Inspired Goodness

Chocolate Candy Favors

I saw a tutorial a while back on how to make chocolate candies using plastic molds and thought, "how easy!"  and, it really was!  My bridal shower is this weekend so I began making the chocolate favors this evening.

All you need are chocolate pieces, candy molds (I found mine on eBay for $2.50 and a local bakery), plastic baggies, and maybe some embellishments.  Here are a few photos of the process...

some of the chocolate in our wedding colors


mmm chocolate :)


melting the chocolate in a double boiler worked wonderfully!


yes, those are squirrel molds :)
yes, I ate the reject one on the bottom- perk of the job!


some of the finished product!

I can't show you how they look packaged yet...but I will post pictures after my shower.

Have a lovely week :)

Gold (Leaf) Accents

Found this great gold-leaf tutorial today via Free People's blog. 

Whether used for table numbers, place cards or to simply add a small bit of embellishment to your wedding decor, this idea can be used with great flexibility.

Used sparingly, an interesting graphic, font or hand-drawn illustration can help you impart a unique twist at your event.

For a full step-by-step how to, visit Poopscape Projects.

Easter Peeps

Since we don't technically celebrate Easter in my family, I don't have any amazing photos of a glistening ham or pix of us collecting eggs in the park...

But I think these DIY Homemade Marshmallow Peeps by Twig + Thistle would be just the project up my alley for an Easter celebration.

For the full recipe and step-by-step instructions, click here.

My labor of love

They have been sent.  My pride and joy over the past month has made its public appearance in a mailbox near you!  My invitations have finally been mailed, so now I can show you the set.

All materials were purchased at Paper-Source, eBay (for the gocco itself), Hobby-Lobby,  Envelope Mall, and Office Max.  I really wish I had a more appropriate breakdown of price for 164 invitation sets... but I will do my best:

From Paper-Source:

- 100 sheets of bulk cover weight MOSS paper $26.00
- 100 sheets of bulk cover weight CHOCOLATE paper $26.00
- 10 packs of cover weight LUXE FINO WHITE paper $51.70 (at the time I think I got 10% off)
- Various Gocco Inks and Screens
            - High Mesh Masters 5 pk- $15.85
            - Karacha ink $3.95
            - Matsuba ink $3.95
            - Avocado ink $3.95 (which is the green color seen throughout)
            - More inks, bulbs, and ink blotting from eBay- $50.48

From Hobby Lobby:

- 50 sheets of KRAFT paper $3.99 (which I also used for 150 escort card envelopes)

From Envelope Mall:

Although Paper-Source and I are BFF's, I liked the prices at Envelope Mall a litter better.  They have a great selection, the quality of the envelope was nice, and they delivered quickly!

-200 A9 Carnival Euro flap in COCO $43.90 (outer envelope)

- 200 A4 Carnival Euro  flap in COCO $30.50 (response envelope)

- 200 A7 Brown Bag Kraft $25.50 (inner envelope)

From Office Max:

- 2 packs (50) of Avery Full Page White Ink Jet Labels $24.00 (cut to size to address outer envelope)

Postage:

-180  .42 cent stamps for outer envelope $75.60 (B-A-R-E-L-Y made it @ .42 :)

-140 .42 cent stamps for response envelope $58.80 (I had some extras from a previous project)

*Total for invitation supplies (paper, envelopes, & labels )= $231.59

                                                                                            with postage=$365.99

                                             with gocco supplies (TONS leftover)=$444.17

My goal was to stay under $500--which I did-- if you don't count gocco materials, which I don't because I have tons of ink (I only finished off 1 tube of ink), ink blotting, bulbs, and screens left over (which I made the coasters, napkins, candy bags, and escort cards with)

Ok...Ok... ready to see them?  (important info has been blocked out... but I hope you get the idea!)

 

main invitation

                                        hotel information                                               reception card

response card + envelope

the WHOLE set :)

   

                         glue sticks work great for sealing                        the assembly line

 

before and after applying the address labels



ALL 164 beauties!!

Sneak Peek: Paper Projects

Author: Lindsay    
Our wedding is officially 2 months away.  It's been a VERY hectic household lately, especially trying to finish up all of my paper projects.

Here are a few photos of some of the things I have created using the Gocco, Paper-Source, Vista Print, and my own printer!

The invitations are set to go out in the mail this weekend, so I don't want to give anything away yet, but here are a few little projects that are taking over my home!

candy bags

one of three wishing jars (instead of a guest book)

Shower invitation set
Invitations from Paper Source
Labels made by me from full sheet Avery labels cut to size

a few candy jar labels


cheap and cute Bachelorette Party invitations from Vista Print!

 

DIY Derby Style

So excited to be able to share another amazing wedding story with you all from the latest issue of Vermont Vows. This one is inspired from by the Kentucky Derby and has loads of great visual ideas anyone can borrow from.

Here's a few DIY tips to help you replicate this look:

Love this dress by Watters  - the editors added in a few key details (super easy to replicate) with a simple addition of a chocolate velvet bow, striped grosgrain ribbon and snug riding jacket.

Etsy seller Just Something I Made makes similar ribbons that would tie in the look pinned to your wedding bouquet.

This theme really lends itself to a daytime wedding- keep your eye out for a local park area or country barn where you can take advantage of a beautiful summer backdrop.

To add authenticity to the decor, scavenge local garage sales for similar silver serving pieces and pickup yards of seersucker fabric in blue or red. Add a few dozen mason jars to the mix, allowing your guests to enjoy the signature cocktail in style.

Old trophies are perfect to hold monochromatic floral arangements and can be found in so many sizes and shapes at flea markets or on eBay.

And don't forget to keep your eye out for old horseshoes - attach them to each escort card with taffeta or grosgrain ribbon!

Special Thanks

Wanted to thank a few people for a helping out this week to make things so special. First, Amy from Birdhouse Jewelry sent me an adorable pair of her sparrow hoop earrings - I've been rocking these puppies all week! Make sure to check out her Etsy shop!

Next up, Lindsay, our great DIY-expert and all things crafty guest blogger for Tuesday's great post. Who thought that centerpieces made of crepe paper could be so simple and pretty. I love the color palette we're seeing for her projects - the green, white and brown feel so fresh and fun for her upcoming May nuptials.

Looney Wedding Jewelry compiled a Power 100 Wedding Blogs List using technical ratings, stats and page ranking software, and Inspired Goodness made #90.

And lastly (and a little bit overdue), I've wanted to thank a few fellow bloggers for recently posting about Inspired Goodness or adding us to their blog role. I've been noticing more and more traffic here and hope all the new people are enjoying what they find.

Special thanks to Emily of OnceWed, Vané of Brookyln Bride and Jen of Green Wedding Shoes. Here a few of my favorite recent posts from each:

  
photo by Jeff Newsom, Michelle + Josh's LA wedding featured on Green Wedding Shoes

Thing's I'm loving board posted by OnceWed

Brooklyn Bride's Favor Bag-DIY-How-to video featured at Etsy

DIY:Decor

 Author: Lindsay

As our wedding approaches and the DIY madness continues, I knew I couldn't stop with just our wedding decor, I had to extend some ideas to the bridal shower.  Although the shower will be held at a restaurant, I wanted to add a few DIY decorations keeping with our earthy, white, with wood elements color-palette.

First, I created some simple...and I mean simple... flower centerpieces that could be taken home.  In my experience, most women don't want to travel home with a vase full of water, which is why the branch was a lovely solution. I plan on keeping some for my home too.

Here they are arranged in a larger vase (for storage purposes!), but could easily be arranged that way.

close up of the flower

The branches will be places in a single white bulb vase from IKEA. 

The flowers are made from 1 roll of white crepe paper!  Cost me about .50 a roll.  Simply cut pieces about 4-5 inches long and roll while pinching the bottom.  I added a little bit of tape to the bottom, then hot glued them to the branches. Done and Done.

A few more projects-in-the-making include potted tulip favors (painted white) and the infamous Martha Stewart Tissue Paper pomanders turned into garland.

Follow Up:  Found some green JCrew shoes on Ebay!!  Brand new and for a great price!! Thanks to those who helped me in the search :)

DIY: Card Box

When I first laid eyes on the card boxes from Estilo Weddings, I fell in love with their simple modernness.  I knew I wanted one, but being a bride on a budget,  I set out to create my own using this photo as my inspiration:

Materials were pretty simple for this project.  All I had to go out and buy was a cardboard box of my chosen size.  I ended up picking one up at Michael's for around $6.00.  I had Martha Stewart paper, ribbon, Modge Podge, and hot glue lying around from various projects.

The first step was to measure the paper around the box.  Slap a coat of Modge Podge to apply it, as well as on top to finish it, and give it a glossy coat.  Continue this process on all sides.  Before you cover the lid, measure a pretty long slot and cut it out with an exact-o knife.  I made sure mine was pretty big just in case we receive some larger cards.  Finish applying the paper.  Let dry.

Next, I measured out my ribbon.  Cut, then apply a little hot glue.  When adding the ribbon to the lid, make sure it is aligned with the box ribbon (as you are gluing the ends to the inside of the box and underside of the lid).

you can see how I wrapped the paper and ribbon
around the edge into the inside of the box

I added a little decoration on top with ribbon by looping smaller pieces and hot gluing them.  I made a little ribbon flower and affixed a button in the middle as well.

I tested it with various sizes of cards.  It held up pretty nicely-- holding about 60-70.  Considering I invited 300 guests, that might be a problem...but for roughly $6.00 in extra costs, I am pretty happy with the results and could easily make another!

DIY Farewell Flags

Since our church does not allow us to "throw" anything after the ceremony, particularly things that would need to be cleaned up, I took some inspiration from Darling Dexter and decided to make fabric-farewell-flags.

It's a fairly easy process, yet my mom's extra set of hands really helped with the assembly line.  I measured strips, cut them into 6x5 inch rectangles (to allow for trimming the edges and gluing to the dowel), while my mom cut 3 out of 4 sides with pinking shears.

Here is what you will need (to make 100 flags...with quite a bit of extra fabric):

• Few yards of various fabric-  I purchased a 1/2 yard of 4 different fabrics @ $6.99 a yard
• scissors (I used a rotary cutter and pinking sheers to give it a zig-zag finished edge)
• ruler (I got a sweet discount on a cutting mat/rotary cutter/rule combo that day--which made cutting the strips a lot easier)
• package of dowels (4 packs of 25 at $1.99 a pack)
• hot glue (had in my craft stash)

How to:

Measure fabric to desired size. 
My squares were 6x5 so I cut a large strip, then into smaller rectangles

 
My mom used pinking shears to give it a finished edge (which also helped them not to fray).  She began by cutting all 4 sides but wised up as we realized one edge would hide when we glue them


A close up of the finished flag


Applying glue to the unfinished edge.

* Originally, I wanted to sew the edges and have the "right sides out" showing.
TOO MUCH WORK. 

Here is why I chose hot glue:

1. time efficient
2. Just as sturdy
3. I doubt my guests will marvel over these.  Even though I will be sad, I am sure many of these will be thrown away.  No one pays attention to detail like a bride-to-be at a wedding.  Thus, glued, unfinished sides.  Pick your battles :)


Apply glue to the fabric.  I tried applying the glue to the dowel and rolling it and I found that putting glue on the fabric allowed me to roll the dowel easier.  I rolled until the edge of the fabric was hidden.  You will get the hang of it.

 
One down, 99 to go!


100 -25 of each fabric- farewell flags!

         Price Breakdown

• fabric= $13.98
• dowels=$7.96
• glue= already had

Total for 100 flags= $21.94
(plus extra fabric I used for other projects)

When you wave the flags you can't even tell there is a "backside" to the fabric.

Adios-Ciao-Au Revoir!