project perfect for any occasion, really: a chandelier made from zip ties! These are ridiculously low-cost with a huge design payoff, and can be easily customized to fit the theme of your event. I’d love to see these as a giant art installation for a ceremony!

From HEYLOOK: To give a little industrial edge to this sweet valentine’s table setting, we made a zip tie chandelier inspired by Anthropologie displays.

For this project, you’ll need:
- Spraypaint in the colors of your choice
- Zip-ties (we used 200 small ties for this chandelier)
- Clippers and metal wire

Start by making a circle of metal wire. Depending on the thickness of your wire, you’ll need to make it a double or triple round. It needs to be relatively stable so it won’t bend too much when the weight of the zip-ties is added.

Then add some lines of wire to the inside of the circle to give your chandelier some layers. Depending on how full you want your chandelier to look, you will need to add more wire lines. Now, if you’re not going for the industrial edgy look, you can replace the wire circle frame with anything more sleek and pretty. You could use any ready-made wooden, plastic or metal hoops. Spraypaint them if you like. Use a large hoop for the outside and smaller ones for the inside. Then either tie them together with thin metal wiring or make the entire chandelier separately (you’ll end up with different sized, single line chandeliers that you can use either apart or hang them layered into one another).

Now make the zip-tie chains. Tie one loop (just until you hear the first click, so you get a very open loop), then tie the next one into it. Continue in this way. Now again, if you’re going for a symmetrical look, you can make all the outside chains one length and all the inside ones another one (the inside ones should be longer). We variated the chain lengths throughout the entire chandelier.

Tie the chains to the frame, then grab a bunch from one side, lay them out flat on a covered surface and spraypaint them in one color. You can spraypaint the chains entirely or go for a white to color gradient look as we did. Hang them up to dry (make sure the painted chains don’t touch the unpainted ones – just tape the unpainted ones together), then repeat with another color.

When you’re done, arrange the chains on the wire frame to get the look you want. Then add a dap of hot glue to each chain to fix it into position on the metal frame. We bent them wire frame a little bit at this point, because the perfect circle frame was well, too “perfect” for the look we wanted. Hang the chandelier with nylon string.

Now, imagine a whole venue full of these. Awesome! You can make rainbow colored chandeliers or keep them all in one color or different shades of one tone.

DIY Valentine’s Day Ideas

Amanda — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:37:37 +0000

Today we’re mixing things up a bit. We’ll be sharing a few projects from the Valentine’s Day shoot that the ladies of HEYLOOK have created just for Ruffled. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, Michaela and Lotta used its festive hues, but they can be made to match your wedding colors. The flurry of unbearably cute ideas and buttery easy + cheap projects is about to begin.

Instead of simple votive glasses, we made these spray painted jars, again to make the setting more industrial looking and a little less cute. To make these, simply tape the very top of a glass jar with a wide tape strip. Then spray paint the top of the jar with a thick layer of paint very closely, until the paint starts to run down the jar. Let it dry a bit, then add another thick layer of paint. The image shows our jar after one layer of paint. For the end result we added two more layers after this.

We wanted our table to have have many of the traditional valentine’s elements, so we knew we needed some cherubs. Pick some up from a thrift or dollar store and spray paint them in the colors of your table setting. Aren’t they sweet?

Instead of a cloth table runner, you can use heart shaped confetti to give your table setting that special valentine’s look. Simply punch out some hearts from colored paper with a paper punch, then arrange the hearts on the table.

Now, you can match your cutlery with your place setting by spray painting the handles in the same color. But if you prefer a non-permanent option, just get some masking tape in a matching color and wrap it around the handles.

DIY Birch Bark Lamps

Amanda — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:14:24 +0000

I have no words to describe how excited I am to make this DIY project myself. If you loved these birch bark pendant lamps from this truly woodsy Michigan wedding, today you’re in luck. I will leave you with Nora, the bride: Our birch tree lanterns came from an idea that evolved down from hollowed-log lights we had seen in Finland and attempted to make them ourselves.

View all lamps and more images from their wedding in the gallery!

Supply list:

twine or fishing line
bark
utility knife
leather punch
60 watt lightbulbs
14 gauge electrical wire and sockets or pendant lamp kits (available at local hardware stores or at Ikea)

Instructions:

From Nora: One of my brother’s neighbors peeled the birch bark off of a dead birch tree he had seen. Jared cut them to the right size we wanted, and using a leather punch he cut holes on each end of the “lampshade”. He then stitched the ends together with twine.

The lamps were wired together along a really long piece of 14 gauge lamp wire, outfitted with 60 watt incandescent bulbs. The birch bark lampshade was then tied to the pendant wire with the lightbulb suspended in the middle.

A few tips:

You can use hot glue instead of stitching the lampshade ends if you intend to use these them for decoration only without lightbulbs. Otherwise the hot glue bond may eventually loosen up with the heat from the lightbulb. If you plan on using this birch bark lampshade tutorial for your home, we recommend using a lightbulb wattage that you feel makes the most sense for the size shade you’ll be using. Birch bark can be found in the woods, and it’s free! If you’re getting birch bark from its natural source, rinse it with water and a splash of bleach before you bring it indoors, and let it dry. Another thing to note is that over time, birch bark will eventually dry out and crack. If you plan on using them for your house, consider applying a coat of acrylic clear matte medium. It’s a water based sealant, and it won’t yellow like polyurethane. If you live in an area where birch bark is not accessible, you can purchase birch veneer sheets anywhere online.

If you’re not familiar with wiring electrical cords, I recommend using pendant lamp kits. Each lamp will be lit independently, which means you could hang each lamp above a table! If you like these lamps but prefer a seamless look to them, you can use nylon fishing line instead of twine. Table lampshades will need a spider top fitter, available at lamp shade part stores like this one.

Using the same instructions + tips, you can use birch bark to wrap containers to use as centerpieces, make napkin rings, and votive holders! We’d love to see what you come up with!

DIY Vintage Tin Ceiling Board

Amanda — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:06:57 +0000

This Old Hollywood Glam shoot by Melanie of She-n-He Photography and Design, Margaret Three Apples Events and Zinnia and Company is proof that you don’t need an equally lavish budget to throw a gorgeous wedding. Can you spot 3 budget-friendly ideas? Here’s one – we’re loving the gold magnolia leaves on the wedding cake! This vintage tin ceiling seating chart project is a great way to add a jolt of charm to any wedding and is super easy to make.

Supply list:

vintage tin ceiling tiles (or you can buy new ones at hardware stores like this one)
mini magnetic disks (here is a great place for bulk purchases)
hot glue
filigree findings (can be found online like here)

View all images from this shoot in the gallery

Wedding Vendors (Austin, TX):

Event Venue: The Vista on Seward Hill / Event Design & Coordination: Three Apples Events / Wedding Photographer: She-n-He Photography / Floral Design and Production: Zinnia and Company / Invitations, Table Number, Escort Cards: She-n-He Photography and Design / China and Glassware: Antiquaria / Chargers, Linens, and Flatware: Premiere Party Central / Dress, Jewelry, Perfume Bottle, other décor pieces: Gilda Grace Collections
Wedding Cake: Blue Note Bakery

She-N-He Photography and Antiquaria, and Three Apples Events members of our wedding vendor guide Blue Label.

DIY Wallpaper Lanterns

Amanda — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:00:25 +0000

Nicole of Flora Bond is back with us today to share how she made those adorable wallpaper lanterns in this floral heaven shoot we featured last week, shot by Jaclyn Davis with flowers by Lemon Blossom Designs. These are so easy! Thank you Nicole for sharing this tutorial with us!

Vintage Wallpaper Chandelier DIY

Supply List:

Embroidery hoop any size or shape (we used a 6 ½” round hoop)
Vintage wallpaper—vinyl works best, a large piece 20” by 20” for large.
Hot glue gun and glue
Scissors
30” by 1 ½” of torn fabric
Cording or string

View all step-by-step photos

Instructions:

1. Roll out the wallpaper and cut out 33 – 6 ½” by 1 ¾” strips of wallpaper for your 6 ½” small hoop, 11 strips for each row.
2. If using a larger hoop you would just need to cut more until you have enough to fit around the top. You can make your strips thinner of thicker depending on the look you want, just add more or less strips.
3. Lay your 11 strips out under the hoop and then glue the top of each strip to hang onto the embroidery hoop. Next glue the rest of the 22 strips together to form tear drops.
4. Once they are all glued into a tear drop shape, glue two on each end of the connected loops all the way around.
5. Take out your torn fabric and loop it through the bottom layer. Once you have looped all the way around, pull the fabric tight and tie to hold the chandelier together.
6. You can then glue each bottom corner together until the chandelier holds a firm shape.
7. Now for the cording—Cut three equal lengths of cord. Roughly 14” – 20” depending on the size of your chandelier and one very long piece, 2 – 3 yards long .Tie each one to equal sides of the hoop. Hold your chandelier up by the cords, moving them around until you are centered, then quickly tie a firm knot in the center. Take your glue gun out plus left over ripped fabric and glue fabric around the knot so it will hold firm.
8. Look at your pretty chandelier! You can experiment with different sized strips to get a different look for you chandelier. All you have to remember is too add equal amounts of strips to each layer.

DIY Chalkboard Sign Ideas

Amanda — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:20:07 +0000

The ladies of HEYLOOK are back with a simple + cost effective DIY for a seating chart that later at your reception can double as photobooth prop! I thought it was a perfect project to share today as this wedding shot by Shari + Mike Photographers has a brilliant seating chart idea. Below we’ll be using chalk paint and mini envelopes, but you can use a deck of cards instead like they did. Paint chips would pop against the dark frame as well.

You can use a chalkboard in many, many different ways – and bring it home with you after the wedding. Here, Michaela is going to show you how you can use this project in three different ways.

What you will need:

- pin board (they used this one from Ikea for $6) or old frame found at thrift stores
- chalkboard paint, brush, and masking tape
- envelopes + cards or a deck of cards like from today’s wedding
- pins and chalk

1. The board being used as a seating chart:

2. Here Michaela is using the same board as a guest book idea. Use one board to explain guests how it works, and a few more for them to pin envelopes with their well wishes:

3. Michaela then covered the frame with neon pink masking tape (found at any home improvement stores) and is modeling here using the board as a photobooth prop. How cute is Lotta on the photo?

View step-by-step photos

Simply paint over the cork board, just enough to cover the spots from the cork texture. Painting cork with chalkboard paint is what is going to give you the flexibility to both write directly on the board + pin cards!

New Year’s Eve Party

Amanda — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:07:03 +0000

The girls at HEYLOOK sent over a NYE party kit that is as fabulous as it is simple to decorate at home, just in time for tomorrow! Here are four easy DIY projects that are a must for a New Year’s Eve party:

1. Gold fringe wrapped numbers:

For the NYE “2012″ decor you’ll need:
- cardboard (we used some boxes leftover from Christmas gifts)
- a tinsel door curtain (available at party supply stores like this one)
- glue and scissors
- numbers (or letters) printed on paper to desired size.

Trace number outlines to cardboard and cut out. The font used on the numbers is called Bebas neue and can be downloaded free here. Then place some glue on the cardboard cut out and wrap a few strips of the foil curtain around it. Continue in this way until the entire cardboard number is covered with foil strips. You can cut off excess strips or simply let them hang off loosely, depending on what look you’re going for. If you like the look we created, make twist the strips a few times while wrapping and attaching them to the number. If you like it more neat, attach the strips evenly.

These numbers, although fairly large, are very light-weight and can be hung from the ceiling on nylon string with a bit of tape.

We completed the look by hanging strips of foil curtain from the ceiling in several places. This entire decor is done with one single curtain, so the costs are really low.

2. Confetti Poppers:

For the confetti poppers you’ll need:

- tissue paper
- toilet paper rolls
- glue, scissors
- erm…confetti
- glitter dots (you can use a hole punch to make your own)
- double sided tape
- sewing needle and thread
- streamers
- nylon fishing line

Brush a thin coat of coat of glue on toilet paper rolls and wrap tissue paper like in the photo above. Using a sewing needle, pull the thread on one end of your popper. This will be the bottom of your confetti popper. Once you threaded one end, make sure to make a knot large enough on the inside so the thread stays put. Add confetti, and tie the other end of your popper with fishing line to hang from the ceiling. Embellish with tissue paper, glitter dots, double sided tape and loose glitter sprinkled on.

3. Tinsel “sparkler” cake toppers:
You can make some cake decor and drink stirrers with tinsel garlands. We simply attached a piece of tinsel to gold wire and stuck them into our rather imperfect (but yummy!) coconut cream cake.

4. Wishes for the New Year:

They also created a printable for Wishes for 2012, an idea worth perusing in lieu of guest books for your weddings! Guests can write their wishes for the new year and hang them on streamers. Print out the cards for the New Year’s wishes and cut them out.

Bebas neue from dafont, which can be downloaded here
Old Script, which can be downloaded here

Thank you HEYLOOK for sharing these tutorials with us!

View all images in the gallery

Download 2012 New Year poster and wish cards

DIY Arrow Seating Chart

Amanda — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:40:25 +0000

Tammy of Uniquity Invitations is stopping by to graciously share this mini shoot the she created, shot by Cora’s Photography. She also designed a set of editable free downloads, which includes save-the-dates, favor tags, table number assignment, and of course feather templates for your DIY arrows. This is just a teaser of her matching wedding invitation coming out this week. This project has a fun spin on “Shot through the heart” written all over it!

What you’ll need:

- striped paper straws or pencils (depending on what you’re giving your guests in the bag, striped pencils can be found at Michael’s)
- large wood slices, available at floral + craft stores
- tacky glue
- scissors
- cardstock
- drill

The seating chart display idea of arrows stuck on the wood would be equally adorable with itty bitty arrows with mini flags made out of toothpicks with your guests names on flags. Using the feather template and blue and green cardstock, cut out your feathers. If you prefer, you can also fringe them sans template and used patterned cardstock to mix and match.

Click here to view all step-by-step photos

All downloads are editable and available as PDFs. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download it free here.

Download Arrow Save-the-Date

Download Arrow Favor Tags

Download Mini Feather Templates

Download Table Number Assignment

Download Large Arrow Templates

Uniquity Design is a member of Blue Label and her designs are available online.

Not that we need to tell you, but we just wanted to mention that these free downloads are for personal use only and are exclusively designed by Uniquity Invitations for Ruffled.

© 2008-2012 Ruffled® , 2011. | Permalink | 12 comments | Posted under: DIY Projects, Wedding Templates arrow, escort cards, free downloads, Navajo inspired, seating charts, table numbers, Valentine's Day

DIY Artichoke Wedding Ideas

Amanda — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:51:52 +0000

The bride and groom from this morning’s wedding used, amongst other materials for their handmade decorations, artichokes. It blended with their rustic beach feel perfectly and is a much more affordable alternative to floral centerpieces. We’re going to show how they incorporated them in two different ways: in their ceremony decor and centerpieces. They’re the bee’s knees in bouquets, and can be used in a slew of ways for your wedding table too.

Artichokes as hanging bud vases:

They used them to decorate the ceremony aisle hanging from Shepard’s hooks. They turned the artichokes upside down, wrapped the stems with twine and added flowers at the top. They would look adorbs hanging from reception tables or altar too.

Artichokes as candle holders:

These barely need any instructions. After you cut one bottom flat for the base and hollow them to fit your tea lights, rinse them in lemon juice to avoid oxidation (thank you Bridal Cookie for the tip).

All photos by Marissa Rodriguez.