Tissue paper pompoms

TOOLS AND MATERIALS

• 
  Introduction

  These dahlialike pom-poms appear to float in the air; in reality, they are hung from the ceiling with monofilament, imparting a cheerful radiance to any party.

  You can also buy a Tissue Paper Pom-Pom Kit from Martha Stewart Crafts.
  Next: Step 1

Step by Step

• Introduction
• Step 1
• Step 2
• Step 3
• Step 4

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Tissue Paper Pom-Poms How-To - Martha Stewart Crafts 

Table numbers

Table Number Ideas

Spending as much time as I have browsing the internet for some fun D.I.Y ideas, i've come across so many cute and DIFFERENT ideas for table numbers! I thought i'd share some of my favorites with you, so here they are!

I LOVE this idea. The couple took old pictures of themselves and paired them up according to the year they were taken. So table numbers weren't "1" and "2" etc... they were "1979" "1983" etc... Love it!!

This look was in the running for my table number look.. but I opted to go with the glass jars with the chalk board fronts instead -- nevertheless, I still love this look!

Another gorgeous D.I.Y idea... all you need to do is wrap a glass jar in a light cardboard paper and paint the numbers on or spell out the number like it's shown here!

This table number idea is so adorable. PERFECT for a destination or outdoor summer wedding!

Table numbers

1.  Don’t use numbers, use locations, books or other items that have meaning for you!  Name your tables after places you have visited, streets you have lived on or musicians you love.  We love this example from Jesse Leake Photography where the couple took the idea even further and took polaroids of themselves holding street names.  Fun!

2.  Use timber cut-out numbers in place of card and paint them the colour of your wedding theme.  These pretty table numbers below blend in perfectly with the theme of the wedding.  Images from Elisabeth Millay with Jonathan Young via Brooklyn Bride.

3.  Create vintage style table numbers by using pretty frames, lacey paper and glitter pens.  This gorgeous idea can also be easily created on your computer and printed at home for a fun look without breaking the bank.  We love the baroque frames at Pink Frosting’s wedding shop which would work perfectly for these table number creations.   Image Bridal Cookie. 

4.  Use miniature chalk boards to create a rustic table number – perfect for garden and beach weddings.  Miniature chalk boards can be purchased online at Pink Frosting’s wedding shop for delivery world-wide.  Photo Credit: Meg Runion.

5.  Coordinate your table numbers with your wedding stationery such as place cards, invitations, thank you cards and more.  These fun baroque paper frames on an easel match the Pink Frosting Love Bird Damask stationery range - gorgeous huh?  They will be available from March 2011.

6.  Make your table numbers your table centrepieces – yep, all in one!  These personalised vase decals (which come with the vase) include the table numbers in your wedding colours, so simply sit in the middle of your reception tables and fill with gorgeous flowers.  You’ve achieved the perfect two for one wedding decoration! 

6.  Create table number luminaria to add atmosphere and light to your wedding reception tables.  Take a standard luminaria and create the perfect table decoration by following the easy tutorial at Intimate Weddings.  Voila – perfection and a fun crafting activity for you and your girls!

Now, if you haven’t found a fabulous idea for making your table numbers extra special and unique, here are some more ideas:

pinwheels

DIY - PINWHEELS BY KELLY PORTNOY

Hi Guys.....it's DIY day at the cafe.....remember the cute pinwheels at this style shoot....well, not only did my oh-so-fab friends Kelly and Ryan Portnoy of Kellan Studios capture all the fun at this shoot, turns out that Miss Kelly is a serious DIY Diva....that's right y'all...she made all the cute pinwheels....YOU ROCK Kelly and she truly "rocked" the pinwheels....she's stopping by with all the DIY details....take it away Kelly!!

Step 1.....Gather Tools- (Truly the pen and the straight edge measurer are just for looks for me. I have no intention of using them but if you are anal about measurements…..USE THEM!) I have selective analness…..like my pillows always have to be straight on the couch…..cutting crafting paper in half…I just wing it! HAHA….good start to my tutorial right?

Step 2....Gather Supplies- BIG HUGE IMPORTANT DETAIL….when making the OVERSIZED 12 inch diameter pinwheels you need TWO sheets of the 12 inch scrapbook paper. Buy duplicates or scrapbook packets that have multiples. A package of 12 inch long dowels. A spool of twine. Oversized buttons. These happen to be ones I pressed and cut from polymere clay…but any kind will do. (Yes be impressed by me for a moment) I don’t iron my shirts, but I make my own buttons. I don’t get me either!

Step 3......Cut Strips and Fold Accordion Style- I recommend lining the patterns up on your two sheets of paper and folding or “measuring” them in half and cut in the same direction so your pattern continues end to end to end to end for 48 inches! Stack all 4 strips on top of each other and fold in either a 1/4, 1/2 or 1 inch bend. If you are making multiple pinwheels it looks really cool varying the fold width. (**Note…have glue gun plugged in so it is ready to roll shortly)

Step 4.....Staple or use permanent adhesive squares. (Use a discrete amount of staples). Staple all the way around until you make a full circle. The accordion will stand upright like a lampshade. This is where it gets very tricky to lay the paper design side down. You need to “manhandle” it and show it whose boss. I kid you not. That thing will spring up in your face and cause great frustration.

Step 5....Flatten Pinwheel/Insert Dowel- With one hand you need to hold it steady while you get your glue gun ready. The dowel is the KEY to the stability of the pinwheel. One this large does not want to lay flat without the extra support, especially if you are using them outside and wind is involved. You will thank me later!

Step 6......Glue the snot out of it- You will win no prizes for aesthetic reasons on the backside of your pinwheel….but you will have a sturdy pinwheel in the end. If you really want to go the extra step you could cut out a 12 inch wide circle and glue it flat over the back to cover up all the mish mash of adherent.

Step 7.....Glue on Button- put a lot of extra glue on the center point under the button as well as on the back of the button and hold firmly for a good 1-2 minutes until glue is absolutely cooled.

Hang up and Enjoy- I just hole punched and added twine.

OMG...how cute are the "mini ones"...love these!!

Table numbers

Wedding Table Numbers with Illuminated Numbers and Monogram: DIY Wedding Reception Ideas

August 5, 2009 by Christina

The ultra-creative Tuppence from Momfetti has generously agreed to share her wonderful wedding table numbers tutorial here at IntimateWeddings.com. She made these for her castle wedding in the Netherlands this year.

“Construction-wise they are incredibly simple, but the finished item looks so much more complicated than it is. The final impact is incredible!” says Tuppence.
Tuppence came up with the idea for them by melding two Wedding Table Numbers styles.
She says she loved the look of velum wrapped votives, but thought they were too small.  She also liked the tri-fold table numbers from Martha Stewart Weddingsbut thought they were a bit too “crafty.” Wanting something more decadent, Tuppence combined the two ideas and created a prototype.
“I spent about 4 minutes making the prototype. I liked it, he liked it, and I ran with it,” she says.
Tuppence says the wedding table numbers got rave reviews from her guests, who thought they add a warm, ‘romantic’ glow to the reception space.
“A few guests asked if they could keep them. To me, that is the most prized compliment I could ever receive,” she says.
They were also practical. The brightness of the numbers made them easy to see.
“Literally, each guest was able to make a beeline for the correct one right from the door,” says Tuppence.

Instructions for DIY Wedding Table Numbers with Illuminated Numbers and Monogram
By Tuppence from Momfetti

You will need:

• metal ruler
• scissors
• tape
• glue dots
• scalpel or craft knife
• paper cutter
• 12 x 12 Card Stockof 100 lb or heavier weight
• cutting mat
• print out of letters/numbers. I used Edwardian Script. The font size was around 425. I trimmed the spacing between numbers on the double digit tables to make them fit closer together.. I also further formatted my font and chose the “outline” option.

A Note from Tuppence on Choosing Paper:
When you are choosing paper, make sure it is strong enough to stand on its own and that it will hold up to people touching it. Also, it has to be strong enough to support the structure of the numbers.
For me, cardstock was readily available, fairly cheap, and sturdy enough to do the job. I would assume fabric or paper that was first cut then heavily “modge-podged” afterward *should* be strong enough. But that’s a lot of work and pretty messy so I haven’t tried it myself.
I used standard 100# cardstock. 100-110# is what they sell in stores as “industry standard” for scrapbooking. It literally is nothing special or hard to find.
When you hold cardstock up to the light, you can’t see through it. To see the effect the candle will give, you can take a flashlight in to the store with you, and by pressing it directly on the back of the paper you will see what the illumination will look like. Using the “handmade” same-weight paper with the bits of flowers and leaves would give you a more varied illumination with highlights and shadows, and the flecks of flowers/leaves will appear in silhouette.
Step by Step Instructions

(Note: Photos show letters, not numbers, but the process is the same.) Cut around numbers being sure to leave some space between the line and the cutting edge. There is no need to be perfect at this stage- it is just to ensure numbers are easier to work with later on. Each number is in Edwardian Script font using Microsoft Word. I used the “outline” effect on the fonts before I printed onto plain paper.

Cut the 12×12 card stock into pieces that measure 5″ x 6.5″. Essentially, you can choose your own size, but I don’t recommend going any smaller than this because you need to have a gap between the paper and candle (fire safety). Also, if you make it significantly larger, the glow effect would be lessened.

Sort out the numbers with a “closed loop”. For example:  6, 9, 8, 0. Redraw the lines with a bit of a curvy finish, leaving a slight gap. This will hold the centerpiece in place so it won’t fall out. You are going to have to eye this part in.

Tape each number to the center of the card stock. You can use the ruler to measure to ensure the number is dead center, or you can be lazy like me and just eyeball it in.

Carefully cut along the outlines with the craft knife. Be sure the razor is very sharp- a dull razor won’t work and may shred the card stock. I found it sometimes helps to go lightly the first time, and then re-cut the same lines a second time. This especially is helpful on turns. I also found I preferred cutting a curve in a clockwise motion (I am right-handed so I am sure the lefties will prefer the other way). I also used a fluid motion and turned the paper with one hand as I was cutting on the very tight turns. When doing long, straight sections use a metal ruler to help you along. It will guide the knife and ensure a perfectly straight cut.

Remove tape, paper stencil, and carefully punch out number. Repeat. Each number is cut twice- one for the front and one for the back.

Using a bone folder, fold ½ inch side panels on each piece of paper. I used glue dots to attach the side panels to the front/back panels, with the little folded flaps tucked on the inside. This will make a topless and bottomless box. Place a votive candle in the center to illuminate.
How to make the Monogram

For our sweetheart’s table, I choose to do our monogram instead of a table number.
I used our first initials only for two reasons: (1) I am not a fan of using of the married initial before the actual ceremony takes place. Not using the last name prevents this so I could use the monogram anywhere and everywhere, and (2) he has a double letter last name, which made the traditional first/last/first 3 letter format impossible. I also spent hours and hours online looking at fonts trying to make a decision. In the end, I chose “Edwardian Script.” It’s a basic font available on every Microsoft office product. Every last detail at the wedding requiring font of any kind could be matched exactly, and as I had “Wedding-induced OCD” this was pure heaven. Lastly, I admit I was wooed by all the pretty monograms online with the swirls and colors and motifs. In the end I went for the simple, direct approach.
To make the monogram, I opened Powerpoint to a blank slide.
Step 1: Insert a text box anywhere on the page. Type in the first letter of the initial. Adjust the font style, color, and size as you please.
Powerpoint only goes to 72 so I had to manually type in my own number. Depending on what I was doing, it ranged in size from 150 – 400 point. My PowerPoint version automatically outlines the text box and fills the background with white. I had to change the settings to no border and no fill (you can do this by going to format and under “fill” select leave blank/empty/none- whichever wording your version describes. Do the same thing for the border. You can easily access the format option by right clicking on the text box).
Step 2: Insert a text box somewhere else on the page. Type the first letter of the other initial. Adjust in the same way as the first initial.
Step 3: Click on one initial and slide it “kind of sort of” in place near the other initial. You are trying to get it in the general spot only. I liked my initials slightly nestled together instead of side by side, with one raised higher than the other so the “tails” on the bottom of the letters almost seem to spoon. To me, it looked romantic that way, and not quite so plain.
Step 4: Tweak the actual placement and get it just so. Skip the mouse for this part and use the keyboard. To nudge, select one of the text box initials and use the keyboard arrows. To nudge in very small amounts, hold the shift key down while you use the arrow keys.
Step 5 (optional): When all is done and color/size/placement looks good,  “select all” and save it as a picture not a PowerPoint file. I have a short cut option to “save as picture” but if you don’t, you can find this somewhere in the regular edit menu. My version also likes to save the picture as a *.png file, so I have to manually scroll down to *.jpg instead.
Additional info: Because it’s now a .jpg you can cut and paste it everywhere like any other picture, even use it on your wedding website or email it. You can also take it down to Kinkos (or some other printing place) and have it blown up a few hundred times to make it large enough to use on an aisle runner or wall hanging. It will be pixelated, but that’s easy to fix when you trace onto the fabric.
Time: The monogram table number took me about 45 minutes to make. The table numbers without the monogram took an average of 15 minutes each start to finish. The first few took longer, but by the time I got the process down it went much quicker. I made 15 in one night (including the monogram one), over a period of about 3.5 hours. Momentum was the key. If I did only a few a night it would have taken a bit longer in overall time.
A word of caution: Before you proceed, you might want to contact your venue and make sure candles are allowed.
According to Tuppence, her venue initially refused, but came around when it was determined that the table numbers were not a fire hazard.
“They had visions of little paper balls of fire on every table the moment they lit the candles. I gave them my original prototype which they left in employee lounge at their restaurant, burning away for an entire shift. The paper was barely warm, not tinged or damaged by heat/flame and they “approved” its use that very night,” she says.