by Kathy Cano-Murillo - Mar. 8, 2003 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

As the princess bride glides down the aisle, her eyes glisten.

Onlookers think it's because she is marrying the man of her dreams, but her bridesmaids know better. It's really because she is about to show off an awesome array of handmade decorations at the upcoming reception.

Yvette Hierro of Laveen will attest that those tears of joy are well-earned. She discovered it's not easy being a bride-to-be, maneuvering her way through the multitude of wedding craft offerings. Web sites, TV shows and magazines may offer endless lacey and pearl-trimmed options, but in the grand scheme of things, they all look the same and dent the budget.

To those commitments, the 27-year-old says, "I don't."

"I want to give my guests something different and unique," Hierro says. "I don't want them to leave with something they have already seen and would toss to the side. Plus, we really want to save our money so we can have more to spend on our honeymoon."

With only two months to go, she is succeeding. She was inspired by an idea she saw years ago - a magnet made from cinnamon sticks assembled in the shape of a cross, accented with silver rings and ribbon. Now all she has to do is whip up 150 of them, a tedious but important chore being handled by a family friend. And that's just the reception favors. Hierro has another helper designing hall decorations, while she joins her bridesmaids in cranking out piles of tissue paper flowers for the wedding party cars.

Is that true love or what?

"People turn to handmade bridal crafts for two reasons," says April Paffrath, 30, "to save money and add a personal touch. And there are so many ways to do both with great results."

She and Laura McFadden are the co-authors of The Artful Bride ($22, Rockport Publishers), an elegant craft book that lends a lighthearted twist to all things matrimonial.

"There are a lot of anti-brides out there who aren't into the Emily Post type of things," says McFadden, 40. "The beauty of doing something creative is to bring your personality to the table, literally. You can see any idea and spin off something that is appropriate for you."

The Artful Bride celebrates the spinning off part. You won't find predictable pastel bubble bottles or almond-filled plastic champagne glasses here. Projects include bride and groom windup toys as name cards, Chapel of Love table toppers and slickly designed CDs burned with the night's memorable tunes.

"We wanted to convey a sense of liveliness and fun," Paffrath says. "When we began, we went to the bookstore and looked at everything out there. It was almost frightening, and I felt sorry for the poor brides who had to sift through it all. Everything is so serious and formal. I like ideas that have a little twinkle to them. It's a reminder that you are doing this out of joy, not obligation."

Her theory is catching on. There are many former brides who love to brag about their non-traditional guest goodies, from personalized playing cards and Pez containers to crossword puzzles and packets of wildflower seeds.

However, the world of Nancy Moritz, 67, centers on tried-and-true wedding customs. As owner of ABC Cake Decorating and Party Supplies in Phoenix, she meets future wives every day who are nervous when it comes to narrowing down everything from cake embellishments to table centerpieces, as well as the ever-popular wedding favors. To speed the selection process, her store provides two large hanging boards that are filled with samples and price ranges. Among the most popular are - surprise! - almond-filled plastic champagne glasses.

Does that make a non-conformist like Paffrath cringe?

Maybe just a little.

"I see the value of it," she says. "But tradition shouldn't be a confinement when it comes to making your wedding crafts. It should be scaffolding you use to structure exciting things upon. There is something very beautiful with tradition, but there's nothing wrong with vamping it up a little bit."

Whether your projects are unconventional or not, the DIY vows remain the same: Outline a plan, cruise the merchandise, pick a design, make a few variations and compare the time, cost and labor. Next comes assigning and delegating. Look to Hierro as a good example.

Despite unloading the crafty workload on her bridesmaids, she really does cherish the experience.

"A part of me likes getting together with my bridesmaids to make the flowers for the cars," Hierro says. "The most positive thing of all is the bonding time and the memories we'll have to look back on and laugh at when we are old ladies. It's such a fun time, and people stress so much about all the little details that they don't stop to enjoy the small things leading up to the big day."

When it comes to bridal crafts, don't leave out the gift table. Here's the recipe to a picture-perfect faux wedding cake that is created simply by stacking a set of hatboxes.


Wedding Cake Card Box

(From The Artful Bride)

Supplies:
3 papier-mâché hatboxes in graduated sizes (8 inches, 11 inches and 14 inches in diameter)
9 sheets of 20 inch by 30 inch decorative paper in three patterns, three sheets for each box
Spray adhesive
Craft knife
Foam or silk flowers
Sequins, rhinestones and/or trim
Bride and groom topper
10-inch piece of netting or tulle
Hot glue

Directions:
Remove lids from the 8-inch and 11-inch boxes (these will not be used in final project). Choose a pattern of paper for each box. Working with one box at a time, add a coat of spray adhesive to the bottom and outside and apply paper. Smooth out any bubbles with fingertips. You now have the three cake tiers.

Take the lid to the 14-inch box and make a slit 1 1/4 inches from the edge with the craft knife. Make it long enough across the length of the lid so cards can easily fit through. Use spray adhesive and paper to cover the lid and the craft knife to cut through to the slit.

On all the boxes, cover up where paper edges meet by adding trim, flowers or rows of rhinestones.

Turn the top two tiers over. Hot glue the 8-inch box to the center of the 11-inch box, then glue that box to the lid of the 14-inch box. Place the tiered lid on the 14-inch box. It will look like a round-tiered wedding cake.

Hot glue the bride-and-groom topper to the top of the cake and affix the tulle to their heads so that it drapes down over the back of the cake. Place your new wedding cake card box on the gift table so guests can insert cards.

TIPS AND VARIATIONS: Use fabric, wrapping paper or paint instead of paper to match your wedding colors.


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* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com

Labels: paper, wedding

The first goal of the year should be to take care of your mind, body and spirit. A big part of that is eating healthfully, exercising and practicing good karma.

Don't forget to take a break to relax and clear your brain. Because we're cleaning out our houses anyway, moving around furniture and such, this is a logical time to find a soothing corner in your living space and make it your own.

Take a day to paint and decorate an end table and comfy chair in your favorite fabric or paint color, crack open a new journal, a juicy ink pen and let your mind wander - even if it is for just 15 minutes a day. Part of that process should involve candles.

The flickering flames of tea lights do wonders to set the mood, especially if you choose your favorite scent and dress up the tin containers with strips of decorative paper. Set the candles on a mirror and reflections will quadruple.

Always use caution around candles; extinguish them when you leave the area.

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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: home decor, inside, lights, wedding

Here are three more ideas for inexpensive wedding projects. These are little giveaways that you can whip up in a snap while downing a pitcher of margaritas. They'll still come out stylin'.

First up: Glittered centerpiece


One hurricane lamp filled with fairy dust glitter (everyone uses sand or marbles, boring!), and then it has a glass votive holder inside with more fairy dust glitter. For this project, I used a battery-operated tea light. These are brilliant because they last for 100 hours and are very inexpensive. They work great for churches or banquet halls that do not allow lit candles. You can find these at most craft stores. Here in Phoenix, you can get them at Diane Ribbon and Notions.



Next: Letter box



This is just a simple jewelry box from the gift wrap aisle at the craft store. I covered the top in pretty scrapbook paper and then stuck on a glittered initial.

And last: Treat bag


You can buy these small colored bags in bulk. Insert a gift or baked goods, fold the top over, punch two holes and add some tule and a charm.

See? Easy!

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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: wedding

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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: garden, inside, outdoor, wedding

This project goes out to Dana from Tucson who wrote me about my lack of wedding crafts. I have one, The Wedding Cake Card Box - so yuppers, I agree I'm lacking. So I'm adding a few wedding themed ideas tonight.

This soap is super easy. It's made from Melt N Pour soap, candy sprinkles and packing tape. You can leave these sweet little babies around the wedding recpetion bathrooms. Unless you are having a Godfather-sized wedding, I don't think they will get worn down enough for the candy to come out. The idea is to insert an image or phrase, or the wedding date info. If you are worried about them getting used, just give them as party favors, people will want to preserve the memory and won't dare use them at home. Unless later on at home, they run out of Caress Body Wash or something...

Supplies:
Printed phrases or photos
Clear packing tape
Candy sprinkles
Scissors
Butter knife
2 pounds of clear glycerin soap, fragrance optional
Plastic pitcher and spoon
Rubbing alcohol
Soap coloring (optional)
Soap mold trays (smooth tops only)
Small spray bottle with rubbing alcohol
Clear plastic wrap

Directions:
1. Create messages by writing or printing them from a computer. Cut to fit in the molds. Cover each picture with packing tape, make sure edges are sealed.

2. Chop the block of glycerin into 1-inch cubes. Separate the cubes into piles if you are going to color them (see note). Put a handful of cubes in the plastic pitcher and melt in microwave according to directions. Remove pitcher and stir contents until completely liquefied. Stir in desired amount of fragrance drops.

3. Pour a super thin layer into each of the molds. If tiny bubbles appear, spray with rubbing alcohol.
Next, *carefully* set a message facedown on the layer. If it falls crooked, do not lift or move it or your soap will become cloudy. Add another super thin layer of melted soap. Sprinkle on a thin layer of the candy sprinkles. Top off the rest of it with more melted soap.

4. Let the soap harden for an hour. Remove and pop soaps out by twisting the tray. Wrap each bar in clear plastic wrap. Use a colorful sticker on the bottom to seal the ends.

Note: To color and scent the soap, add desired number of drops to liquid after removing from microwave and stir. Don't use too dark a color, because you want to see the messages clearly.

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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: beauty, wedding

Every year around Dia de los Muertos I make a new set of Papel Picado banners. There is a traditional, painstaking way, but I go the easy route. You can either fold up the tissue like a snowflake and cut your shapes or you can lay a small stack and cut designs thrugh them by "drawing" with an exacto knife. I used stencils as a guide to get some nifty looking swirlies. I call it mixing the new with the old!

Use white tissue for wedding banners!

* By Kathy Cano Murillo, copyright 2005. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: Cinco DeMayo, collage/paper, Day of the Dead, Latin-inspired, wedding