DIY Paper Pinwheels & Garlands

It's Wednesday, and we have a fab new DIY project for our Swanky Chicks! Check out these adorable paper pinwheels. They have been popping up in swanky parties all over the place. With this little tutorial we found on Style Me Pretty (one of our fav wedding blogs) you can create them for your next party!

Step #1: Supplies.

Pick your paper and buttons. *Hint*: text weight paper works best. Choosing coordinating patterns and colors for the paper is fun, and choosing different sizes and shapes in the buttons is cute, too. Choose scissors or a paper cutter, and adhesive. Cut 2 strips of paper, equal length and width, depending on the size of the pinwheel you want (thicker strips = larger pinwheel).

Steps #2 and #3: Folding + Combining.
Evenly fold (like an accordion) the 2 strips of paper. Make sure the widths match! (Note: smaller folds make tighter pinwheels. Larger folds are more loose and show more of the pattern. We like to make several of each size – makes for an adorable display). Line up one end of the folded accordion with the end of the other accordion. Fit together and adhere securely. Permanent adhesive squares work nicely, and lie flat.

Step #4: Securing.
Pull the loose ends of the accordion strip around towards each other and adhere securely. The pinwheel will look like a cardstock “circle” (similar to the coffee sleeves they give you at Starbucks). You will need to pop the pinwheel out and push it down (work with it until it looks like a pinwheel should look), holding it in place with your fingers. In the photo, the paperweight is doing the job of holding the pinwheel in place.

Step #5: Finishing Touches.
Choose your button and secure *tightly* with glue dots (you may need to use several!). Note: we recommend weighing the pinwheels down for several hours once they are fully assembled). This will help to ensure that they are secure.

 Pinwheel Garland from Project Wedding

String several pinwheels together to create a pinwheel garland. Scrap book paper, old sheet music and vintage books are great resources for gorgeous paper for this project. 

Floral Arranging at a Bridal Shower?

That is the gem of an idea we read about over at 100 Layer Cake and The Perfect Bridesmaid. I have to say I am in love with this idea. The concept is this- so many of us love having fresh flowers in our homes but hate the cost of the delivered bouquets from the florist. The flower bundles in the grocery store are much less expensive, but mine never turn into the gorgeous arrangements the florist delivers. That is where the very talented Sarah of Blossom and Branch came up with the idea for Bodega Flowers 101. Sarah teaches you how to take those grocery store flowers from ordinary to extraordinary!

Add your best girlfriends, some good food and good wine, and this sounds like a perfect non traditional bridal shower. Blossom and Branch is in New York but don't fret there is a DIY solution for everyone else. Flower Duet has the Flower Party in a Box. Flower Party in a Box is a steal at about $26 per guest and includes all of this:

• How to Create a European Wrap Bouquet DVD to watch with your guests and get to work on your own designs.
• Three Flower Recipes for each design on the DVD - nine recipes in all.
• Floral cutters for each guest to use and take home – these are our favorite we use for every class & workshop.
• To-go Vases that are reusable and lightweight – You pick the color for your party theme.
• Floral design Tip Sheets for each guest to take home.
• And…one free email consultation on where to buy your flowers for your party and what to buy!

Here is a sample of one of the gorgeous arrangements you can create with flower party in a box.

Ladies I think EM needs this at her shower!

Bridal Party Gifts- Part 2

Hi all! Today I have a favor to ask of you, I need your totally honest opinion. I have a great retailer Mud Pie Gifts that has the most adorable lines of bridal party gifts. So I am asking for your opinion on which ones to stock. They offer three lines

Something Blue

I Do!
And Eat Drink and Be Married
I want to test out one or two of the lines and see how they sell. Please leave a comment and let me know which bridal party bags you like- if any. I am looking for your honest opinion, you will not hurt any feelings here. Would you buy them for your bridesmaids gifts? Thanks! Brandy

Personalized Bridal Party Gifts

As you all know I went to Vegas last week. Well on my very early flight 6:30 am (btw I am not really a morning person it was a very difficult flight) I met a wonderful women Perry Touche who made the flight a lot easier! Sorry Perry if I butchered the name, she told me I wouldn't forget it and I didn't. We had great conversation, I told her a little about Swanky Chicks and she talked about her daughters. One of Perry's daughter is getting married later this year and she asked my opinion on bridal party gifts. I have been wanting to blog about this very subject for a while and Perry lit a fire under me!

My Mom often jokes with me that I have become a professional bridesmaid and sometimes I think I could be Katherine Heigel in 27 dresses LOL, so I definitely have an opinion on this subject! I have gotten jewelry, hair and makeup, pajamas, track suits, picture frames, candles and tote bags as bridal party gifts. Far and away my favorite is a tote bag full of goodies. The very first wedding I stood in the bride gave us a tote bag with our initial on it, and to this day I use it as a carry on and overnight bag.

Many brides fill these bridal party bags with small goodies as well. Bath products, manicure sets, make up bags, flip flops, wedding day essentials like tissues, bobbi pins, lip gloss, and mini hairspray, make great fillers for the bridal party tote bags. Swanky Chicks has several lines of personalized lotions, lip balms, and shower gels. We are adding adorable cupcake mixes, that you can pair with a heart shaped measuring spoons or whisk. I also love personalized note cards or stationary. Or think of something that each individual bridesmaid would love, something that you would give her as a birthday gift, and fill the bag with that. The bridal party does not have to all get the same gift!

The more personal and usable the bridal party gifts are, the better. Your bridesmaids may even wind up using them long past your wedding day like I have. The same is true for gifts for the groomsmen, help out your hubby to be and suggest personal gifts. How many flasks and clocks can one guy have!

Many of these products make wonderful hostess gifts as well!

Bridal Shower Favors- Hooked on Love

The key to favors for your bridal shower is finding something your guests actually want, and soemthing that fits your theme. Lotions, candles, lip glosses are all my personal favorites. I now have a new favorite. Our swanky little bridal shower favor "Hooked on Love." This cute little favor is classy and so practicle. The love theme is appropriate for any wedding function. You are of course sharing your love with your guest. Your guests will love taking home these purse hooks and will be reminded of your special day everytime they use it. Believe me they will actually use it too! To make these favors extra special you can add personalized labels with your name and special day.

Another great idea for these adorable bridal favors is to include them in a grab bag for your bridesmaids.