I love Tom Hanks

Hey bloggy peeps. Whew. What a wedding season we have been having. Thus explaining my lack of posts. We are all up to our eyeballs in shimmery cardstock around the studio. I promise to show you all of the wedding goodness soon, but since it's Friday, I thought I would share something fun instead.

Okay, I just love Tom Hanks. I really do. This video just made me love him even more! Tom Hanks does Toddlers & Tiaras!

Bokeh Tutorial

I love the blog Kevin and Amanda. They recently posted a wonderful Bokeh tutorial that is so lovely. If you still have your Christmas tree up and can try it out. It could be lovely using twinkle lights or candlelight at a wedding as well.

Techno: My Wedding DJ App

I wish this app had been available when I got married. We had an iTunes wedding. Yes, there are lots of nay-sayers out there, but it CAN be done. I think the biggest objectives are that you don't have someone to make announcements and if things run long or if events need to change you are all messed up. Well, don't let them scare you, you can be a DIY DJ and this app can help perfectly.

The My Wedding DJ App can be downloaded onto your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. There are 2 modes to it:  Music Plan and Player. Add, edit, and arrange music for your special day using the template categories or create your own. I have a feeling this app could be used for a lot more than weddings as well.

There are many features built into this app that will help you address timing issues, so that your wedding music doesn't run away from you (starting the Bouquet Toss while you are still in the buffet line). And it can be easily interrupted, repeated, put in requests, waits, etc.

Like I started off saying, I know you can pull this off with a little preplanning. I rented some speakers and and mic and hooked it all up to my laptop. Then, we had 2 musically-inclined friends watch over everything and make the announcements for us. 

The My WeddingDJ App is available thru iTunes for $4.99. You can also find out more info here. 

It's that time again!

(source)

It's December 20, that means that I have taken off my "Christmas Card Season" hat and I'm putting on my "Wedding Season" hat. While we are busy with wedding orders year round, the concentration of them come in between December thru June. So much so, that we have to plan vacations, events & pregnancies around wedding season to be able to focus all of our energy to production. But, all we can say is that 

WE LOVE WHAT WE DO!

Cute Shoes!

Must have these shoes. Talk about a fabulous DIY project!

What We're Working On: Ashley and Rick's Wedding Invitations

Ashley chose our Eat, Drink & Be Married invitation design. These are definitely invitations with attitude! Bright white stock on sparkly rouge backer and envelopes.

Cake Bling

This is by far one of our most popular cake toppers! It is so comically cute. It could be used for the wedding cake or on a shower or groom's cake. Note that this set is available in Caucasian and Non-Caucasian versions & can be mixed between the bride and groom. It can be your's this week for $5 OFF the regular price just by ordering thru us now thru August 27, 2010.

This takes the saying "Gone Fishing" to a whole new level. Fun and playful, this cake top can be used with equally playful tied bundles of tiered cookies or currently popular cup cakes . Hand painted porcelain.

Cake Bling

This so romantic cake topper is $5 off now thru August 20, 2010 when ordered thru us. Just contact us to order or let us know if there is another style you are looking for.

A romantic walk on a beach or  a casual backyard wedding... this relaxed cake topper is a simple, fresh approach to the traditional wedding couple. Hand painted porcelain Presently the Bride and Groom Cake Toppers are available with skin tones and hair colors only as shown. Size: 5" H

Pretty Pinwheels

A fabulous wedding decor idea popping up is using pinwheels to line the aisle. We think this idea is just so cute for an outdoor wedding. Our absolute favorite Pinwheel designer is Twirlie Whirlies. She has the most stunning designs!

Cake Bling

Did you know we sell cake toppers as well? We'll be posting some of our favorites. Just contact us to order. This week's feature cake topper is $5 off when ordered now thru August 14, 2010.

Romantic Bride and Groom Couple Lounging on the Beach Wedding Cake Topper

Complement your romantic beach setting with a beautifully crafted and equally enchanting cake topper. Exquisitely detailed down to the heart drawn in the sand with her delicate finger. Hand painted porcelain. Presently the Bride and Groom Cake Toppers are available with skin tones and hair colors only as shown. Size: 5" X 3 1/2" X 3 1/8"H

Pretty Boutonnieres

While  browsing thru Etsy, I found some great not-so-traditional boutonnieres that I just had to share with you today.

Where to find them:
1) pompandplumage  2) hairbowswonderworld  3) littleyellowbirdie   4) TheBlossomShop
5) frittsrosenow 6) PeacockPixys 7) PixelandHank  8) iDoWeddingWares
9) rule42 10) magartspartycrafts  11) SurroundingsOnline  12) mosey

Alphabet Soup: C is for...

Okay, it's been awhile since I've done Alphabet Soup, so it's time for the letter C. Submissions to be featured come from the comments that you leave at the bottom of this post.

So remember, if you want to join in the fun, please make a comment below. If you would like to submit an item for our next letter, D, please leave a link in your comment. Have a great week!

FALL CRAFTING CONTEST

We are so pleased to announce our Fall Crafting Contest. The Supply Kit's are available here.

Deadline for ording the kits are August 31. However, the kits are limited, so they will likely run out before then. So order early! Deadline  for photos of your submission is September 20. 

Complete Rules:
If you'd like to test your scrapbooking, stamping, paper crafting skills, this is the challenge to do it.

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AND FOR THE WINNER:
1.) The winner will have their photo of their submission and link to their etsy shop promoted throughout our site. The winner will also be featured on our facebook fan page and on a post in our blog.
2.) $15.00 CASH deposited to their PayPal account.

All contest entries will have their entry photos displayed in a contest photo album on our facebook page.

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RULES:

For the contest you will purchase this listing (small costs to cover handling fees and supply cost) and receive the following supplies...

- 1 Chocolate Brown Favor Box
- 3 Shimmery Cardstocks in Wicked, Tangelo, & Bronze
- 3 Strips of Halloween Themed printed cardstock
- 1 foot of lace, ribbon or twine
- 3 embellishments
- Batfetti!

(embellishments, printed papers and trim will vary between each kit to provide variety to the entries.)

You will need to use a minimum of ONE of the shimmery cardstocks and the favor box. Everything else is extra and you may chose to use them or use your own supplies. You may make your trinket box to be fall themesd, halloween themed, as a party favor, to hold a spooky gift, or anything else you can dream up.

Provided in your kit will be a copy of the instructions to submit photos of your submission.

I will accept votes via facebook and through the Etsy Community but ultimately I'll make the final decision using factors such as, final photo quality, originality, and overall design appearance.

Custom Fingergprint Cutting

Lori Danelle uses her paper cutting prowess to create custom designs from your own fingerprints. Holy detail, Batman. {via Design Crush}

Inviting the Queen

So yesterday, I wrote about how to invite the President to your event and get a signed greeting. But what about inviting the Queen of England? Follow all of the same steps as described in yesterday's post but instead write to this address:

The Secretary to Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II of England
Buckingham Palace
London, England
SW1A 1AA

Invitation Tip: Never send a wedding invitation to the Queen directly (only to a secretary). Non-British citizens will not receive a response.

White House Greetings

Did you know that The White House will send greeting cards signed by the President of the United States to commemorate special events, accomplishments or milestones free of charge to U.S. citizens? We always tell our brides to send an extra invitation to The White House to get one of these special greeting cards in honor of their wedding day. However, The White House sends out greeting for lots of special occasions. To request a greeting card from the President, just follow these guidelines from the White House Greetings Office:

U.S. CITIZENS ONLY. The White House will send greetings to United States citizens only, for special occasions as outlined below.

ADVANCE NOTICE REQUIRED. Your request should be received at least six (6) weeks in advance of the event date. (Greetings are generally not sent after the event date, except for wedding congratulations and newborn acknowledgments.)
ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS. Anniversary greetings will be sent to couples who are celebrating a 50th, 60th, 70th or later wedding anniversary.
BIRTHDAY GREETINGS. Birthday greetings will be sent only to people turning 80 or older or veterans turning 70 or older.
OTHER GREETINGS. A limited number of special occasions other than birthdays and anniversaries exist for which the Greetings Office will send appropriate recognition to United States citizens. These occasions include important life events such as:

• Wedding (send your request after the event)
• Baby's birth or adoption of a child
• Retirement after at least 30 years on the same job
• Eagle Scout Award
• Girl Scout Gold Award
• Bar/Bat Mitzvah or equivalent religious occasion

REQUIRED INFORMATION. Please include the following in your reqeust:

• name and home address of honoree(s)
• form of address (Mr., Ms., Mrs., Dr., Miss, etc.)
• exact date of occasion (month, day, year)
• age (birthdays) or number of years of marriage
• your (the requestor's) name and daytime phone number
• any specific mailing instructions if other than to honoree's address
• Wedding (Include couple's married names and current or new address)

The way that we tell our brides to address their wedding invitation is such:

The Honorable & Mrs. Barack Obama
The White House, Greetings Office
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

Trio's Da Da Da

Don't Lie. You know you used to jam out to this song. Just admit it.

Popsicles

Okay, you've got to hop over to the Inspired Bride to read this delightful popsicle post.

App Magnets

How fun are these?  | via duet

Forever

So every time I hear Chris Brown's "Forever" on the radio, I always think of Jim & Pam's wedding episode on NBC's The Office.  Just in case you forgot what happened, here is a little reminder.



Yes, they keep referencing a YouTube video throughout the clip. By this point there are hundreds of YouTube videos showing wedding dances similar to this as the trend has caught on. The original one though has become it's own website. I encourage you to watch it as not only did NBC pull a lot of things from the original choreography, but the bride and groom are raising awareness and collect donations to prevent against violence. Check it out by clicking here.