Wedding 'Bible'

This binder was my lifeline for the months leading up to our wedding and now it needs some serious TLC. I will slowly sort through it and as I do, there will be much to blog about. So much good stuff - Flowers, DJ, Budget, Gift Ideas, Videographer, Rentals, Pictures and more!

A little scrapbook therapy

I talked to my good friend Lindsey the other night and she turned me on to another blog that does a themed entry once a week. Since I have prescribed myself some scrapbook therapy, I think a weekly layout would be productive & healthy for me and hopefully fun for you.

ROAD TRIP 2003

On my scrapbook table right now - Getting my wisdom teeth pulled! Look for the layout later this week.

Save the Dates!

We sent our Save the Dates out shortly after the 2009 holidays so our guests received them about 4 1/2 months before the big day. I know all the wedding timelines say that StDs are supposed to go out 6-8 months before the wedding but it definitely took longer than we had anticipated to get them designed and collect all the addresses. We used our engagement photos from our first shoot for the front of the postcards which were designed by Sophie from the Mike Larson Team. We mailed them as postcards, without envelopes, and I used some silly polar bear stamps (the only 28 cent stamps I could get at the Watsonville post office). We ran into some problems with writing on the back because the glossy finish would not allow any inks to dry on it so... I had to print all the addresses on clear labels which took a little longer than I wanted. In the end, I think they turned out great and I love the idea of sending out Save the Dates so guests can get one more taste of the bride and groom's personsalities.

Quick Tips for SAVE the DATES: 1. Start on guest list asap and start collecting guest addresses 2. Put a return address on StDs so if they find their way back to you - you know you have the wrong address 3. Stamps for postcards are only 28 cents (vs. 44) 4. The cutesy wedding stamps are hard to find at the post office but you can find them online at http://www.zazzle.com/, just remember that these can be $$

New Name.New License

So, I can't quite figure out the sense in this one... I plan the wedding (which usually falls in the lap of the woman) and once that stress and chaos is out of the way, then I'm the one that has to go to the DMV, Social Security office, call the bank, update credit cards, change my voicemail, the list goes on! Well, it was officially worth it yesterday when I received my new license in the mail - Bernadette Marie Renois! Chase was all smiles when he got home from work and found it in the kitchen (conveniently located where he puts his keys ;) All the hardwork just became completely worth it. Next time I get a ticket, it will be as Mrs. Renois!

Crafts and Drafts Meetup

Click here to check out
The Crafts and Drafts of Santa Cruz County!

I'm Embossing!

Now that I'm getting more involved in card making and all the scrapbooking magazines have great ideas for embossing, I took my weekly coupon to Michael's and bought a Martha Stewart heat gun and embossing kit. The kit includes three embossing powders, embossing stamp pad and stamping block.

I'm in love with trying to emboss cards and using different stamps but I still need to practice how much embossing ink to use and how to keep the process clean. I'm hoping to get an embossing pen (if it even exists) so I can use it to add small embossed accents.

The card, right, started with a pre-made card that has a floral print on the paper and is blank inside. The accent is a piece of tan, rustic paper layered with white vellum. The vellum is stamped with the bird using a green embossing powder and accented with silver deco ink. I added some light blue rafia which I accented with staples and added an 'xoxo' embellishment. This card would be great to give to a loved one, family member or friend.

Check out the Heat Gun - http://shop.marthastewart.com/Martha-Stewart-Tools-Heating-Tool/A/B002YIO854.htm

Time to Blog!

The wedding is over and I'm going through withdrawals!! My friend Lydia, from Elle Cee's Cake Boutique, has been quite an inspiration to me the last couple of months... I used to be an avid journal writer, even when I was in grade school, and since college I've gotten away from it. Lydia has advised me that I need to get with the times and blog! So, here I go! (Thanks Lydia! ;)

Where do I start? Here's my first mission... during the wedding planning process, I had hoped that I would journal about all the emotions, planning details, reactions, up/downs, etc. as they happened but I didn't :( So, before I forget about all of the 'little' stuff, I'm going to blog about it, in detail, from start to finish. I can start with this - I absolutely loved planning our wedding! It has made me realize some of my passions for event planning and crafts, and I hope to build this blog into a site for other brides to get ideas, help, or relief in knowing that all the stress, chaos, excitement, anxiety... is part of the process so enjoy it!