Got Bridesmaids?

To all my newly engaged Facebook friends out there {congrats!}, you might appreciate this post!  I totally stole this idea off the internet and ran with it (I at least put my own spin on it).

Bryan proposed to me in Kansas, so technically I could have asked each bridesmaid face-to-face then to stand next to me on my big day...but, being just engaged, we weren't sure how many we were going to have in our wedding party.  Once we returned to Florida and got the wedding plans rolling, I didn't want to just call my bridesmaids and ask them over the phone, not that there is anything wrong with that, I just wanted to do something different.

So this is what I came up with:  Bridesmaid Survival Kits.  They were relatively inexpensive (...if you don't have six bridesmaids).  You can buy them online already assembled from different retailers for $16-20 a piece, but I opted to make my own, it was much more fun.  I bought a makeup bag at Target (they have cute ones on the travel aisle for $1) and added the following: 
mini bottle of liquor (let's face it, my 'maids will need it)
chocolate (proven stress reliever)
travel sewing kit (for any last minute rips-WalMart has them for cheap)
bobby pins (JoAnn's Craft Store had a package of 6 pearl embellished pins for $2.99)
Kleenexs
compact mirror (check the $1 bins at Ulta @ Christmas)
Band-Aids
Shout Wipes
nail files

Using Adobe InDesign I created the survival kit labels and the card that read (I stole this off the internet too):

"Roses are red, violets are blue, will you be my bridesmaid?  Please say 'I do'."

I cut slits on the survival kit labels, strung pink ribbon through, and tied it to the makeup bag filled with the survival goodies.  I wrapped the bags up in pink tissue paper sealed with a wedding sticker, tacked the card on top, and shipped them off to each 'maid!  The only variation was the Maid of Honor's kit, which obviously said "Maid of Honor" instead of "Bridesmaid", and I couldn't resist sending her a copy of "My Best Friend's Wedding" on DVD!

Feel free to steal the idea, it's not like it was my original!  I'd be happy to email you the label and cards I designed, just ask!

Here's how they turned out:

Got two minutes and five bucks? Let's make some earrings!

Several people have asked me how I make the earrings I sell on Etsy.  I heard Bryan once tell his brother (why they were talking about this, I have no idea) that I sit around glueing beads together.  Oh how you all would be so much more impressed with me if that were the case...but it is not. 

So, let's get this blog kicked off with a bang (so you come back), as I let you in a simple secret that involves two words:  buttons and brads.

That's right, it is as simple as that.  All you need are buttons (the ones with the shanks on the back) or brads,  a hot glue gun, flush cutters (you can find these with the jewelry making tools), and earring posts.  All of this is available at your local craft store.  JoAnn's is a large fabric store chain that carries buttons galore.  If you aren't near a fabric store, hit up your local craft store, you should be able to find plenty of fun brads in the scrapbook department.

To get started, use the flush cutters to cut off the back of the buttons or brads and hot glue them to the earring post.  In less than two minutes and five bucks, you have some fun new bling.

These were made out of brads.  Total cost:  less than $1

These are my faves made out of buttons.  These buttons are rather pricey (for buttons...most buttons range between $1-3 for a pair) at $5 ($2.50 if you take advantage of 50% off coupons!).  You'd pay at least $12 for these retail.  Great for a Jags game Jacksonville girls!

Once you have all your tools, all you need is a creative eye!  Start looking at brads and buttons, not just as scrapbook embellishments and clothing accessories, but as earrings!

Need more ideas...or new bling (but don't want to make it yourself)?  Visit my Etsy shop at:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/emoryclaire
Until next time fashionistas...