An easy, sparkly DIY manicure for the holidays

This post isn't related to planning weddings at all, but I do get to show off my new bling bling! (Yes, Honey Oats has now officially tied the knot.) 

I just wanted to show you an easy, DIY holiday manicure I did. It's not perfect, but I don't think it looks to shabby, and it was easy enough to do both hands by myself (quite a feat for me). I'm going to a Christmas Eve party Saturday, and I wanted my nails to look good without having to pay $15+ for a manicure.

{Personal Photo}

The nail polishes I used were Sephora by OPI "Looks Like Rain, Dear" (the gold glitter) and China Glaze "Ruby Pumps" (the red glitter). I actually wore the gold sparkly polish on my wedding day, although I had a professional apply it for that.

Steps:

1. Start with a base coat if you like.
2. Paint on 2-3 coats of the gold glitter sparkly nail polish (Looks Like Rain, Dear), and let that dry.
3. Paint on a layer of top coat (so you can remove only the red stripes if you mess up).
4. Start painting the red stripes with your red sparkly glitter nail polish. (Paint with your dominant hand first to can get the hang of how much polish to use for the stripes, and paint two or three stripes on each finger.) Allow to dry.
5. Apply a fast-drying top coat to that hand. Allow to dry.
6. Paint the other hand, and let it dry. Then apply the top coat, and let that dry, too.
7. Optional: use a pointed q-tip dipped in nail polish remover to take off any excess nail polish you have on your skin.

Here is a closeup of my holiday / Christmas nails. They aren't perfect, but I doubt anyone at the party is going to inspect my nails for professional quality -- especially if said partiers have had some drinks. ;)

{Personal Photo}

Hope you enjoyed this! <3

If you would like to use my personal photos, you may do so with a photo credit to honeyoats22 AND A LINK to this blog post. <3

Alternative Non-Floral Bouquets: Part 2

Sorry to my regular readers for taking such a long time to post again. With school, work and planning my own wedding, I haven't had much time to update the blog!

This post is a "part two" of alternative bridal bouquets from Etsy sellers. (See part one here.) Each bouquet photo has a link to the Etsy listing/store below the photo, where you may find the exact item shown or similar items from that seller.

The first two are pinwheels, which I didn't get to feature in the first alternative wedding bouquet post. As you can see in the photos below, you can carry one large pinwheel, or a bouquet of smaller wheels. I love the number of wings on the first pinwheel, as well as their rounded edges, and the patterns on the second photo really define the pinwheel shape. 

Photo {courtesy} crossroadscottage

Photo {courtesy} PaperPolaroid

If you're looking for an eco-friendly or recycled bouquet, this next photo is for you. It's made out of vintage kimono fabric, as well as other vintage fabrics. This also would be great for a rustic, vintage inspired, mix-and-match wedding.

Photo {courtesy} LoveMimo

The next three bouquets are made of shells, starfish and other seaside accents. Ideal for a destination or beach wedding, the first photo is more whimsical and romantic, and it already comes with your something blue. All of these are natural and elegant non-floral options for your tropical event. 

Photo {courtesy} romanticflowers

Photos {courtesy} endlessummerdesign

Although I did both a button and brooch bouquet in my first bouquet post (also featuring the gorgeous handle), I couldn't resist showing off this find. A gold and red heirloom bouquet would be a great addition to a holiday or valentines day wedding!

Photos {courtesy} BluePetyl

I have never seen anything like this next bouquet. It's three red roses -- made of LEGOs! The Lego bouquet is fun, whimsical and just right for the off beat bride who is kid at heart.

Photo {courtesy} FoldedFancy

I was dying to post felt flowers in my last alternative bouquet article. Instead of showing you the flat DIY felt flowers, I found this beauty. It's a cluster of 3D, pinwheel-shaped felt flowers with a pearl in the center. 

Photo {courtesy} tsahdesigns

Origami flowers, when done right, have always caught my attention. The origami bouquet below has a fall color scheme, and each flower has a sparkly rhinestone in the center. Plus, I love the mix of roses and lilies!

Photo {courtesy} LeahRHood

The last three bouquets would work beautifully in biker, goth or punk weddings.

I would have never expected to see a bouquet made of leather, but my quest for alternative bouquets led me to this. Although the listing is no longer up on Etsy, this seller has a ton of gorgeous cotton bouquets in her store.

Photo {courtesy} AutumnArt

This bouquet is a mix of black zipper flowers and denim flowers. I love the black lace around the bottom.

Photo {courtesy} MarkTheOccasionD

I love the color scheme of this zipper bouquet. The gold tone handle matches the gold tines on the zipper flowers. 

Photo {courtesy} TheQuietRiot

See the bouquets in 

Part 1 of this post: here.

Well, that's it for this post. I expect I will probably do a part three of this someday, so I'm open to requests for photos of different kinds of bouquets.

Thank you for reading! :)

Different DIY Pomander Tutorials!

Apparently the theme of this post is PINK! I didn't intend for it to be that way, but I guess pink is the color of wedding tutorials. We just learned something new.

While I don't think I'm going to have DIY pomanders (or any poms, really) at my wedding, I know they're redonkulously popular in the wedding world. So, I feel compelled to write one, and I found a way to work in an adorable kitten. You're welcome.

Make sure you click the attribution link 

below each photo if you want to see the tutorial

for that specific pomander!

The grey fuzzball in the photo is not DIYable, but the pink pom it's clinging to totally is. It's one of the easiest tutorials for a pomander I've come across. (It seems fast, too!)

I don't know if miniature pomanders are high in demand, but it might be cute to make it in different colors and hang it from a string. Tulle pomander garland!

Photo {courtesy} Trisha @ Momdot

I must admit, I have a thing for flowers that are made out of book pages. I love books, grammar and paper flowers, so this next pomander is... my favorite.... 

(Shh! I probably shouldn't play favorites. I just love! love! love! book flowers.)

The tutorial looks pretty straightforward, but maybe time consuming? Maybe not. I'll have to try it and let you know. Anyways! Here is the gorgeous book page pomander: *swoon*

Photo {courtesy} Shannon @ Our Footprints

I love how these tissue paper pomanders are more chandelier-shaped than round. These would be perfect  for hanging in a tree or that fun-themed wedding. They seem easy enough to make, so they would probably work for a baby or bridal shower.

Photo {courtesy} Christina @ Intimate Weddings

This one blows up Google Images if you search for "DIY pomanders" or "pomander tutorial."I tried to mix up the pictures a little by cropping them and adding one that doesn't pop up as much. I love how simple and elegant these are. 

I can just imagine the paper hydrangeas made from glittered or textured card stock. I might make one of these with gold paper just because.

Photo {courtesy} Paula @ Frog Prince Paperie

This next one is mind-bogglingly easy -- or so it looks (because I haven't actually tried it). You don't even have to cut the paper, and you can use a smaller (i.e. cheaper) styrofoam ball.

It's made of cupcake liners, which means that great crimped texture is built-in. Hooray for texture-loving semi-DIYers. 

(I'm feeling hyphen-happy today -- and parenthesis-happy. <--Point proven.-->)

Photo {courtesy} Lyndsey Fagerlund Imagery, Kara's Party ideas

This last one is basically a gigantic, intricate, purple version of the first pom. However, if you let that kitten play with this one, you will likely be finding little bits of tulle all over your house until the day you move out.

This one will definitely be more time consuming that the first one, but it's bigger, and it has more ruffles and frills. 

Photo {courtesy} Nicholette @ Craft Envy

Thanks for reading!

Everyone is encouraged to post links to cool/easy/quick/pretty pomander tutorials in the comments section!

Tutorial: Save the Date Magnets that Look Professional!

Want to make inexpensive save the date magnets, but thought they were too difficult? Want save the date magnets, but thought they were too expensive? They are actually very easy, they can be done very inexpensively and they can come out looking professionally done! Here's how mine turned out:

Personal Photo // Engagement Photo (c) Cameron-Michael Photography

With the help of my engagement photos and the ingredients listed below, I made my DIY 'Save the Date' magnets. Don't let the Photoshop logo scare you off; there is a much easier way to design your 'save the date' if you aren't PS-savvy!

1. Patience: This project is REALLY easy to do, but it can get pretty tedious depending on the number of 'Save the Dates' you need to make. (Photo Credit: Gemma Bardsley)
2. Adhesive-Backed Magnet Sheets: They sell these in 1'x2' sheets at Michael's, Joann's and other craft stores for about $10. I think you can get them at Walmart, but they cost more there.
3. Paper Trimmer: It's up to you how expensive/inexpensive you go on these. I bought the one pictured (Fiskars brand) for about $13 at Joann's.
4. Scissors: Yes! You now have a paper trimmer, so what do you need those archaic scissors for? Well, unless you bought one of those sweet guillotine paper trimmers, your trimmer will be no match for the mighty magnet sheet! You'll likely need scissors to do the deed. (Photo Credit: MrClementi)
5. (optional) Photo Editing Software: Again, it's up to you how far you go in this area. You can create your 'save the date' using a simple program like Word, a complicated program like Photoshop, or an easy website like Vistaprint.com.
6. Printing: You can print this out on your home printer, at your local printer, on Shutterfly or any other printing resource you know of. I used Shutterfly because it was easiest for me.

Tutorial time!

Step 1: Find your 'save the date' inspiration

If you don't already have an idea in mind, start web-hunting for inspiration. Look at styles, layouts and colors you might want to incorporate.

Step 2: Choose your method!

Figure out how you're going to make the graphic part of your save the date. You're going to first make paper save the dates, then, once you have those, you attach them to the magnets. (TIP: If you want to use one of your engagement photos, make sure you get permission from the photographer first.)

PHOTOSHOP: For mine (shown in the first picture of this post), I used photoshop to design it and Shutterfly.com to print it. (TIP: If you use this method, put a thick black border around the graphic. Even if you use Shutterfly's cropping tool, it still crops it too much. It also helps guide where you trim the photo so they are all the same size)

OTHER PROGRAM: You may be able to come up with a design you like using a program you already have on your computer (like word, or some kind of photo software).

WEBSITES: There are a ton of websites where you can use easy-to-do templates to customize your save the dates. Here are a few: Vistaprint.com, Zazzle.com, 123print.com. It might be cheaper to make them in Word, but the websites might be easier!

Step 3: Trim them up! (optional)

If you used a method where you have to cut each save the date out, this is where your paper trimmer comes in handy. It gives you straighter lines than cutting with scissors, so investing in a paper trimmer (like the one pictured above) is a great idea.

This step is pretty self explanatory. Trim the excess away from your graphic/image.

Step 4: Make them magnetic!

1. Roll out that 1'x2' roll of Adhes-a-mag, adhesive-back magnet!
2. To keep the sheet from curling, roll it in the opposite direction it came rolled in. Then, it should lay more or less flat.
3. Peel off a little bit of the wax paper, just enough to stick on a row of save the dates.
4. Carefully place your save the dates onto the adhesive backing of the magnet. Leave about 1/8" on all sides of each save the date. This allows room to maneuver with the scissors.
5. Keep peeling the wax paper back, one row at a time, until you cant fit any more save the dates on the sheet.
6. Once you get to that point, start slowly cutting out each one with the scissors. (It's easier to cut out ones that are made from thick paper or card stock, because they are thick enough to help guide the scissors.) Make sure the black edges of the magnet aren't poking out past the graphic!

Step 5: You're done!

Congratulations! I told you it was easy.

Personal Photo // Engagement Photo (c) Cameron-Michael Photography

Alternative Non-Floral Wedding & Bridal Bouquets

A lot of brides have been seeking out alternative, non-floral bouquets for their weddings.  My first post on this blog, in fact, was about the DIY pearl bouquet I'm making for my own wedding, inspired by the photo below. And what's not to love? They can be reused, sold, re-sold, passed down and re-purposed.

Photo {courtesy} Oh, Dear! Photography

There is a surprising number of options for non-floral bridal bouquets, from clusters of brooches to origami flowers. Though this blog is primarily about DIY projects, it is also meant to include off-beat ideas -- like non-floral bouquets! 

These gorgeous bouquets could be your DIY inspiration, or you could just buy them! I found all of the bouquets featured below on Etsy.com, so the photo credits include a link to the Etsy listing or store (if you want to purchase the bouquet).**

This is a monster post with a ton of photos, so I'm sorry if it's slowing down your browser. I wanted to include as much variety as I possibly could. Click on the photos to see them full-size.

{These are not in order by how much I like them. I categorized them by material in my head, and I ordered them accordingly.}

Though I'm not typically a fan of brooch bouquets, when they're done right, they are stunning. This enchanting brooch bouquet works for me because it's composed entirely of white and silver.

Photos {courtesy} Noaki

It's the perfect mix of pearls, rhinestones, silk petals and feathers; plus, it has that vintage inspired feel. The accents on the handle are reminiscent of an extravagant princess wedding. This type of bouquet is perfect for starting a wedding tradition for generations.

Another bouquet that makes good use of vintage and vintage inspired items is the button bouquet. The bouquet below is a charming variety of pearl buttons, bling and fabric flowers.

Photo {courtesy} letters4lilly

This next bouquet oozes vintage inspired beauty, from the lace applique on the handle to the beading at the center. If I wasn't already a million hours into my DIY bouquet, my heart would belong to this darling.

Photo {courtesy} Carellya

I'm not sure if these next bouquets are made of ribbon or full sheets of fabric, but I love their satiny sheen. If you look closely at the enlarged image, you can see the pearl or bead nestled in the center of each fabric rose.

Photo {courtesy} simplylovelybywendy

A beaded flower bouquet was one of the more surprising finds. I stumbled upon this while searching "glass" and narrowing the results down to Wedding > Bouquet. I don't know what  I was looking for, but this is the first I've seen of beaded flower bouquets, and they're so pretty!

While you might not use the item in the image below as a bouquet (or you might), the seller offers bouquets in her Etsy store (and I may be wrong, but I believe she does custom bouquet orders, so you can choose the color, flower, etc).

Photos {courtesy} eillie00

The pattern on this origami bouquet is breezy and perfect for a spring wedding. The options for origami bouquets are endless. You could have flowers made from patterned or colored paper, pages of old books, even money!

Photos {courtesy} AnyaShop

Fan bouquets and shell bouquets were both on my list of to-finds for this post, and I found them both in one place! I've really never seen anything like it before. Who would think to put shells & a folded fan together? Brilliant! I can picture an elegant beach bride holding this one.

Photo {courtesy} KeepSakeCenterpieces

Of course, I had to include a bouquet of feathers, feathers, feathers! There are so many different, beautiful ways to make a feathered bouquet. This one looks like it's made of feather flowers, each with its own crystal center. Soft plumes and sparkling crystals provide a lovely contrast and create interest.

Photo {courtesy} Weddesigns

If you want to have a non-floral bouquet, but still want to use natural products and plants, the next few photos are for you! The first is made of tapioca wood and dried everlastings.

Photo {courtesy} EcoLecticEvents

Dried natural plants and branches can be transformed into beautiful, simple bouquets. Below are examples of bouquets of wheat, lavender, birch twig and dried baby's breath. (OK, the baby's breath photo is a boutonniere, but you get the idea.) These could be the finishing touch on your rustic or outdoor wedding.

Photos {courtesy} 1: LeRoys // 2. Rusticblend // 3: paulajeansgarden // 4. ekaminsk

Last, but not least, are the holiday bouquets. These have a distinct seasonal feel, but if you get them in bright colors or white/ivory, they can be appropriate for any time of year.

Photos {courtesy} Myhaleygirl

There is now a Part 2 to 

this post with even more 

bouquet ideas: here.

Feel free to post ideas I haven't mentioned or what you are doing for YOUR bouquet!

Other non-floral bouquets I didn't have time to hunt down photos for/discuss: 

cotton, crochet, crystal, edible, felt, fruit, herbal, lantern, pine cone, pinwheel, ribbon.

**Disclaimer: While I have had good experiences with every purchase I have made on Etsy.com, there is usually risk involved with purchasing things online. Research your sellers before you buy and shop safely and smartly!

Ruffled, flowered and frilly DIY wedding cakes!

Call us crazy, but my fiance and I are going to make our own wedding cakes! We are now the proud owners of an assortment of cake decorating supplies, and there is a good chance I will commandeer one of mother's mixers soon!

Photo {courtesy} i am baker

Lately, I have found myself scouring the internet for easy-to-do ruffled and flowered wedding cakes... preferably with buttercream icing rather than fondant. (*cringes* Fondant... the f-word! Fondant scares me.)

Though, I will have to overcome my unreasonable fear of fondant to attempt this lovely cake.

Photo/Tutorial {courtesy} Call Me Cupcake

Alternately, there is this much easier, fondant-free ruffled cake. If I make this one, I plan to use ivory icing and add more ruffles to the top.

Photo {courtesy} i am baker

It's definitely not as fancy as the ruffled cake that uses fondant, but it certainly goes along with the feel of the next two cakes. 

These are i am baker's rose cake and hydrangea cake. I plan on doing one of each with ivory icing for the wedding. (You can see the hydrangea cake in white in the first image of this post; it's the dome on top.)

Photos/Tutorials {courtesy} i am baker

Wish me luck! I will post updates on our crazy cake progress once we get started.

Non-Floral Pearl Wedding Bouquet: UPDATE!

I'm working on a DIY tutorial for making easy save the date magnets. Meanwhile, here is my progress on my DIY pearl bouquet: