Champagne for a year Gift

congratulations!

One wedding gift I like to give if I am in the wedding or for those close friends that enjoy the bubbly is 12 months of champagne basket.  Who says the party should stop once the wedding is over? This gifts lets the bride and groom celebrate each month anniversary during the first year of marriage. It is a cute and easy project and depending on your craft skills you can make this gift as elaborate and customized as you like!

All you need is: 

-a large sturdy basket (those bottles get heavy)

-tissue paper, bags or plastic air cushions to help protect bottles/give support to display

-12 mini champagne bottles they usually come in packs of 4

-ribbon

-hole puncher

-12 tags for months- i used cute scrapbook paper 

-champagne glasses (optional addition)

First find a large sturdy basket that will hold all 12 bottles. I liked using a rectangle basket, the bottles seemed to fit inside it the best. Next design the tags.

making the tags

The tags were pretty easy to make. I used scrap book paper and made circles with numbers in publisher program...sorry I can't get it to upload a copy to add to post. I attached them to the bottles using curling ribbon.

these had quite a distance to travel so the cases came in handy

To fill the basket I used tissue paper (lots), plastic bags, and the air cushion pillows you get in shipments to hep prop up the bottles and keep them from rolling all over the place. 

so cute!

You can also make a sampler of different champagne types and add glasses too! I've also made tags that are related to the seasons or themed around their wedding colors. The sky's the limit on how you want to customize this. 

*12 months of celebration champagne sampler*

I have to give credit to my sister's friend Cassity for this awesome idea. Thank you. It has been a blast making these baskets and I hope you can use this idea to!

DIY Wedding Gifts- Ring Holder

*super easy to make*

I know...I know this wedding season is pretty much over, but the holiday will fly by and next thing you know weddings will be right around the corner. So get ready!

For wedding gifts I try to stick to the registry. Why else would couples spend the time making one and who really needs 5 of the same kitchen gadgets right?  But for all those other occasions surrounding the wedding celebration I like to put my own personal touch on the gifts. 

 I was perusing magazines and saw a picture of a DIY own ring holder but no directions. I thought I can make this! So off I went to Hobby Lobby to find supplies. 

This is a great little bridal shower or engagement gift. I like to send it to the bride right before the wedding as part of "the big day is almost here" package. This project is quick and easy and won't break the bank!


Supplies: small picture frame (2"X3" works well), spray adhesive, corsage pins, scissors, 3mm craft foam, fabric-satin or anything you like

   * Hobby Lobby has a great selection of very elegant small frames. The frames are often on sale or there is a single item coupon you can show on your smart phone from their website. 

  *3mm foam is best otherwise it's too flimsy or too thick and back won't close

Step 1: Disassemble your frame, you won't need the glass at all for the project. Use the paper insert as a template for your foam shape and fabric. 

*Hint I usually cut fabric a bit larger just so I know it fully covers and trim it later. 

Step 2: attach fabric to foam using spray adhesive  This stuff is super tacky and a little goes a long way. Be aware of where you spray it, anything that comes in contact it will be sticky for a long time. Currently I have a thumb covered in fabric fuzz ugh. Smooth out any bubbles or creases and trim fabric. 

   * This step is optional but I've noticed if you don't tack down fabric it can bubble a bit after putting it in frame and may not be the look you are going for. 

Step 3: Put foam into frame and secure backing. Bend corsage pin near the top 1/3 into a 45 degree angle.

Step 4: Decide if you want frame to be vertical or horizontal and slide pin through fabric/foam layer leaving enough room at the top for the ring to rest comfortably.

Voila you are done!

Bridesmaid Dresses Post Wedding-What To Do?

*the dress closet*

Weddings seem to be surrounding me constantly. Calm down none of them directly involve me. I seem to be a perpetual bridesmaid..hmm at least I'm not yet up to 27 dresses level. Though I do have all of the dresses hanging in a closet and I can't live with out my paper calendar/organizer, then again maybe I am yikes!

Phew so you survived this wedding season. If you are around my age I'm sure you have a couple BM or MOH titles under your belt and have more coming down the pike. So what do you do with that bridesmaid dress after you've had the ultimate honor to stand up next to your friend on that very special day?

 I know all the brides say "I picked this one so you can wear it again".  I appreciate the thought and it is my goal to do, but really how often can you wear a bridesmaids dress? I'm the type of person that always remembers what people wear so I know others do too. Or heaven forbid you attend a wedding wearing {gulp} the same cut or color as the bridesmaids! awkward

With a newly announce engagement in the family I know I will have to make room for another bridesmaid dress in the closet! I explored the closet of dresses and found one that I think its time to retire. This navy dress I've worn 3 times and it is now too big woot woot!

* Wedding, Derby, Christmas*

 Ok what to do with it....here are just a few ideas on how to recycle that dress:

1) Buy a cute little black dress and donate your old. 

Buy a new dress on newlymaid.com  and they will give you a prepaid envelope to send in your gently used bridesmaid dress and they either: a) donate it to the charity clothes4souls or b) recycle the material. Clean out your closet to support a good cause.

      *note I had to revise this post. I went back on site tonight to try it out and they no longer give you a credit towards a new one if you trade in a dress :( when I originally was looking into ideas that was the deal I guess it was too good to be true!

super cute dress!

2) consignment shop-you get money right then and there. 

I like clothes mentor (grown up Plato's closet) you don't get a ton but it's better than $0

3)  donate to a local school- see if students need dresses for formals or even theater department. At work there was a cotillion for the middle school girls and they were always looking for dresses  

4) Trade it or sell it on Bridesmaidtrade

You create listing for dress you want to sell or trade and if it sells you get paid.

I'm not quite ready to get rid of the 3 other dresses since I have yet to wear them again (oops) To be fair two are from this summer and I have a plan well sort of..maybe you can help.

*the others*

from left to right:

teal cotton sateen- no idea but I love the color and cut

light blue chiffon- to the opera???

watermelon satin- Christmas or Valentines Day?? 

Any other suggestions?? Quick someone host a fabulous party so I can wear one of these.