Lollipop Centerpieces

Posted on August 11, 2009 by vicki

When I was a kid, my grandma used to bake all of my birthday cakes. She was a really great baker and had her own pie business in her basement for awhile. My favorite cake of all time was definitely my lollipop cake. I don’t remember how old I was, and it was a very simple white cake with lollipops on the top of it, but there was something so magical and special about this cake that it’s always held a special place in my mind. So who says your centerpieces have to be flowers? They can be whatever you want, whatever makes YOUR event feel special to you through color, texture, or memories.

Posted by Kate Berry, Floral and Event Expert
From: Martha Stewart Weddings

Who says your centerpiece always has to be flowers? As much as I LOVE brilliant blooms on the table, sometimes it’s refreshing to see a different idea sprinkled through your reception. In the current Summer 09 Weddings issue, we featured the wedding of Cheree Berry, one of our favorite stationery vendors. It’s chock-full of inspirational ideas, including these lollipop trees she created. They weren’t her centerpieces, but I think they’d make great ones that you can make ahead of time. See how she did it here.

What’s gracing your table’s centers? And do you agree that sometimes it’s nice not to see flowers on the table?

Tools and Materials

Styrofoam cone from Baisch & Skinner
Floral spray paint (choose a color that will match your ribbon)
Extra-wide flat washers (these will add weight to the bottom of the cone and keep it steady; to get a heavy-enough weight, Cheree used 2 and hot-glued them together. The more surface of the base that the washer covers, the steadier the cone will be; so, if you can find a “Large OD” washer that’s 8 millimeters or wider from a plumbing-supply store, that would be best)
Hot-glue gun
8 yards of 5/8-inch-wide ribbon (use 1-inch-wide ribbon for a 24-inch-tall cone; Baisch & Skinner)
Gold-topped boutonniere pins (about 30)
Lollipops (some of our favorite sources include Ju-C Suckers, Hammond’s Candies, CandyDirect.com, and Sugar Shack)
Flag template (download template here)
Slim wooden dowel (for flag)
Craft glue

Lollipop Stand How-To

1. Spray paint cone with floral spray paint, and let dry. Hot-glue the flat washer to the bottom of the cone, and let set.

2. Cut the ribbon into graduated lengths so each wraps once around the cone, with extra for overlap; the shortest piece (for the top of the cone) will be about 5 inches. You will need 25 pieces of ribbon for 16-inch cone, 28 pieces of ribbon for 18-inch cone, and 27 pieces of ribbon (of 1-inch-wide ribbon) for 24-inch cone.

3. Cover cone with ribbon, starting from the top. Wrap the first ribbon snugly around the cone (you will need to wrap the ribbon at a slight angle so that it lays flat on the conical surface). Fold the end under to hide the raw edge, and use a pin to secure. Continue down the cone, overlapping the ribbons only slightly.

4. Insert your favorite lollipops into the cone, slipping the sticks between the ribbons and angling them down. We used rock-candy swizzle sticks, so we used scissors to cut off the balls on the ends of the wooden sticks.

5. Stick a sign into the top of the cone, or insert a single lollipop instead. To use Cheree’s flag, download her template and print it out, then use a craft knife and a metal straight edge to cut the flag just inside the lines. Glue it to a slim wooden dowel; if you like, cut a second sheet of paper and glue it to the back of the flag to cover the dowel.

First Published: Summer 2009

Eco-Friendly Decoration: DIY Solar Sun Jars

Posted on July 29, 2009 by vicki

Anything eco-friendly is automatically put on the short list for my events, but how can it get any better when it’s also DIY?

From Earth Friendly Weddings:
Solar sunjars are a really fun way to romantically light up an outdoor evening wedding. Less cheesy than LED candles and more eco-friendly than petroleum based wax candles, they’re pretty widely available on the net. For $55.00 you can get one at the MoMa Store. However, for those looking to save a little and test their DIY skills, thanks to LifeHacker, you can also make your own!

Things you will need:

4 jars @ 3.99
4 lamps @ 4.99
1 can frosting spray @ 7.99

Autumn Harvest Centerpiece

Posted on July 26, 2009 by vicki

From: Martha Stewart Weddings

A table arrangement of grains celebrates the bounty of fall. In addition to wheat, which symbolizes a fruitful life, this textured display includes other dried grasses (available at crafts stores), so it can be made weeks ahead. The final flourish? A luxurious satin bow.

Centerpiece How-To
To make each centerpiece, you’ll need about a hundred stalks (six bunches) of dried grass and wheat.

1. Bundle 15 or so stems together at a time (they’re easiest to handle if you secure bundles with floral tape about 4 inches below grain pods).

2. Hold between thumb and forefinger at an angle. Add bundles, in a spiral as shown, until all are used.

3. Wrap with floral tape (choose a color that matches your ribbon). Trim ends with floral pruner (cut center tips shorter for a stable base). Tie a wide ribbon over tape.

Tool for the Task: Colored Floral Tape
This handy tape, which becomes sticky only when you stretch it, and then adheres only to itself, is now widely available in a variety of shades. That means it blends beautifully into boutonnieres, bouquets, and centerpieces such as this one.

Scattering of Leaves

Posted on July 20, 2009 by vicki

From: Martha Stewart Weddings

I love this idea for fall events. This can be used for a flower girl or a table centerpiece in lieu of bouquets.

As a fitting nod to the season, substitute dried leaves for petals in your flower girl’s basket. If fall foliage isn’t abundant when you wed, you can order pressed leaves online (from drynature.com). We lined this pint-size basket with a cotton fabric. Using scissors, cut a large round of fabric and a slit on opposite sides to accommodate handles, then place in basket. Wrap silk ribbon around, and tie in a bow.

DIY…Time in a Bottle

Posted on July 19, 2009 by vicki

Here’s a great way to display vintage family photos. Follow these few easy steps from Yankee Magazine.

You’ll need: glass bottle or jar glass cleaner photocopy of a photograph or print scissors two wooden skewers.

Choose an attractive glass bottle or jar, whether new or antique (the larger the neck or the mouth the better). Clean it and dry it thoroughly. (Polident denture solution works great for getting old glassware clean.)
Make a color or black-and-white photocopy of your picture on regular copier paper. The copy should be small enough (in length and width) to fit unrolled inside the glass container. Trim excess paper if necessary.
Wrap the photocopy, blank side showing, around one of the wooden skewers and roll it into a tight cylinder.
Slide the photocopy cylinder off the skewer and slip it, right side up, through the bottle’s neck (or the jar’s mouth).
Insert both skewers down through the neck (or mouth).
Working from the blank side (to avoid damaging the print), use the skewers to unroll the cylinder until it’s flat inside the bottle or jar. Pressing toward the front of the container from the back of the photocopy works best.
Leave the top of your bottle or jar open if you like, or finish with a cork or clean metal cap.

Fall 2009 Wedding Colors

Posted on July 12, 2009 by vicki

The Pantone Fashion Color Report of Fall 2009 is out and of course you’re going to want to incorporate these colors in your wedding this Fall. The 2009 fall color palette is more unique and thoughtful than the typical autumn hues of past years. These colors are sure to be the 2009 Wedding Trends for Fall.

First one is American Beauty (Pantone 19-1759). This is a natural choice during uncertain times. Patriotic American Beauty is a wonderfully balanced true red and speaks to the need for cohesiveness. It is perfect for all skin tones and most certainly a feel-good color.

PROMINENT COLORS are Translucent Reds, Purples and Magentas with some hints of Deep Crimsons and Resonant Purples, Creams and Dusty Mustards, Cool Ocean Blues, Turquoise and Greens with hints of Black.

Another 2009 Wedding Trend for Fall is Purple Heart (Pantone 18-3520) which connotes a sense of refinement and sensuality, adding an air of creativity and excitement to the top 10 color palette, especially when paired with American Beauty.

PROMINENT COLORS to incorporate into your wedding are lush saturated shades paired with earthy neutrals like Merlot and Deep Plum with Raven and Gilt.

Another 2009 Wedding Trend for Fall is a warmer and more subdued Honey Yellow (Pantone 16-1143) which carries the 2009 color of the year, PANTONE 14-0848 Mimosa, through to fall and winter with its warm and golden tones. Pairing Honey Yellow with Purple Heart, will surely add a surprising flair to your fall wedding colors. Or, if you want, for a more typical fall combination, group Honey Yellow with Burnt Sienna and Iron together.

PROMINENT COLORS are Golden Topaz, Warm Onyx, Smoky Quartz, Jade, Garnet and Cool Carnelian with the MOST IMPORTANT COLOR being Smoky Quartz which adds warmth to highlight the other colors in your fall wedding.

Use Creme Brulee, a grayed-down beige, and Nomad, which bridges the gap between beige and light gray and also speaks to the need for timeless neutrals. All three classics can stand alone or serve as anchors when paired with other colors in your 2009 Fall Wedding.

PROMINENT COLORS are Black with pop colors like White, Fuchsia, Lilac and Grape tones of Purple, Mint Green, Burnt Orange and Electric Blue

MOST IMPORTANT COLOR is Black which is the perfect background for pops of vibrant and warm color and is eminently wearable and simultaneously edgy and polished for a 2009 fall wedding.

The 2009 Wedding Trend for Fall would not be complete without a seasonal favorite like Burnt Sienna (Pantone 17-1544) which is a deepened and earthy shade of orange, reminiscent of an autumn sunset. Pair this warm and versatile hue with Nomad and Rapture Rose for a different twist.

The PROMINENT COLORS are classic textured Black and Moonlight, accented by smoky and cool Celadon Green and a cold Brick Red. Perfect colors for the upcoming 2009 Fall wedding season.

My favorite, adding spark to the fall wedding palette, Rapture Rose (Pantone 17-1929). It artfully captures the vibrancy of fuchsia and the softness of pink. The addition of Rapture Rose will enliven the more traditionally subdued wedding fall hues. Remember to look for it in cosmetics as well as bridal clothing and accessories.

Another upcoming 2009 Fall Wedding trend, like the olive in a martini, Warm Olive (Pantone 15-0646) which is a rich yellow-green and adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to the fall wedding. When combined with other colors, this tangy and intriguing hue makes all other colors come alive.

Linen and Lace Wedding Love Birds

Posted on March 25, 2009 by vicki

I found these on Etsy and had to share them. They are so adorable and an amazing work of art!

Linen and Lace Love Birds

Beautiful lovebirds made using linen, cotton, and vintage lace.

He wears a light tan linen jacket with gold silk four ‘button’ waistcoat. His bow tie is made using ivory satin. His sweetheart wears a gown of exquisite vintage lace, a soft ‘gold’ colour. She wears a pretty hand made fascinator with white and gold details, embellished with tiny beads. Gorgeous little love birds!

Each little bird is hand stitched using fine embroidery threads. Eyes are embroidered, and feet are hand made using wire. Filled with hypo-allergenic fiber

Day to Night Wedding Decoration Idea

Posted on May 1, 2007 by vicki

Silk-Flower Party Lights

wedding flower decoration
These flowers look like the prettiest climbing vines. But they’re not just sweet by day — they’re radiant by night. Despite their enchanted appearance, they are simply holiday lights covered with faux flowers (we chose flame-hued silk poppies).Making this decoration doesn’t require stitching, tape, or glue; all you need are silk flowers and a string of lights.

Silk-Flower Party Lights How-To

You’ll need miniature holiday string lights for outdoor use, as well as silk poppies or other flowers (one for each bulb) with removable plastic stems and centers, available at crafts stores. Pull the heads off the stems, then use scissors to enlarge the hole to about 1/4 inch to fit over the base of each light. If your flowers have layers of petals — as with a gardenia — stack them onto the base from largest to smallest. Push the petals back, away from the bulb, so they don’t touch it and overheat (for safety, be sure that each bulb is firmly connected to its base). Then hang the string of blooms just as you would any other decorative garland.

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