The Drunk Bridesmaid

Relax bridesmaids, it's all handmade for you.

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I’M REGIFTED: Wine Crate Spice Rack

On your next trip home from the liquor store, you can get a productive, crafty buzz!  Pick up a thin wine crate, cut paper strips to fit inside of crate and affix with spray on adhesive.  Attach an acrylic spice rack ($18 from Container Store fits perfectly).  I used a Chateau du Haut Queray 2012 Bordeaux wine crate.  It’s also a cheap wine, so pick up a bottle of it too.

For a thoughtful housewarming gift, collect spice jars from your local farmer’s market and stock up your spice rack gift.

[drunkbridesmaid]

Reusable Tassel Garland

Tassel garland looks trendy, and it’s a cheap way to class up a bridal party.  But I’m going to be straight with you.  This project is time consuming.  Imagine yourself sitting on a couch rolling for hours.  And not the fun kind of rolling...I mean rolling cellophane strips.  But don’t despair.  Once you’re finished with this reusable string of tassel garland, you can bring it to lots of events and pretend you made it just for them.  (Remember to steal it back at the end of the night.)   I tried making the tissue paper tassel garland I’ve seen all over the internet for a friend's wedding. I packed it in a box, shipped it to the venue, and it came out looking something akin to unicorn barf. (I haven’t seen it firsthand, but one can imagine. Pink and maroon photo above.)

 So here’s the wrinkle free version of the tassel garland project.

What you need:

 mylar gift wrap sheets -these come in every color, and most are already folded with creases that help you measure quickly thin plastic tablecloths (these are the white and blue tassels in my example) sturdy clear fishing line small clear elastic hair bands Scissors 6 pack of beer

Steps:

Crack open first beer.

Cut out a cellophane rectangle 14″ X 20″

fold long side in half so we’re working with a 14″ X 10″ rectangle.  This folded over creased edge we will not cut through.

Fold over hot dog style about 1/3 of the way, then fold again, leaving 1″ at the top creased edge side (see photo). I secure one end with a clothespin or clip.  Then cut 1/4″ strips, leaving 1″ at the top.  Cut strips until there is fringe all the way across.

Unfold the fringed rectangle, then bunch up the uncut center section. Or you can roll it up for a larger tassel loop hole.  The clear cellophane example pic below a loop that was rolled up, and the colorful garland string I featured above is by bunching it up and twisting. (The hole is really small this way, so you’ll need to work the fishing line through)

Twist to make a loop, then secure with a clear elastic hair band.

Repeat steps and beer drinking and then string your tassels onto the fishing wire.

Cheers!

PS If you just read this and you are totally freaking out that this is too much work, no fear, you can order a tassel garland on my Etsy site ;) You can tell your friends you made it yourself...your secret is safe with me.

-The Drunk Bridesmaid

[drunkbridesmaid]

I’M REGIFTED: Tassel Basket

I found this basket at a stoop sale for a few bucks, and used this tassel making tutorial from good old Martha Stewart to give this old woven basket an update.  If you’re a crafty drunk bridesmaid like me, you’ll use it for the gift card table at the wedding reception, and then regift it to an unsuspecting friend after.

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Wedding Shower Advice Board

An advice board is an easy, interactive icebreaker for a bridal or couples shower.  I used this photo board from Flying Tiger ($4) and added washi tape embellished clothespins.  Go totally DIY and use a poster frame (sans glass and poster) and attach clips.  Set out paper, pens and craft supplies for guests to impart their own wisdom.  Later in the party, have each guest read a card (not their own) aloud and the bride or couple can guess the advice giver’s name.

Bonus: If you want to be a little naughty, invent in a mildly inappropriate wild card, and see who the bride attributes it to.

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Champagne Bottle Cards

Inspired by The Social Type’s Cheers to You Card ($7), here is a handmade twist to the conventional “Congrats” card.  Attach it to a real bottle of bubbly and you’ve got the best gift at the party.

How To:

Print a champagne bottle vector image, and cut it out to use as a stencil.  Trace an outline on thick white card stock to use as the base of the project (and back side of the card for a personalized message).  Then cut the stencil up into each part- the label, the neck and the body, and trace and cut and glue each piece.  I used felt sheets, gold wrapping paper and cardstock, and embellished with a gold sharpie, fine tip black Sharpie, and ribbon.

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Washi Tape Clothespins

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Spoonful of Honey Bridal Shower Favors

Porcelain Egg Spoons + Stash Natural Clover Honey Sticks + Velvet Glitter Ribbon

Pro MOH Tip: Drop these spoonfuls of honey into bridal shower gift bags with two Tea Forte tea infusers.  Add a little note “Tea for two and a big thank you!”

[drunkbridesmaid]

Reuse an old Anthropologie calendar year round

Trim out the beautiful illustrations from this 2014 Secret Garden calendar by Rifle Paper Co. and adorn packages, gifts and cards year round.

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Tea for Two and a Big Thank You gift bag stuffer

Hole punch the corner of two tea bag wrappers, then loop the tea bags onto a gift tag.  (If you are under the influence while undertaking this project, note: do not punch a hole through the actual tea bag....) Pair with individual jars of honey and a teaspoon or tea infuser.  Throw in a few cake pops and you have yourself a set of bridal shower gift bags. Bonus: doubles as a nice detox after all that bridal shower day drinking.

[drunkbridesmaid]

How To: Suck It Up and Follow Bridal Shower Etiquette

What you need to know Etiquette-wise:

Typically hosted by Maid of Honor (but bridesmaids can pitch in!) Usually happens a few months before the wedding Host typically pays for food, drink and venue People in attendance are usually all the womenfolk that want to shower the bride with gifts/advice/personal harrowing marriage stories/love.

Step 1: Invitations -Paperless Post is painless, and they have free e-invites that let you track who opened and RSVP’d. Before sending the invites, check in with the bride and/or her parents and find out if you selected all the relatives and friends they would like to invite.  Try give people a month’s head’s up.

Step 2: Make yourself a bellini. 2 oz Fresh peach purée, 4 oz Prosecco in a champagne flute.

Step 3: Select a Venue- hosting at your place is great, or reserve a back room at a restaurant or wine bar that can take a group for up to two hours. 2pm is a great time because you can offer small bites and light lunch and spiked punch, rather than deal with a whole sit down dinner with drinks.

Step 4: Food and Drink- If you host at home, tea sandwiches, kebabs with fruit and veggies, cupcakes or cake pops, punch, coffee and a mimosa bar will get you by.

Step 5: Create a loose game plan. Start off with one or two icebreaker games or a crafty group project.  Allow at least a half hour of mingling and snacking time.  Open presents (you’ll be the one who writes down who gave what so bride can write thank you notes later).  Then leave people alone to mingle for the rest of the time.

Step 5: Tell everyone to get out...nicely. See the guests off with a little thank you gift.  See my bridal shower party kit post for ideas.

[drunkbridesmaid]

Bachelorette Party Favors You Won’t Roll Your Eyes Over

Enough with the penis straws, ladies.  Here are some creative bachelorette party favors people will actually love:

Urban Outfitters 12 Piece Global Cocktail Mixer Set -Pop one in each bag!

Six Pack Abs Exotic Cookie Dancer Favors - This Etsy seller will work with you to make the cookies and send them with great care.  She’ll get them to you just in time so they’re still fresh, and they’re oh so delicious ;)

To Have and to Hold Your Hair Back -Hair ties with a little cheekiness.

Mason Jar Shot Glasses -Plan to use these on the party bus with a drinking game.

If I’m Lost, Buy Me a Drink Custom Tattoos -Bring along a little rubbing alcohol to get these off at the end of the night ;)

Bachelorette Photo Props -Keep the photos coming all night long.

[drunkbridesmaid]

DIY Bride and Groom Cursive Signs

BHLDN sells “Calligraphy Chair Signs” for around $58.  I just checked my wallet and there’s only a receipt from last night’s bar tab.  So here’s the cheap version:

In Microsoft Word, use Bushscript MT. Bold it.  Print it big- I went for 250 point size. This made for a 7″ length groom sign, 6 1/2″ bride sign.  For the bride example, I filled in with a Sharpie to give a little extra contour and thickness.  Then cut the word out- this will be your stencil.

Use a foam glitter sheet with adhesive back.  These sheets are super easy to cut, but if you want to get fancy, you can use birchwood paper or any other fancy paper that has a sturdy thickness.  Trace the word on the sheet and cut it out.  For the foam glitter sheets, trace on the paper adhesive back side.  If you are on your third glass of wine while you’re doing this project, let me just remind you to make sure to flip the word backwards if you’re tracing on the back.

If you want to make a hanging sign version, like BHLDN does, punch holes, add brass eyelets to reinforce the holes, and string on some ribbon.

This signage is an easy way to make reception chairs special for the bride and groom, or to stick on their hotel room doors.