Make your own wedding jewelry

So maybe you can't make a wedding dress, you can still save money and be the envy of other brides if you whip up something amazing- like your wedding jewelry!  This is step-by-step from WobiSobi is cheap to make but looks gorgeous.  You can see from her comparison photos that buying this necklace in a store would cost you plenty, but making one could cost you less than 20 bucks.  Visit her tutorial here.

Are you listed in our directory? It's free! List your blog and follow us and you could be featured in an upcoming post. Find the link at the top of our page.

Retro wedding veil

I love this, I totally would do this if I could go back in time.  It's something different than the traditional wedding veil and it's adorable.  Plus, with the right dress, you can pull off a very chic retro look.  Another plus?  Easy to make one yourself and save the big bucks!  Here's Hannah Handmade to show us how.

Hannah Handmade is in our free blog directory.  Is your blog?

Are you listed in our directory? It's free! List your blog and follow us and you could be featured in an upcoming post. Find the link at the top of our page.

Make your own beach tote

How great is this bag?  A few inexpensive materials, a simple tutorial, and a free afternoon is all it takes.  It's from one of our favorite craft blogs, Diary of a Crafty Lady.  Check out here complete bag tutorial here.

By the way, Diary of a Crafty Lady is in our directory.  Is your blog?

Are you listed in our directory? It's free! List your blog and follow us and you could be featured in an upcoming post. Find the link at the top of our page.

Afternoon project: Bird's Nest Necklace

I love this necklace, so pretty! And you can easily customize it to fit your wedding colors. Make one for each of your bridesmaids and it can be their wedding party gift. Make sure you check out the project from Running With Glitter, they are one of our favorite blogs.

Running With Glitter is in our directory, is your blog?

Are you listed in our directory? It's free! List your blog and follow us and you could be featured in an upcoming post. Find the link at the top of our page.

Make your own wedding jewelry

The Yellow Blackbird blog is one of my all-time favorite blogs.  This lady is seriously talented and can put together the most fun jewelry that are usually knock-offs of the stuff you love but can't afford at the mall.  Why not take the time to make your own jewelry for your wedding day?  Be different!  Check out her Anthropology-inspired necklace below.

By the way, Yellow Blackbird is in our directory.  Is your blog?

Are you listed in our directory? It's free! List your blog and follow us and you could be featured in an upcoming post. Find the link at the top of our page.

Gorgeous necklace you can make this weekend

If you're not following Wobisobi, you're crazy.  Every week she's got a new creation and her blog never disappoints.  This week she's featuring a cute necklace you can make this weekend for very little cost.  By the way, she's in our directory, are you?

Click here for the tutorial on this awesomeness.

Are you listed in our directory? It's free! List your blog and follow us and you could be featured in an upcoming post. Find the link at the top of our page.

Bridesmaids cards

Looking for a unique way to ask your friends to be bridesmaids? One of my favorite blogs, My Girlish Whims has a very cute and simple idea for your pretty pals.  Check out the tutorial here and put this activity on your to-do list.

How to make roses from maple leaves

New idea for Friday Fun Day, and what could be better?  It's free, easy, fun for the kids and for those planning a wedding (I'm thinking a fall wedding would be perfect for this) why not try this for a free table or guest book decoration? If you're really ambitious, you could make a whole bouquet for yourself and bridesmaids, don't forget the guys either.

How to make roses from maple leaves

Have an idea? Share it here by posting a comment below. Let's all help each other out.

FREE! Fans for your outdoor wedding

Wedding season has begun and lots of weddings will be outdoors. Be kind to your guests and your budget and print these free fans.

What to do

1. Click on the image below, print the number you need (may need to test one first).  If you can afford a little bit more, use a heavier weight of paper.  You may need to go to a copy store like Office Depot and have them do it.
2. Trim the outside corners a bit, not too close to the image though and DO NOT cut down the middle of the two shapes, you'll need to fold this in the middle like a greeting card.
3. Grab your glue and tape the popsickle stick and glue to the fan.
4. See the pictures below.

Click on the picture for the full size print-out.

Find the jumbo or large sticks.

Trim around the image, NOT the middle.  The pink line is where you fold.

What it should look like on the inside where you've glued your wood stick and the two sides together.

Have an idea? Share it here by posting a comment below. Let's all help each other out.
Don't miss our blog party! Every Wednesday with the highlights showcased on Saturday.

Make your own wedding dress - Easy ideas

So I'm putting some ideas together.  I've looked at patterns and fabrics, clearance racks and ebay, and I think I've figured out how a girl on a tight budget could actually make her own wedding dress with little sewing ability and at a budget price.  Let's aim for less than $100.  Remember, most people have more than $500 to spend on a wedding, but everyone is looking for ways to save.  Maybe making your own wedding dress isn't something you'd want to do.  That's great!  But there are lots of women out there who really don't have the cash to spend hundreds on a dress, then the food, invites, pictures, cake, music, flowers, oh my gosh the list never ends.

The idea is mix and match fancy tops with fancy bottoms.  Add the details, add the veil, add the jewelry.  Piece together the masterpiece!  First the tops.  Here are some possibilities I found.  The tanks are all from either Body Central or Victoria's Secret.  You can use these, add the skirt and be done.  But to make it more personal and more of a wedding gown, buy a nice white spandex tank top and pick your favorite tutorial below.  Think of the tank top as your frame.  The blank canvas for your bridal gown masterpiece!







As far as making this stuff goes, I'm not a seamstress either, but some of this I think you could handle.  I think even I could handle it.  It's about breaking it down into parts.  Taking on one project at a time.  First of all, you'll need a mannequin, try searching thrift stores or garage sales.  Hit up Craigslist or Ebay too.  Here's one from Amazon.com that might be a good deal.


Now, let's break down the ideas for the skirt part of the wedding gown.  There are many options, depending on what kind of dress you're going for.  The most popular are tulle, bustle, and sheath or A-line.  We'll take a look on how to make those three types.

Here's a free peasant skirt pattern.  It looks fairly easy too and you can't beat free.

Got 20 minutes?  Here's a 20 minute Simple Skirt Tutorial, would be better for a shorter skirt, maybe just below the knee.


Gotta love something that's called "super easy."  Here's a super easy skirt tutorial from Boulevard Designs.

How about a circle skirt?  The fabric is literally cut in the shape of a circle which creates instant volume but also allows the skirt to move and is very elegant.  This pattern can work for a wedding dress assuming you're not adding a bunch of extra stuff under the skirt like a petticoat.  You'll see what I mean when you click on this link.  And remember, square dancing is cool so be nice.  Here's another circle skirt tutorial from Making Things.

Take for instance this tutorial on how to make a tulle skirt.  I think I could handle this and the cost is very reasonable.

How about a cute bustle skirt?  This crafty lady made one for her daughter in an hour.  Come on, if she can do it, you can do it!  Her tutorial is nice and easy too.  You may, however, want to make yours a little bigger.

Here is probably the best tutorial on how to make the bustle skirt.  She made it for a theater performance I think so the fabric is obviously not a traditional wedding look but she's offered great pictures and instructions on how to make this design.

Now, the A-Line skirt which is probably the second easiest after the tulle skirt.  Below are some easy tutorial links showing exactly how you can transform a simple A-line skirt a gorgeous part of your wedding gown.

Over at Ruffles and Roses, she's got an easy A-line gathered skirt tutorial.  It's really cute.  Remember, you'll be making yours at any length you want.  The tutorial gets you through the gathering on top, how to cut the fabric, where to put your seam, etc.  Make yours long, short, whatever!

Here, a talented contributor talks about how finding fabric that already contains an intricate pattern can save you money and time down the road.

Here's an example of an A-line skirt silhouette.
Pairing a strapless tank with a slim A-line skirt, then
sewing together the skirt and tank, then the entire
fabric frame covered in delicate lace with a white ribbon
belt and a flower embellishment makes an affordable
version of this dress.  What do you think?

If all of this seems like too much to handle, remember, it is perfectly acceptable and equally as creative to find a pattern and have a seamstress do the actual sewing.  It's still a dress designed by you and will most definitely cost you less than off the rack at a boutique.  Click here for some more ideas on finding a pattern.

Have an idea? Share it here by posting a comment below. Let's all help each other out.

Don't miss our blog party! Every Wednesday with the best projects showcased on Saturday.

Blog Party tomorrow!

Wednesday Blog Party tomorrow, be there or be square.  Show me your stuff, brag about your new project, share that new recipe...

You can post as many projects as you want and we only ask that you visit a few of the other blogs and leave comments for them to enjoy.  We'll showcase some of the projects that are contributed this Saturday.  So grab your glue gun or apron and share your blog and project with us tomorrow at the Wednesday Blog Party.

Top 5 Feature: Cornflower Blue

It's Monday!  Time for our Top 5 Feature where fellow bloggers and budgeters share their top five tips on saving money on your wedding or new home.  Anything from decor to recipes, these bloggers have some really good and do-able ideas that brides and newlyweds can replicate easily.

Today we're so happy to have Cortney from Cornflower Blue contribute some awesome ideas for flowers and accessories.  She's got it down perfectly too by using specific flowers to save you money on all sorts of accessories.

Please stop by her blog and check out her ideas, she's a very creative lady who will inspire you to create something fun this week.  Take it away Cortney!

Here are a few tips for 5 DIY wedding accessories using only a few different materials. I used the "Emporium Vintage Fleuri Kit" in brown (the colors I used are perfect for a beautiful fall wedding). This kit comes with a variety of coordinating flower petals and stems. If you don't have access to kits like these, you can use silk or imitation flowers that you can find at major craft stores, discount stores and thrift stores. Buying them on the stems just means that you have to add 1 extra step and remove them from the stems before you start :-)

The first design is a layer of 4 different flower petals. I put the largest in the back and the smallest in the front. Attach them by using hot glue just in the centers of each petal. On the top in the very center, I glued on an old clip-on earring after removing the clip on part with a pair of tin snips. You can also use old buttons and brooches. If you don't have access to those you can always find fancy buttons or beads at any craft store.

When using the final product as a hair accessory, just glue the back of the flower onto a hair clip. If you would like to make it a little more secure, you can hand sew it onto the hair clip. (tip: if using these for the wedding party, you can use different buttons/brooches/earrings for the center to create a little variety and interest while still matching).

You can also use the same flower as a shoe embellishment. (tip: tell your bridal party to all wear a shoe of their choice in the color of your choice. Then add on this accessory to each shoe for more continuity without being too matchy-matchy). Glue on a clip-on earring blank base (available at craft stores) to the back of the flower. That way they can be securely fastened to the shoe while still being removable.

Feel bad for making your bridal party pay for their own shoes? Feel bad making them wear shoes that will most definitely cause blisters? Buy $2.50 flip flops at Old Navy or your favorite discount store in the same color and attach the flower that you made to each shoe to dress them up.

If you are not looking for a wearable accessory, these flowers are also great to accessorize your party favors. Small boxes of chocolate and confections are most common as give-aways at weddings, with a decoration like this on the top, your guests can bring home a beautiful souvenir that isn't going to wilt.

Using only one of the flower petals, you can easily make accessories such as the earrings above. There is a small hole in the center of the flower petal, so I took an eye pin (you can also use a head pin) and threaded it through the center of the flower petal and into a bead cap. The bead cap that I used for the earrings is pretty big, but bead caps come in a variety of sizes, which will all work beautifully. Using only simple jewelry making techniques, I made a loop at the top of the pin, I used the same technique to make a "link" with the yellow bead, attached the flower and bead together, then I attached them to the ear wire. These would be great for a bridal party gift!

Skipping the bead link step and the ear wire step, you can make an equally fast, simple and inexpensive boutonniere. I took one of the contrasting petals, folded it in half and hot glued it onto the back of the orange petals. You can then glue on a pin blank base (craft stores) onto the back of that petal and pin it on as a boutonniere.

Using inexpensive flower petals and some hot glue, you can make a variety of different accessories for your wedding. Happy DIY-ing your wedding!
Thank you so much!  Again, check out her great blog and follow her for more ideas!

<a border="0" <a href=" http://500dollarwedding.blogspot.com/ " target="_blank"><img src=" http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa441/hkraabel/IwasaTop5feature.jpg " border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Have an idea? Share it here by posting a comment below. Let's all help each other out.

Don't miss our blog party! Every Wednesday with the best projects showcased on Saturday.

1 Hour, 3 Necklaces, $7.00

It's our Wednesday Blog Party! To get things started, I have an easy and so cheap necklace tutorial.  Wanted a necklace similar to the ones I'd seen in Anthropologie but didn't want to spend the money.  For less than four bucks I made the necklace below.

First an explanation- I needed a simple silver chain and figured I'd find one around the house.  Wrong.  Had zero luck finding anything I could use so it was off to the dollar store.  There I found some chains but nothing that would work for the necklace.  Decided to go with a dog choke collar.  I know, sounds stupid but actually it turned out cute!  It's a little heavy but the material is so light, I don't think it's that big of a deal.

Here are my materials for all three necklaces:

TOTAL:  Less than $7.00, can't beat that for three necklaces!

Cut strips, about 1 1/2 wide, 4 inches long.

Pushed them through the holes on the chain with dull pencil.

Tied a double knot.  Worked my way around.

Finished product!  Less than $4.00.

This was fun and easy to make, took me less than twenty minutes.  Word of caution, this thing sheds like a golden retriever so you may want to wear it around for a day and let all the little extra fibers fall out before you put it on over something black.  Here the pics and links to the other two necklaces I made today.

The necklace on the left is so pretty and easy!  You saw above the flowers in my material list and probably wondered what those were for.  I bought them for this necklace and it was so easy!  I used the long silver chain in my materials and just removed the big plastic medallion that it came with. The necklace on the right was fun to make too, instead of lace I used the same material from the first necklace I made and wrapped those into flowers.  I skipped the bead in the middle but either way looks beautiful I think.
 
Now it's your turn!  Click here to join the Blog Party and post your craft, product, or recipe.  Some of the projects will be showcased this Saturday.  Don't forget to mingle at the party!

Have an idea? Share it here by posting a comment below. Let's all help each other out.
Don't miss our blog party! Every Wednesday with the best projects showcased on Saturday.

Top 5 Feature: Mad in Crafts

Episode #2 of our Top 5 Feature highlights the skills of Jessica over at Mad in Crafts.  For those of you who already follow her blog, you know it's full to the brim with creative ideas and money-saving tips.  She's got projects and tutorials on every page; I browse through her blog at least three or four times a week.

Jessica was nice enough to share some of her best money-saving tips with us on how to save big on your wedding decorations.  Planning a wedding is fun for about a week, then the stress of money and making everyone happy starts to set in.  Early on, your best bet is to set the stage for keeping stress to a minimum.  My best piece of advice is to keep your guest list small.  See my post on guest list ideas for more information.

Once that's out of the way, let Jessica at Mad in Crafts inspire you to create some beautiful decorations that won't break the bank.  Take it away Jessica!

1.  DIY the Décor – For both my wedding and for my cousin’s wedding, I did the reception decorations myself.  You can find diy ideas and tutorials all over the internet and then customize those ideas for a one of a kind wedding!

These centerpieces were inspired by a Rachael Ray centerpiece and assembled out of things I already had on hand.  Totally free décor!

2.  Fix Your Own Flowers – Silk flowers are very forgiving, so even a novice floral arranger can make beautiful arrangements.  If I can do it, so can you!  For tips on putting together large floral arrangements, check out my tutorial here.

3.  Beg, Borrow and Steal – Ask around to see if you know anyone who has reusable items left from their own weddings.  Search Craigslist and Freecycle for cheap or free décor, tableware, lighting, etc.  It costs nothing to ask, and you will be AMAZED at what you can find!

The lights and tulle for my cousin’s reception tent were borrowed from a friend who had just gotten married herself.  Again, totally free!

4.  Double-Duty Family – Do you have an aunt who takes beautiful photos, a cousin with a kickin’ sound system, an uncle with a great sense of humor?  Then you have a photographer, a DJ and a reception emcee… likely for considerably less than hiring those jobs out would cost.  Most of the time, family members love to be included in the big day, and you can spread the love without having 67 bridesmaids.  Just make sure you give them a thoughtful gift for helping out.

5.  Recycle and Re-purpose – It’s hip to be green, and it’s really cheap too!  Take a look around your own home (or your parents’) and see what you might be able to use.  Mismatched glassware can be used as flower vases, an antique dresser can be used as the cake table, baby food jars would make sweet little lanterns, or Grandma’s tablecloth might make a beautiful backdrop for a photo booth. 

You can accomplish a good deal of your wedding plans spending little or no money at all.  It just takes some thought and planning to have a gorgeous wedding for $500 or less! 

Thanks so much, Heather, for letting me share some of my DIY I Do ideas here today!  For more ideas, please visit me at Mad in Crafts.

<a border="0" <a href=" http://500dollarwedding.blogspot.com/ " target="_blank"><img src=" http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa441/hkraabel/IwasaTop5feature.jpg " border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Interested in being our next Top 5 Feature?  Show off your blog by highlighting your five best money-saving tips for a wedding, reception, wedding dress, the menu, etc.  Email them to us with some pictures!