DIY Bouquet Wrap for the Hostess

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Art is therapeutic. Flowers are beautiful. Kids love activities. Combine all three for a DIY hostess gift that is both personal and memorable. Whether the booms are fresh from the garden, or store-bought, they are even prettier when they are wrapped in a custom, DIY flower wrap.

Jessica shared details of her sunny afternoon painting on the porch, and how she created the DIY bouquet wraps with her kids on Momtastic. After you read it, make sure you find time in your day to stop and smell the roses!

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lilac love

I’m obsessed with the purple Lilac bushes in my yard this spring. I’ve never noticed how beautiful Lilac blooms can be, or how sweet they smell. It’s been a beautiful ‘bloom’ this spring for all our trees, bushes and perennials. Everyday when I see all the blooms, it makes me oh so happy.

Unfortunately, Lilacs bloom for only a very brief couple weeks in the spring. Here’s some tips for growing and picking Lilacs…and decorating with them in your home or at an event.

1. Make sure your Lilac is getting plenty of sun and in fertile soil. If you do not have blooms, try feeding them a bloom booster. You can find lilacs in shades of purple, pink or white.

2. Pick the blooms freely…actually the more you cut, they say the more blooms for next year. To cut correctly, cut above a node, the bumpy spot on branches where new branches will form.

3. Find a large vase, small vintage vase, or basket and arrange your Lilacs, then place in a spot in your home that you will see frequently…I promise, fresh beautiful blooms and their sweet-smelling fragrance will make you happy.

4. It is best to prune your Lilac bush after flowering, most likely in the spring. Don’t wait until the end of the summer or fall to prune this bush. According to Country Living, Lilacs grow on old wood, so the later you prune, the more old wood you prune and the less blooms will grow next year.

5. Though other bushes may only require that the tops of the stems be cut, it’s better to cut the entire stem off the lilac.

 

To learn how to make a DIY bouquet like the one below, follow these tips at Project Wedding

{images via Elizabeth Anne DesignsOh So Beautiful Paper, Project Wedding, Martha Stewart, Your Cozy Home and Pinterest}

sweet succulent love

My latest obsession is succulents. Oh my goodness, I love them. And, they are everywhere – from the latest issue of Better Homes and Gardens and real weddings featured in bridal magazines, to their latest debut – my dining room! I am so into them right now. Experts tell me they are easy to maintain – let’s hope so for the sake of my newly planted succulent garden.

Succulents have been popular in floral decor at weddings for a couple of seasons now, and they continue to thrive. I love the variety of succulents and the texture they bring into floral centerpieces.

Look at these gorgeous bouquets. From the bride to her maids, succulents ‘complete’ the look of these bouquets. Who knew a ‘cactus plant’ would look so good next to a pink peony?

I’m trying to find a reason to throw a party just to give away a succulent favor. These make wonderful gifts for friends and family, they are an easy and affordable DIY and make a lovely table display before guests take them home.

A cake that combines Succulents and Chevron… I’m in love.

Last but not least, a DIY Succulent Table by Far Out Flora. I love that Succulents remain a permanent centerpiece.

centerpiece images via: Elizabeth Anne Designs {Large Orange, Peace, White and Succulent Centerpiece}, Wedding Chicks {Neutral and Anthropologie-looking Centerpiece} Ruffled Blog {Succulents and Vintage Silver}, The Sweetest Occasion {Single Succulent next to Birch Vases}, Elizabeth Anne Designs {Succulents with White Rocks and Hydrangea with Single Succulent Centerpieces}, Erin Hearts Court {Billy Ball and Succulent Centerpiece} and Martha Stewart Weddings {Succulent Centerpiece with Blue and White Plates}

 bouquet images via: Wedding Chicks {Bridesmaids Bouquets} It’s a Bride’s Life {Succulents and bright Peonies}, Bride Finds {Succulent Bouquet on the top right}, Erin Hearts Court {Yellow Billy Balls and Succulents Bouquet}, Greer Loves {large Succulent in middle of bouquet}, Bleu Style {Peach, Light Pink and Succulent Bouquet} and Style Me Pretty {Succulent Bouquet in Vase}

favor images via: Love and Lavender {Terra-Cotta painted pots}, Green Wedding Shoes {Salsa Can Succulent Favors}, Elizabeth Anne Designs {Single Succulent on Napkin and Single Succulent in Rust-Colored Bucket}, Emmaline Bride {Succulents in Tea Cups}, Frolic! Blog {Succulent Favors in Buckets with Names}

{Other images via Caroline Tran PhotographySweet and Saucy Shop and Far Out Flora}

winter wonder

This romantic and vintage winter white photo shoot made its way around the ‘wedding blogging world’ earlier this year, but it’s the time of year in Colorado when the ground is often covered in white, the trees are frosted with white and white snowflakes serenely fall from the sky.  So, it seems an appropriate time to dream of an all white wedding…and this beautiful photo shoot styled by a talented Colorado team is the perfect inspiration.

Lemon Sprinkle Events set up a beautiful dessert display, centered around the vanilla buttercream cake. Treats served on the all-white menu included white chocolate pretzels, vanilla bean taffy, meringues and classic jordan almonds.

The flowers in this photo shoot particularly caught my eye. They were beautifully designed and hand-made by the talented and lovely Cori Cook of Cori Cook Floral Design. She is phenomenal and I adore her…and her work. From the chic and affordable baby’s breath bouquet tied together with a strand of pearls, to the stunning ranunculus bouquet with a “something blue” tulle tutu and the romantic, custom-designed rosette bouquet, she inspires brides at all price points {and personalities} to have an all-white bouquet.

VENDOR LOVE
Photography: Laura Murray Photography
Florals: Cori Cook Floral Design
Dessert Set Up: Lemon Sprinkle Events
Make Up: Jenny Van Tuine {beautyiswithin.jenny@gmail.com}
Invitations & Stationary: Papertalk Press
Gowns & Headpieces: Blue Bridal Couture
Venue: The Oxford Hotel

{images via Laura Murray Photography}