I recently put a call out for readers and suppliers to contribute to a series of 'DIY' and 'How To..' features and I've been absolutely delighted with the response. If you would like to contribute, drop me a line on [email protected]. In the meantime, let's take a look today at how you can get your hands mucky creating your own shabby chic style wedding invitations.
This DIY feature has been lovingly crafted together by Sara Doran, aka, the 'Shabby Chic Bride'.
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So here's a step-by-step guide to help you wow your guests – without breaking the bank. Follow these simple instructions, then print out a pretty insert and watch the RSVPs flood in.
*Warning – crafting may be addictive…
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011 Shabby Chic Bride
Step one…
Head to Hobbycraft and bulk buy A5 invitations with matching envelopes. Packs of 50 are often on special offer. Then pick out a block of oh-so-pretty craft paper, available in all sorts of vintage styles for around £15 – £20. Then find some complementary accessories such as lace, ribbon and craft stickers. Grab some PVA glue, scissors and a basic paint brush and you're ready to go!
OK? Let's move on…
Step two…
Making invitations doesn't look like messy work – but it involves a lot of glue! So cover a surface with some newspaper, make sure you're under strict adult supervision (mainly to prevent you from becoming overexcited) and fold your invitation in half where it naturally creases.
Step three…
Choose the side of craft paper you'd like to use and hold your folded card against it. Carefully cut around the card so that you're left with a piece of paper that fits the front of the card exactly.
Step four…
Liberally apply the PVA glue to the front of the card and spread evenly using a paintbrush. Then carefully place the cut craft paper onto the card, taking care to smooth out any creases or air bubbles.
Step five…
Now it's time to get creative. Using any of the accessories you've bought, find the ones that complement the paper best and use you imagination. As you'll see in the final results, there are quite a few ideas to go with and ways to be original with this – so just use your instincts and have fun!
Here I've cut a pair of roses from a piece of patterned fabric sourced from a haberdashery shop and glued them firmly to the card…
I've then cut four lengths of lace to frame the invitation, glued them on, left them to dry and then roughly cut around the edges for that shabby chic look.
As long as you have the materials, you should be able to do pretty much anything you can come up with – from lace bows to lace and ribbon union jack patterns!
Repeat steps as many times as necessary.
And here's some I made earlier 🙂
The most important part of the process is to have as much fun as possible 🙂
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So pink and pretty!
I'd like to thank Sara for this lovely DIY feature that I hope inspires some of you to get your creative on 🙂
You can visit Sara's Shabby Chic Bride blog here and see more DIY and 'How To…' blog features too.
What other DIY style features would you like to see? Ask and I will deliver! 😉
Much love all,
Annabel xXx
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Annabel View all Annabel's articles
Founder of Love My Dress. Passionate Podcaster and Editor. Annabel lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, their two daughters and menagerie of furry hounds. She loves photography, meditation, walking, being outdoors and star gazing. She is fierce when it comes to championing talent within the wedding industry and when she's not working on Love My Dress, she supports her husband Philip in the running of the family's sustainable flower farm and floral design business, Moonwind Flowers. In 2013, she became a published author.
