Hello folks,
It’s DIY day on Pocketful of Dreams and today I wanted to share a really cute project with you that has been featured by the lovely Annabel Beeforth over at Love My Dress.
If you’d like to know how-to make one of these yourself then head on over to Love My Dress now for the full feature.
The lovely photography you see here is by the brilliant Katy Lunsford, a North-West based Wedding Photographer. See more of Katy’s work here.
Happy crafting folks.
Michelle xx
Hello folks,
Today I am joined by a very special guest Jay Archer Floral Design, who provides a bespoke wedding and special event floral design service across the South.
Jay’s floral style is very relaxed and natural and you will often find her using pretty, nostalgic blooms combined with home grown sweet peas, sunflowers, grasses and herbs as well as other seasonal delights.Varying herbs, fruit, vegetables, wild and unusual flowers feature heavily in her work reflecting a different and unique take on floral design.
From floral favours to blooming-full statement pieces Jay Archer Floral Design offers a quirky and unique style that I really love. So today folks I am super-excited to share with you a little DIY tutorial as Jay shows us how to make a rose and herb buttonhole for your big day.
DIY is something that so many people like to have a try at for their big day, but I have to stress, doing your own flowers can be both time-consuming and stressful. It is often better to leave things like this to the professionals as they understand the intricacies of delicate blooms, how to keep them fresh and beautiful all day long. On the flipside, not everyone has an endless budget and some things just have to give, so I hope these DIY ideas I bring to you help in some small way.
My advice is this: if you want to DIY the flowers on your wedding day, rope in a few friends to help you and don’t try to tackle everything yourself, maybe mix it up with a florist doing some of the more detailed arrangements and you handling the smaller pieces. Perhaps these buttonholes would be a good one to DIY, it’s quite a personal thing to know the flowers sitting on your grooms lapel (just above his heart) were crafted by your own fair hands.
Over to you Jay…..
“Buttonholes. A wedding wouldn’t be complete without them! In this simple, step-by-step tutorial I show you how to make a traditional buttonhole with a single rose and foliage. If you want something a bit different, you could consider using a cluster of smaller flowers or maybe use all herbs? I like to add an additional flower to the grooms buttonhole to make it extra special and traditionally it is worn on the left hand side, over the heart.
Each component of a buttonhole needs to be wired to ensure the freshness and flexibility of the individual flowers and enables you to position the leaves as necessary. Wiring also makes the overall piece lighter in weight and helps the buttonhole sit easier on the jacket. You’ll need to make the buttonhole on the morning of the wedding to ensure freshness.
Take your rose and with sharp florist scissors, cut the stem to around 3cm long at an angle. Take a thick piece of the wire and push up through the stem until you feel it push through the tough base of the flower head. Take another piece of thick wire and push this horizontally across the stem directly underneath the base of the flower and pull across. Pull one ‘leg’ down alongside the stem and with the other, twist it around the stem and pull down (picture 4). Take the tape and starting from the top, beneath the flower head, stretch and wind this round the stems, covering them all to become one complete stem (picture 5). If using more than one flower, repeat this process.
Take your mix of foliage and cut to around 7cm lengths and strip about 2-3cm of the foliage off the bottom of the stems. Position a length of fine wire horizontally across the stem below where the foliage starts and pull one leg down. With the other, twist this around the stem and repeat the taping process, as above, ensuring everything is secured tightly in place and all exposed wires are covered.
The film that you have wrapped each stem in will be slightly tacky and will allow the stems to stick together as you position them. Taking your main rose or flower, position the pieces of foliage, other flowers and berries around it. I tend to put a piece at the back, then small clusters in front and to the side, on one side. One you’re happy with the stem positions cut all the stems to the same length, again at an angle, with your wire cutters and tape them all together. Take extra care to ensure the wires are all covered as you don’t want any snags!
Your buttonhole is almost complete. Just before pinning into position, gently push the rose head forward so it sits better on the jacket and you see more of the head, not the side. You’ll also be able to gently tease the leaves into place. Et voila- your buttonhole is finished!
Thanks so much to Jay, it’s really interesting to see how these are made, and as you can see there’s a lot of time, care and attention put into them. But don’t they look beautiful? I’d love to see more buttonholes appearing at special events, not just weddings, adorning yourself with flowers is such a treat why not do it as often as possible?
You can find out more about Jay Archer Floral Design by visiting the website, blog and following all the action on twitter and facebook.
As always we’d love your feedback ~ Will you be making your own buttonholes? Do you like this kind of tutorial? What other DIY flowers would you like to see us tackling next?
Michelle xx
You know I love a little crafty project right? Well this one could not be simpler, and aren’t they always the best ones?
I actually created these metal stemmed cocktail glasses for a recent photoshoot that I styled, after being inspired by so many beautiful glassware collections featuring a hammered metal effect.
It’s a rather subtle and simple idea but one that is oozing with style and sophistication. And you don’t need to stop with glasses, you can use apply this technique to any manner of household item from vases to candlesticks.
Now fill those glasses with delicious cocktails and invite your best girls round for giggles and gossip.
I do hope you’ve enjoyed another of my homemade DIY projects, I really do love getting crafty and will be bringing you lots more of these very soon.
I would also love to hear your suggestions for things you’d like to see me make in the future, be it something for your home, wedding or simply for entertaining. And of course if you give this one a go, please do drop by and share the results of your efforts.
Michelle xx
I do love clever little ideas, and when they involve something as easy and simple as eggs well they get me rather excited. There’s a whole host of ideas here to keep you and those little ones busy over Easter, from decorating eggs to filling them with flowers.
Michelle xx
Have you ever wanted to make your own vintage-inspired headpiece but dont have a clue where to even begin?
Well my lovelies I have just the thing for you, my uber-creative friend Nicola, who creates some wonderful headpieces for Silver Sixpence in Her Shoe has just launched her “Made by You” home kits to help you do just that.
The “Made By You” home kits cater for all levels of sewers. From those of you who learnt your tips and tricks from your Nanas, to those of you who experience utter frustration when trying to thread a needle, we’ve all been there!
Each pretty pot is individually made using an array of vintage fabrics in different colour ways and textures. Each home-kit also contains a selection of hand-picked gems that you can use to glam up your head piece.
The kit itself can be purchased for £15 plus p&P from the Silver Sixpence online Etsy shop, or if you are around the Manchester area why not pop into the fantastic cake shop and tea room And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon in West Didsbury and pick one up in person, as well as a huge slab of delicious cake….well it’d be rude not to!.
Here is the Silver Sixpence 10-step guide to creating your own vintage-inspired headpiece at home:
Inside your pretty “Made by You” home kit you will find:
{Step 1} Pop open your pot.
{Step 2} Arrange your pretty pieces and think about what you are looking to create.
*Secret Tip* The key to making your headpiece look really professional is to layer your fabrics on top of one another. To hide any stitching, make sure you sew as tightly as possible, knot off your threads and trim any loose ends.
{Step 3} Position your croc clip on the back of the sinamay base and sew securely as demonstrated below from back to front of the base. This is so all stitching will be hidden on the inside. Knot securely.
{Step 4} Decorating your design! Here are a few suggestions to inspire you. You can bow or gather your Russian veiling as shown! This is a really simple but really effective idea to add height to your headpiece
{Step 5} To make a cute bow from your pre-cut fabrics, fold inwards, pinch in the middle and secure by sewing. Easy peasy!
{Step 6} If your kit contains a spikey goose feather, try curling it into circular shape as demonstrated in the picture below. Wrap with a piece of thread at the base and knot tightly to secure.
{Step 7} Another interesting way to play with feathers is to layer them on top of each other to create texture.
{Step 8} Take your pre-made bow and play about with positioning it on your base. I find they always look best when arranged at an angle or at least off-centre
{Step 9} Button/Jewels/Gems – all the really gorgeous bits for you magpies out there!
The next few images show a variation on how to use your embellishments. Use them to make the headpiece really personal to you!
*Secret Tip* If your kit contains any old vintage earrings with the backs removed, you will need to sew through the holes on the back of these as shown.
{Step 10} Finishing touches: When decorating your headpiece with tiny beads or sequins be really careful when using fabric glue. A good tip is to try using an ear bud to apply the glue.
Finally…Apply your favourite lipstick, style your hair and start wearing your “Made By You” headpiece! Don’t forget to post a pic on the Silver Sixpence facebook page.
We can’t wait to see what you’ve all created!
Nicola ~ Silver Sixpence In Her Shoe
This lovely photography you see here is by the brilliant Katy Lunsford, a North-West based Wedding Photographer. See more of Katy’s work here.
Hello Everyone,
As regular visitors to Pocketful of Dreams will know I am a lover of all things crafty and creative. I’m one of those really geeky kinds who has a thing for glue guns, spray paint and sticky back plastic.
I blame all those years of watching Blue Peter and Rolf Harris….”can you tell what it is yet?”
So I do love it when someone else shares my geeky obsession, makes me feel less geek, more chic. The lady in question is Chloe from crafty wedding blog Adore who has created this super-duper and really rather easy DIY ribbon frame, perfect for adding pretty to your guest book table or a cute idea for an alternative table plan. Over to Chloe…..
“Hoorah for guest posting, it’s a pleasure to be talking to a lovely new group of blog lovers on Pocketful of Dreams!
I swapped corporate life for developing my business last year and now fill my days with blogging, making things, writing for magazines and running local craft parties. I’m telling you this to set the scene as to why the arrival of a mini glue gun last week got me doing a little happy dance.
Honestly, how I have I survived this long without one?! Now frankly it’s any excuse to get it out so I have a little project to share – a DIY ribbon frame, perfect for providing a pretty backdrop to a dessert or guest book table:
To make it you will need an empty frame, a glue gun, fabric scissors and lengths of ribbon…
Start by laying your frame face down and measuring the height with a length of ribbon
Cut different colour and textures of ribbon to the same length until you have enough to fill your frame…
Now start gluing! Apply the glue to frame and stick down the end of the ribbon. Pull tightly to the opposite side and glue in position again.
Repeat until you’ve filled the frame, leaving a small gap in between each ribbon
Tidy up by snipping off any excess ribbon
And you’re done! Just prop up at the back of your table to add some pretty to your guest book area…
You could even make a big one to use as a photo booth backdrop? I use mine when I’m exhibiting at wedding or craft fairs but in between it adds some lovely colour to my office 
Thanks so much to Michelle for having me over to guest blog and I hope to chat with you on Adore (and/or twitter) soon!
Happy crafting,
Chloe x
This week I am having a little bit of a love affair with all things ruffled. As I am actually busy crafting and creating some very special items for a photoshoot for this weekend, and yes there may just be a few ruffles making an appearance.
I really love how fabric ruffles can soften up a look adding a pretty, romantic and almost whimsical vibe to it.
Here’s my pick of the best DIY projects for you to achieve this look at home….
Image credit and tutorial: Ruffles and Stuff
Image credit and tutorial: 100 layer cake
Image credit and tutorial: Once Wed
Image credit and tutorial: Love Meagan
Are you a lover of ruffles too?
Michelle xx
I am so thrilled to say another one of my craft projects has appeared on Love My Dress blog recently.
For those who missed it, it’s one I had been dying to put together as I have seen so many fab projects using paint swatches to create something really distinctive and pretty. So I was determined to one day make something using these little beauties.
I came up with the idea of using paint swatches and a butterfly hole punch to create a really pretty ombre colour effect, using the butterfly’s to decorate a gift box.
This idea is perfect for favour boxes or to give out your cupcakes or a slice of wedding cake to your guests in. They could also be a creative little birthday gift box for your loved ones too.
For the step-by-step instructions on making these butterfly gift boxes please hop on over to the post on Love My Dress blog where you will find all the information you need to recreate these boxes yourself, as well as a few more lovely pictures.
Special thanks goes to North West Wedding Photographer Katy Lunsford for taking the beautiful photographs.
So are you a DIY bride? Are you planning any craft projects yourself, do you have something in mind that you’d love to make but just don’t know where to start? I would love to hear from you, I am currently planning lots more projects and if I can help out a reader with their own wedding day plans then that would be just fabulous. SO get commenting below and tell me what you’d like to see me make next.
Michelle xx
Image credit: North West Wedding Photographer Katy Lunsford
Today I wanted to share with you a craft project I recently tried out. I had been looking for something a little bit quirky and original for my home office, which with a skylight as it’s only window can sometimes feel a little dark and closed off from the world.
I wanted something that would not only look pretty but also add some shine and sparkle to the room. Two ingredients I think are key to life. I also wanted to artwork to represent me and Pocketful of Dreams in some way, Pocketful of Dreams is my blog but also my wedding planning business. It’s all about celebrating Love so what better way to represent this than to create a Love in Lights canvas?
Image credit: North West Wedding Photographer Katy Lunsford
The idea behind it is also something I feel would be perfect at a wedding or other event, especially if you have an expansive blank wall to fill or need to add light and texture to a dark corner.
Image credit: North West Wedding Photographer Katy Lunsford
{one} To make the Love in Lights canvas was quite simple, first I printed out the letters L, O, V and E onto pieces of white card (one letter per sheet of A4) and cut them out to use as a template. I used quite a plain bold font to make it easier. Something like Arial or Helvetica Bold should do the trick.
{two} Then I placed the letters on my canvas and drew around them with a pencil.
{three} Using the punching tool (you can use anything really for this, as long as it has a sharp end and isn’t too wide) I began to punch holes around where I had marked on the letter shapes in pencil. This gave me an outline to follow. Then I punched a few more holes in the centre of each letter, just randomly and not too neat. I also made sure I matched the number of holes to the number of lights on the string.
{four} Once all the holes were in place I then painted the canvas with the purple acrylic, I wanted quite a textural feel so I also mixed a little of the silver acrylic over the purple so it looked faded in parts, keeping the outside edges quite dark. As well as painting a little silver acrylic inside the letters to give the light something to bounce off.
{five} Once the paint had dried I began pushing the lights through the holes from the back of the canvas, securing in place with masking tape.
You can of course match this to any colour scheme by choosing paint to match, I would say even household paint would work here and you will find so much more colour choice too. The secret is in having enough light, so make sure you pick fairy lights that have 100 or more bulbs on them. Finally if you are going to display this somewhere then bear in mind that you will also have a trailing wire to plug-in, mine isn’t hanging in a wall but resting on top of a sideboard so the wire can hang down the back.
Image credit: North West Wedding Photographer Katy Lunsford
How about this idea for a really simple way to add colour to your wedding table as well as guide your guests to their seats.
These butterfly place cards slide between the fingers of a fork creating a 3D effect and reducing the need for place card holders, great if space is at a premium on your tables.
Perfectly simple and all you need is a butterfly template (my tip would be to search google images for butterfly clip art) and some coloured card, then you just need to print it out and get cutting.
Alternatively you can buy butterfly shaped hole punches which should do the trick and save on painstaking and intricate cutting.
Michelle xx
Image via: Trouwplaza
