delovely d.i.y.: pinwheels

There are so many cute and fun ways to incorporate d.i.y. pinwheels into your special day. Whether they are adorning your cake, sprucing up your bridesmaids' bouquets, or acting as a boutineer for the guys, these nostalgic novelties can be created is any color and size, and are sure to bring a smile to everybody's face.
















D.I.Y Instructions via Ruffled.

What you’ll need:
  • Origami paper (4.5 x4.5 inches)
  • Buttons or pins for middle of pinwheel
  • Pin backings or wooden dowels for back of pinwheel
  • Cutting mat
  • X-acto or snap blade
  • Ruler
  • PVA glue or E6000 glue
  • Needle and thread
  • Optional: heavy duty paper awl, bookbinding needle and thread (instead of other needle and thread)
(All supplies are readily available in most arts and crafts stores and/or fabric stores)



Instructions:

Step 1: Measure the origami paper across the diagonal and mark the center point. From about a 1” radius from the center mark, cut along the diagonal to each corner. Dab some PVA glue on the center mark and fold in one of the eight bisected corner sections, so that the point is about a half inch beyond the center of the paper. With a dab of PVA glue between each layer, fold down alternating corner sections (should look like a pinwheel at this point).

Step 2: There are various was to sew the button on to the pinwheel, but here’s how I did it, which minimizes slack in the thread holding the button: Use the paper awl to puncture two holes in the center of the pinwheel (Note: awls make good sized holes, so be sure to space your holes far enough apart to not have them perforate into each other, but not wider than the diameter of the button you are using). Double-knot the end of your book binding thread. From the back of the pinwheel, stitch through the button and back out, gently pulling taut. Since bookbinding thread is nice and thick, sew through the thread, just under the double-knot, and gently pull taut (you should now have a flat bit of thread between the two holes). Tie a knot by looping under the flat bit between the holes, and, before pulling taut, loop back through the slack left on the other side of the flat bit. Trim any excess thread.

Step 3: Put a healthy dollop of E6000 glue on the back of the pinwheel over the knotted area. Lay a clean pin backing or wooden dowel, and gently press into place. Let dry (face down) for at least an hour.

Images via: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/13/14/15/16/17/18.

delovely d.i.y.: fabric hoops

These fun and simple fabric hoops make us swoon. How lovely these would be hanging from a reception hall ceiling, acting as a backdrop for the dessert table, or sprucing up a bare wall.











Supplies:
  • Hoops, different sizes (6"-24")
  • Multiple cotton fabrics, at least 1/2 yard of each
  • Scissors
  • Fishing line or ribbon (for hanging and/or accent)
Instructions:
  • Unscrew embroidery hoops into two separate pieces and lay the bottom hoop (the one without the tightener on it) on the table.
  • Lay fabric over bottom hoop, positioning it to maximize fabric and pull as flat across as you can.
  • Push top hoop over bottom hoop to sandwich the fabric, and the fabric should pull tighter as you do this.
  • Pull fabric taut as you tightener the hoops together.
  • Embellish with ribbon at the fastener and suspend at desired height with fishing line or ribbon!
Images via 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11. Instructions via.

delovely d.i.y: tasty favors

Wedding favors can be, well, a little lame. Face it. We all receive something at a wedding that we inevitably toss. One thing that will never go to waste, though, is food. Food favors come in limitless forms, and most are great d.i.y. projects so you can be creative and stay within your budget. Who wouldn't want to eat a cupcake-in-a-jar after a night of drinking and dancing?! We've found some of our favorite food favors - what are yours?

Jam or jelly
Green beans or pickled veggies
Cupcake in a jar
Cherry pie in a jar
Make your own s'mores kit
Fill your own bag with cookies and/or candy
Mini pies
Lemon curd
Olive oil
Honey jars


Images via: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10