Wedding Wish Tree

The Wedding Wish Tree is a Dutch custom where the guests are given a piece of paper shaped in a leaf to write their wishes to the bride and groom and then hang on the tree.  This creates a gorgeous centerpiece and the tree is placed at the entrance to the reception to wow your guests upon their arrival.  It is a twist on the traditional guest book and it allows the bride and groom to turn those wishes into a keepsake for years to come.

I created my first Wedding Wish Tree in honor of my wonderful 'adopted' niece, Laura for her wedding shower this weekend.  The term 'adopted' is defined by Webster's as "to choose or take as one's own; make one's own by selection".  Our family has been blessed to be a part of a large extended family who adopted us shortly after we arrived in the US and we are the benefactors of 10 beautiful nieces and nephews as a result.  Laura is the first to be married.

I chose to design the tree in the wedding's color scheme of the cream and burlap with hints of green.  My jumping off point were fallen branches that provided a rustic theme that I knew the Groom-to-be, a landscape architect, would love.  I then headed off to Michaels and Joann Fabrics to make my ribbon, cardstock, rhinestone selections etc...just too many choices.

I then chose two glass containers.  I needed one vessel type vase for the tree itself and one to hold the cards for wishes.  I used a large selection of smooth stones to secure the branches in the vase to add to the rustic feel.  SO, here sit the arranged branches just waiting for my decisions.

While perusing Joann Fabrics aisles I stumbled upon these great handmade flowers. The ivory color and tiny rhinestones were just what the branches needed and better yet, they were on sale....I used my trusty hot glue gun to adhere them to the branches.

I then applied the layered green and burlap ribbons and monogram plates I created from cardstock and "L" stickers onto the vases using double sided tape.

The tags were my next step...you can already see them in the photo above.  I layered the same green and cream cardstock and printed "Wishes for Laura and Ben".  I adhered a tiny rhinestone onto the 'i' and punched a hole for the burlap tie to complete the design. 

Now, this is when I should have taken the time to learn something about photography because these photos really do not do my first Wedding Wish Tree justice.

The beautiful bride, Laura with a few wedding wishes...



I also included a 'keepsake' box created from a scrapbooking archival storage box in the same design for her wedding wish tags, photos and cards...

My wish for Laura and Ben, 'a lifetime of love and laughter'....

Repurpose Thursday - Flower Votives

My very first blog posting featured a French Blue Chest that I had refinished and at the end of the post, I asked you to take a closer look at my handmade votive.  An inexpensive yet dramatic effect accomplished by hot gluing tulip petals to the bottom of a votive.



Well, it dawned on me that flower votives could be a unique decorative element for our Thanksgiving table.  Thankfully, I had three fall flowers left over from my fall wreath as well as votives from a wedding that I had designed and of course, my glue gun. 

My tutorial is basic and easy to follow so here it goes...

Separate flower petals and cut into pieces.

Glue 1st row of petals at desired height and then 2nd row while overlapping petals.

Continue gluing petals until you have covered the entire votive.

Turn votive over, glue leaves to base and then adhere a felt circle to complete the project.

And voila....

Let me know what you think.....