Most Original Wedding Invitations

Weddings are elegant affairs and can be done many different ways and several motifs. They often follow similar patterns, though. Many people want to stick by what is beautiful, which is why many weddings are alike. There's obviously wrong with this at all, but some people want to be original and the first element that shows this is the invitation. The invitation is meant to just give the basic information and invite the guest in a way that's as welcoming as possible. Here are some awesome ways to do it that you probably haven't thought of yet.

photo courtesy of madebyjulene.com

One invitation for those who appreciate originality while still maintaining elegance and a classic feel is the paper cutout. I love it for its ornate intricacy. This invitation is so detailed that it goes beyond design into art. If created on sturdy enough paper, the cutout can stand alone. If done on paper of regular width, it will need to be attached to a piece of paper. This can be great though, adding color and more design to your invitation. Either way, this invitation is a winner no matter what you do to it.

photo courtesy of ramshackleglam.com

If you are a fan of the 'Little Miss' and 'Mister Men' books, then you will love this :-) The cute invitation is a recreation of the classic children's book that people my have grown up with. It's an adorable throwback that will bring back nostalgia for anyone sentimental. I personally love Little Miss Sunshine and Mr. Messy the most. Those would be on my cover :-)

photo courtesy of carlaberrocal.com

For the more nerdy brides and grooms, this is a cool way to go. I love that the invitation is pixelated just a nintendo video game invoking nostalgia once again, for the true gamer of course. What truly makes this vintage though is the 'Insert Coin?' line on the left of card, bringing you back to the olden days of arcades. I love this one, because it brings back childhood again, and I'm not even a big video games fan.

photo courtesy of qualityjunkyard.com

This one is for the cook, food aficionado or just those with a sweet tooth. The invitation is a chocolate bar with the wedding invitation written on the packaging. It has very creative detail as well and is so realistic that is could pass for a normal manufactured candy bar. And every will love receiving a sweet treat along with an invitation to your big day.

photo courtesy of lolitastudio.net

I'm not quite sure what theme this wedding invitation would accompany, but nonetheless, it is a very original and fun idea. Instead of sending one piece of paper, this invitation is a small deck of custom playing cards with bits of information on each card. A great way to employ the deck to the fullest would be to use the number cards to give out the date, ceremony time, address and other things like this. And a cute idea that was used in example above, is use the heart cards of the deck :-)

photo courtesy of ioffer.com

A cute idea that is perfect for those using certain motifs is event tickets. This is broad idea too, so it can work for themes relating to movies, plays, carnivals, or just a party (reception) in general. Using an actual ticket for admission isn't used much anymore now that you can print tickets on printer paper, use a confirmation number, or just have a barcode scanned on your iphone. This will bring back a fun, vintage feel and can be very elegant if done well. You can even collect the stub at the door to have even more fun and to keep out the wedding crashers ;)

photo courtesy of gizmodiva.com

Another one for the nerdy couple is comics books. I love this, for the reason that you can probably guess. That's right, because it's retro. It's perfect for those who love comics or just something from a bygone era. I love the detail on this one as well, with the ceremony date listed as the issue date in the top lefthand corner. The cool thing about this one is that there are thousands of covers you can get inspiration from.

photo courtesy of weddinginvitations21.com

This is a great idea if you want to surprise your guests with your invitation. Just send a bag of puzzle pieces for guests to put together for a little bit of fun and the pleasant surprise of a wedding invitation. Who wouldn't love to get a surprise like that in the mail?

photo courtesy of lovelypackage.com

I've saved my favorite for last. This the coolest wedding invitation idea I've ever seen. With this, you mail the wedding invitation to your guests in a tin can. The tin can will need to have a small hole in the bottom. When they open it up, guests will find the invitation, string and instructions. They will now use attach the string to the tin can and tie it to the newlywed's car on the day of the wedding. The instructions will them know just how to do it and you will be sure to have enough tin cans to bring some wind resistance to your car. This is a cute way to incorporate the age-old tradition of tin cans on the back of the newlyweds' car and involve your guests in the festivities. It is traditional and original, which is hard to do and you're sure to not come across another couple that has already done it.

Invitations are the first impression of your wedding to your guests, and originality can go a long way. Common wedding invitation patterns can be work, but guests won't know what they're in for exactly. An original invitation will most likely give them more of a sense of what's in store. Have fun with your invitations whether they're customary or original and make sure each of your personalities show.

Featured Wedding of the Week: Desert Bliss

As I was scrounging for a wedding this week, I kept coming across gorgeous weddings with beautiful photographs but they all began to look the same. But it's very hard for me to look at weddings these days without wanting to share all of them. The reason? I want to re-do my own wedding because I wasn't overly pleased with it, so how can I look down on any of these? In comparison to mine, they are all far too perfect. I know, I'm way to harsh on my special day. But aren't we all? Maybe not.... maybe I'm alone here. Hello!..... hello.....hello. Wow, I guess I am. Oh well!

That was a long segment just to bring me around to the fact that I found a wedding that (to me) seems outside the ordinary or commonplace for weddings today. I continuously see vintage or country style weddings (which I love), but the simple, modern wedding has been recently hidden on the shelf. So, when this little beaut popped up on my screen I knew I had to have it! And as you'll find, this oh-so-chic wedding find itself smack dab in the middle of a desert.

This is the wedding of Kelley and Jeff at the Sanctuary Resort and Spa in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. Photography by Bliss Wedding Studio.

I had to add this pic because I just loved Kelley's hair

Instead of traditional flowers hanging on the chairs, I love the petals lining the aisle.  And don't miss the hidden gem: floating candles in square glass canisters.  L-O-V-E Love it

This is a very modernistic take on a a ceremony altar; a beautiful background.

I adore this picture.  What a great choice by the photographer.  Not only does it show the beauty of the wedding bands, but it's a reminder of their desert scenery.

And what about this cake?!  AAAAhhhhh!  I just want to eat it up!  Oh no... I don't.  It's way to pretty, modern and perfect.

Congrats on a lovely day Kelley and Jeff.

Creative Thinking With Etsy

Etsy is a wonderful, magical place filled with stuff you probably couldn't find anywhere else.  But occasionally there is a seller or two who may have too much time or 'creative energy' on their hands.  Every third page or so I always seem to come across something that makes me think, 'What were they thinking on this one?'  Well, I've had an attack of conscience for my mean thoughts (and I'm a little low on material), so I am going to do a little brainstorming for some of Etsy's extra creative sellers.  Below are a few seemingly useless Etsy products and a few innovative ways to use them.

First up is an Olifant Steampunk Gas Mask.  Now there were a lot of items that I toyed with using from this seller.  In the end, I went with something that you could get the most use out of.  This mask would be great to wear when you are trying to get someone to see things your way.  Like if you have to go talk to the kid down the street about bullying your son.  Even if you ask nicely, this mask will guarantee that your kid will not have anymore problems.  You could also use it to get people to evacuate an area of your choosing.  No one will think twice about running in the opposite direction.  It sells for $3900, but can you really put a price on peace and quiet?

At first glance Clem The Sock Monster seems like a waste of cash at $25, considering that you can get a regular (ie: better looking) sock puppet for like $10 at Target.  But the advantage that Clem has is that he looks very much like a real sock, so he can be used in a real sock situation.  If you have a roommate who is always leaving their laundry in the dryer, try hanging Clem inside from the top to freak them out when they stick their head down there.  Alternatively, if you have kids, you can use Clem as your bad cop.  That way Clem does all the dirty work and everyone still loves Mom.  Your kids may think oddly of you as they get older though.

Okay let's be honest, no one is going to make it to fashion week wearing a cookie ring (Oreo or otherwise).  Which is why the ring seems like it would serve no purpose.  But baked in that creme-filling, is a recipe for revenge.  Innocently wear this ring to your arch rival's next Weight Watchers meeting and it will guarantee that she has a bad points week.  Or wear it to work when your annoying co-worker hasn't quite gotten over the flu.  Or bring it to the park and palm it to tease the kid who pushed your toddler off of the slide.  This handy little ring gives you 100% satisfaction with none of the mess, and for only $9.

It is hard to imagine a situation in which one would require needlework brain matter, especially enough to drop $25 on it.  But I have come up with a few.  Say your roomie, or sibling, is in the early stages of a relationship that you don't approve of.  Casually sneak this jar into their room and the next time you get the chance to chat up the prospective partner mention something like, 'And don't worry about the brain in the jar, it's not going turn into the real thing no matter how many spells he/she chants around it.'  Or you could give it as a gift to a certain someone in your own life who just won't take the hint.  Chances are they won't be trying so hard anymore.

15 Natural Beauty Recipes Using Everyday Foods

from africa on freedigitalphotos.net

Every girl wants to be pretty, but it can be hard having to use tons of masks, lotions and just a load of products. It can break your bank and expose you to unnecessary amounts of chemicals. I believe in keeping it simple and cheap. No need to go shopping at Macy's, Bare Minerals or any of these stores, just head to the grocery store with a $20 bill to get the same effect. I've compiled a few beauty recipes below, but there are a plethora more that are just a search engine click away.

Brown Sugar and Honey Facial Scrub

This is probably my favorite one. Brown sugar exfoliates the skin ridding the pores of all dirt, oil and dead skin cells causing blemishes. Honey is naturally antibacterial, so as the brown sugar cleans out the pores, the honey cleans out the sources for this build up to prevent future break outs.

Coffee Grounds in Conditioner

This one is really simple. Instead of throwing old coffee grounds away, toss them into your conditioner to make your hair extra shiny. That's all it takes!

Replace Conditioner with Vinegar

To get rid of the usual problems with hair: build up, dullness and just lack luster, replace your conditioner with vinegar 1-4 times a month, depending on your own hair. Just use it as you need it. And don't worry about buying the best stuff for the best results, common white vinegar will do the trick as well as any other vinegar.

Olive Oil as Hair Moisturizer

It's easy to see how oil can moisturize your hair. It's simple to use it as well. Simply cover your hair in olive oil and leave it in for 30-45 minutes. You can also wrap it in plastic wrap to keep it from dripping and some believe it enhances the effect.

Lemon and Egg Facial

Have red splotchiness on your face? Soothe both symptoms away easily by mixing together one egg yolk and the juice of one lemon into a paste. Cover your face with it and leave it on overnight. If this seems like too much work, leave it on your face for an hour. You might not get the optimal results with this, but you will see a difference.

Replace Conditioner with Baking Soda

Want to be more like a guy and only use one thing to clean your hair? Then just add baking soda to your shampoo. It will remove build up and make hair shinier, and you can use it everyday.

Degrease Oily Hair With Lemons and Aloe

Mix together 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon aloe vera. Mix it together with a normal serving of shampoo. It will get rid of your oiliness in one shower.

Smooth Fizzy Hair With Honey

Add a tablespoon of honey to a litre of water. After shampooing, rinse your hair with this concoction to tame your frizz.

Replace Face Wash With Skim Milk Powder

Switching face wash out with skim milk powder can make your face much softer and give you a smoother complexion. It's also very gentle, so even the most sensitive can use it.

Moisturize Skin With Honey and Olive Oil

Honey holds moisture extremely well and olive oil hydrates well, too. Mix equal parts of olive oil and honey and add a dash of lemon juice if you'd like to create a pasty lotion. Rub it onto the dry skin and let it sit for 10-20 minutes. Your skin will be hydrated for plenty of time to come afterwards.

Soften Skin With Oatmeal

There are many concoctions and mask recipes that involve oatmeal, but you can use oatmeal by itself to help your skin. Ground up about 1 cup of oatmeal using a blender or coffee grinder, and add it to bath water to soften skin to baby-like quality.

Treat Choline-Damaged Hair

Mix together 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1/4 of a peeled cucumber. Cover you hair with the mixture and leave on for 10-20 minutes. You'll see your hair return to normal almost immediately.

Tone and Rebuild Skin With Avocados and Carrots

This recipe can work wonders. Combine 1 avocado, 1 cooked carrot, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1 egg and 3 tablespoons of honey. Leave on for 10-20 minutes and then rinse. These ingredients add a multitude of vitamins, antioxidants and calcium to rebuild natural collagen, tone skin and remove age spots. There is plenty to read about the benefits of each of these ingredients, but all you need to know is that each natural element does more than any store-bought item can.

Lemons or Oranges for Fine Hair Hairspray

Use Lemons for dry hair and oranges for a stronger hold. Chop up the entire piece of fruit in a bowl as to not lose any juice. Boil the fruit with 2 cups of water until soupy or when the liquid has been significantly reduced. Strain through a cloth and put into a spray bottle. The citrus will hold the hair and not damage it due to the fact that there is no alcohol.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Cleanser and Toner

This eliminates dead skin cells easily, so you can use in lieu of expensive toner. That's all

there is to it!

Being beautiful can get expensive and damaging if you're using products often. Try using these

natural tips before spending money and see if you even want to try products after.

Handmade Wednesday: Tin Can Planter

This week I have been in a Springy mood. All I want to do is spend time in my little garden patch and plant new flowers. And it's no wonder! I bought a planted tulip and over the past few days it has just completely opened up and blossomed before my eyes. Gorgeous. Plus, with the new addition of a baby (Lily) to my sisters family, I have been searching for a Lily plant to give them. I wanted to find a super cute pot to put the plant in but have come across nothing. I thought about painting one and here is the simple gem I discovered at Family Chic to help me do just that.

To make these, just grab some old aluminum cans, bang them with a hammer and give them a few coats of paint. Then add some soil and a flower bulb and you are all set!

This one was great too! I love the added paint brush hot glued to the side. But it would be just as cute painted any color with the brush left out. All you need is a soup can, your favorite color paint and an old paint brush. Too easy and too sweet.

The Thoughts You Think While Thinking

While I'm in the middle of desperately waiting for my current decoupage project to make sense to me (and for the paint to dry), I found my mind wandering to things of the future. Isn't it always in these moments when we begin to become philosophical? It's the down time, the time when you're not filling you brain or hands with unnecessary tasks that you begin to ponder life's deepest questions. Mine tend to run along these lines: where is my life headed? What does the good Lord have in store for me? Will my children follow in their mommy's footsteps? (oh I hope not) Though they may not seem deep to some of you, they are the ever present thoughts in my mind - and I don't even have those kids yet!

The future is a scary, yet exciting place for me. I am waiting on the masterful plan of God to unfold before Movie Star and I (which is always thrilling), but it's been a long and frustrating journey. I don't know about you all, but when you're waiting on something that seems hopeless don't you find it hard to jump right out of bed in the morning like a kid on Christmas? Usually my eyes open to a glottal groan as my body rolls off the bed and clumsily stumbles to the coffee pot, hoping for a quick perk. Even after my daily devotional time with my Savior, I still find it hard to slap that bright smile across my wide face. I love my Lord and will wait on him until the end of time (literally), but sometimes the daily drudge is too much to handle.

Now that you know exactly what my morning consists of (and what's in my brain), I'll get to my point. I try to fill my day with things that make my life prettier -hence the site you're visiting- and keep me focused on my tasks at-hand. But it's in the moments that you have to sit still in silence, waiting for the paint on your decoupage'd vase to dry, that you are forced to skip around your little brain garden and prune the flowers that are your thoughts. I know my life will turn out just as it should, as long as I live for my God, treat people with love and respect and always do what's right. But it's hard to imagine a life filled with happiness when you're sitting in an itsy one-bedroom apartment staring at a table filled with bills and a small painted vase.

That reminds me! The vase is dry and I've got pretty little roses waiting for me to play with them. Until next time.....

Featured Wedding of the Week: Old Fashioned Seaside Elegance

It's Saturday, which means one thing. It's another edition of Inspiring Pretty's featured weddings! As always, if you'd like to have your wedding showcased, please submit it to us here. Now, onto the prettiness.

This week we'll be exploring the classic beauty of a simple, old fashioned seaside affair. This wedding is beaming with natural themes and simple traditions from years ago. Notice the bird decorations and small, simple flower arrangements. There's also gorgeous streamers and feathers, traditions dating back centuries to celebrate the couple as they leave the church. Like a classic event, nuptials took place in the church, and also dating back centuries, the wedding party marched in public to the reception celebrating the marriage. The rest of the gorgeous and down-to-earth party can be seen even greater in the photos!

pictures courtesy of Stylemepretty

Fabulous Etsy Finds: Unicorns

I am very blessed in the neighbor department.  To the left and the right of me are a few people that I will have my eternally fondness.  In fact, we are quickly outgrowing our house and our neighbors are one of the main reasons we hesitate to move.  We know that the chances of finding neighbors this terrific twice is pretty unlikely, but I digress. 

The reason for this shameless neighbor brag is that one of them has a birthday coming up.  Our little Alyse, whom we have watched blossom into a young lady these last six years is turning twelve.  Now I could run out and pick up a Target gift card and call it good.  But Alyse has recently developed a fascination for unicorns.  So I figured a little unicorn hunt on Etsy should yield the perfect present.  And boy was I right.  I guess I should have known, Etsy and unicorns are like peas and carrots.  Here are a few of the highlights.

Rainbow Scrabble Pendant

$8.95 ($12.45 with chain)

Ipod/Phone Case

$18

Pink Wall Decal

$40

Unicorn Hat

$20

Sassy Tee

$12

Post Earrings

$8

Shoulder Bag

$25

An Ode To My Observant Husband

Valentine's Day is a funny time in my marriage. When my hubby and I first met we put off our first date for a few days after V-Day as not to put too much pressure on it. Now that we are married, we find ourselves tempted to celebrate our love a few days late to avoid the crowds. So there are many years that I wake up on Feb 14 with nothing going on. I don't really mind. With 3 rugrats, I don't have time to wait 2 hours for a table at a mediocre restaurant. (Although, I am starting to think that having our first date on 2/16 was a cleverly devised plan hatched by my hubby to get out of having to deal with the cupid craze.)

Yesterday, our friendly neighborhood UPS guy presented me with some very decadent chocolates (from the hubby). They were exponentially sweeter than your average box of chocolate for a few reasons. First off, it was a box of 50-yes 50! handcrafted pieces. Second, it was a from a place that I had tried casually and LOVED-but I didn't think hubby knew about. And third, it was predominantly truffles.

This made me swoon because I recently wrote a post about V-Day chocolates. In it I said that this was one of the only days I could indulge in chocolate with abandon, so he got me A LOT. I also listed the place he bought them from, Mignon Chocolates, as a fave of mine. And I love that he knows that I am crazy about truffles, since it is not a common topic of conversation between us. Most of our convos start off with 'So guess what (fill in son's name here) did today.'

In addition to giving him insight into my soul, it appears that this blog has made him want to try a little harder. Because this first two things he asked me was 'Did you take pictures' and 'Are you going to write about it?' I did take pics, after I snuck a few pieces. And of course I'm going to write about it. Not only because I was completely swept off my feet by this simple gesture, but also because I didn't have much else going on this week--save a few monster 4 year old tantrums.

So to my dear Alpha, who brought a new kind of happiness into my life 10 years ago--thank you for keeping it up everyday since then. Thank you for giving me three little boys who make my world go 'round. And, thanks for the chocolates, they really are amazing!

Handmade Wednesday: Let Your Towels Talk!

This week, I decided to actually make the craft I wanted to talk about! What a novel idea. Sometimes I amaze myself. Anyway, my sister is adopting a baby which is due in less than two weeks and so they have had to get their remodeled home completely finished. The last thing they've been working on is their main bathroom. They decided to go with blue and white ..... now I could go into all the details about how they made it look just dandy, but perhaps I'll save that for another time. Right now, I'll just tell you about my project.

I wanted to give my sister and her husband something that they could put in the bathroom. I also wanted to give them a "Congrats on the Baby" gift. Nothing crazy, but just a little something. I thought about towels but they can be so impersonal (nothing to do with the baby). I decided to make something. And what do you know, a name on a towel came right to me! Making them for my blood sister made me want to make some for Bonnie too and this one here is for her eldest son Aiden. You can also stitch sayings like "Wash your hands!" or "I can tell" if you have kids who fake their hand washing after using the bathroom..... might have to try this.

Here's What You'll Need:

• Plain towels
• Embroidery thread in your choice of color
• Embroidery needle
• The ability to do a back stitch (watch the video below if you don't know... it's easy)

Here's How To Do It:

• Lay out your towel and lightly pencil the name or words you will be stitching (this will make it easier to stitch)
• Pull however many embroidery threads you want to use and thread your needle (easy thread separating video)
• Begin your needle work and use the backstitch!

The Mason Jar: A Versatile Wonder

I have always loved creating interesting lighting in and outside of my home. And here is my story of discovering something new for myself.

Recently I was at the 99 cent store (yes folks, you can find things you need or want there) walking down the dish aisle. I glanced at cups and picked up a few plates, but nothing struck my fancy. Then all of the sudden, out of the corner of my eye, there they were: Mason Jars. My heart lit up! I have one mason jar at home which I use as a vase, but to find 15-20 jars just sitting there, waiting to be taken home by little old me was trilling. I wanted to fill my cart with them but before I could do that, I needed to know "Just what am I going to use these for?"

Image: Ruby Press

Slowly and sadly, I walked away from the jars quietly praying they would still be there in a few days. I had thought of just buying them and deciding what to use them for later, but over the last few years (where money has been tighter than bark on a tree) I have had to be cautious of over spending. "Just buy what you know you need right now," I have to tell myself. It's a pressure..... Anyway, I came home and searched the internet. Here's what I found!

Image: Beth Helmstetter

Making this seems like a piece of work, but with the tips I found at asubtlerevelry.com, it may not be as hard as it looks. Just grab your buff man or that handsome guy next door you've been dying to talk to. Trust me, if he's at all interested in you, he'll be all too happy to help and show of his muscles. In additon to those rough hands, you'll need a large piece of wood, mason jars, tea lights and heavy rope. Then all you have to do is cut holes in the wood (that's where the handsome man comes in), put the tea lights in the mason jars, slip the jars into the wooden holes and tie on the rope. Classic and simply gorgeous!

For more Mason Jar lighting tips, head to Design*Sponge one of the sites on our blogroll.

Image: Print Nest

Oh my..... Use mason jars for craft storage? Yes please. After staring at this photo and trying figure out just how they did it, I stopped (cause I was getting nowhere) and asked Movie Star. Outside of his name, he is also quite a handy fellow. He told me they just screwed in a clamp. A what? If you are as daft as me when it comes to stuff like this, here are two options you can try at Home Depot. If you use a 2-Hole Clamp it's pretty obvious how you screw it to the wall. If you use Stainless Steal Clamps, Movie Star said that it would be screwed behind the mason jar and then tightened in the front.

Image: Paul Johnson

I am going to be 100% honest with you right now: This is my favorite idea and the one I'm going to do. I have alway loved pictures and this seems like a cool, vintage way to display them all over!

Needless to say, I'm going back to that good ol' 99 cent store to pick out my mason jars. Have fun with yours!