12x12 paper lovelies...

After my last post about Paper-Source I decided to peruse the papers to see about that lovely damask print paper for fun liners and wrapping gifts.  While I was not able to find that paper, I did find many other lovelies that I have not seen before. 

I love the idea of creating inexpensive artwork by framing beautiful paper.  It creates an impact and as I mentioned can be very cheap!  Here are some 12x12 paper lovelies that are....well....just lovely!

{White Eyelet}

{Bird Cages Overlay}

{Frame Wallpaper Pink Overlay}

{Brocade Overlay}

{Darling Dear}

I love how affordable a single sheet can be!  Also think about how simple it could be to create your own pattern to frame by using a rubber stamp to repeat your design.

Damask Suite

{Vintage Marquis by Paper Source}

I love damask.  I have loved it for so many years before it was popular for weddings.  I remember doing a project in 2003 using some vintage red damask wallpaper.  Even after putting as many damask elements into my wedding last June, I still love it.  I even try to incorporate damask wrapping paper at almost any occasion that requires a gift {and even ones that do not}!

I am excited to see all of these great pieces from Paper-Source!

Message in a cookie cutters

I have been resisting the temptation to peruse the catalogs that come weekly.  Today, I could not help but look through the Williams-Sonoma one.   I am so very glad that I did!  I stumbled upon the cutest cookie cutters I have ever seen! Message-in-a-cookie Cutters!

{Williams-Sonoma}

{Williams-Sonoma}

{Williams-Sonoma}

{Williams-Sonoma}

Apparently there was also a holiday version, that is of course sold out.

 

{Williams-Sonoma}

I really love the current set, my favorite is the scalloped edge cutter.  Too cute!  I still have some Christmas money burning a hole in my pocket...I just may have to get these! 

truffles and tortes

I am trying out two recently acquired recipes on Chris' family tomorrow for their annual holiday get together the Sunday before Christmas.  I love making new and fun appetizers and dips to bring to a party.  I will be honest that I have been craving the cranberry walnut torte concoction from Trader Joes. So when posed with the task to bring something different...I decided to see if I could make one myself.

{via Season to Taste}

I altered the recipe as the container I was using to make my torte was a 1 qt. souffle dish.

Here is my version:

8oz. package low fat cream cheese {softened}

5oz. crumbled Gorgonzola {room temperature}

Dried Cranberries

Walnut chips

I also used cling wrap in my dish instead of waxed paper. Check out the original recipe and directions here.

My next new treat are Oreo Truffles. The Beginning of Forever recently blogged about cake balls and how she calls them truffles.  Which is so perfect...really, I wish I would have thought of it. lol. This rather settled my issue with "cake balls" so I am proud to say they have a new name now....cake truffles!  I am so excited I found this Bakerella recipe.  

So back to the Oreo truffles.  After reading about the existence of these delectable delights I decided it was a perfect time to make them...

{via Flickr}

The recipe is super simple

1 package Oreo's divided

8 oz. cream cheese {softened}

White Chocolate Bark coating

Visit Bakerella for all the details.

Groom's Cake

I had decided on doing a groom's cake for our rehearsal dinner rather early in the planning stages. I decided to use Hock Cakes after reviews from Stlwed.

I did not know what I wanted the theme of the cake to be and believe me, it came down to the wire for me to decide. I have a serious problem with giving gifts that I am not sure if the receiver will like and this felt very close to something like that.

In the end, we love our cats Scout and Frankie. At the time, being summer and all, Scout would love to spend time in Chris' flip flops, with both from feet through one of the flip flops.

I know this post is rather out of order in the grand scheme of wedding recap, but I came across this recently on the Hock Cakes blog.

{via me}

The cake was such a hit at the part, some of our guests said it was the coolest cake they had seen! It looked really good, and tasted even better. Frankie, our siamese, looked pretty much like him, minus the occasionally crossed eyes. Scout was not as big or fluffy as he is in real like, but I am sure it is difficult to create fluffy hair with fondant. Other than the Scout critique, it was perfect. Most importantly, Chris love it!

blog love ~ Anna & Farid engagement pics

I was so excited to find out that Beth Berry Photography posted the engagement pictures of my dear friend Anna. I was even more excited to see how fabulous they are!




There will definitely be more to come about this May wedding!

Slice of Lime Feature

{via Slice of Lime}

Emily of Slice of Lime created the invites, programs, photobooth sign, candy box labels, candy jar labels, sign board, rehearsal dinner invites, bridesmaid luncheon invites, thank you notes...and provided countless hours of therapy!

Just a side note...the busty pic of me is NOT my fav.

haute halloween

{Rosanna Inc.}

I love this website! They have such beautiful and fun items. I am still in love with this that I have blogged about, and maybe one day I will get it! I am excited about the black ceramic items, I already have the small cake plate and the black teapot. I would love the medium size black cake plate to do a little mix and matching with my martha cake stands. I have the round set and the square set. I love cake stands!

So how cute would these cake stands be with some cupcakes decorated with candy corn or halloween candies? So fun!

...Exclusive Events decor peek!

Check out a peek at some of what Exclusive Events did for our reception!

eye candy

I am making am effort to keep my personal laptop's desktop clean...a rather unruly task as I love to take screen shots as I pop around the net. While organizing my junk, I came across some rather fab "all things wedding" shots...check them out!

I wish I knew where I got this shot. Wedding heaven!

One bow...

Two bows...Three bows! Did you know I love bows? Wonder what my wedding cake will look like? Heh! ;)

charmed

I so love gray and yellow.

{etsy seller charmdesign}

Its only $29.50....hmmmm

sneak peek!

I have been so behind on all my favorite blogs.....I was popping around and was totally surprised and caught off guard to see this...

{Slice of Lime}

A sneak peek of our invitation suite courtesy of the fabulous Emily of Slice of Lime Design. So excited!!!

so very sweet indeed.

I have loved this dress for so long. The ruffles are just so fun and flirty!

{Melissa Sweet, Billie}

Now....when I saw this dress, my jaw dropped. all those little bows. oh my. so love.

{Melissa Sweet, Maddie}

sigh....tre fab.

{Sex and the City, Season Six}

I loved this scene. Not because Carrie was unhappy with Aleksandr Petrovsky in Paris...but for how beautiful she looks in her ruffle-y chiffon dress on the hotel bed. I so want a pic like this on my wedding day....but happy. :)

balloons...

I cannot imagine ever going to a party without there being balloons. When I was little, and well, to this day, have had a fear of balloons popping! I love balloons as long and no one intends to sit on them and make them pop. I know, it is silly! I have another one about birds, but that is for another post! ;)

So imagine you and your groom or your wedding party having balloons for pictures? I remember seeing the shots below by the fabulous Clary Pfeiffer and thinking how beautiful for wedding pictures.

{Clary Pfeiffer}

Imagine how excited I was when I was catching up on some blogs and I found this picture on All Things Lovely? This is the first picture that I have come across with a bride and groom and balloons! I am on a mission!

{All Things Lovely}

Share with me your pictures of brides, wedding party, engagement sessions...etc...with balloons! So very cool.

hair jewels

It is so difficult to find budget friendly hair baubles that do not look like pageant trash. Unfortunately I have expensive taste so all of the jewels that I am liking are too pricey. Alas, I will share some finds with you anyway, in hopes that one of my readers has found a fabulous site for a stylish budget minded bride? Anyone? Hmmm....here we go anyway...

If you have the budget...oh boy! Regina B has so many fabulous choices. Here a just a few:

Then we have Erica Koesler. I love this headband. There is something about its asymmetrical design and blingy goodness!
The headband below is also by Erica Koesler and is a stunner too!

I so love headbands for brides!

ring pillow...

I love visiting Etsy and looking for treasures. I found these lovelies while perusing the "pillow" section under the "Wedding" heading.

All pillows are from Etsy Seller EmiciBridal

{Tahitian Pearl Hand Beaded Ostrich Feather Rhinestone Wreath Ring Bearer Pillow}

{Vintage Silk Satin Damask Ring Pillow}

This is one of my favorites! So beautiful. I would like this design with a horizontal black ribbon around the middle of the pillow with the bow on top. seems like it would finish it more for my taste!

{Simple Ivory Sand Silk Pillow}
Gorgeous dupioni bow!

{Black and Ivory Silk Silver Leaf and Pearl}
Love this large black dupioni silk bow...

crystal tree decor...

{Cristalier}

I am not doing hardly any DIY wedding projects, however I am going to begin to take on some of it so I can save some dough.

The rehearsal dinner is at the gorgeous Spink Pavilion at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. We will be doing a cocktail/heavy apps party so there will not be a ton of tables for sit down. I think this is a perfect event to do some DIY centerpieces. I have been wanting to use chandelier crystals somewhere.....anywhere! I love them.

Enter crystal tree idea...

{Wild Things}

I love how the crystals hang from this tree! So cool that is it white, bendable (obviously fake manzanita), and comes potted...but it was too pricey for my project.

{Nettleton Hollow}

These manzanitas are so cool! They look like they are being blown by wind. They have such unique qualities to each branch. The hanging votives are so pretty.

{Flowers and Supplies}

This is a manzanita with its leaves...pretty.

{Nettleton Hollow}

Love, love, LOVE this tree. So cool in every way.

{Nettleton Hollow}

This is Mitsumata. Not as common for trees and Manzanita...or at least it is not as documented as much as manzanita. I ordered several bunches of this. Here are the advantages of this type of branch:
1. it is a bleached wood in creamy white color. so very elegant
2. it is cost effective for price and shipping....
3. it can do very cool things!

If you soak the branches, they suck up water like a sponge and then you can mold them however you like. Since they are very compact when shipped, it reduces the shipping cost. So my wheels start turning since I have chandelier crystals from the jewelry that I am making....and then I remembered that I have these!

{Illuminations}

I have seven hanging tealight holders that I purchased from Illuminations a VERY long time ago. I always wanted to hang them over a dining room table or somewhere but never have. So needless to say they have been packed up. There is a third style not shown that I got with these.

So here is the plan. One large display on the buffet table having the most crystals and hanging votives....also having flowers in some of the holders like little vases...on the rest of the sit-down tables, there will be less ornate arrangements on those tables. I really hope this works! I will post after I get the branches and create a sample!