{Thrifty Thursday} Recycled Jars for Centerpieces & Decor

Today's thrift - Recycled Jars for Centerpieces and Decor - is inspired for my own personal search to cheap, chic centerpiece and decor options that were also all about reusing and recycling.  My goal: hunt for as many glass jars as possible, didn't matter the size, the shape, the height. I even went so far as to buy glass jarred items at the store, force my husband to be to eat them and then carefully wash and store my precious finds. I had my family, friends, co-workers scouring their fridges, recycling bins, the pantries for jars, jars, and more jars...pickle jars, peanut butter jars, those round, fat jam jars, Mason jars.  Fruit jars? We got 'em and Mr. deLovely will never eat fruit from a jar again.  Our house was over flowing with jars but the visual is so worth it!

Here are some fab inspiration photos for you here on Thrifty Thursday where we encourage all things Thrift! Recycling and reusing is great practical wedding planning; going green for your wedding is good for your wallet and the world. 

Veil Tales

I can spot a peanut butter jar a mile away.  This bride spent an entire year collecting one hundred jars!

Bravo Bride

Check out thrift stores and yard sales for old vases; they work just as well and can add a whole other layer of texture and dimension.

Elizabeth Ann Designs

I love LOVE this next picture with all the old medicine bottles and slightly colored glass....ok I admit is, I am a bottle-aholic and the only reason I wrote this post was to look at beautiful glass legally.

Hiking In Stilettos

Seriously one of my all time favorite uses of old recycled bottles - a modern retro Coca-Cola inspired wedding theme...BRILLIANT!  Of course, I'm smitten with the blue and red color palette, which I chose for my wedding.

Elizabeth Ann Designs 

I think yellow billy balls are the cutest flower ever! They work so well in any wedding setting.

Ruffed Blog

Last one - Enjoy your search, nothing is out of bounds on this Thrifty Thursday, think beyond what you see and into what can be...wow just made that up....super cool!

The Knot

You may have to start your search early in order to gather enough...this is not a new concept but done right, it never goes out of style.  Let the search begin!

Are you considering a multi bottle centerpiece? Let's us know, we'd love to show it off here on de Lovely Affair! Check out our collection of awesome recycled bottles on PINTEREST. Would you kindly follow us as well?

Have a deLightful day,

{Thrifty Thursday} Fun Stuff Round Up | Giveaways | Freebies

I thought it might be nice to do a {Thrifty Thursday} Fun Stuff Round Up, Giveaways, Freebies post, you know a whole lot of the good stuff in one post. So here you go, enjoy!

First off, Wine Wings...the name may sound funny but the product is amazingly cool.  Wine on Deck, the custom creator, is offing deLovely Affair readers 10% off these stylish, and visually interesting wine bottle holders. They are hand-crafted from exquisite wood harvested in healthy forests and make great bridal party or family gifts. Mention us and Isaac will hook you right up! 


Thanks to Broke Ass Bride for the following hot tips!

Well now, hey, this could be fun! Martha Stewart Weddings has put together something slightly original - the Martha Stewart Weddings Online Luxury Expo! A bridal show from the couch and in your weekend clothes? Unheard of, until now! You could even go in your PJs. On March 12th and 13th, from 11 - 4 p.m. EST, chat with MSW editors, as well as Martha-approved experts on all things wedding related! This 2 day online event is absolutely FREE, so register now! 

HELLO jewelry....How do I love thee?  I love you best when you are free! Lucky us, Erin Gallagher out of Chicago is giving away $500 in free baubles to a lucky winner. Get info here.  Remember to LIKE her on FACEBOOK and while you're at it LIKE de Lovely Affair too...shameless plug.

Crate & Barrel's the wedding registry happy company is holding THE ULTIMATE WEDDING contest! One lucky couple will win a lavish dream wedding valued at $100,000, designed by star wedding planner Yifat Oren. Engaged couples with a C&B registry are eligible to enter! It's easy to a create a profile and fill it with fun photos, stories, and sweet declarations of love. Then send out the link to EVERYONE you know and encourage them to vote for YOU! For all the details, click here! 

For the crafty folk among us, Do-It-Yourself-Invitations.com is hosting a DIY wedding invitations contest! Three winners will score some sweet wedding goodies from a few choice Etsy vendors! For more info, click here! 


Have a deLicious day! Enjoy the good stuff!

Papel Picado Wedding Invitation - DIY Style

In continuation of our Mexican Wedding inspiration week, here is a super cool project for the creatively inclined....a Papel Picado Invitation I found on Once Wed.  Literally meaning 'punched' or 'perforated' paper, papel picado is a traditional cut paper folk art found throughout Mexico and the former colonies of Spain as well as in the folk traditions of many other countries. 

The invitation DIY project shown here happens to be for a rehearsal dinner/fiesta but I think you could probably use and embellish this idea for any wedding related event needing an invitation. This project is fun, super easy and makes a big impression for the relative ease of construction. So gather your ladies together and spend a day putting these beauties together.

DIY Papel Picado Invitation Project

For this project, you will need:

- 4-Bar flat note cards - Paper Source is a great place to purchase the 4 Bar note cards or any size you need for that matter. They are my personal favorite and got me through my own wedding!  You can also cut 4-bar sized cards out of regular letter sheet.  

- Scissors

- Glue stick

- Mini papel picado banners: You can purchase mini banners here. The mini banners typically have 10 sheets. This project calls for 5 per invitation. Another more economical option although time consuming is to actually make your own. Here is a helpful instruction guide and cutting template.

- 4-Bar vellum envelopes

After printing your note card, begin assembling the invitations themselves. If you choose to use these banners, which are ten per strand, simply cut the banners in half, allowing for 5 tissue sheets for each invitation.  Next, place a small line of glue on the same area as the string on the first piece of tissue on the papel picado banner.  Center this piece on the notecards and glue into place.  Repeat for the last piece of your cut banner.

And Voila! Wait, that is French...anyway fold together, one flag on top of another, arranging the two notecards as if it were a bi-fold invitation. Slip in your vellum envelope and mail off the fun!

Project by Denise Mieko Cherry


Have a deLicious Day!

{Thrifty Thursday} Recycled Centerpieces and Decor...Got Trash or Treasure?

Today's Thrift - Recycled Jars for Centerpieces and Decor - is inspired for my own personal search to cheap, chic centerpiece and decor options that were also all about reusing and recycling.  And so began my hunt to find as many glass jars as possible, didn't matter the size, the shape, the height. I even went so far as to buy glass jarred items at the store, force my husband to be to eat them and then carefully wash and store my precious finds. I had my family, friends, co-workers scouring their fridges, recycling bins, the pantries for jars, jars, and more jars...pickle jars, peanut butter jars, those round, fat jam jars, Mason jars.  Fruit jars? We got 'em and Mr. deLovely will never eat fruit from a jar again.  Our house was over flowing with jars but the visual is so worth it!

All the de Lovely inspirations for Thrifty Thursday!

Veil Tales

I can spot a peanut butter jar a mile away.  This bride spent an entire year collecting one hundred jars!

Bravo Bride

Check out thrift stores and yard sales for old vases; they work just as well and can add a whole other layer of texture and dimension.

Elizabeth Ann Designs

I love LOVE this next picture with all the old medicine bottles and slightly colored glass....ok I admit is, I am a bottle-aholic and the only reason I wrote this post was to look at beautiful glass legally.

Hiking In Stilettos

Last one - Enjoy your search, nothing is out of bounds on this Thrifty Thursday, think beyond what you see and into what can be...wow just made that up....super cool!

The Knot

You may have to start your search early in order to gather enough...this is not a new concepts but done right, it never goes out of style.  Let the search begin!

{Thrifty Thursday} She Who Wears Flowers in Her Hair

For my wedding, I purchased baskets full of faux flowers thinking I might use them to embellish the wedding in some way, maybe the wedding arch in the arbor - which actually was completely covered with grape leaves, signs around the grounds - only had time to create one, the poles in the tent at the Commander's Mansion - there was way too much color going on after we were done, so not needed. Now I have a whole plastic tub full of $1 a stem flowers and nothing to do with them.  

Except I have now decided to wear them in my hair! I started wearing the extra broken off stems from our centerpieces making during my wedding weekend, cause I couldn't bear the thought of them going to waste, even though we bought a hundred from Global Rose.  It continued though my wedding, I wrote fuchsia orchids similar to Mr. J's bout. I instantly fell in love with how the bright, vivid colors spruced up my dark hair, made my appearance come to life, made me feel a little more put together, like a great pair of earrings.  I have a little flower vase in my bathroom with a full spectrum of colors and styles from which to choose on any given day. Sort of like dress up. The look smacks of fancy Spanish ladies in twirly skirt and hair piled high, lovingly adored with colorful blooms. It feel very Latin to me and make me feel slightly exotic.

So my new thing, that little something that makes me me, is a lovely fake bloom stuck in my bun, my ponytail or behind my ear. Maybe I am out of fashion or behind the times, but I am not sure I care. It makes people stare, smile, maybe even laugh behind their hand, but only cause they don't have the guts to be a little daring in an adult world that seems to prefer leaving fanciful things to the young. I want to be known as She Who Wears Flowers in Her...and I do just because I can. 

So here's to guts and flowers and coming up with a great way to reuse your DIY project products!

Kerri Russell

Garcelle Beauvais 

Courtesy of Lulu's Hut

‎{Thrifty Thursday} on Friday - DIY project

Sorry it has to be ‎{Thrifty Thursday} on Friday, yesterday was my birthday and I needed to take a computer break. But here is you dose of thrift... a sweet, simple and thrifty idea from Beantown Bride to add a little light and whimsy to your celebration. Super easy and within any budget.

From Kate on Beantown Bride (my Editor in Chief over there):

Fill mason jars with candles and string them from trees (or other stationery objects, such as tent poles) and light them when the sun begins to set. For an extra special touch, tie them with ribbons matching your wedding day color scheme. 

Photo Credit: KristinStudio

Here are some other cute photos along the same line. I always thought this was a super cute idea and really wanted it at my Commander's Mansion wedding. 

Photo Credit: The Knot

Photo Credit: The Knot

{Thrifty Thursday} Your Good Fortune

Here is a Thrifty favor idea to help stretch a dollar for those who have only a few but want their wedding to feel like a million bucks.  Fortune cookies - yes I know, they get a bad rap; the stale, cardboardish, plastic wrapped, questionably edible "cookie" you get from take out Chinese places.  Truth is, they are a sweet, affordable, and personal ending to your already fabulous wedding.

There are a number of different routes you can choose for your cookies. You can go slightly more expensive and purchase personalized fortune cookies OR go thrifty and gather your ladies for a favor making party.   So we’ll go thrifty, since this is Thursday and the thrifty way, in my humble opinion, is just a lot more fun and memorable; the idea of lovingly assembling your own wedding favors with a gaggle of giggling bridesmaids, makes me smile. So let's get to it.

  

What do you need?  Cookies, dipping sauces/frosting, sprinkles if you choose, boxes and ribbons, and if you go the totally self made way, paper, printer, scissors.  

Cookies - There are a number places on the internet to purchase regular fortune cookies, with fortunes already inside.  The Oriental Trading Company offers a great deal with 50 for $6.99.  Another option is making them yourself – hence the need for a girl party. Here is a great tutorial/recipe for personalized cookies. I love the idea however as a stressed out bride,  you may not have to time since the cookies should be relatively fresh.

Delicious Dipping – For an extra touch of class and decadence, how about serving up cookies partially dipped in all sorts of yummy flavors?   Here is a super easy recipe for Chocolate Dipped Fortune Cookies using semi-sweet chocolate chips that just about anyone can master.  You can do the same with white chocolate, peanut butter or caramel chips. You can even add color or festive sprinkles to match your wedding color scheme.

Final Touch - Remember, presentation goes a long way in pulling off thrift. Head over to your local crafts store or online crafts vendor  for some favor or jewelry boxes, appropriately colored tissue paper and satin or grosgrain ribbon.  You might want to tuck in a sweet note of thanks or even a small love poem before your tie up your favor treat.   A label with your names and wedding date attached to the box or tied on the ribbon is nice but not necessary....they did get the invite after all

So there you have it, {Thrifty Thrusday} Your Good Fortune, a smart, delicious way to say thank you to your guests.  Enjoy!

Photo credits: 

Top and Middle: Exclusively Wedding www.exclusivelyweddings.com

Bottom: Sophia's Favors www.sophiesfavors.com