{diy} doily mailing labels

I don't have a {Postcard} post for you this month but since I have a soft spot for anything "mail" related, I thought I would share this sweet little doily mailing labels I recently came across via {74 Lime Lane} 

{diy} mexican inspired decor

pinata  {ruffled},  fringe escort cards {martha stewart weddings} 

You probably spotted these two pretties on yesterday's inspiration board. If not here's the link.  I love how cute they and they're simple to make too!!  

I found a few other Mexican inspired decor for your wedding or fiesta.

Tissue paper decoration {martha stewart}

Fringe Save the Dates, Place cards & Favors {martha stewart weddings}

Mexican Paper Flowers {100 layer cake}

Ruffled Streamers {made}

{guest post} custom straw tags

Hello Postcard & Pretties readers!  Thanks so much for having me!  I’m ilene from Come on, ilene! and I’m flattered to be a guest today.   When I  married my best friend seven months ago, I  LOVED getting wedding ideas from all over the web.   Sites like Postcards & Pretties were amazing sources of inspiration to me!  Our wedding was full of fun DIY details and today I am sharing a really simple project but one that got lots of “oohh and ahhhs” at our wedding:  custom straw tags!

These monogrammed straws are an easy way to add a custom touch and  some fun and whimsy to your wedding!

Materials: cardstock, hole punch, 2″ circle punch, embosser

Instructions

1. Use the embosser to impress your logo on the cardstock.   (I got my embosser custom made with our initials at The Paper Source but if you don’t have one, you can use rubber stamps, stickers or even print out a logo on your computer.)

2.  Cut out logo with a circle punch:

3.  Use your hole punch to punch two holes, one at the top and one at the bottom of the circle:

4. Thread your straw through the holes and you’re done!!  See?  Super easy!!

We had small buckets full of these straws out at the bar during cocktail hour:

And one at every place setting during dinner:

You can also turn a bunch of these  into stickers with the Xyron sticker machine which we used to secure our cookie favor bags and  petal toss bags:

Thanks for having me here, Chris!  And to all the future brides out there planning weddings- good luck! Enjoy this special time in your life!  Believe it or not, as fun as it is to plan a wedding, life is even better on the other side!

Check out more of my DIY ideas at Come on, ilene!

{mardi gras}

 did you see those amazing masks used in the faux-to booth in today's new orleans wedding? 

if not you can check them out {here} ...pretty cool right? so that had me thinking of other mardi gras "staples" that can be remixed/reused/DIY for your own wedding. 

beads

turn mardi gras bead necklaces into a chandelier...wouldn't they look amazing hanging on trees for an outdoor wedding?

 

beads {party city} | diy chandelier {dollar store crafts}

beignets - in any shape or form

fried dough sprinkled with powdered sugar ...enough said!

 {epicurious} | {hank + hunt via the sweetest occasion} |  {style at home}  

cocktails

whether it be the big easy's "first" cocktail the sazerac or the ever popular hurricane that was first served back in 40s in a hurricane lamp glass, new orleans has amazing cocktails that would make for some equally amazing signature drinks.

  

sazerac cocktail recipe {southern living} | hurricane cocktail recipe {babble}

{diy} felt heart bouquet

doesn't this bouquet make your heart sing? 

visit {la belle bride} for directions on how you can create your own.

{guest post} hanging mason jar save-the-date

 Hi Postcards & Pretties readers! 

My name is Lauren, from Lauren Elise Crafted, and I am honored to be here today, guest posting on one of my favorite wedding inspiration blogs.  Awhile back Chris asked me if I wanted to contribute to her beautiful blog and my answer was an oh-so-definite YES!  I love Postcards & Pretties for many reasons (one being Chris’s sweetness!), but I must say the inspiration boards are a favorite of mine.  If there was an Olympic event for picture board making, Chris would win gold…every year…she’d be unstoppable!  I’m not quite sure how she repeatedly wows us with these beautiful boards but every time she puts up a new one I’m blown away.  I cannot thank Chris enough for being such a great resource for not only brides but designers as well. 

 So for our DIY today, I have a crafty save the date that is perfect for all the brides that got engaged over the holidays.  The inspiration: mason jars!  Mason jars are the perfect detail for a rustic wedding and you see them all over the place.  Personally, I love this trend! These vinitage-esque jars are not only adorable but totally functional and can be used after the wedding as well.  So I recommend buying them up and scattering them all over your event!  And if the jars alone aren’t enough than this DIY is for you.  The jar design and the embroidery details together are the perfect handmade touch and your guests will not only love receiving them but also displaying them as a reminder.

Materials::

muslin fabric

mason jar template

pencil

black embroidery floss

needle

scissors

white felt

red twine & red thread

washi tape

printed save-the-date sheets

tacky glue

hot glue

red ribbon

Instructions::

 Get a mason jar template to use for tracing {image A}.  My template was a mason jar stamp by Inkadinkado Stamps.  Cut out a small piece of muslin and trace the jar onto the fabric with a pencil {image B}.  Embroider the outline with black embroidery floss using a simple backstitch {image C}.  Embroider over everything in pencil {image D}.

Cut out a piece of felt the same size as the muslin {image E}.  Set the felt aside for now.  Cut a 6” piece of red twine and stitch the center of the twine to the center of the jar with red thread {image F}.

Print out your save-the-date sheets with all of your information on them {image G}.  Mine were about 2.5” x 5” in size.  Roll up each sheet and hold together with some red-patterned washi tape {image H}. 

Glue the backside of the muslin with tacky glue {image I} and seal together with the felt {image J}.  Allow plenty of time for the fabric to glue together and dry.  I glued mine, placed it under some heavy books, and left it for about an hour.  Once dry, cut off the excess muslin and felt fabric, leaving a thin border around the black embroidery floss {image K & L}. 

Cut a small piece of red ribbon, make a loop, and glue both sides to the back of the mason jar (on the felt side) with hot glue {image M}.  Finally, place the rolled up save-the-date message in the mason jar and tie a bow with the twine to secure it {image N}.  

Send these handmade mason jars to your guests and they will hang it as a reminder for your wedding!   

Thank you so much for having me here today Chris!  I hope you all enjoy the DIY and that it inspires you to get crafty!     

lauren elise crafted
{shop} {blog}

{diy} dj request cards

i'm loving these printable request cards i found on {wedding chicks}. all you need is a printer and stack of place cards for this project and the best part is they come in a few colors.

 hand them out to your guests and let the music play...

{p.s}

for some music inspiration visit {hi-fi weddings} & {ever ours - listen loves}

so, let's hear it...

what song would you request in these cute cards?

give thanks

it's only appropriate with today being thanksgiving and all that i should share what i'm thankful for so here goes my list:

i'm thankful for ...

1. my family ~ hands down the most important thing to me PERIOD!

2. my nephew + niece ~ i know they should be included in #1 {and they are} but i have to do a separate shout out to them because they are very special to me. ♥ you d + s.

3. my health ~ regardless of some scares here and there, i'm thankful for it never being serious.

4. my friends ~ for always listening and being there.

5. my blogging community ~ even though i haven't mostly met them in person. i feel very grateful to have them in my life. big shoutout to my twips

6. my readers ~ i never knew that i would get one reader when i began blogging and now i have all of you and i cannot express how much it means to be when you comment, tweet or "like" my ideas.  thank you!

7. my pies ~ i can't wait to gobble you up later today. ;)

8. my computer ~ without you blogging would be impossible.

9. my gym membership ~ i'm thankful i didn't cancel you because i'll be back after the holidays :\

10. this cute printable for last minute t-day decor.

what are you thankful for?

  i scheduled some posts for tomorrow and sunday but i will be officially back on monday. 

i hope everyone has a wonderful thanksgiving.  

xoxo ~ c

{diy} black + white printable wedding set

trying to keep your wedding on budget? how about a free printable wedding set?

well, eleanor from{e.m papers} has one...complete with invitation, save the date, response card, wedding program, menu, place cards, table number, seating list and thank you cards. 

{diy} i spy

want your own "i spy" game at your wedding?

 i found this freebie from {martha stewart weddings}. 

download..print and enjoy!

{diy} paper roses

did you spot those adorable paper roses in yesterday's shoot. well i found a easy tutorial on how to create your own.  your not going to believe how easy they are to create. 

{dozi}

i also happen to find these super sized paper roses that are used alone as centerpieces...♥

{creative jewish mom}

stay tuned for today's {friday faves}

{friday faves} skeleton keys

happy friday!!!

today's faves were inspired by my amazing friend sofia who commented on last week's ff post {old doors} saying "I see an old door used as table for favors with old vintage keys and locks" . vintage keys of course...i love that.  so to continue with her idea i gathered a collection of different ideas where old skeleton keys are perfect way to add a vintage touch to your wedding.  

can you guess with one is my ultimate favorite one?

want to diy with skeleton keys? 

why not try rubber stamping the skeleton key onto a manila tags for guest favors or cute place cards.

1. picket fence escort display {lisa lefkowitz}

2. key garland {nonpareil magazine}

3. centerpiece {new york food}

4. place card {green wedding shoes}

5. scattered keys {pottery barn}

6. boutonnière {caroline ghetes}

7.  boutonnière {100 layer cake} 

8. bridal bouquet {dandelion & grey}

9. skeleton key rubber stamp {nora jane}

10. skeleton key clip art {the graphic fairy}

{update}

just found this chandelier {here}  ::swoon::

{guest post} save the date postcards from love & lavender

Hi Postcards and Pretties readers! We are Aileen and Ellen from Love & Lavender and we are so honored to be guest blogging on such a beautiful and inspirational blog today! Postcards and Pretties is one of our absolute favorite blogs, so we were very excited when Chris asked us to design a postcard save-the-date for her. We decided to create three postcards for different locations: the city, the beach, and the country. For the back, we used the "postcard" image from Postcards & Pretties! 

{Downloads}

 Beach Postcard  |  City Postcard  | Country Postcard  |  Postcard back 

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{guest post} printable tags from Ruby & Willow

Hi... I'm Kate from Ruby & Willow and I'm completely honored that Chris has asked me to do a guest post for her while she takes a well deserved break. Birds continue to be such a popular theme for wedding stationery, so today I'm sharing some favour tags and guest cards from one of my latest designs, Oiseau. 

The favour tags can be used on preserve jars as shown here or to close bags, put on favour boxes, anything that your imagination can come up with really, and if you get a group of girlfriends around to help you put them all together it makes it double the fun!

 If you head over to my blog Magnolia Rouge today, I'm also releasing the corresponding invitation design that goes with this. 

{Download}

{Oiseau Printable in Green} | {Oiseau Printable in Red}

{blog} | {etsy} | {facebook} | {twitter}

{guest post} vintage wedding inspiration from blush printables

Hi everyone! I'm so excited to have a guest post today on Postcards and Pretties! My name is Jen, and I'm the owner of Blush Printables -- and online stationery boutique specializing in printable stationery for the do-it-yourself bride. Be sure to hop on over to my blog and say hi!

There is something glamorous about a vintage wedding. They are soft and romantic, and a timeless way to celebrate your new lives together.

Here are a few inspiration boards to help get you started.

flowers (unknown), save the date card wiley valentine, jewelery jihan abdalla photography, shoes + pearls jihan abdalla photography, lace dress lori paladino photography

seaunicorn on etsy, gold cuff romancing the bling on etsy, couple sarah yates photography, hair comb romancing the bling on etsy, cake (unknown)

These gold and pink inspired collages use a mixture of soft floral designs, lace attire and shimmering jewels. Using gold throughout the inspiration board is the perfect way to showcase metallic colors while still maintaining a soft, romantic style. Soft pinks and blues are added for a hint of color, while a chocolate color adds a bit of depth. Bold calla lily bouquets paired with ostrich feathers are sure to make a statement and look perfect paired with a lace gown.

Your stationery sets the tone for your wedding, so it’s important that your Save the Date cards reflect the vintage style that you’re trying to achieve.

Here’s a {free printable Save the Date card} for you to download.

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