How to Make Wedding Invites in ___ Days (Day 5 and a half ;))

Last night was supposed to be Day 5, but I spent the whole time getting frustrated about my heat embossing tool and powder, that I wasn't able to do anything.  I've spent a considerable amount of money on that technique thingy, and I have yet to get my satisfaction from it.  So now, I say goodbye to an embossed monogram for the invites. Anyway...

Tonight, I did the printing.  The bride gave me the go signal to print.  I was only able to print the main and first pages, though, because National Bookstore ran out of the paper I need!  Ayayay... Sino'ng sumasabay sa 'kin gumawa ng wedding invitations??  Hehe...

Another cause of delay is that I don't have a decent trimmer here at home, and so I'd have to wait until Thursday and steal some more office hours (shhh...) to cut.  My trimmer from the States will arrive after Dec 6, by the way. I'm so excited!

This stack only has 70 pages, but incidentally looked as thick as the yellow pages 'cause each sheet is really thick

I thank God for the holiday tomorrow!  Wish there's always a midweek rest.  Unfortunately for me, though, it's not gonna be a real rest.  I will take a break from the invites tomorrow and resume work on my thesis (after about 10 days of retreat!).  I hope to get a clearer picture of what's ahead, especially since I'll be talking to my adviser on Thursday.  Wish me luck!

How to Make Wedding Invites in ___ Days (Day 4)

Day 4, Saturday (11/26/11)

Today, I spent time editing the details for the inside of the card.  And I loved doing it!  You know, whenever I get invitations for any occasion, I almost always spot a typo or a grammatical error.  And I hate it (please, double check!!).  This hatred in me better push me to make this wedding invite perfect, or else I'm gonna shoot myself down!

I have downloaded a lot of wedding-y fonts for this, but I ended up still using my favorite font.  I sent the draft and some pictures to the bride, and she'd have to approve first before I go buy the papers and print.  After that, it's all gonna be easy-breezy! :p

I have a love-hate relationship with our printer.  Good thing it cooperated tonight!  That's love!

Now it looks wedding-y!

Please ignore my ugly cutting - amateur crafter and 4-year teacher can't even cut straight along a guide line!

It's amazing how a paper can make or break a project.  And this time, I'd like to believe that the paper made it!  I didn't expect the printed output to look so formal and polished.  I hope you can see it in actuality, 'cause my camera phone practically ruins how it looks! Yikes!

I still have more time to work tonight, but I don't want to work on the monograms yet.  I don't know, I'm quite nervous about it so I don't wanna start working on it.  Haha!  It has to be perfect and beautiful 'cause it'd be in front.  I'm requesting all the powers to be with me as I do those soon. ;)

How to Make Wedding Invites in ___ Days (Day 2 and Day 3)

The other day and yesterday, I continued making the invitations.  And I was surprised that I accomplish a lot in a matter of, say, two hours.  Now, the only problem is I still need the lace, and we couldn't go to Divisoria just anytime we want. Also, I realized, delay happens when I run out of materials - my gluey tape, the envelopes, etc.  Anyway, here goes: :)

Day 2

I finished tucking the laces inside

And here's sticking the pocket fold inside the card

There's the red lace I was talking about

Day 3

I finished all the materials that I have, so now I'm just waiting for the lace and for the details for the inside - the most important part!

Here's what I did last night:

I initially planned to make the envelopes on my own - I thought it would be cheaper and more beautiful that way.  But after practicing, it didn't appear like that.  Haha!  Envelopes are so hard to make -and a big paper is also hard to find.  Good thing I found some envelopes with the right size.  I just bought those and embossed a little something in front just so it would look more unique and "classy", or so the video tutorial says. ;)

I used my Ultimate Crafter's Companion Tool!! :D

Does it make a lot of difference??  Haha!  In case it doesn't, it's fine.  It was easy to make, anyway.

Envelopes?  Done!

 By the way, here's my latest toy!!  It embosses and cuts, with the templates and die cuts you purchase, of course.  I hate that I like this expensive stuff!

I used this to emboss the LOVE thingy. :)

There!  I'm almost done!  When I finish this, I'm gonna proceed to doing my Christmas gifts (sorry, people, all you're gonna get from poor teacher me is handmade stuff.  haha!).  Also, this year, I plan to give some parents I've worked with a little something - maybe gift tags in case they want to embellish their presents this year. ;)

Until Day 4!

How to Make Wedding Invites in ___ Days

My friend's sister has asked me to help make her wedding invitations!  I am so psyched to do this thing, and it's a good "activity" to do during my thesis breaks (like today, and yesterday, and the other day, and the...).  Anyway, after a couple of weeks of planning, searching for materials, and deciding on the final layout, I've officially started working on it yesterday - my birthday!  (Segue:  Nothing really significant happened on my birthday, except that I got a beautiful, small box cabinet as a gift from my teacher friend, and that I lost 500 pesos!!!  Yesterday, I didn't really feel like the birthday girl--  I felt like the girl who lost her money!  Oh well, I guess there's no point crying over that anymore.)

Going back to the invites, I have planned to really document everything that I do for this, as in step-by-step, 'cause this is my first major "project".  But turns out, it's not that easy - I don't want to stop in the middle of cutting and pasting to get my camera and take pictures.  Nevertheless, I took a couple of shots using my phone.

I stole some office hours and used the office guillotine cutter to cut all the needed papers (but I still need to get 10 more sheets - blame it on my wrong math).

Do you see red??

I cut each sheet crosswise and lengthwise to get to the right size.  I also cut smaller sheets for the inside pocket.  I was taking my time cutting each piece that I didn't realize the time it took and what it did to my hands:

After cutting about 90 sheets of paper, my fingertips turned red!!

I went home early yesterday for my simple birthday dinner, and to work on the invites.  So, that night, I asked my cousin to come over and help out.  We managed to do a lot of stuff, I could say.  It's really a good thing to have a helper.  She's also my runner, by the way ;).

I used my corner chomper 'cause I don't want to have that plain, straight corner.

 (And just so I can use my chomper. Haha!)

Then, we were also able to put the lace- the bride's peg- on about 40 invites.  Poor thing the lace we got wasn't enough (go ahead, blame my math again), we could have finished everything that night.

Ta-dah!

We were also able to put a red lace over the middle part of this lace, but I failed to take a picture 'cause it was my cousin who was working on it.  Hehe!

Oh, I was also able to score, fold, and emboss the inside pocket.  It looks like this:

This will be pasted inside

 Here's a closer shot:

For additional mush... Hehe!

 So, that's Day 1, folks!  I've accomplished quite a lot, don't you think?  Haha!  Tonight, if I still don't have the energy to face my thesis again (and all its insignificant results!!), I'll work on the invites. I'll probably paste the pocket flap in the inside, and tuck the laces on the side. Yeah, that I'll do.  My cousin might go back to Divisoria within the week to get the extra lace we'll need, plus some more materials.

There's still much to do - the monogram, the adding of the beads, and most importantly, the inside details.  But that can wait, I guess.  As long as I finish before the second week of December.  I think I can. ;)

Until Day 2! :)

An Attempt to Postpone Working on the Thesis

I love blog-hopping and reading about the lives of regular folks I don't even know.  Now, I read one that was very touching and true, I would say.  And the thing is, she was not talking about any drama, she was just simply narrating.  I was wondering why that blog had that impact on me - I felt like I knew her, I suddenly felt the urge to email her and just let her know how wonderfully she writes, and I found myself genuinely praying for her growing family and baby delivery (stalker mode: on).

Then, I realized I never write like that anymore.  

All I write about are things going on in my life, and not even the major ones at that.  I talk about the things I like, sure.  But I have stopped myself from talking about my dreams and innermost feelings.  I used to say that my blog was not meant for daily chronicles, but it has become such.

I've always been a reflective person, a very introspective one.  Friends know that I'm fond of talking about love, life, God, and stuff along that line.  That's true.  But now, to be honest, I guess there's a part of me that wants to push that "drama queen" away.  I don't know - maybe it's my form of defense, or my desperate try to not add any more seriousness in this world.  Or, maybe I'm just scared to go all out and put my vulnerability out there.  Yeah, it's the third...

But in truth, I really am a serious person.  And as I read a couple of my entries, I think I'm not sending that image at all.  I miss that image.

Going back to that blog I've read, I am inspired now to immortalize the rather regular days, by being honest and bold with my emotions.  I won't be scared to be judged, or to be branded as a "drama queen".  Hey, I'm used to that term anyway.

Well, it's just a shame that now that I'm about ready to pour out whatever it is in me and open the gates, I have to put a period on this little episode and start working again on my paper (which has no tiny space for any emotion).  How ironic!

Where art thou, my crafting space?

Now, more than ever, I find the need for my parents to get a new house.

You see, lately, I've been so hooked with paper crafting.  And please don't laugh when I say that by paper crafting I mean not literal paper projects, but browsing the internet day after day, checking for cheap crafting tools to buy and looking at crafting spaces to drool over.

I want one!  I want one!  I don't even ask for a crafting room, just a little conducive space.  And at the risk of sounding like a spoiled brat, I really feel that a crafting room is not just a luxury, but a necessity.  Because the thing is, when I need to do something, say, just one card, I'll have to bring out everything from my cabinet, work on my paper stuff, then, when done, put everything back in!  The cleaning time takes a longer time than doing the actual project itself, so often, I feel lazy to work.  See, it's really important to have a space dedicated solely for crafting.  Not that I'm saying that the world will be a better place when I get a space of my own, but it will definitely make a happier me!

I tried checking out the third floor of our house.  It could make a good space, if I throw my sister's stationary bike and buy a table with lots (and lots!) of drawers.  There's also a wooden bar counter on one corner.  I could also make do of that, especially since it has many shelves and layers where you're supposed to place wine bottles (we have empty wine bottles, thank you).  I could do that but I just have to be okay with my dad scolding me whenever he sees me doing stuff he doesn't get!  But the main thing is, it can get really hot up there, especially when summer comes.  So... I don't want that.  I want a space that will entice me to craft.

Then there's my tiny bedroom.  In my room, I have a foam bed, a study table, a big cabinet (for clothes, books, and my crafting stuff), and a TV stand (with cabinet as well).  Now, I've tried all the possible way in my head to turn these pieces of furniture around, but a crafting space is still not possible.  I could remove the study table, since I don't really study there anymore (patungan lang siya!) and get a new table.  But, the area is too small.  Think one meter.  Fail.

Then, my cousin who's a former interior design-major suggested that I get rid of the big cabinet and get a smaller one or a hanging one.  That's a nice idea, but it could get pricey.  Another idea would be to get a double-bunk bed.  Upper bunk will be my bed, and the lower part will house a table.  I like this idea the most, but I have low ceiling!

I have tossed and turned around the idea of "improvising" a crafting room, but to no avail.  That's why, the best solution is- you're right- get a new house!  Haha!  When will that be?  I wanna know!

Take a look at some of these photos which give me sleepless nights (and by sleepless I mean about five to six hours):

How can you not love this??
http://www.countryliving.com/homes/makeovers/transform-closet-into-office-0310

I love L-shaped tables!
http://www.sarahyoude.com/2009/06/the-craft-room.html

Simple and neat, and a space that you can hide when it gets dirty :)
http://wahkunamaelyn.blogspot.com/2011/01/crafting-spaces.html

A closet that they transformed into a crafting space...LOVE!
http://www.makingthishome.com/2009/05/08/lauranas-little-craft-room/

You'll be surprised at how many results you'll get when you Google pictures of crafting spaces.  Here I just included the results for "small and cheap crafting spaces", I did not even try to save in my hard drive the crafting ROOMS and a crafting COTTAGE (you should see Martha Stewart's!)!  You gotta hate those lucky people.  Haha, kidding!

Anyway, before I leave and make another futile search online, let me post this other picture.  I've wanted this thing before I even got to the phase of constantly thinking about crafting.  Look and weep for cuteness!

This looks like a bed for a teenager, but I still want one!
(I have this saved in my laptop for so long that I lost the link.  Got it from Tumblr. Apologies.)

I tell you, never did I have this strong desire to win the lottery.  I guess I should start betting...