DIY Front Door Wreath

A few weeks ago we went plant shopping and dressed up our front porch with some potted plants.  My planting project then led to this wreath project because all of the new beautiful flowers on the steps left our door looking plain. So then it was time to get crafty! 

So here is how I made it...

Flowers and wreath were purchased at Michael's. 

Numbers were purchased at AC Moore. 

These flowers are fake hydrangeas. There is one colored and four neutral. 

 I also wanted to dress up the door hanger and make it look a little more rustic so I glued burlap ribbon to it. 

First I painted the numbers. A few coats of paint were needed to completely cover the numbers. 

Then I cut the stems off the flowers and green wire was used to hold the flowers to the wreath. Simply string the wire up through the wreath around the flower and then back through. 

The numbers were a little bit more of a challenge because the wreath surface was not flat.  Some of the numbers I just hot glued directly to the wreath.  Some of the numbers were a little temperamental so I created the method below to secure them.  I took three medium sized strands of wire and folded them in half. Then I put a dab of hot glue and held the wire until the hot glue set.  One the glue was try I weaved the wires through the vines in the wreath and then secured the wires in the back. 

and ta-da...here was the final produce!

I used the green color to complement our purple door but you could also use a pale yellow or rustic orange color to complement dark purple.  I might have to make an orange one for the fall :)  

Decorating and Picture Hanging: Easier Than You Think

Decorating and hanging pictures can sometimes be challenging. I have realized with some recent finds that it doesn't have to be! Purchasing a picture hanging kit will give you help when you are trying to mount pictures in a fashionable manor. Follow this link, Bed Bath and Beyond, to see just one example of a kit that gives you paper templates to use and reuse to create perfect works of art! (Where can you find that table? IKEA)

The many different paper templates allow you to easily see what you like and what you don't like. You can also add in other objects such as these letter "Mr. & Mrs.". 

Its easy to hang pictures going up steps using paper templates!

Use some tape to secure the paper to the walls while you decide their best place to go. Once you have decided that all of the paper templates are where you want them, just put screws right through the paper. You can then rip the paper, carefully, off the wall (not all at once!).

Its best not to tear all of the paper off at once. This will make you forget which frame goes where. Doing each picture one by one insures that you will have the right picture in the right spot. 

Pre-Christmas Shopping

It seems like every year Christmas starts earlier and earlier. This past Christmas season (November 10, 2012) I was able to participate in the tradition with Jackie as she searched for all of her Christmas goodies. 

I quickly learned Home Goods is a store Jackie loves. This store is very unique, because you can go there twice in the same week and find something different. It is not uncommon to go twice in the same weekend either. During busy times this store can become like Costco or Wegmans on a Saturday afternoon. Make sure you have a cart so you can block other carts. This allows your shopper to examine merchandise. Without this blocking technique it could be very dangerous. Only the strong survive! 

Ikea is another store that has seasonal goodies Jackie loves to buy. Although similar to Home Goods, Ikea's larger store spreads out the shoppers for safer shopping. The stick-man was my idea and a great addition to our office. Scroll down to see what the stick man is doing today!

No he didn't fall over. He is just getting his push-ups in.

Gary and Joey introduced Jackie to Crate & Barrel. She had never been there before and we left with lots of things. 

Bridal Expo!

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to the blog! School has gotten a little crazy with the beginning of the 4th quarter starting and spring break less than 2 days upon us (thank goodness)!!

So my mom and I went to the Bridal Expo at the Dulles Expo center on April 10th.  My goodness was it a fun people watching experience! Plus we got a few ideas for the wedding and we started the photographer hunt.  This photographer hunt is going to be harder than I expected.  Many of the photos are starting to look the same to me and I am not sure how I am going to pick just the right photographer.  It is one of my top priorities so I will spending a lot of time in the next few months focusing on a photographer.  The best advice I got from a photographer at the expo was to find someone that you click with and get along with because Will and I will be spending a lot of time with them on our wedding day.  I also want to take our engagement photos over the summer so hopefully I find a photographer before then :)  (I apologize in advance for the awful quality of the photos below because I had to use my phone, next time my mom and I will not forget the camera). 

Idea #1

At this flower booth a florist gave us the idea that we can cut maple branches with fall colored leaves and hang tea lights from the branches.  Cute idea and something to consider for the foyer.  

Idea #2

Continue strict workout schedule and healthy eating plan so that I can have my dream dress and not look like  a tissue box exploded on my dress.  I am not a fan of puffy, fluffy things. 

Idea #3

Wrapping personalized ribbon around the stem of little pumpkins as party favors

Overall my mom and I had a wonderful time together and had lots of laughs! 

In the upcoming week we are going to possibly start a wedding dress hunt and I am sure with a nice long week of no work I will be able to start gathering more ideas.  More to come :)