Tips for Lettering with a Brush Pen

I've noticed a lot of beginning typographers have questions about how to create the look of calligraphy with brush pens. I do believe it is a learned skill--it takes practice to master it--but there are some tips that can help you get started.

For this example, I used the Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pen Soft Brush (SB) in black. I wrote the letters on a Strathmore Mixed Media notebook. You can use any type of brush pen. I also highly recommend Tombow Duel Brush Pens (one end is a soft brush tip, the other end is smaller and firmer) as the brush tip is a little firmer than the Faber-Castell pen and can be easier to control.

The key to creating the appearance of calligraphy, with thick and thin lines, is using varied amounts of pressure. Apply little to no pressure on all upward/sideways strokes and heavier pressure on all downward strokes. Another way to think about it is in terms of the brush tip. Use the flat, long edge to create a thick stroke and the pointed tip to create a thin stroke.

In the above example, I used virtually no pressure to begin and end the letter "C." I simply rested the tip of the pen on the paper. As I arced over the top, I applied more pressure on the down-stroke, and ended with no pressure to complete the letter. The key is to switch up the pressure at the right moment to create the desired shape and style of the letter. This is the main difference between calligraphy with a brush pen and lettering with a standard pen in which you would use uniform pressure for all strokes.

I think the hardest aspect to learning brush lettering is mastering this concept of varied pressure. The best thing you can do is practice regularly, working through the alphabet or different words. Take the time to learn how much pressure you need to apply to achieve your desired down-stroke thickness. For some, a little pressure and a thinner line are best, while others (like me), prefer a thicker down-stroke.

The thin strokes are also what you will use to connect letters, as shown in the word "hi" above. As a visual guide, see the image below for which strokes have no pressure applied and which have heavy pressure applied. The double-line arrows represent the heavy down-strokes while the single-line arrows represent the no-pressure upward-moving strokes.

Most letters will begin with an opening light stroke, like the start of the "H" above. In my alphabet at the beginning of this post, the letters J, O, T, U, V, W, and Y are exceptions. Your lettering style will affect your starting strokes. If you start in a downward motion, you will start with a thick stroke. Any sideways or upward movement of the pen will be a light stroke.

In the letter H, the light stroke loops around and comes down in a heavy stroke, intersecting with the opening light stroke. From there, you will come back up with a light stroke and end downward with a heavy stroke. To transition into the letter "I," enter with a light stroke and come down with a heavy stroke, ending in a light upward tail.

As you are lettering, you may find it helpful to pick up the pen at transition points. The best times and points to do this are typically at the end of a thick down-stroke. You can lift the pen and continue with a light up-stroke to complete the letter or connect a new one. You can lift after a light stroke, but make sure it's at an ending point or at a place where you will begin another stroke. If you stop in the middle of a stroke, whether light or dark, it will cause your lines to look disjointed rather than smooth.

In the word above, I picked up the pen at the end of the first down-stroke in "H," and again at the start of the down-stroke in "I." The rest of the strokes were continuous. As you practice lettering words, you will begin to get a feel for when you should lift the pen and when to keep your strokes continuous. As with any form of typography, give yourself plenty of time to practice in order to master the skill.

I share my typography on Instagram and Periscope @MrsEliseMance. Follow along for ideas, inspiration, and tips.

3 Lettering Tips for Beginners

This month I promised to bring more lettering-themed posts to the blog. So far I've shared my favorite supplies, how to prep gouache, and an upcoming chalk lettering challenge! Today I want to share a few tips for beginners which will hopefully help you on your lettering journey, regardless of which medium you use (markers, pointed pens, chalk, etc.).

Start small (and slow)

When you're first starting out, pick one medium and stick with it as you get the hang of forming the letters and creating shapes. I recommend starting with brush tip markers, like Tombow Duel Brush Pens or Artist's Loft Watercolor Duel Tip Markers. Or you can use some more simple tools, like pencils and pens, depending on the lettering style you're practicing. Mastering one medium first will help you build your skills and add different mediums in the future.

When you start lettering, take your time. Don't rush through forming the letters. Going slow will help you keep control of the tool you're using and the letter you are forming. Focus on the shape that you are drawing and how you want it to look.

Don't expect your lettering to look perfect from the get-go. Sometimes it takes a long time to get to where you want your lettering to be. Give yourself time to practice and master the art of forming letters. An easy way to do this is by focusing on forming one letter at a time and writing that letter over and over. As you practice a letter, you can determine what shape and style you like best.

Try different things

If you learned cursive in school, you probably learned the precise form for each letter. That is a great foundation for artistic lettering, but sometimes it's not the best way to shape or write letters. I've noticed as I've practiced modern calligraphy and other types of lettering that sometimes letters look better when they are formed differently. Don't be afraid to branch out and form your letters in new and different ways.

Also give yourself the freedom to try new products. I know I said stick with one lettering medium at first, but sometimes new products can help you improve. Try different types of paper, different brands, even different tools you've never tried. Variety in lettering keeps things interesting and fun.

Check out other people's work

I love following other typographers on Instagram. They give me daily inspiration, ideas, and motivation. I recommend finding and following several accounts that regularly post lettering in the styles you want to learn. If they have videos or blogs, check them out for tips and advice, as well as visual demonstrations of how they form their letters.

Following typographers on Periscope is another way to get new insight and also ask questions. Plus you can watch demonstrations, learn about different products, and network with other typographers. Once you find and follow one, it will be easy to discover more.

Got a question? Leave it in the comments below or tweet me @MrsEliseMance. Check back soon for more typography tips and tricks!

Join the Chalk Letter Challenge!

This month I've had a lot of fun practicing my brush lettering skills with the #BrushLetterPracticeChallenge hosted by letterer and Instagrammer Olivia. I love having a word already given to me that I can use for lettering practice. Sometimes I have a hard time thinking of good words to write, and this just makes it that much simpler.

Well, I decided to venture out into the world of creative challenges by making a challenge of my own! It's called the Chalk Letter Challenge and it's starting February 1!

One of the gifts I got for Christmas was The Complete Book of Chalk Lettering by Valerie McKeehan, and it has inspired me to work harder on my chalk designs. And that's where I got the idea for the Chalk Letter Challenge.

My hope in creating this challenge is to practice different styles of chalk lettering, and to also get creative with different design elements. And, I would LOVE it if you decided to join in! You don't have to have Val's book or fancy equipment or even an Instagram account. All you need is some chalk, a board, and the challenge prompts, which are below.

Here's how the Chalk Letter Challenge works: First, print or save the prompt image so you can access it quickly and easily each day. If you have Instagram, you can share the image by reposting it from my account, or by saving the image below on your phone and posting it on your account. Make sure to use the hashtag (#ChalkLetterChallenge) and tag me in the photo so I can follow your progress! If you don't have Instagram, you can leave a comment or shoot me an email to let me know you're joining in!

After that it's pretty simple. Each day there is a different word for you to practice. I tried to pick words that would be relevant to chalk lettering work, the season, and--in their entirety--include all the letters of the alphabet. After you've lettered your word, snap a photo and share it on Instagram with the hashtag! (Or share it on whatever social media site you like best.)

I will be following the hashtag and I would love to see your unique work and your progress. If you miss a day, no worries! February is going to be a really  busy month for me, so I will probably miss a day here and there too. You can absolutely use more than one prompt word in your design or catch up on missed words anytime.

My hope that we can share tips and tricks, and maybe I can get in some Periscope tutorials too! I'm definitely not a chalk expert, but I have been doing paid and unpaid chalk projects for a while and I would love to keep growing my skills. I hope you'll join me!

How to Prep Gouache for Brush Lettering + Calligraphy

Today I'm sharing more about my typography techniques! If you missed my first post on lettering, check it out for a list of some of the supplies I use. In this post, I'll be sharing how to prep gouache (rhymes with squash), a form of opaque watercolor that can be used for both brush lettering and calligraphy. This post is the important next step before I move on into sharing specifics about lettering styles.

For this example, I prepped Winsor & Newton's Designers Gouache in Primary Blue. However, I typically use the less expensive Artist's Loft Gouache for practicing or personal projects. It works well and won't break the bank.

Step One: Assemble Supplies

When prepping gouache, you will need a small, deep container in which to mix, use, and store unused paint. I used a paint cup--about 3.5 oz in volume and about an inch deep--with a storage lid. I recommend using a small cup like this for a couple reasons. One, if your cup is too big, you will have either too-watery gouache or too much mixture, and to start, you don't need a lot of gouache mixture. Two, if your container is too shallow, you won't be able to properly dip and load your calligraphy nib.

You definitely don't have to buy paint cups to mix your gouache. You can use something small you have at home, like an empty Carmex lip balm jar. However, it is nice to have a container with a lid so you can store any unused mix until you're ready to letter again.

You will also need water, a small paintbrush for mixing (I prefer one with firm bristles), a paper towel for spills and cleaning, and either an eye dropper or straw for adding the water to the paint cup. (Or you can just stand at the sink and use a very fine trickle of water, but start the flow before putting the cup underneath.)

Step Two: Place Gouache in Cup

Measuring out the gouache is a process of estimation. When I first learned how to prep gouache, the instructor showed us a swirl of the paint in the cup and said that was how much we should add. My advice for first timers, start small. You can always add a little more if your mixture is too thin. I usually add about a "loop" of paint, as shown below.

Side note:  If I'm mixing different colors to create a custom shade, this is the point in the process where I do it. I typically will add a few small dollops of each color and blend with a paintbrush. When I reach the desired shade, I move on to step three. Keep in mind that the water will slightly lighten whatever color you use.

Step Three: Add Water to Cup

Use your eye dropper or straw to fill the cup 1/2 way to 3/4 of the way with water. Again, if this is your first time, you can start with less and add more as needed.

Step Four: Mix Gouache and Water with Paintbrush

Use the paintbrush to mix the gouache and water together, pressing down and stirring in a circular motion. Periodically you can pull the brush out to see if gouache is clinging to it. If it is, slide the brush over the rim of the cup to scrape the gouache off and continue mixing. Make sure to press the bristles into the edges where the bottom and sides of the cup meet as the gouache may gather there. The goal is to blend all the solid pieces of gouache into the water.

Your gouache is properly mixed when it is fully blended with the water and the consistency is similar to milk. This is a good consistency for calligraphy. It's a little thicker and remains on the nib. When I do brush lettering, I usually delude the mixture with more water.

Step Five: Store Unused Mixture

The great part about using a cup with a lid is that it's super easy to store your mixture, or take it on-the-go. If your mixture has been sitting for a little while, the gouache may begin to separate somewhat and settle at the bottom. Before you use it again, mix it up with your paintbrush. If it's getting stringy or solid, it's time to dump it and make some fresh!

If you have any questions about gouache prep, please leave them in the comments or tweet to me @MrsEliseMance. Next I will be covering some lettering techniques using prepped gouache so stay tuned!

My Favorite Lettering Supplies

I'm excited to kick off a new year with some new things, both in my Etsy shop and here on my blog! I love creating and sharing art, and I want to bring more of that into this blog. To start, I'll be diving into lettering and typography art!

People often ask me about my typography: is it hard to learn, how do you do it, what supplies do you use? In upcoming posts, I'll dive more into sharing the ins and outs of creating different types of lettering art. To start, I'm sharing some of my current favorite lettering supplies--a list that is subject to change because it's always fun to try new things!

1. Nibs: I'm currently using these Speedball Hunt Bowl Pointed Pen No. 512 Nibs. I like the fine tip for making delicate lines and the bowl shape to hold more ink. These nibs work well in my next favorite supply...

2. Oblique Nib Holder: After I got this Speedball Oblique Pen Point Holder, I never went back to my standard nib holder. The oblique holder puts the point of the nib at a better angle for writing delicate calligraphy at a slant.

3. Inexpensive "Practice" Gouache: I love using gouache for calligraphy and painted lettering. Gouache is a form of opaque watercolor. When you're learning and practicing, you may go through a decent amount of gouache, so I recommend snagging some less expensive tubes, like this set of 12 paints Artist's Loft.

4. Designer Gouache: For special projects and fancy occasions, you may want to invest in a high quality gouache like Winsor and Newton Designers Gouache. A great color is Jet Black, though they have lots of options.

5. Paint Cups: Gouache does take some prep work to make it the proper consistency for use in a calligraphy pen. These Artist Loft Plastic Paint Cups work great for prepping, using, and storing gouache. [In a future post I'll go over the steps for prepping gouache.]

6. Slim Round Paint Brush: I've been doing more brush lettering and my favorite bush to use is a size 1 round, like this one from Michael's. The slim, long bristles are good for creating thin and thick lines, depending on the angle and pressure you put on them.

7. Watercolor Markers: I started learning how to do modern calligraphy styles with duel tip watercolor markers. They can help you learn about how to apply pressure to create the shapes and lines you want for your lettering. My favorite ones to use are Tombow Duel Brush Pens which come in a wide variety of colors and sets.

8. Pad of Paper: I like mix media paper for everyday use with gouache and markers, two non-dry art mediums. I like this pad by Canson because it's a great size--not too small, not too big to take on-the-go--plus the pages are perforated for easy removal. If you're looking for a higher quality paper for special projects, I recommend an archival quality Bristol paper, like the Strathmore 500 series.

Other tools I use frequently include a ruler, ball bearing compass, scrap paper, cup of water, paper towels, pencil, and large eraser.

I'll be sharing more posts on lettering soon! If you have questions or certain things you want me to cover, please let me know. I firmly believe anyone can learn how to do different lettering techniques with patience and practice, so if you want to learn, now is the time!

How to Plan a Well-Organized Wedding and Rehearsal

One of the most stressful things--for brides, and for those attending their weddings--is a poorly organized event. Nothing makes the wedding weekend crazier than a bunch of people running around asking each other questions with no answers. This is especially true for DIY brides, but even those with a wedding planner will need to sort out the details. So do yourself, and everyone else, a huge favor and take some time to thoroughly organize your big day with these tips.

Start Early

Regardless of how much time you have to plan, get started early on deciding what you do and do not want included in your wedding ceremony and reception. Think through who will be doing what, how you envision the day transpiring, and what elements are important to you. No one else will know just what you want, and if you leave it up to others to decide, you may end up disappointed and they'll end up stressed.

Do keep in mind that even though you're planning everything out now, things may change, and the day may not go exactly as planned. But, having thought through the specifics in advance will help you relax when your wedding weekend comes.

I know some brides don't care as much about the little details, but do keep in mind that someone will. Whether it's the officiant, your family, or the wedding planner, at some point someone will ask what you want. Help out those involved in your big day and plan those details. This will save them from the stress of wondering, "What does the bride want?" Plus, it will help cut down on the questions you will have to answer.

Map it Out

As you begin your early planning process, start a document on your computer or tablet where you can type up your plans. As you determine details and specifics, map out where they fall, both in the timeline of the weekend and in terms of responsibility. It will help you worry less as you'll have the details in writing, and it will help you distribute responsibilities among your bridal party, coordinators, and attendants.

Your map should include all the information your bridal party will need--different events and their locations throughout the weekend, pertinent contact information, etc.--as well as a breakdown of responsibilities for the big day--who will direct the bridal party as they walk down the aisle, who will help bustle your dress, who will be responsible for collecting your gifts and cards. It doesn't hurt to be thorough in writing out instructions.

As your wedding weekend gets closer, continue editing your map until it is ready to go. Provide a copy of it to anyone who may need the information, including your officiant, your wedding or ceremony coordinator, your attendants, and your bridal party. You can also give people individualized lists if they don't need all the information.

Rock Your Rehearsal 

The best wedding rehearsals I've been to have been planned out in advance. The really good ones included a printed breakdown of exactly who was doing what and when. You should meet with your officiant (and coordinator if you have one) before the rehearsal to talk through these details. Your officiant or coordinator may prepare and print a breakdown of the rehearsal for you, but if they don't, you can create one yourself.

The breakdown should be like a more detailed version of your wedding program with clear instructions for everyone involved. Make sure to include details for the officiant, ushers, bridal party (including the ring bearer and flower girl), family members, musicians, and anyone else involved. Everyone will need to know when it's their turn to participate, where they need to go, what they need to do, and what song will be playing. Make sure you have enough copies for everyone involved, and a few extra just in case.

Besides giving everyone thorough instructions, the printout will also help when people aren't paying attention (shocker, some people will talk through the instructions). These socialites can refer to the typed document when they realized they missed the part that was for them.

Don't Stress

Once you've finished your map and assigned responsibilities, try to relax. People will most likely still have questions, so don't feel like you failed if that happens. If the answer is on the map, kindly refer them there or direct them to an attendant who can help. This is your day to enjoy, so relax and tell yourself it's time to reap the rewards of all your hard work.

How to Create a Wedding Slideshow

When Nick and I were planning our wedding, we decided to make a video slideshow of photos [our growing up years through our engagement] which we played prior to the ceremony in place of a prelude. We also played it at our rehearsal dinner so that our bridal party and families could see it. I had some people ask where they could watch it later, so I promised to put it on YouTube. Well, it's a little late but it's finally up!

Besides sharing the video, I also wanted to share some tips for creating a slideshow like this for your wedding. It's easy to put together, but it will take some time. You can display it whenever you want, whether after the ceremony while guests are still seated, or at the reception while guests are waiting for you to arrive. It's a great filler for down time, which can get boring at weddings.

Tips for Creating a Wedding Slideshow

1. Ask for help

One of the biggest challenges to creating a slideshow is gathering the content. Depending on how long you want your slideshow to be, you will need a lot of photos. You will also need photos you might not have access to, like your fiance's baby pictures. Don't be afraid to ask for help gathering and scanning pictures.

I got lucky when I started working on our slideshow, Nick's mom had recently scanned tons of past photos of the family and posted them on Facebook. It was easy to click through and drag-and-drop the photos I wanted to use into my computer's desktop. I had some of my own photos already scanned and saved, but not many. I had to dig through a few boxes of old pictures to find some I could use.

2. Scan multiple photos at once

Rather than scanning one photo at a time, which will take longer, put as many photos as possible on the scanning glass and take turns saving them. Your scanner should allow you to select the area of one image at a time, which you can then save to a folder.

3. Be selective 

Chances are you will find tons of cute, useable pictures and you may be tempted to scan them all. Try to limit yourself and be selective. Choose one photo for each year of your life and your fiance's life, or choose one or two photos that represent a milestone. Make sure you choose at least one photo that includes important family members and friends. You don't want your slideshow to go on forever. 

That being said, you may want to scan a few extra photos in case you need to fill out your slideshow to fit the background music you select. Be flexible with your selections, but keep in mind that your guests don't need to see 25 baby photos of you both. Look for variety.

4. Save all the photos in one place

As you're collecting photos, make sure to put them all in the same folder on your computer. Once you start making your slideshow, you won't have to go searching through multiple folders or remember where you put certain pictures. Everything will be in one place, which will save time and eliminate stress.

5. Pick music that will fit the mood

It's important to select songs that will not only fit with the theme of your wedding, but will also mesh well with the photos you are displaying. Try to find songs that will represent the process of growing up, falling in love, etc. You will want to structure your slideshow so that the pictures fit within the music, which will help determine how many photos you can display per song. A photo should only be on the screen for a matter of seconds to keep things interesting and moving.

6. Use a simple program to create your slideshow

I have a Windows7 operating system, so I used Windows Movie Maker to create my slideshow [if you have a Mac, iMovie is a simple program you can use]. It's easy to use because it involves a basic drag-and-drop creation process. [Drag-and-drop all your photos, then your music.] Once all your photos have been imported, you can select them all and then set the duration of time they will display [I set mine for 3.5 seconds each]. Then you can set animations for each photo, like zooming in or scrolling, which will make your slideshow dynamic.

If you've never used a movie-making program before, it may save stress to ask for help from someone who has. However, neither program is particularly difficult to use, so if you're a fast learner, you should be able to figure it out. I recommend using a simple program because they're easy to use and provide the features you will need and not the ones you won't. The point is to not over-complicate your slideshow, or the slideshow making process. You have a lot going on with wedding planning, you don't need to add more stress. [Also, if you want, you can recruit someone to make your slideshow for you. This may be a great project for your fiance if he's into it.]

7. Save often

I can't stress this enough. If your movie-making program crashes mid-project and you haven't saved it, you will lose everything. Save your project frequently to avoid stress and losing your work.

8. Final touches/recommendations

It's ultimately up to you when deciding how to structure your slideshow, but I have a few final recommendations. First, I recommend placing photos in chronological order. People will like "watching you grow" as opposed to seeing pictures in a random order. In our slideshow, we intertwined photos of Nick and I growing up. You can do it this way, or you could separate your photos and your fiance's, showing one of you growing up and then the other.

Second, choose alternating animations for the sake of variety and interest. Don't give every photo the exact same zooming-in effect. Change things up and try not to use the same animation back-to-back. Sometimes it gets hard to remember which animations you're selecting when you're working quickly. After editing a group of photos, go back and watch them to see how everything looks together.

Third, try to use the clearest, most focused photos you have. Sometimes you have to throw in a grainy or fuzzy pic because that's all you have. But, as often as possible, include high-resolution, well-exposed photos so that your guests can actually see them. If you need to, use a quick photo editing program to enhance your scanned photos. If your scanner doesn't have editing software, try a free, easy-to-use photo editing site like PicMonkey.com. Just make sure you don't get bogged down with editing every single photo. Your pictures should be clear, not museum-quality. 

Fourth, don't be afraid to re-watch your slideshow a dozen times to make sure everything is just right. Get input from your fiance or a couple of friends before you finish. And, add a finishing touch like a fade in at the beginning and a fade out at the end.

Finally, publish and save your slideshow to the proper device. It's important to know if your slideshow needs to be burned to a DVD, saved on a flash drive, or published online. Make sure you know what equipment will be used when the slideshow is displayed. If you have a tech guy running everything, check with him on what is required. When in doubt, save a couple of different ways.

DIY Weddings: Adding Custom Touches

It's been a while since I wrote about wedding planning, but even though the wedding is over, I still have plenty to share!

Sometimes when you're planning a wedding on a budget, you may worry that it won't be unique or reflective of you. The last thing a bride wants is for her wedding to look like "everyone else's" wedding. I wanted to make sure my wedding reflected both my personality and my groom's, so I looked for opportunities to customize, personalize and create.

One of the ways I did this was by creating my own customized guestbook with Shutterfly. I had already used Shutterfly to create a little engagement photo album, and I knew it was easy to use and often offered discounts (either on-site offers or coupons). So I decided it would be the perfect way to put my own touches on what could otherwise be a very generic guestbook.

If you decide to create your guestbook with Shutterfly, you'll find that you can start from scratch or use a pre-designed template. I went with a template to save time and stress. The template also offered some ideas--like creating pages for just the parents or the wedding party to sign--that I never would've thought of on my own. I filled the pages with photos from our engagement session to make sure the book maintained a sleek, professional appearance. I was also able to choose from various page layouts, embellishments, and creative designs.

I also had fun personalizing and getting crafty with the bags we put together for our out-of-town guests (see the full post here with photos). It was a chance to turn something inexpensive, like simple paper bags and swing tags, into a customized masterpiece filled with goodies and relevant information.

We also decided to save money by designing and printing our own programs for the ceremony. It wasn't a complicated program, just a half-sheet of glossy card stock paper (which we found on sale), printed front and back. We designed a monogram letter with our names to adorn the top and added some simple swirls as breaks in the text. My advice, if you're going to design your own program, is to make use of creative fonts. We used one for the "M" in our monogram and another for the swirls. If you don't have many fonts--or ones you want to use--on your computer, you can download just about anything you'd want from dafont.com.

Finally, I looked for ways to add personal details, handmade items, or finishing touches to the ceremony site and the reception. Items like decorative paper fans (how-to is in this post), cardboard or wooden monogram letters, antique bottles, paper confetti, or handmade tags tied on with decorative string, are all simple ways to personalize.

Please feel free to ask questions or share your favorite wedding crafts, suggestions and tips in the comments!

DIY Wedding Crafts: Gift Bags & Paper Fans

I decided it's time to get specific with some of the tips I shared in one of my previous wedding planning posts, 6 Tips for Wedding Planning on a Budget. Tip #6 was to "get crafty" and save money by creating some of your own items for your wedding. This post will show you how to make some crafty things for your big day! (Hopefully a second installment will be coming soon!)

Personalized Welcome Bags

Welcome bags/boxes/gifts are a great way to tell out-of-town guests that you're glad they traveled to attend your wedding. They can be as simple or elaborate as you want, but one thing I recommend is making it personal. Connect it to the theme of your wedding, add a personal note, make it your own style.

For my wedding I created these bags and tags to hold all sorts of goodies.

Obviously this craft is more assembly-oriented than crafty, but like everything else, you can make it your own and do as much creating as you want. I purchased the bags and tags at Hobby Lobby, the "M" stamp for $1 at Michael's craft store and the state stamp was a customized order from the Etsy shop StampCouture. The striped string was part of a scrapbooking pack I purchased from Michael's to use on our favors.

After deciding a layout for the front and back, I hand-lettered the "welcome to" portion of the tag, then stamped it. After that was dry, I hand-wrote the message on the back because I felt like hand-writing something was better than typing it up. (Obviously lots more time-consuming, but a personalized touch.) Then I stamped the bags with the same color ink from the tag. The tags will be tied on the bag handles.

The bags will be filled with treats like popcorn, chocolate, little bottles of moscato for our wine drinking friends, and other items we picked out, like playing cards, hand sanitizer from Bath & Body Works, and a local visitor's guide. You can find lots of fun items in the "dollar section" of Target and Michael's or Jo-Ann Fabrics. Also check clearance bins.

Decorative Paper Fan Circles

This craft is simple and can add a whimsical, lovely and unique touch to your wedding table. I stumbled across this idea one day while looking at centerpiece ideas and pinned it so I could come back and try it. In the end, I made 60 fans of varying size and paper pattern, three for each table at my reception.

The key to making these work with your decor is to pick the right colors and size of fan. I recommend doing a couple of test fans in different sizes so you can decide what you want. I also recommend using paper that is easy to fold (so no card stock). The width of each fold will determine the height of your paper fan and the width will, of course, determine the width of your fan. The length effects how close the fan folds are to each other when you complete the circle.

You will need paper (I used large scrapbooking sheets), scissors, glue (I used tacky craft glue) and paper clips (two per fan).

Instructions:

1. Cut your paper into long strips. The width you cut the strips will become the diameter of your paper fans. The length will determine how close your fan folds are to each other. (See image above, the bigger fans had more folds and ended up with a more defined look. The smaller fan had less folds and ended up with a flatter look.) Choose a width for your folds and begin folding back and forth as shown below.

2. Once your strip of paper has been folded like an accordion, gather it up and hold it together at the middle.

3. Fold the bundle in half at the center, first one way and then the other. This will get the center loosened up and prepped for you to make the circle.

4. Put glue on half of one of the ends of your folded strip of paper. Press it together with the other half. This will connect one half of your circle.

5. Place a paper clip on the folded end to hold it together while the glue dries.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 on the other end of your folded fan to bring it into a full circle. I also recommend placing a bead or two of glue at the center of your circle to help hold the shape of the fan.

I hope you find these DIYs helpful. I have other craft ideas pinned on my Pinterest boards and I am planning to share some more DIYs with you in the future! Please feel free to ask questions or share your favorite wedding crafts, suggestions and tips in the comments!

Fourth of July Themed Treats

Today I've been working over on the Clinton Herald Pinterest page creating a board full of patriotic treats, dishes and drinks and I thought I would share it with all of you!

Admittedly most of the pins are for desserts and sweets, but there are some healthy and Whole30-safe recipes on the board (like this one for broiled tomatoes) and gluten free!

I was really impressed with what some people have created. Most of the time when I was a kid, patriotic dishes were limited to a cool whip and berries cake or frosted sugar cookies. Now we have things like Uncle Sam Mustache Pops, a lovely American Flag Pie, Patriotic Taco Salad, and several healthy American flag arrangements with fruit and cheese.

Also check out this article from BuzzFeed, it has even more ideas for desserts and drinks for you to try! (Twenty-one, to be exact!)

I'm feeling all kinds of inspired, but with a wedding coming up, it will probably only be in my mind.

What are your favorite patriotic dishes or drinks? Any that you make every year without fail or are you always trying something new? Have a recipe to share? Give me a good one and I'll add it to the pin board!

Check out 15 of the patriotic recipes I pinned:

The Must-Have Wedding Freebie: A Website

I recently received some sweet complements on my wedding website, including one lady who wanted to pass it on to her daughter who is planning a wedding. I thought it was nice that people took the time to read through all the pages and then let me know that they liked it.

I didn't think much of setting one up, only that I knew I was going to do it because of how handy one can be. I didn't know that it would become one of the best investments I never spent a dime on.

And while I assumed most people set up a wedding website, I've noticed that not everyone utilizes it to its full potential. Which is why I'm writing this post, to encourage every bride to take the time to create a site and not just any site, but a great site.

Screenshot of the homepage of my wedding website.

Why create a wedding website?

A wedding website is a free resource you can use to get important information out to your guests. You can also share personal details about your relationship for those who might know only one of you, or not know the story of how you met.

You can also save money on RSVP card postage by having your guests file their RSVP online.

How do you create a wedding website?

There are a ton of different tools for creating websites, but you'll want one specifically set up for weddings. I recommend setting one up with TheKnot.com. The Knot allows online RSVPing (not all wedding website creators offer this tool). It also offers a variety of templates for you to choose from, it's easy to use and it's simple to input photos and text. You can also take advantage of a "password protected" option so that only certain people can view select pages.

You will have to register an account with The Knot to begin your website. You will then have the option create and manage your site. It's completely free, unless you want to add a customized domain name.

What should be included on a wedding website?

It really is up to you how much you want to include on your site, but I recommend including the following:

>> Add photos of you and your significant other to each page. They liven up your site and everyone loves photos!

>> Fill in your homepage with a welcome message for your guests.

>> Complete an "about us" page for those who may only know one of you. This will help guests to feel more connected to you as a couple. Similarly, including your engagement story will lend to this.

>> Post a photo of each member of your wedding party with a little blurb about how you know them. Again, it will connect your guests to your day and also help your party feel included.

>> Information on the location of the ceremony and reception will be important for all your guests, especially those who will need directions to each venue. Make sure to fill in these pages with as much relevant information as possible. You want your guests to enjoy your day and not stress about getting to different locations.

>> Obviously if you want your guests to RSVP online, you will need to include the RSVP page. You can also offer alternative ways for guests to respond, by mail, phone or email.

>> Fill in the guest information page with additional important information. This can include lodging options (and any booking/discount information); local dining, drink and entertainment options; attire recommendations (I included a link to my Pinterest board of attire suggestions); and anything else you think guests will find helpful--especially those who are from out of town.

>> List where you are registered on the registries page.

>> You may also want to include the guest book for visitors to sign, a photo album of pictures, a map of events and info on your honeymoon, if you want to share. (You can also tie this in to a honeymoon registry if you're setting one up. Honeyfund is a helpful site for that.)

How do you get people to visit your site?

For my wedding, rather than including a traditional, mail-able RSVP card, I created my own unique card. This card included the link to my wedding website and instructions to visit it to RSVP. I also included bullet points of a few other things guests could find.

To create my card, I used the "chubby business card" on Zazzle. Since I hadn't totally settled on an invitation design, I used an engagement photo as the background, with the text printed on top. I made sure to include "RSVP" in large letters so you couldn't miss the point of the card.

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I hope you find these tips helpful! As with all my wedding-y posts, if you have questions/comments/tips, please leave them in the comments!

Stuff of the Modern Wedding: Hashtagging

Remember how back in the day the really cool wedding receptions would have disposable cameras on the table? Then you could have about 25 snaps of random awesomeness with people at your table before it was used up? Then someone would most likely grab it and start hitting it against the table, making the flash go off repeatedly, like a mini-strobe.

Maybe somewhere that still happens. Most weddings, though, have "gone modern." Forget the cardboard-wrapped disposables, this is the age of the smartphone, and boy is it great for weddings! The bride and groom can get a guest play-by-play with apps like Instagram and Twitter, and the really tech-savy ones create their own hashtag!

For those less tech-savy readers, a hashtag is a simple term for a link that is created by using the # symbol and some text. When used on Twitter and Instagram, it turns into a link, connecting anything containing said hashtag. The only thing you need to know when making a hashtag is that symbols and the space key are bad. They will break any link where inserted, so you'll end up with half a hash and a link to who knows what.

Nick and I are definitely a tech-happy couple, so we've already created our hashtag with the hope and plan that it will help us gather little moments from our wedding into one place. Our hashtag is #NickElise713, and while it hasn't gotten much use yet, we already have a place to gather all related Tweets and images.

So far we've added mostly past photos and tweets, but once it gets closer to the wedding, we're hoping to get lots of use out of our hashtag.


And this is where you come in. We are asking our friends and relatives who use social media to help us document the occasion. Even if you aren't on Twitter or Instagram, we invite you to snap candids, post on Facebook or text/email us pictures and stories. We want to remember even the tiniest details and we can't do it alone! :)

For those who are also going to employ the hashtag at their weddings, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Make your hashtag unique. Weddings happen a lot. Like more than one on the same day. And sometimes different weddings on the same day have things in common, like initials and names. So when you're creating your hashtag, try to make it different and unique. Last weekend I saw three different weddings all using the same hashtag on the same day. Talk about a lot to sort through when you're going back to find pictures and tweets from your day. Do yourself a favor and make it something other people most likely won't have.

2. Get it before it's gone. Twitter stores lists of hashtags for only so long and gets rid of old hashtags rather quickly. To avoid totally losing your hashtags (or having to go back later and hunt through your friends' feeds), save them as soon as you can. Storify is a great tool for collecting all sorts of media, including tweets and Instagrammed photos. You create a "story," pull in elements (photos, tweets, videos, etc.), save and publish (see above slideshow for a publishing option). Also, you can even search by hashtag when you're adding to your story. Another option is to retweet friends' tweets so you can easily find them in your feed, or favorite them.

3. Don't forget to tell your friends. Creating a hashtag is great, but someone has to use it! Make sure to post the tag somewhere at your wedding and at your reception so friends and family know to use it. You may want to include it on your program, on table cards, or on a cute chalkboard sign. Whatever works for your style and theme, look for a way to incorporate it.

4. Get some life out of it. The main goal is to use your hashtag day-of, but there's no rule that says you can't use it before and after! Start using it early to document the planning process, parties and moments you want to remember. You can invite your friends to start using it ahead of time too. Use your hashtag after the wedding to document your life as newlyweds (think honeymoon, any "firsts," etc.). It's your tag, use it how you want.

6 Tips for Wedding Planning on a Budget

While this is still an in-progress project for me, I thought I would update all of you on my wedding planning and give you some tips.

If there's one thing I've learned through the process of wedding planning, it's that you can drop a lot of cash on a lot of different things, but you don't have to. For those brides who are looking to save money or plan on a budget, there are plenty of ways to cut corners, and cost. My passion for inexpensive wedding planning has made me want to pass on insights to other brides who feel the pull on their hard-earned dollars.

Disclaimer: This is NOT my wedding dress. :)

Tip #1: Recruit! This can be one of the biggest money-savers ever. It may slightly involve exploiting the talents of your friends and family, but if they love you, they won't mind too much. ;) Ask your friends to help with set up, decorating, crafting and creating. If you have a friend who is good at graphic design, ask them to create your invitations or programs. If you have a friend (or in my case, dad) who has beautiful penmanship, ask them to help with addressing invitations.

I also looked for friends and family members to do business with. A college friend is taking my pictures and my cousin is doing my flowers. Sometimes it feels weird asking for things, but don't be afraid to see if your friends will give you a discount on their services. Also, one of them may offer to give you part of the expense as a wedding gift (like the bridal party flowers), cutting down on cost.

Tip #2: Research. Do not go with the first place/offer/deal you find. That's the easiest way to get suckered into paying too much. Shop around, look at prices online, talk to other brides or married couples and compare. Sometimes a better deal is just a website away.

This also applies to attire. Stores like David's Bridal can pull you in because they're a one-stop shop, but their prices tend to be higher. Rather than purchasing a nearly-$100 flower girl dress, I found one online for $27. Check regular retailers like Kohl's and Target, or specialty sites like Etsy and Zulily. Better deals are out there, you just have to be willing to look.

Tip #3: Go digital. Creating your own free wedding website is a great way to not only get important info to your guests, but also save money. For my wedding, I am instructing everyone to rsvp on the wedding website I created with The Knot. Guests simply enter their name in a field and are then directed to indicate who from their party will be attending.

So, rather than spend money on rsvp cards, envelops and stamps, I created my own rsvp card using the "chubby business card" on Zazzle. It lists instructions for rsvping and lets guests know they can find more information on the site (like where we're registered, info on accommodations, etc.). We decided to go this route because we know most of our guests use or have access to the internet. You can also give guests the option to rsvp by email or phone.

Tip #4: Reuse and recycle. Of course every wedding should be unique and be totally you, but that doesn't mean you can't reuse old items. I recommend looking for your decorations at thrift shops and antique stores (if you can), or checking with recently-married friends to see if they have anything left over. A friend of mine offered to let me use any of the decorative items she purchased for her wedding, including lots of tulle (score!).

Shopping at bargain stores and thrift shops will help you find items for a cheaper rate than if you purchased them new. Similarly, you can find great deals at antique shops. Last year I purchased a huge glass punch bowl with an ornate iron base for only $15 at a local antique mall. I plan to use it in my home, as well as for my wedding, and I was already able to use it at a Halloween party (score again!).

Also, keep in mind other friends who may be getting married after you. They may be attempting to plan on a budget and your white lights, silk flowers or glass vases may go a long way in helping them save some cash. If not, consider gifting your centerpieces to family and friends after your reception ends. It's a great way to send them home with a little something extra.

Tip #5: Shop the sales. Okay, I know I said to avoid David's Bridal for somethings, but definitely keep them in mind when you're dress shopping. They frequently have sales and move designer dresses as they pass out of season. If you have enough time before your wedding, take a look at the dresses currently in season, then wait for them to go out of season before buying. (So if it's summer and your wedding will be in the summer, wait for this year's summer dresses to be put on sale, then buy. Your dress will still look perfectly in season come next summer.)

So even if a dress is currently out of your price range, chances are if you wait a few months, it won't be. I recommend trying on a few you love, but don't purchase. Keep a list of your favorites and check on them online until they go on sale. Then you'll be able to buy the right size since you tried it on in the store. (I wish I had known this when I went shopping, because there were a couple Vera Wang dresses I loved! I actually scored one that was already on sale while I was shopping, but I would've tried on some others if I had known they would be up to 50 percent off later!)

You can shop other sales for items like wedding bands, accessories, decorations, invites, etc. Keep an eye out for annual sales, coupons and discounts, clearances and end-of-season markdowns. I found a lot of things on sale at Michael's craft store that I used to create custom favors for my reception. If you're willing to hunt for deals and search for things you can use, you can save a lot of money!

Tip #6: Get crafty. If you're willing and able to spend time creating things for your wedding, you can save money by making your own stuff. Rubber stamps can be a great investment for things like favors, welcome bags and invitations. Order a personalized, self-inking return address stamp and save money on printing costs (and continue using it after the wedding, just change out the ink pad when it gets dry!). Order a customized monogram stamp for use on favors and other items. This also beats the cost of stickers.

I found large letter stamps for $1 each at Michael's. I bought three for monogramming, but at that price, you could buy the whole alphabet and stamp just about anything! So far I have used them on gift bags and reserved table cards for the reception. They add a personalized touch and with $1 ink pads, are an inexpensive way to leave your mark on just about anything!

Also, if your reception site needs dressing up, create your own ceiling decor or wall hangings with 3M hooks (especially good because most sites will not allow you to nail anything), tulle, tissue paper flower balls, white Christmas lights, cloth banners, Chinese lanterns, etc. Lightweight items will hang easily from 3M hooks, and you can use dowel rods to hang flat fabric. You can also create paper crafts to use on in table centerpieces.

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Those are the big tips I have from the wedding planning process so far. I will make sure to share any other tips/secrets I discover along the way. Throughout this whole process I continually think about how I would love to help other ladies cut costs, discover deals and feel good about planning a wedding that doesn't break the bank.

That said, if you have any questions to ask or advice to share, please comment or message me on Facebook. I would love to share ideas and help you if you're stumped or looking for suggestions. I don't think it's impossible to have a lovely wedding on limited funds, you just have to be willing to work for it!