Decorative Packaging

Table favor tips: We’ve all been a guest at a wedding and felt the subtle excitement when we realize the bride and groom aren’t the only ones getting presents. Okay, so it’s now espresso machine, but coffee flavored chocolates in a cute little box make waiting for 45 minutes for the meal to be served a little more manageable.

However, if you’re the bride, you may not realize how much work and expense can go into these little table treats. Shopping online for decorative packaging-boxes, bags, bows and shred-is one way to save some money, especially if you are have a large wedding. Another tip is to have a favor party [to make your party favors, lol]. Invite your bridesmaids, girlfriends and family over for a table favor assembly line. Do the work while you watch contemporary wedding movies, like Runaway Bride, My Best Friend’s Wedding or Maid of Honor.

The next tip is to shop now for table decor items. There are still spring and summer glassware items and other useful pieces on clearance. Take advantage of the off season. If you know what you want your reception tables to look like, there’s no better time than now to get a good deal. You may have to opt for a few different table schemes that offer one conducive look; some large flower arrangements mixed with a few medium ones but all with the same type of vase and similar flowers, for example. One way to tie all your centerpieces together is with a common accent, like a length of wide ribbon around each vase or candle lantern, accentuated with a jeweled broach or other costume jewelry piece from the craft supply store.

Wedding tip number one: Make your invitations unique and unforgettable. A growing trend is to send out virtual invitations along with the snail mail keepsake ones. These cyber invites might help people R.S.V.P. but when your wedding guests hold a polished, eye-pleasing invitation in their hand, one that reflects the style of your wedding and your own unique personalities, they will have a glimpse into the atmosphere of the event to come and the importance of your special day won’t be lost in cyberspace.

Creating your own invitations is as easy as one two three with a computer and some card-stock or if you are an ambitious crafter, you can hand-stamp them, inset a photo of the happy couple, or even use watercolors to paint your own one of a kind paper. Finish it off with a length of ribbon in your accent color,looped around the fold, or even a floss tassel for more formal affairs.

I love making arts and crafts. I even volunteered at a nearby senior center to get them interested in something that can help them fill their time. They love it when I come over because they get to chat with me about their families and friends. We actually have some budding artists in our group. In fact, the joke that we have going around is that you can teach old dogs new tricks.

Our recent projects included knitted gloves, clay art, and friendship bracelets. The oldies really loved doing them! Our next project is making bookmarks for the local library. That is why I ordered a lot of bookmark tassels for our class this month.

With wedding season only six months away, I decided to do a series on wedding planning, featuring tips on adding those finishing touches which are easily forgotten until the last minute. Shopping now for discount craft supplies will make creating your invitations, table scheme, favors, and all the other wedding essentials far less stressful. Modern brides have long engagements and spend months prepping, ordering and fluffing their way to their dream wedding, and most without the help of a professional. The next few blogs will just remind the busy brides of some of the small details that bring it all together.

(Well, I’m no Emily Dickinson, but I’m okay with that.)

TO REPLICATE THE THING

While browsing stores, avoiding chores, pretty things do catch my eye

I flip the tag to price the rag and then I gasp, I flinch, I sigh

To charge that fee for what I see, it makes no sense at all

So I make my way to the crafting place and the cost begins to fall

To replicate I cannot wait, my heart is full of glee

I’ll need some glue and ribbon too, and then that store will see

My creative powers and not quite one hour are all that it will take

To craft the thing and add some bling, and it didn’t break the bank!

Since this is a blog and not a book, I decided to break my creative ribbon tips down into two parts:

6. Have a pair of well-broken in blue jeans that have been washed a few too many times and have shrunk a bit in the length? Select a nice bohemian style ribbon with enough width to make up the lost inch or so and stitch it to the inside of the hem. It will add color, distinction and length to your favorite jeans, saving them from the rummage sale pile.

7. Use a long length of ribbon to create a bow belt (bows are very in-style now) for your boring pant suit or plain party dress.

8. Use brightly colored ribbon as a matte border around a picture you want to frame and draw extra attention to.

9. Hot glue ribbon around the neck of a run of the mill vase. Add a costume jewelry broach and you have a decorative piece unlike anyone else’s.

10. Don’t be limited by the suggestions I’ve made! Look for ribbon that tickles your fancy and get creative!

As an avid but not quite highly skilled crafter, let me provide a list of unique uses for ribbon which  I have discovered by just getting creative and exploring the possibilities.

1. Use a length of wide satin ribbon around the bottom of a plain solid colored lampshade, or if you feel really ambitious use ribbon to create vertical, horizontal or even diagonal stripes all over the shade. Use a thin layer of fabric glue to secure the ribbon.

2. A bit of sparkly, wired holiday ribbon, molded into a pretty bow can be attached to a metal hair barrette to make a unique hair accessory for a little girl. You can also attach the bow to a plain velvet holiday dress to make it one of a kind.

3. Give a set of framed wall art a feeling of continuity and connection by hanging a length of wide satin or other fabric ribbon behind the pictures, which are hung several inches apart, vertically.

4. Trade-in those pesky Christmas tree ornament hooks for short lengths of thin ribbon tied in bows with a loop for hanging. It will give your tree an old-fashioned feel.

5. Use wide ribbon in a no-slip fabric like grosgrain to tie your guest bath towel, hand towel and wash cloth into a neat care package with a simple bow.

Though ribbon continues to be an extensively used embellishment product, it saw its last major manufacturing boom during the Victorian Era. Used on dresses, coats and cloaks, the distinct hats of the day, and even under garments, ribbon was once again in high demand. A combination of trade agreements between European countries, inexpensive labor and larger looms, contributed to the demise of the English ribbonmanufacturers. However, these ribbon producers remained in business by adding additional products, such as braided cord and fringe to their inventory and production line.  

In the seventeenth century, an increased enthusiasm and demand gave way to a manufacturing boom in Coventry England and Lyons France became ribbon-making headquarters of the day.

Ribbon had invaded the world of fashion and clothing design. During this period, it was equally popular for both men’s and women’s clothing. Every clothing item, from bonnets to shoes were enhanced and adorned with ribbon.

Ribbon became a popular gift, which the recipient could use to accessorize furnishings, lines or secure hairstyles with braids and curls.