DIY Projects: Button Brunch!

As we wrap up the fun shoot we did with Wedding Chicks, I thought it would be fun to highlight the few DIY projects that happened to create some of the fun details for the tablescape.

The button garland was certainly a labor of love, but worth every minute of it. It's hard to envision this garland simply by the photos alone. In person, the button garland really made the space fun and unique!

We ordered lots of various buttons off etsy, and found several others at Michael's. We bought a larger yellow spool of thread used for quilting, and got to threading one button at a time. The tricky to part to this is making sure the garland doesn't get tangled up in a mess!

We made several strands of garland with the various colors and shapes of buttons. Make sure you have a beam, or some sort of overhang to tie your garland to. We decided to swoop it in various heights and layers over our table.

The 'favors' for this brunch were individual recipe boxes. We found plain wooden boxes at Michael's, and wrapped the yellow string around it several times, attached a few of the buttons on all sides of the box, and of course a darling Ink and Button fascinator to finish the touch. We also used them as a place card at each guests seat.


The table linens were hand made. We always have the hardest time finding just the right fabric for our tables. We found the delicate and girly floral printed fabric at Joann's, as well as the very fine stripped tangerine and cream linen, which was turned into the table runner.

The floral overlay fit just perfectly, and to add a fun touch, we sewed a cream fringe around the entire border of the linen. The table runner was hand sewn, and on the ends of the runner we glued {because it's just way faster} dozens and dozens of the buttons to tie in our theme.

Thank you again Amy and the Wedding Chicks! To see and read more about the shoot, please visit the 3 part feature on Wedding Chicks, here, here and here! Special thanks to Jessica Claire for all the photos!

Bridesmaid Brunch [inspired by yellow and buttons!]

Amy from the Wedding Chicks was looking for someone to design a bridesmaid brunch photo shoot for a Wedding Chicks blog feature on bridal shower ideas. We quickly jumped at the opportunity! Why? Because we love The Wedding Chicks, and we had been dreaming up brunch ideas for some time now.


The team we were able to work with was truly incredible. First off, we had the chance to meet, and have the table shot by the amazing Jessica Claire. She is a hilarious, sweet girl who had us laughing the entire day...and her work is amazing!! Thank you Jessica for the beautiful images. You are the best! Jessica is actually the brain that came up with the two words, yellow and buttons, that inspired this entire shoot!

The Floral Lab....sigh. We love Leigh Anne. If you need a florist, she is your gal. Her ideas, creativity and talent are inspiring, and every time we work with her, she pulls our vision together seamlessly. She used kumquats!? I die...


Paper and Thread did all the paper: the invitation, the place cards, menus, recipes, and the Cute as a Button sign. Lori is the sweetest. She is not only creative and has a talent to match, but she is just so fun and kind! She was willing to go above and beyond her duty with the darling paper suite, and help Heather and me with any of the other crafty projects. Lori, thank you!!



Erica O'Brien pulled through with 5 knock-you-off-your-feet cakes. They were beautiful! She also made the adorable button sugar cookies for the engagement shoot that afternoon. Erica is insanely talented and if you need a cake that screams perfection, hire Erica.

Those buttons are fake. Yep, it's all fondant. Can we say, awesome?!



Did you notice those incredibly perfect felt flower pieces on our recipe boxes? Or the one our adorable 'bride' Katie wore in the esession shoot? Those lovelies were by one of our former brides Lisa Raser, creator of Ink and Button. We love our brides, and we love when they turn their passion and talent into something beautiful! Lisa, thank you again!!! Those were quite the hit!



The photo shoot was held at Cafe Mimosa in San Clemente. They were so kind to let us set up before the restaurant opened and hang hundreds of buttons from their ceiling. By the way, the mimosas are bomb!

Thank you Classic Party Rentals for the cute bistro chairs! The stemware and mugs were from Anthropologie and our cute shabby chic plates were from TJ Maxx at $4 a piece!


Would you look at these beauties?! Three of the four models are photographers. Katie from Katie Neal Photography, Rachel from Studio Casillero ,and Lauren Bullock in from Bullock Productions. Thank you ladies for looking pretty. All the bridesmaids wore dresses from Ruche. If you haven't checked out their online shop, you must now! They have darling and affordable clothing!

Thank you to Design Visage for the hair and make up. You're awesome!

We'll be back soon with more DIY ideas, crafts, and the brunch inspired engagement shoot!

Love,
Ashlyn + Heather
C&C

Coral & Shimmer [nonpareil magazine] Shoot 1.

We are so excited to finally be able to share more of the fun details that we have been working on since November. Our concept for this tablescape shoot was bold, colorful, and creative while using a variety of gold and shimmery tones. Coral and gold look simply incredible together, and it is something fresh and new that hasn't been overdone. There was a photo I saw of a coffee shop in New Zealand that had lots of lamps hanging upside down on their lamp stand. It was then that I had an "ah-ha!" moment, and thought it might be pretty fun to find different shapes of old lamps, cover them with fun fabric and hang above a wedding table! So, the Coral & Shimmer table was born, with so much help from our fabulous team of vendors.

Table Linen + Bistro Chairs: Classic Party Rentals

Photography: Jackie Wonders Photography

Paper Styling: Posh Paperie

Floral Styling: The Floral Lab

These amazing ladies made this vision come to life, in all of their awesomeness! Thank you all again!! And thank you Maddy & Kristen for allowing us to join the fun of Nonpareil Magazine! See the shoot and write up here!

Leigh Anne from The Floral Lab pulled through and found us the perfect coral peonies for the shoot. I am totally in love with them and really think they make such a dramatic impact on any table. Yes, they are pricey, but as we mention in the article, you only need a few stems to make a big impact on any table. Leigh Anne also sprayed several pieces of the foliage gold, which matches perfectly with the table. Another DIY trick to fancy up your standard greenery and give the centerpiece an antique finish.


These lampshades were a vision that came to life! All you need is your trusty glue gun, ribbon, various old lampshades, spray paint and fabric of your choice to create your mini lamp chandelier. We found our fabrics online from various Etsy sellers, and the lampshades were all found at Pat's Corner for $1.00 a piece! Such a fun bargain.

DIY Lampshade Chandelier:

step 1. Lay your fabric out, and measure the amount you will need for each shade. Don't worry about getting it too exact - you can always, trim, tuck and fold and glue the extra underneath.

step 2. Use your hot clue gun to secure the fabric on one side and wrap it around the shade. The larger, more symmetrical shade you have, the easier it will be. Make sure that it looks "pretty" from underneath, as your guests will be able to see the inside if these are used as a chandelier.

step 3. Spray painting a few of the lampshades is quite easy, and much quicker! It adds some simplicity if the fabric you use is a little busier.

step 4. Once done and dry, tie the inside tops of each shade with ribbon and hang from a ceiling, overhang, tree, or any area in which you can secure these pretties over your table. It is such a fun way to bring a homey feel outside! I also think this would be darling at a bridal shower, or a fun party.

We'll be back soon for round two next...The DIY cookie bar and paper quilling by Posh Paperie!