Monday, November 12, 2012

Asking Your Bridesmaids: How to Buy More Crap at the Craft Store

It's kind of a thing now to find fun and creative ways to ask your lady friends to be bridesmaids in your wedding. How did I ask my lady friends to be my bridesmaids? I called them on the phone. Lame, I know. But then I started to see all sorts of unique cards and crafts on the topic and my creativity wheels started turning.

You've probably seen how other Bees have asked their ladies in the past. For instance, Mrs. Bracelet, Mrs. Unicorn, Mrs. Turkey and Miss Lyre created adorable homemade cards. Mrs. Mink used elegant spools from Etsy seller Esther Shafer. Miss Gray Wolf made some super cute Christmas ornaments. Mrs. Elk even staged a fake proposal (complete with rings!) for her bridesmaids.  Not one to turn down an opportunity to spend money at the craft store, I set off to create something that would be fun to make while staying true to the general theme of our wedding. But what?  

My bridesmaids live all across the country. Two live in LA, one in Colorado, one in New York City, one in Baltimore, and one nearby (thankfully!) in Atlanta. I'm sure everyone has seen Bethany's lovely bridesmaid boxes, but unfortunately bulky wooden boxes just aren't practical for mailing across the country. I wanted to make something a little smaller and lighter. So I came up with these: 

The bridesmaids boxes. (personal photo)

The base is a simple papier-mâché box which I painted and then detailed with a gold paint pen. I used Mod Podge to attach small paper doilies to the inside of the boxes and I painted the inside lid with the initial of each one of my bridesmaids. I then coated the boxes with clear glossy spray. I topped each one with a Marie Antoinette-inspired scrapbook sticker. Finally, I cut out slips of paper which read, "Will you be my bridesmaid" which I carefully folded up inside each box. 




In retrospect I wish I had used more muted colors on these boxes and not the vibrant pink and blue I actually went with. I think I wanted to go with the over-the-top Marie Antoinette look which we won't be using at our wedding. Oh well. 


The bridesmaids booklets. (personal photo)

I loved the information cards that Bethany included with her "Will you be my maid?" boxes, so I used them as inspiration for the information booklets I included for my ladies. I made six (one for each bridesmaid) and each one is unique! I was going for a Marie Antoinette feel but I think they turned out a little more Victorian. Hey, it works for me! 

The construction of each booklet is quite simple. They are comprised of four different pages of postcard-sized card stock and a piece of patterned card stock for the cover. The pages are hinged together with tiny metal brads and the bottom of each sheet was given a lace effect using one of Martha Stewart's punches. I might have even included some gold embossing action. Yeah, I went a little overboard with all of my craft supplies, but it was a good time. The last page of the booklet is a color palette. I took paint chip cards from the home improvement store and sliced them into thin pieces which I then glued onto white card stock. Obviously the cover of each booklet eventually bore the name of each bridesmaid and the finishing touch: a tiny cameo scrap book decoration. 

I have to be honest: this was actually a lot of work. But I really enjoy crafting as it keeps me from stressing out about my job too much, which I have a strong tendency to do. Plus, in the digital age it feels good to make something concrete and tangible. 

Did you do anything special to ask your ladies to be your bridesmaids? 

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Confessions of a Reformed Vampire

Guys, I have a confession. I've had a cosmetic procedure. You see, I was once a vampire.

Image via: Hark a Vagrant / Artist: Kate Beaton

Okay, maybe not a vampire of the blood-sucking, glittering skin variety (thankfully). I was actually born with a fang-shaped maxillary lateral incisor. Growing up we always joked around that I was half-vampire. It explained a lot of things really, like why I was so nocturnal and why I never seemed to age.

Personal photo & evidence of fang. 


For a long time, I didn't mind it. In fact, I embraced it as a part of what makes me unique. And it is! When I had my braces removed in high school the dentist asked if I would like to have it capped and I refused. Long live the fang! But over time, especially in my late 20's, I  became more and more self-conscious about my fang. I would never give people a big smile in public. I would always have a twinge of self-doubt during conversations. Add to this the fact that I stand in front of 90 teenagers five days a week and I'm sure you can understand why I was becoming more self-conscious. Friends and relatives teased me because I claimed to have a "good" side when taking photos -- my left side, the side without the fang. If you scroll through my profile pictures on Facebook, nearly all of them are photos of the left side of my face. It's actually kind of sad.

Honestly, I think most people didn't notice my fang. That or they were just trying to be polite when I mentioned it in conversation. But it was still something that bothered me and I knew that it was time to have it repaired.

As a graduate student I didn't have dental insurance so having it fixed at that time wasn't an option. But even after getting dental insurance through my school district I waited almost two years before finally deciding to have it fixed. The wedding was certainly a big factor in this decision, but it was also because I was ready to move on from the fang. So this past May while I was in the office for a routine cleaning and check up, I went ahead and moved forward with the procedure.

The fixed tooth is the one to the right of my front teeth. Excuse the crazy hair -- I took this after a day of swimming.

I am extremely happy with the result! Not only was it super quick and easy to repair, but it was also inexpensive. Instead of using a crown or veneer, the dentist used a bonding technique with tooth-colored composite resin. He actually sculpted it around my fang and then sanded it down to look like a natural tooth. It looks amazing -- like the "normal" tooth that I never had. I remember leaving the dentist's office and I couldn't stop smiling and checking out my new smile in the mirror. The best part is that my fang is still underneath the bonding, so if I'm ever feeling particularly vampiric in the future (doubtful) I could always return to my original tooth. In fact, this procedure only lasts a few years before it must be replaced. I'll be seeing my fang again someday, even if it is only briefly in the dentist's chair.

Having my fang fixed wasn't really a big deal but it made a huge impact on my confidence, especially when I smile. But it also made me think about the wedding industry and how women are under such extreme pressures to look their absolute best on their wedding day. Personally, I think that means looking the very best for YOU. I don't think women should try to change too much about themselves for their weddings. I think that you should look like a glowingly happy, polished version of your usual self.

The wedding may have been the impetus for me to fix something that had been bothering me for a while, but I don't think I would ever take any more drastic steps to resolve other cosmetic issues. But hey, do what makes YOU happy and comfortable and never forget that the guy you are marrying loves you for YOU.

Have you had any cosmetic procedures in order to look your best on your wedding day?

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Two Names Enter, One Name Leaves

Is it the Thunderdome? Nope, it's the ubiquitous name change post. I guess I will just come out and say that I will not be changing my name after I get married.

I see my last name as part of my identity. When I think of myself in terms of my first name and Mr. C’s last name, I don't see myself. That’s not me. That's someone else. Actually it is literally someone else because Mr. C’s sister and I share the same first name. That means there would be two women with the same first and last names in the family. Talk about confusing! And weird. Imagine how that might make my future sister-in-law feel; suddenly a name that was originally uniquely hers is now someone else's. If I were in her shoes, I have to admit it would make me feel a little weird.  



Secondly, I don't really find it fair that a woman has to run around town (sometimes taking a day off of work) just to get the paperwork she needs to legally change her name. It involves changing your driver's license, social security card, passport, and all financial documents. Then there's the possibility that there are confusions or mix ups in the future. Maybe you forgot to change your insurance documents and now you can't be reimbursed for a doctor's visit because they can't verify your identity.  No thanks.

On a more superficial level, I would be trading a very easy to spell and pronounce last name for one that people consistently have difficulty pronouncing. Both my first and last names are easy to spell and pronounce. I've never had to deal with my name being verbally butchered and at nearly 30 years old, I don't want to start. 

A woman’s decision to change her last name is a very personal one. I would never judge a woman for choosing to take her husband’s last name. I understand why many women are excited to change their names after marriage. It certainly makes life a lot easier if you plan to have children and I'm sure it cuts down on confusion later in life. More importantly, it represents a very real transition from being an individual to starting a family unit. Sadly, it doesn't hold the same meaning for me. My mother has had three different last names in her lifetime. Mr. C's mother (who is divorced) recently changed her last name back to her maiden name. I have watched as the women in my life have changed names due to divorce or remarriage. I don’t think I could shed what I see as my identity so easily.

In short, I guess I feel jaded by the whole name change prospect. Not that I plan to get divorced or remarried, but I hate the fact that society expects me, as a woman, to change my name based on changes in my marital status. And so I won't be changing my name.

Will you be keeping or changing your last name after marriage?


Saturday, November 3, 2012

DIY Ombré Dyed Fabric

Recently I set out to create an ombré dyed fabric ribbon display for our engagement shoot later this month. Because that is what crazy brides do these days. I also want to use it as some kind of backdrop at the wedding and possibly for our engagement photos. Here's the inspiration:

Image via: Green Wedding Shoes / Photography by: Dallas Curow / Event design by: Elyse Cragg

Seriously, when did ombré become a thing? Because it's apparently a thing now, and now I need it and I don't know why. I also know that I want to try and recreate the last photo (seen above) for our engagement shoot, so sign me up for some ombré  But instead of the chandelier, I'm thinking of something more practical like this: 


Image via: StyleMePretty / Photography by: Archetype Studio Inc

I would like to start by warning my readers that this project can get very messy. Fabric dye can damage all sorts of things including furniture, pets, carpeting, and even your counter tops. Like, lose your apartment deposit damage. Please be very, very careful using fabric dye. I would recommend wearing old clothes and rubber gloves for this project. Also, this project works best outside on a lawn. We live in an apartment and were able to make it work out on our patio. I set up a clothes line and laid a painter's tarp down to protect the wood from the dye drippings. Our neighbors officially think that we are crazy, but that's okay.

(personal photo)





  • Fabric dye (I used Rit)
  • Fabric in the lightest color you desire for the ombré effect
  • Clothes line
  • Clothes pins
  • Spray bottles for every color of dye you will be using plus one additional spray bottle for water
  • Bucket
  • Rubber gloves
  • Tarp

Step 1: Set Up 

Set up the area where you will be working. Have the clothes line hung, clothes pins ready, and the tarp laid out in the ground beneath your working area.


Step 2: Prepare Dye

Fill the spray bottles with fabric dye. I only poured a small amount, around one tablespoons worth of dye. You could probably use even less if you are going for a more subtle ombré effect. Next fill the rest of the spray bottle with very hot water. Be sure to do this carefully over the sink and not over your counter or your floor. Before finishing up, don't forget to fill your extra spray bottle with hot water.


Step 3: Soak & Hang Fabric
Soak the fabric in hot water until it is completely wet then use the bucket to transfer the wet fabric outside. Hang the wet fabric evenly from the clothes line.


Step 4: Spray Fabric

Make sure that your spray bottle is set to spray in a fine mist. Begin misting the fabric starting sparingly and lightly at the top (or wherever you want the ombre effect to begin). I started a few inches from the top. Spray the fabric more heavily as you move down, focusing most of the spray on the bottom portion of the fabric. Continue spraying until your fabric reaches the desired darkness. If you feel that the ombre effect needs more blending, use the spray bottle of water to even it out. 


Step 5: Let Dry
Let the fabric dry for a few hours. I used paper towels to soak up the water/dye that accumulated on the tarp as I was working. The rest I am just leaving outside and hoping it dries up and goes away. It's not going to dry up and go away, is it?

The results are in! (personal photo)

Tips:

This is something that works best with practice. I would recommend doing a test run first before using your final project fabric. Also make sure that you don't neglect the edges of the fabric. If you look at the pink sheet below you will notice that the left edge seems a bit lighter. Ultimately this will be unnoticeable as I will be cutting the fabric into strips, but this is something to keep in mind if you plan on using the entire piece of fabric for a project. 

Rit Dye also has their own ombré tutorial, but it seems a lot messier than this method. You can check it out HERE. I think the method that I used gives you a lot more control over the intensity and placement of the dye. But check out the other tutorial in case it is a better fit for your project! (Or not because I think mine is better.) 

What would you do with ombré dyed fabric? Bonus points if you answer this as if you were part of the Miss America pageant.