Thanks a lot. My thanks are ready to go!

I have been working on my thank you card design the last few days. And this one that won out with the design.(courtesy of Nonpareil Magazine)

They look so cute in real life. I really wanted the Thank You cards to be fun!

So I think I achieved that ! Super happy with them. I was going to do envelope liners and just thought meh, to much work! I have done address tags with the same flags but I wont print them out just yet..

Also if you would like the design. It's free to download here:
http://www.nonpareilmag.com/downloads/issue-02-free-diy-printable-bold-bunting-invitations/

Font: That I used is Sunshine in my Soul and you can find it at www.dafont.com

Nonpareilmag have some awesome downloads!! You should bookmark it!

Coastal City Bride - Charis xx

I have a dilemma with my wishing stuff!

So on my hunt for my mazanita trees and supplies in my coastal city I hit a standing point. I found trees but I found trees at HUGE prices.. Like cmon.. with my budget I am not going to pay 60 bucks for one or nor did I want one covered in glitter.

So me being and Ideas girl came up with a new idea of using board instead of a tree. (err hem how original of me?) I headed down to our local hardware store, I picked up an MDF for 8 dollars and painted the board red without thinking things through "I was like how am i going to fit the wooden pegs in" .. ba bing IDEA.. get FHs drill and go nuts! so I did even tho i had already painted the board. If you decide to do this, I suggest you drill the holes first and not paint first?

Step 2: Drilled holes suitable for my wooden pegs.

My cute little "mini dolly pegs" I picked up from the local craft store for two dollars!

I stencilled out our surname and painted that in in a cute orange that has been used on a few projects. (took about 1hr because I did several coats)

inserted the pegs! (you may notice a small blotch to the left that's lighter than the rest, its since been fixed!)

Added twine and used these cute little clothes line pegs (same price as the other ones.. 2 dollars)

and to attach our wish tags which I had made earlier..

Gives us our end product so far:

Anyway I have had a few dilemmas. So I'm going to fire off the questions here!

One: Should I paint the pegs to match(the pegs are fitted into the wooden board)? or leave it as it is? Or if I do paint it, what color?

Instead of the twine how bout using colored rope? then what color?

Also FH and I wanted to freehand our names on top of the surname in a lighter color (we would get my mum to do the next step as she is an excellent drawer and I am not a Picasso painter..) . But I'm thinking I might just leave as is? or should I still go ahead with the writing?

What would you do? Feedback would be appreciated!

Coastal City Bride- Charis xx

Favors are on its way! round of poker anyone?

Today I ordered our favors all 180 of them. We are having Mini Playing cards!

Excitement plus plus! It feels really good to have it sorted, but I have to wait a month before they are here :(

I got them from a local warehouse for $1.25 each however I am getting a ten percent discount on top of that so total cost is $202.50 cents. :)

I originally wanted toffee apples but that turned into such a disaster, and now decided we want something guests can keep, without breaking the bank. And if some people forget to take them, that's okay too cause I could always use playing cards!

I haven't decided yet to customize the packet with our own label. Or gift wrap them in majorly cute orange wrapping paper, what you think?
what would you do?

p.s we don't have anything like the dollar tree so I was really proud I could get them that cheap. Anyway... why doesn't the dollar tree ship to Australia? would make life easier and cheaper!

Coastal City Bride - Charis xx

Thank You Cards. Im on to it like donkey kong!

So tonight... Not only am I sending out our save the dates tomorrow. EXCITEMENT!

I finished the design for our thank you cards, keeping it fairly simple.

All 160 printed and cut tonight! I know your thinking why has she done it this early? well I'm thinking.. I do not want to do this after the wedding sitting designing and creating. Id rather it be done with and me just start writing and sending!

It even comes with its own DIY jazzed up envelope I created. :) I know its not spectacular but its on the KISS (keep it simple stupid) principle.

Coastal City Bride - Charis xx

Wishing Cards.. hot off the press!

So tonight's project was to print out the wish cards. Its too late for me to cut them tonight. But I was so stoked to have them finally printed.

These are what we are using for guests to write well wishes and advice for us and then hang them on the tree... I haven't made the tree but I figure Ill get the paper product side out the way first.

Now just to punch holes and attach ribbon and of course cut!

The close up turned out a little grainy... I don't know why!

Coastal City Bride - Charis xx

I am constantly on the hunt for cool freebies, I think like most DIY Brides.

One of the Blogs I check is Color Me Inspired. They have a range of cute templates/fans/ color trends and a great port of call for inspiration.

So if you like these thank you cards you can find the link here :

http://www.colormeinspired.com/2009/09/04/153/

If you want me to find you a particular freebie, list your category or what you need and Ill go on the hunt and then post! I love posting freebie templates!

Thanks Color me inspired!!

Coastal City Bride - Charis xx