PINday | DIY wedding napkins

PINday is here again :) this time with DIY stencil napkins.  

i don't live under the false impression that a hoard of blog-followers stalk my every post... so i'll explain PINday for the (few) newbies who happen to stumble upon this humble little photo/DIY blog :)

PINday consists of me taking a craft i find on pintrest and actually doing it. i know, crazy right? i like to think of myself as a revolutionary thinker ;)  ya'll vote and i craft - basically i test run crafts for you. such a win.  you can VOTE on what you think i should craft next too! i'm all about audience participation (THANK YOU TO MY 2 VOTERS LAST WEEK GERTRUDE BELL  and HANNEKE VOLLBEHR - ya'll go follow these saintly woman right now)

and now, DIY STENCIL NAPKINS!

i started with some SUPER CHEAP muslin fabric = $1.99/yard (side note: i adore the texture and little flecks/details in muslin - it's quite convenient that it's so inexpensive because i plan on integrating it into every possible facet of my life as quickly as possible - starting with napkins like these)

i cut rectangles of fabric out large enough that when you lay the napkin out it covers as much lap as you deem necessary - different events require different size napkins ;) *i made these with dinner party/reception in mind, so they were a little larger... 18x20 inches

also: 'cut' is a very loose term.  i simply marked where i wanted each 'cut' to be made and then RIPPED the fabric apart.  i like the 'unfinished' look that it has - and who wants to sew up the edges anyway?! 

i folded each napkin as i would want them to lay (lie?) on the table

and then the fun began!  i got this stencil set from Michael's - jess helped me pick them out along with the colors for this project.  i liked the 'font' of the letters!

as you can see, there isn't much room between the stencil letters - be careful that you don't get paint everywhere!! if you have to, put tape over the letters you AREN'T using to make sure the napkin stays paint free in the areas you aren't intentionally stenciling 

obviously you can use whatever colors you want, but jess and i liked the way these went together AND they match some plates that i have (i purchased said plates from a THRIFT STORE for less than $1 each and they will be featured in a later blogpost, i know, i know... I'M PUMPED TOO)

first i stenciled the heart which, in this case, functions like an '&'

and then stenciled the initials!  i had to let the heart dry completely before stenciling anything else, but i did the heart on my lunch break and the initials when i got home at 5:15... so i'm not exactly sure how long it takes to dry.  the initials dried within 10 minutes though (i used less paint on those though - i had figured out the optimal paint amount by that point, which will vary with the type of paint you use)

as you can see, the pink doesn't show up as well (i think i'm going to go BACK to michael's and get a slightly darker shade, because i still love the pink and the green together)

then, because i'm an over-achiever and have an unhealthy obsession with varying textures being used together, i wrapped a 10-inch strip of burlap around the napkin and then tied it with lace to hold it together - it's going to look FABULOUS with the tablescape i'm planning on featuring next week 

i used 'J' and 'T' because two of my very good friends are getting MARRIED next year (in wisconsin!!) and i'm PHOTOGRAPHING THEIR WEDDING - i am beyond excited and i'm forever thinking about it!

be sure to VOTE on which craft i try next by liking your favorite on my PINDAY board on pintrest!

also, check out the latest MINI SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT (perfect for a mother's day gift!)

mother's day mini sessions | caitlin elizabeth photography | hampton roads family photographer

you read correctly :) ROUND 2 of caitlin elizabeth photography minisessions is coming your way! this time in honor of MOTHER'S DAY i'm offering MOTHER'S DAY MINI SESSIONS 

(not ON mother's day, silly, FOR mother's day ;)

mamas: this is the perfect opportunity to give yourself the gift of PICTURES - of you, of your children, of you & your children, of you and YOUR mama (you get my drift... the possibilities are endless!)

daddys: have you been wondering what in the world to get those lovely mamas in your life? well, why not round up those children and get a picture taken of them?  or what about pictures of you and your darlin?

kids: my mama always wanted pictures of us and we ALWAYS went to stuffy studios... looking back i WISH we could've given mama some sweet, simple photographs taken on this SUH-WEET couch ;) 

(couples and individual portrait slots are also available, but limited - contact caitlin quickly to get your preferred time slot booked)

what you get:

- that green couch ;)

- up to 25 minutes of quality time with me and my camera

- a cd with up to 10 high resolution, edited images including print release 

(you can print your images, but no editing/altering is allowed! i will also provide you a cd with images for internet sharing!)

- time/date reserved upon payment

- location disclosed upon receipt of payment

- once payment is made no refund is available, but the full amount can be put toward 

your next session with caitlin elizabeth photography

for more information or specific questions of what you want your mini session to entail (or to BOOK YOUR SESSION DATE/TIME), contact caitlin directly: caitlin@caitlinelizabethphotography.com

caitlin elizabeth photography BAKES | hershey bar cake | easy chocolate cake recipe

i am a terrible cook.

no really. terrible.

i can boil water, but beyond that i struggle with things that involve burners.

omelettes = scrambled eggs with stuff in them.  

oh, it gets better:  i CANNOT make stove-top pudding.  i will burn it every time.  i can't even remember which order to put vegetables in for a stir fry... something always ends up being cooked too much and extremely mushy.  

however, give me an oven and i can bake up a storm.

last thursday my semi-famous (i mean, how famous can a cake be in middle-of-nowhere, VA?) chocolate hershey bar cake was requested as the snack for the women's bible study that meets every week (we're studying the book of ESTHER and it's FANTABULOUS).  

back story:   i went home with my sophomore roommate (miss tracy gayle) and her mama had this little beauty sitting in the fridge waiting for us.  just waiting.  in all of it's mouth-watering glory.  it was THE BEST THING that had ever touched my lips.  it's DELICIOUS. and ever since i first tasted it in the kitchen of my favorite non-biological set of parents i make this as often as possible. every time i have to bring food for ANYTHING this is what comes with me: church pot-lucks, yard sales (well, not the yard sale part - for the cake walk!), birthday cakes for friends... because it is SO GOOD. and SUPER EASY.  i made it in 13x9 inch pan form for my boss' birthday and in cupcake form for a new year's get together.  

AND SO i have to share :)  this is an easy recipe for delicious chocolate hershey bar cake!

the sign of a good recipe = a gross recipe card :)

the cake part:

1 box chocolate cake mix

1 small box instant vanilla pudding

3 eggs

3/4 cups applesauce

1 1/2 cups milk

mix everything together and separate batter equally into 3 greased, round layer pans - cook at 375 degrees until a toothpick comes out clean.

*fun fact: this recipe originally called for 3/4 cups vegetable oil, but i read on Pintrest that you can substitute applesauce for vegetable oil and it is healthier (sooooo basically, this cake is good for you ;)

the icing part:

1 c granulated sugar

1 8 oz. package of cream cheese

1 c confectioner's sugar (grandmama calls it 10x sugar)

*mix that all together with a hand mixer

1 12 oz container of cool whip

3 hershey bars (shaved)

first, put the sugars and the softened cream cheese into a large bowl and beat with a hand held mixer (or bust out the kitchen aid and use the whisk looking attachment) - mix until creamy and delicious looking

this works best if the cream cheese is slightly softened (i take it out of the fridge when i get all of the ingredients out for the cake part so that can soften up)

then add the 12 oz of cool whip - i initially continue to work with the mixer, but then switch to a spatula to make sure everything gets mixed evenly

the most time consuming part of this entire recipe = shaving the 3 hershey bars.  i stick them in the fridge before i start so they don't melt easily while i'm holding them to cut.

fun fact #2: you would think using a food processor would be a good idea for this part... false.  not only did i break one (in my defense: it was a really old one), it also didn't chop them up the way i like (i'm probably just finnickey, so if you really want to save time just use a [NEW, STURDY] food processor)

 

mix them together!! i use the spatchula for this part too

once everything is mixed and the layers have cooled, plop out one, ice the top, plop another one down on top of your already iced bottom layer, ice the top, plop the last layer on top, ice the sides and then finish off with putting TONS of icing on top!

TIP: this cake is THE BEST once it has sat in the refrigerator over night (i don't know what makes that happen, but seriously it is so moist it melts in your mouth almost)

try it! it's simple and YUMMY :) 

more crafting is up later on this week... and an ANNOUNCEMENT!! 

alternative guestbook | caitlin elizabeth photography | wedding ideas

i know the blog has been FULL of wedding-y things this week. no, i'm not a newlywed.  no, i'm not getting married soon. no, i'm not even engaged.  BUT i have about a hundred friends who are all engaged and getting married this summer and next - which is SUPER exciting and has me constantly looking for things they might like.  an interesting trend  i'm noticing on the blogospheres these days is this idea of an 'alternative guestbook.'

i've been to PLENTY of weddings where folks have one of those white books with lines for everyone to sign in on and write a brief message to the bride and groom.  believe me, there is NOTHING wrong with that, it works! but i also am fascinated by the OPTIONS couples have.  there are some seriously creative folks out there:  i've seen polaroids that people take at the wedding and write on then hang on a 'picture wall,' wine corks that you can write messages on, engagement photos bound in an album with page margins for leaving well-wishes, jars to leave a note in that the couple takes on their honeymoon, wishing trees, puzzle pieces that guests sign, rocks to write on that later go in the couple's garden, squares of fabric that are later made in to a quilt... really there is NO limit to what counts as a guest book!

if you know nothing else about me, know that i am IN LOVE with the hand written word.  and SO last saturday i decided to set up my own take on an 'alternative guestbook'

the premise is simple: love notes and quotes, message in a bottle style

guests have slips of paper they can write tidings of joy and happiness, or their favorite quotes from love songs and stories, past or present :) and really, this quote from john donne sums up quite well why i think that writing love notes is such a perfect idea for a guest book instead of just signing your name on a line:

"sir, more than kisses, letters mingle souls, for thus friends absent speak" ~john donne

once they write out their love note, they can slip it into a bottle, which can be saved to open on a later date or buried in true 'time capsule' form.

to give this presentation a little more height/variety i incorporated books - these include 'southern tales' which is a book comprised of short stories written by southerners and 'love poems'

 

 there are about a bajillion bottles like these in various shapes/sizes/colors at the local thrift store.  i've also seen them at flea markets and you can often find them in yard sales for next to nothing!  but each one is interesting, with it's own style and story. 

shakespeare will always hold a very special place in my heart - these little red books? they're acts from some of my favorite plays :) there are so many good quotes! 

"let us go hand in hand, not one before the other" ~shakespeare, comedy of errors (act V scene 1)

"when i saw you i fell in love, and you smiled because you knew" ~shakespeare, hamlet (act II scene 2)

"may your tears come from laughin, you find friends worth havin, with every year passin, they mean more than gold..." ~lady antebellum, never alone

do those wine bottles wrapped in twine look familiar?! you can find out how to make them HERE since they were my most recent PINday craft!  if you get a chance, check out the PINday board and 'like' or 'repin' whichever craft you want to see featured on the blog next week!

there are so many interesting options for brides regarding ANY facet of the wedding day.  guest books shouldn't be left out!  it comes down to what YOU and YOUR HUBBY-TO-BE want!  obviously if you don't particularly value the written word, this wouldn't be for you.  if you are a more tech-y pair, you could get your guests to video blog for you, or if you're into music, get each guest to select a song and have a 'wedding day guest-book-playlist' - are you pickin up what i'm puttin down ya'll?!  make it personal!

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT coming up on the blog next week.  as well as my ALL TIME FAVORITE DESSERT RECIPE. swing back by sometime, there'll be something new to take a gander at ;)

caitlin elizabeth photography | just for fits and giggles | wedding DIY | DIY boutineer

my aunt betsy is has a way with flowers - i love when it's her month to do the altar flowers for church  because they're always so attractive.  some folks just have a knack for that kind of thing.

generally, i'm not one of those people.

it's been so warm lately that the flowers are blooming at the house!  so i decided to try my hand at making a boutineer :)  i used things that i found in the yard and in my craft box for this little DIY boutineer project.  brides be warned: i don't know next to nothing about flowers or how you're actually supposed to put these things together, i'm not claiming to know the first thing about floral arrangements, i just thought this would be a fun project!  

i used my trusty hot glue gun, twine, a clothespin and miscellaneous plant life i found in my back yard.

there was a bit of a frost the night before, so the majority of the camellia flowers were actually very brown and yucky looking, but i found this little bud that i thought might work well:

  

i think this is cedar - not all of the tree had these little blue berry-like things on it, but i liked the colors so i decided to use one of the sprigs with the berries!

i cut 3 separate sprigs and hot glued them together:

i then hot glued the flower to the front and then wrapped twine around the bottom to hide said hot glue (which at this point was gushing out all over everywhere from gluing 3 sprigs and the flower together)

then i hot glued everything to a clothes pin!  not the most sophisticated thing in the world, but i think it works.  this could definitely be incorporated into a more laid back wedding - nothing too fancy: a backyard, barefeet, tie optional for the groomsmen kind of wedding.

finished product! not too bad for my first attempt:

i didn't have access an attractive young man (will was working... sorry ladies) for me to put this on so i had to take a shirt and just hang it on the china cabinet haha

 

DIYers beware: you can't put the flower too far up the clothespin, otherwise it is too heavy and won't actually stand up.

and to top it all off: this bad boy has been in the fridge for 4 days and it doesn't look weepy at all (i don't think that's a term used to describe things that grow, but you know what i mean) so you could make them in advance and they'll keep for a bit!

so much crafting on the blog this week!  i'm ok with it though :)