New project - WHOSE KEEN?

Ladies, reading my blog must have been a little boring these last few days, but that's about to change because I spotted this pretty cute DIY on wedding chicks today (man, I love that site) and I'm thinking about adding this to my project list which is always expanding and never enough time for. But they are so cute! I really want one...


For the DIY on how to do this.. or the 411, or the skinny, or the instructions.. Click on the following link:

http://www.weddingchicks.com/wedding-chicks/diy-templates/26371/diy-floral-container-covers

I'm still deciding...can imagine it in an awse orange and red print... *sigh*

Coastal City Bride - Charis xx

Photoshop Help

So im posting this everywhere I blog, wedding forum, technical help and it can only help to post here too!

I downloaded a free invitation that FH and I really like and we are allowed to alter it. It came in photoshop format to make our own.

My problem is, I CAN get the background and the wording to change color, but I CANNOT get all of the flower to go orange. I have mucked around and seriously there has got to be some shortcut part from match color to get the whole flower to go orange?

My end goal is to make the background white, the font orange and all of the flower orange.

If anyone has any tips? or advice or a how to that would be great. I have photoshop CS3, indesign and illustrator so any instructions will do!

Thanking you! Much appreciated!

Coastal City Bride- Charis xx

Flowers.. Pretty!

Im just posting this up here for future reference. Just so it doesnt get lost on my computer. So sorry if this post bores you!

Im kinda thinking these tones for a bridal bouquet. It should look ok with light gold? maybe?

Coastal City Bride - Charis xx

Crepe Paper Flowers - Part 2 - How 2!

So I had an inquisitive poster on Weddingbee.com asked if I could post instructions on how I did my crepe paper flowers.

I think alot of it once you have the basic concept, the possibilities are endless. Also I would like to say that I will be the first to admit I'm not the most fantastic at explaining how I do my DIY projects but I give them a shot. With this I tried to include a lot of visual. So excuse the picture heavy post!

(Tools needed; Scissors, wire cutter/pliers/, 28 gauge wire, PVA glue, Skewers, Floral Tape, Buttons and crepe paper)

My Crepe paper that I'm using is GALA brand which is 240cm long x 50cm wide. I find I can either make four big ones out of these or 17 small ones.

(slide your crepe paper out of the packet sleeve)

Place your template over the top. This can either be a circle, a heart shape, or leaf shape. Those are the three main ones that will get you variations.You can combine them all in one, or just use a particular shape for each flower.

Also, use a template in regards to how big you want your flowers. So i.e the bigger the flower, the bigger template you use when cutting your crepe paper, and in reverse. The smaller template the smaller the flower. Logic right?

Cut around your template.

Also some people at this step here "prepare the petals" Prepare means by either stretching them a little, cupping them or rolling the edges in with a pencil, so they take more of a curve. It's up to you tho what you would like to do. I don't usually do anything on my small flowers but on my big flowers cup them a little so they don't just lay flat.

Now would be the time to cut your flower tape into three 10cm pieces for later use, as your hands will probably be covered in glue.

I'm adding a button for the bud. (You can also use a different coloured crepe paper and cut a small section and glue it to the skewer then wrap it around so the top 2cm of the skewer is covered.)

To add the button I take about 15 cm of wire and thread the wire through like you were sowing on a button on a shirt. (you will need the pair of pliers as this can be a little fiddly).

Wrap the wire around the skewer so the button is attached.

Place your skewer like the picture below and add a small bit of glue.

Cinch it around the skewer

So it looks like this or something similar. :)

My original instructions that I gathered when I was doing the research for this was to glue all the petals to the skewer. Well this just ended up in a sticky and soggy situation and my flower looked a little sad! So this is the only part that you will use glue to secure the first petal. From now on in I reccommend using floral tape.

Start adding your petals around your bud.

Then secure it with your floral tape by wrapping it around the base. (Now you wont need glue with the floral tape, as floral tape stretches and secures it itself. I admit I sat there for about 30 seconds when I first started going.. Whattttt.... as I had never used floral tape before. I may be the only person ever in history to do this tho.)

Add more petals if you want to make it bigger, using the same process with the floral tape. I usually use three pieces of floral tape in my creations.

End Product :)

If you have any queries on the above, just leave me a comment and I will clarify or alter my instructions.

Coastal City Bride - Charis xx

Crepe Paper Flowers - I may be crazy but I'm game!

Well I have been inspired by the creator of a blog called A Very Chocolate Wedding http://www.averychocolatewedding.blogspot.com/ and hers were awesome!! I decided about a week ago to tackle the crepe paper flowers for decorations and I'm even using them for the ceremony (depends how my confidence goes with it all)
So here is my progress so far;

I have the next few days off work so hopefully I will be able to get a few more done. Practice makes perfect. What you think?

Coastal City Bride - Charis xx