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.

© 2008-2012 Ruffled® , 2012. | Permalink | 4 comments | Posted under: DIY Projects DIY, HeyLook, ombre, packaging, pink, red, ribbon, Valentine's Day

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.

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.

© 2008-2012 Ruffled® , 2012. | Permalink | 5 comments | Posted under: DIY Projects chandeliers, decor, DIY, handmade, HeyLook, red, Valentine's Day, yellow

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.

© 2008-2012 Ruffled® , 2012. | Permalink | 5 comments | Posted under: DIY Projects chandeliers, confetti, DIY, HeyLook, red, Valentine's Day, votives, yellow

From the Event Stylist, Lottie: Our little shoot took place at Main Social, a small and intimate gathering hall in downtown Lewisville Texas. Our models are a real live couple that actually got married this week. ;) They are too sweet!

Wedding Vendors (Lewisville, TX):

Shoot Location: Main Social / Photography: Sara & Rocky Photography / Event Stylist: Couture Events by Lottie / Event Design: Ebony Peoples Events & Design / Flowers: Nest Floral Studio / Wedding Stationery: Pulp Letterpress / Desserts: The Jenny Layne Bakery / Vintage Rentals: Rent My Dust Vintage / Linens: Linen Hero / Wedding Makeup and Hair: Tia Vang

© 2008-2012 Ruffled® , 2012. | Permalink | 11 comments | Posted under: Wedding Design Couture Events by Lottie, DIY, Lewisville, pink, Sara and Rocky Photography, Texas, Valentine's Day

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!

© 2008-2012 Ruffled® , 2012. | Permalink | 5 comments | Posted under: DIY Projects birch bark, DIY, woodsy

From the bride, Nora: EVERYTHING was a DIY project. We built our wedding on my brother’s land which is out in the northern forest and it is completely off-grid. We had no power, or running water. We worked on the land for a month beforehand. We built the beautiful elliptical stage, and cleared the large area where we put our big tent. The clearing and road to it, were a neighborhood group effort with the use of tractors and many hours of help by many beautiful people who helped just because they knew it was needed. My husband built the romantic bridge and pine arch that I crossed over to walk up our cedar-bow ‘aisle’. My brother, Mike, built another bridge near the tent that guests could take over to the ‘margarita bar’ which we constructed. My sister-in-law, Erica, and I did a lot of path work, clearing walkways from one magical place to the next. Jared (my husband) and I cleared the trees and scrub for the ceremony site, and all of this took place along a trickling creek.

We had very little waste, using bamboo plates that are currently decomposing on the land (and should be dirt within a few more months). All other utensils and glassware were gathered from second-hand shops by a few friends and family members. They have been donated back, minus a few that people wanted to keep. My nieces took the reigns on decorating each mason jar (for drinking out of) so that each would be different and identifiable to it’s owner. I bought inexpensive, white towels from IKEA and my maid-of-honor and I hand-dyed them all purple to stand out on the muslin table clothes. Everyone involved with the wedding, now has a few purple kitchen towels in their home.

Any advice for brides planning their weddings now? Ask for help, and dole out jobs to people ahead of time. When it comes down to a day or two before, it’s ok to let a few things go undone. It’s no biggie. Savor everything!

From the photographer, Kat: Nora and Jared’s story is very sweet. They grew up together near Marquette, Michigan and were good friends their whole lives. It wasn’t until a few years ago, that they realized they were in love (Jared lived in Los Angeles, Nora on the East Coast). They live in Bend, Oregon now, but when they decided to get married, it was a no-brainier that it will be held near their childhood homes in the U.P. With help from their family and friends they spent one month prior to their wedding clearing space in the woods on the bride’s brother’s land for the ceremony and reception. They actually lived in a little camper in the woods while they re-landscaped the land. Most of the decor and design of the wedding was done by the Bride and Groom, very creative artists/musicians. (This included paths through the woods, a space for the reception tent, a clearing in the forest for the ceremony, a covered wood bridge, a margarita bar). For me, the brass band processional through the forest from the ceremony clearing to the reception tent was one of the most amazing things I have seen at a wedding. Many of the guests camped on the land over the weekend too.

Wedding Vendors (Michigan):

Wedding Venue: Private Residence in the Upper Peninsula / Wedding Photographers: Kat and Dylan Schleicher of Ellagraph Studios / Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero “Gatsby” / Wedding Shoes: MRKT / Bride’s Hair Accessory: WeeGardens / Bride’s Necklace: Tissage / Groom’s Suit: J. Crew / Groom’s Shirt: Prada / Groom’s Tie: Sptzbrgn / Groom’s Shoes: Cydwoq / Bride’s Hair: Studio 5 Nineteen (Marquette, MI) / Officiants: Mothers of the Bride and Groom / Wedding Musicians: Bohola / Wedding Flowers: Gille Mills and Marcia Gonstead of Garden Bouquet / Wedding Caterers: Rubaiyat, Randy Hicks (pig roast) and Michael and Terry Walker (tortilla makers) / Wedding Cake: Sister of the groom / Fruit Pies: Gopher’s / Stationery: Bride and Groom / Decor: DIY / Transportation: Checker Transport

© 2008-2012 Ruffled® , 2012. | Permalink | 14 comments | Posted under: Whimsical Weddings DIY, Ellagraph Studios, Marquette, Michigan, outdoor ceremonies, outdoor weddings, rustic, woods, woodsy

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.

© 2008-2012 Ruffled® , 2012. | Permalink | One comment | Posted under: DIY Projects DIY, seating charts, tin ceiling, vintage

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.

© 2008-2012 Ruffled® , 2012. | Permalink | 6 comments | Posted under: DIY Projects DIY, vintage wallpaper

From the bride, Andrea: It changed throughout my engagement but in the end the style was more rustic/country. I’m not sure if DIY is a style but everything was handed made by myself and close friends.

I did not have a color scheme, I used earth tones so browns, greens, and auburn colors. Pretty much everything was DIY, the aisle decor, the dessert table, the guest sign in table etc. I would describe my wedding as country, rustic, low key, detailed.

Any advice for brides planning their weddings now? Let people who you trust help you, especially if you are doing DIY projects!

From the photographer, Candice Benjamin: Andrea and Andres planned their wedding for 100+ people for under 10k in Southern California. Other than the Photographer and DJ, everything else in the wedding was completely DIY. Andrea had crafting parties with her bridesmaids and made everything for her wedding. Even to the point of going to the flower market the day before her wedding at 4:30 am to pick out the perfect flowers. It was a true DIY wedding and she used everything she could. Andrea and Andres wanted the outdoors wedding to have a rustic, vintage theme… but not in such a way that was way overdone. It was all about the little touches — a sign hanging over the large tree they got married under and the Mr. + Mrs. sign she painted only a few days before the wedding.

Wedding Songs:
Bride’s Processional: “Alywas Forever,” Phil Wickham
Communion Song: “How He Loves Us,” The David Crowder Band
First Dance: “Everything,” Michael Buble

Wedding Vendors (Los Angeles, CA):

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Orcutt Ranch / Wedding Photographer: Candice Benjamin Photography / Wedding Cinematography: Jakfoto Films / Flowers: DIY / Event Design: Done by bride / Event Planning: Nichelle Obrien / DJ: Eric the Deejay / Wedding Caterer: Stonefire Grill / Wedding Cake: DIY / Invitations: DIY / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Bridesmaid Dress: Amanda Rose Bridal / Groom’s Suit: Calvin Klein

© 2008-2012 Ruffled® , 2012. | Permalink | 21 comments | Posted under: DIY Weddings brown, California, Candice Benjamin, DIY, handmade, Los Angeles, outdoor weddings, rustic weddings, Southern California

From the bride, Stephanie: We wanted a fun, circus-y feel with bright colors and as many handmade decorations as possible.

Our decorations were all handmade with the help of family and friends! We set up a photo booth with fun props, we made our own mustaches for guests to wear, colorful handmade bunting everywhere, my craft group knit over 100 unique flowers and made them into pins for everyone to wear, we refurbished an antique door to use as the alter for the ceremony backdrop and my Mom and sister made all the invitations by hand, they turned out to be amazing. Our color scheme was turquoise, red and yellow which seemed to fit nicely in the old elementary school venue.

Any advice for brides planning their weddings now? Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Utilize your wedding party and print out tasks for the day of to keep everyone organized. Focus on one thing at a time, so that you don’t get overwhelmed.

View all images from this wedding in the gallery

Wedding Songs:

Processional: Traditional wedding march
Recessional: “When I’m 64,” The Beatles
First Dance: “Faithfully,” Journey

Wedding Vendors (Portland, OR):

Wedding Venue: The Mcminamins Kennedy School / Wedding Photographers: You Look Nice Today Photography / Wedding Flowers: Erica of Moda Floral and Event Design / Wedding Dress: Vintage from Xtabay Vintage / Wedding Shoes: Report / Gold Cuff: H&M / Bride’s Hair: Kristen Engleman of Akemi Salon / Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Target and Vintage / Groom’s Suit: Banana Republic / Groom’s Shoes: H&M / DJ: DJ Bootz / Wedding Caterer: The Mcminamins Kennedy School / Cupcakes: St. Cupcake / Wedding Invitations: Designed and made by bride and bride’s family / Transportation: Prestige Limousine Service

© 2008-2012 Ruffled® , 2012. | Permalink | 11 comments | Posted under: DIY Weddings DIY, handmade, Oregon, Portland, school, teal, You Look Nice Today Photography