Welcome the The Wedding Crafter’s tips and techniques section.
We will be covering a wide range of subjects to help you get the best results from making your own wedding stationery and favours. This section will be updated regularly, so do check back to see what's new, or subscribe to one of the feeds.
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Bead Magic
April 16th, 2008 by info - No Comments so far
You can create fabulous beaded embellishments like this with triple packs of bead and glitter.
Firstly cut or punch out the shape you want from Magic Sheets - double sided adhesive sheets. Remove the backing paper and stick to your card or favour box. For the next step you will need a shallow box like a shoe box lid to catch the excess beads and glitter.
Remove the protective layer from the magic sheet shape and start with the larger beads. Shake onto the sticky shape and press onto the adhesive. Once you have added the large beads to all your shapes, clear the excess out of the box and repeat with the micro beads. These will nearly fill the gaps.
Finally, repeat with the glitter which will ensure you have completely covered the adhesive and have a gorgeous sparkly beaded embellishment. Each pack will cover lots of shapes, so it is really cost-effective.
Magic sheets and glitter packs can be found in the Craft Essentials section of our shop.
Using Text Creatively
March 19th, 2008 by Rhiannon - No Comments so far
Text is an important part of making your own wedding invitations. Whether you decide to use your names or invitation wording on the front, there are a number of ways you can do this creatively using your computer.
The first step to creating any printing template is to set the size of the card you are printing on using the measurements of the closed card. In Microsoft Word go to File > Page Setup > Paper and either select one of the size options or add in the measurements manually. Next, in the same instructions box go to Margins > Pages and from the drop down menu select ‘2 pages per sheet’
Close this box and return to your document, press the enter key over and over until a second page appears. This is the card opened up with the front area to print on the right hand size. Check it against your chosen card size and change the Portrait/ Landscape option (File > Page Setup > Paper), if necessary so the screen mirrors your card. Add text as desired.
Creating Text in a Circle
Firstly you need to make sure your Word Art toolbar is visible, set this in View > Toolbars, and tick the Wordart option. Working on the second page of your document, click on the in the Wordart icon (a shadowed A) in the Wordart toolbar, select the second option available. In the text box that opens add the wording for the front of your card in the font and size you want. Once you click ok you will have a band of text across your page.
To change the shape of this text into a circle, click on the band of text once so the square bounding box appears. Now go to your Word Art toolbar and click on the abc icon Click on the diagram that looks like a hollow circle. Your text should now be in a circle and you can drag the corners to resize it. Play with how many times you repeat the text until you get an effect you are pleased with. This style of creative text works well with simple embellishing inside the circle of text.
Creating Square Border of Text
Creating a square border in Word is done differently but looks just as effective. This method will not auto space as with the circle but with a bit of persistence you can get stunning effects. On the second page of your document go to Table > Insert > Table and add a table three columns wide by three rows. Right click on the Table and go to Table Properties > Table > Borders & Shading. Change the table outline colour to white so it will not print. Align your table left right or centre then close this box. Using the cursor drag the lines of the table so that you have a large middle square, four small squares on the corners four and long, thin rectangles across each side. Type your text into the top and bottom rectangles as normal. Place the cursor in the side rectangles and type your text. Now change the text direction by going to Format > Text Direction and select the desired option. The text size will need to be adjusted manually so that it fits along the side of your square. This same method can make a rectangular template, just stretch it to fit.
Before printing any template do a test run on some copy paper cut to the size of your cards, this way if adjustments are needed you won’t have wasted any card blanks.
How to make a centre band
January 21st, 2008 by Rhiannon - No Comments so far
A centre band is a strip of card or paper (or you can use ribbon) wrapped round the middle of a card like a belt. It is made slightly loose round the card so it can be slid off to read the text beneath.
To make a centre band firstly you need to decide how wide you want your band to be. The easiest way to do this is to try it out experimenting with scrap or printer paper. Cut a strip anywhere between three and ten centimetres wide, wrap this round your base card then trim it to the right length leaving an overlap of a couple of centimetres. Make several bands in this way so you can decide what width suits your invitation size and design best. Once you have settled on a size you use it as a template for your chosen decorative paper or card.
Attaching the two ends of the same strip of paper together is what creates your band. To adhere these ends use double sided tape or a tape runner and place the adhesive as close to the edge as possible of one end of the strip. Remove the backing if necessary and wrap round your base card, attaching the two ends at the back. Ensure the band is not sealed too snugly, that any extra overlap is trimmed and that the band is attached only to itself and not the base card.
What if my band isn’t long enough?
You may find a strip cut from the long side of an A4 sheet is not long enough to wrap round your card. In this case you will need to attach two or more strips together. Firstly cut the strips of paper making sure they are exactly the same width. Place your adhesive over the end of the strip ensuring it is very close to the edges and attach the end of the second strip onto the sticky area. If there is a pattern, make sure both patterns face the same way. Once your strip is long enough to wrap round, form it into your band as above and trim any excess if necessary. If you are making a band to wrap an A4 card landscape you will need three strips cut from the longest side of your paper to make one strip long enough. Pay particular attention to the joins if you are using this size as they will be on the front of the card as well as the back.
Decorating your band
Now all that remains is to embellish your band as you wish. They can be left plain but a simple flower, heart or a few gems can really add to the design. Remember to keep the off cuts of any paper or card that are left over, you can use larger pieces later to decorate menus and tiny strips will finish your place cards and coordinate perfectly.
What other items can I craft for my wedding?
January 11th, 2008 by Rhiannon - No Comments so far
As you are making your own invitations for your big day there are several other items you may want to think about crafting. First is a Save the Date, which is sent out well in advance to allow your guests to plan ahead. Usually a single flat card with basic details on, it can be in the style of your invitations or something completely different. Remember to keep a list of everyone who you have sent a Save the Date to as they will expect to be invited after being asked to keep the date free!
We have projects for favours and also for an Order of Service or Order of the Day, adapt these designs to suit your colours and theme, keeping to similar items as used in your invitations for a cohesive finish.
RSVP cards can be included with the invitations and are a useful way of reminding your guests to reply. They can be very simple, just a panel of text layered on card or paper that matches your invitation colours or you may wish to embellish them.
Menus are sometimes sent out in advance if you are allowing your guests a choice. In this case you may wish to make them yourself in a style which complements the rest of your wedding stationery and ask people to detail their choices on the RSVP.
If you have set dishes you may wish to have Menus on the tables, allow approximately one menu for 8 people. In order to make a freestanding Menu, fold a piece of A4 card in three and attach the edges together to make a triangular stand, add a printed panel to each side and embellish. Alternatively your venue may provide holders in which case borrow one and make them to fit.
A Table Plan it is extremely helpful for your guests to easily find out where they are sitting and you will find full instructions in the Projects section. Adapt the design to suit your style and theme, changing the colours and embellishments as you wish to match your invitations. If your venue has more than one wedding reception on the same day you may also wish to make signs with your names on, again in the same colours and style so your guests know where to go.
Table numbers can be made simply by printing onto card and decorating, your venue may have holders but check. Place cards will tell each guest exactly where their seat is and are normally small rectangles of card tent folded so they stand up on their own. Names can be computer printed or handwritten and an embellishment or a small piece of decorative paper from your original design is all they need to be very stylish and finish off your beautifully set tables.
Finally, Thank You cards are very important, adjust the text on your invitation design and you will have a perfectly coordinated card to show your gratitude. Remember to make extras for unexpected gifts given by people who aren’t necessarily coming to the wedding.
How do I keep craft punches sharp and stop them sticking?
January 4th, 2008 by Rhiannon - No Comments so far
As a first step in reviving a blunt punch I would recommend punching through normal kitchen tinfoil, always try this first, and do it several times if necessary. If this is not sufficient then try punching through very fine sandpaper. It is important it is very fine as larger pieces of grit will scratch the cutting mechanisms rather than sharpen them.
If you find your punch sticking, try punching through wax paper, the kind you would use for baking. If you don’t have wax paper you can make your own; take a candle, rub it over a sheet of standard copy paper and punch through this. The wax will allow the plates to glide past each other effortlessly.
For best results sharpen or wax your punches as soon as you notice they have blunted or are sticking.