Yeah! I can post PICS now!

[SerendipityCrafts]

Here is the first pic of our butterfly theme DIY stuff - our invitations (addresses & last names removed)

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/WeddingInvitation2.jpg
Card stock, embossed velum, ribbon and a dollar store embellishment

[StaceyMc]

Your invites are beautiful!

[hummingbird521]

Your invitations are beautiful. I have not seen any like those.

[LaceyinPgh]

Those are very nice, Elizabeth. Good job.

[MOB Karen]

Yay!! Those are beautiful, Elizabeth!! Keep them coming!!!

[SerendipityCrafts]

Yay!! Those are beautiful, Elizabeth!! Keep them coming!!!

Will do ..... as soon as I have finished some more stuff to take pics of that is!

In the works -

two banners for the church (I am painting or stenciling these), three clerical stoles (I am painting or stenciling these) for our minister and two minister friends, a signature platter (LOL but of course! Hugh is painting this one and I am most impressed with his butterflies!), butterfly garland / swag, butterfly ceiling decoration (trying to do something like this only smaller + with greenery) - http://www3.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=136752288&size=o)

Plan to do -

Ceremony programs
Note cards featuring our butterfly photos

[brewsells]

Wow, Elizabeth! that is going to be quite a project. It's beautful though. Can't wait to see pics of it.

[AngelinLove]

The invites are beautiful and unique!! I really like the ceiling swag, good luck with that, I am sure that it will look fabulous!!!

[SerendipityCrafts]

The invites were pretty simple actually (except for deciding exactly how we were going to word the invites!). We printed regular blank card stock invites on our home printer, cut the butterfly velum to the same size, used a glue stick to attach the velum at the top of the cover and then used a glue gun to attach the ribbon & butterfly decoration.

We also bought the same design velum with pastel colours. I have cut at least 500 pastel butterflies from this velum that I am attaching to wire and which will then be used in the butterfly garland and the ceiling thingy :)

[cowboysbride]

I bow down before you! WELCOME THE NEW DIY QUEEN! :bbmrgreen:

Gorgeous!

I did most of my stuff myself...and I think you're doing a wonderful job!

Read you PM's! I want one of those plates!

[Kacie_bride]

The invites are absoluetely gorgeous! Keep it coming.

[SerendipityCrafts]

I bow down before you! WELCOME THE NEW DIY QUEEN! :bbmrgreen:

Gorgeous!

I did most of my stuff myself...and I think you're doing a wonderful job!

Read you PM's! I want one of those plates!

LOL DIY queen ... I like that! Whooo ahhh! Got your PM and I have sent you a PM in return.

[Jopet]

Wow those invitations are beautiful!! Great job :bbmrgreen:

[rainbowtreat]

Every thing sounds and looks awsome. Keep us posted.

[SerendipityCrafts]

OK I didn't do this myself but someone did make them for me! I am getting 5 of these custom made hankies. I am using one, giving one to Hugh's daughter, one to my daughter, one to my Mother & one to Hugh's mother. Can't wait to receive them now! Thread Of Fancy's ETSY Shop (http://www.etsy.com/view_item_sold_anon.php?listing_id=297388&transaction_id=93625)

[WhiskeyGirl]

Those are really pretty Elizabeth!! :)

[SerendipityCrafts]

Those are really pretty Elizabeth!! :)That's my something blue :wink:

[AngelinLove]

The hankies are beautiful!!!

[Jenn060306]

You invitations are really nice!

[SerendipityCrafts]

This was my inspiration -

butterfly ceiling decoration (trying to do something like this only smaller + with greenery) - Butterfly Decoration (http://www3.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=136752288&size=o)So I spent at least 4 hours today working on this spiral decoration thingy that will hang from the ceiling inside the church sanctuary.

This is the wire frame (green fence wire - folded into half and then half again; held together with more wire - this was the hardest part!). It's approx 10 ft tall and growing each time I add more weight!

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/Spiral2.jpg

With greenery attached

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/Spiral3.jpg

With flowers attached

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/Spiral4.jpg

I ran out of daylight so I still have to attach the 500 or so velum butterflies that I cut out, at a later date. I also have teeny mesh butterflies to wire into it.

I love the way it's turning out!

[hummingbird521]

That is beautiful and you are so crafty. I love the idea. Can't wait to see more from you.

[LizabethDavis]

Everything is very pretty Elizabeth!! I'm glad you can finally post pictures!!

[SerendipityCrafts]

Everything is very pretty Elizabeth!! I'm glad you can finally post pictures!!Me too :) I am finally a trusted member *choked up* LOL

[cowboysbride]

I love that decoration, OMG how pretty! I can't wait to see it finished!

[ikkin510]

That is beautiful!!! You are so talented with your crafts. I just love the spiral. It is going to be wonderful in the wedding!

[SerendipityCrafts]

My dress .... post originally in "show us your dresses" but I am reposting it here so as to keep my pics together in this my unofficial journal :)

It's not your typical kind of wedding dress. Actually, I found it in an antique shop. Even though I didn't have time to try it on (and we weren't even engaged yet!), I knew that this was MY dress. Hugh told me that if it was meant to be it would be there when I went back to the shop (which was 5 hours away!). I called the owner about a year later and it was still in the shop! These are the pics the owner took and sent to me.

Front
http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/weddingdressfront.jpg

Neck edge
http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/weddingdressneckedge.jpg


Bottom edge
http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/weddingdressbottomedge.jpg

[SerendipityCrafts]

Back
http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/weddingdressback.jpg

Front
http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/weddingdressfrontedge.jpg

[hummingbird521]

I love the dress. It has the look of an antique to me. Is it?

[SerendipityCrafts]

I love the dress. It has the look of an antique to me. Is it?

Yep - I found it in an antique shop. That said, my mother tells me that the dress can't be all that old since it has a zipper (?) - apparently, zippers weren't in common use until the 1930's - 40's.

With the drop waist - it appears to have a 1920's flapper feel

[Kat NDa Sand]

wow... that spiral floral vine decoration is beautiful... pat yourself on the back for that one :D

[Crystal05]

How beautiful!!

[SerendipityCrafts]

The spiral thing finished. :o Now on to the arch.

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/Spiral6.jpg

close up (butterflies are rather washed out in this photo)
http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/Spiral5.jpg

[AngelinLove]

WOW-That is VERY pretty!!! You did an awesome job!!!!

[LaceyinPgh]

The spiral looks great Elizabeth! I LOVE it!

[WhiskeyGirl]

Beautiful job on the spiral Elizabeth!! :) Can't wait to see more pics!!

[hummingbird521]

The spiral is just gorgeous Elizabeth.

[SerendipityCrafts]

Our DYI wedding favours - 3 butterfly note cards & envelopes, tied with ribbon and decorated with a seed paper butterfly.

We found the images online, printed them and glued them to raised panel of the card stock. There were reallly supposed to be 4 cards per pack but we ran out of card stock and it was too late to order more. :) We are also giving little flower design boxes filled with mints, with an origami butterfly attached.

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/Favours1.jpg

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/Favours2.jpg

[JennF]

Your favors look amazing. I love seed paper! What kind of seeds? It is a butterfly garden assortment?

[SerendipityCrafts]

I hope so but I can't say that I really know for sure. I bought them on Ebay and the seller told me that the following are in the paper -

Concentration is listed from lowest to highest
Corn Poppy (2%)
Blue Salvia
White Yarrow
Partridge Pea
Annual Gaillardia
Perennial Gaillardia
Rocket Larkspur
Lance-leaved Coreopsis
Plains Coreopsis
Cornflower
California Poppy
Crimson Clover
Blackeyed Susan
Baby Blue Eyes (15%)

[hummingbird521]

They are beautiful. You both done a very good job with them.

[brewsells]

You did a great job with the spiral and the favors. You really are talented Elizabeth!

[cowboysbride]

Very creative and beautiful! The spiral turned out amazing and the seed paper is the neatest idea~!

GREAT JOB!

[Jenn060306]

You're ideas are awsome Elizabeth! Everything is simply stunning!

[MOB Karen]

You couldn't be more talented if you tried!!! I love everything!! The spiral is awesome!!! The seed paper is beautiful!! Also, I received Amber's plate yesterday, and you did a fantastic job on that, Elizabeth!!! Thanks so much!!! :D

[SerendipityCrafts]

You couldn't be more talented if you tried!!! I love everything!! The spiral is awesome!!! The seed paper is beautiful!! Also, I received Amber's plate yesterday, and you did a fantastic job on that, Elizabeth!!! Thanks so much!!! :D

Canada Post / USPS is so efficient! I find out from the customer that the platter has been delivered before they send me notification! LOL

Glad you like it. We wish everyone (bride, groom, kitties, doggy, & MOB) much happiness & a wedding day without stress or complications!

[SerendipityCrafts]

Thanks for the compliments ladies. You know ... I even found a recipe to make the seed paper myself and I contiplated doing so for oh ....... about a minute then I decided to buy it!

I still have one customer platter to paint, two church banners to paint and three clerical stoles to do as well. Oh yes and we haven't found a ring for Hugh yet ....

I am so so so overwhelmed but I have no one to blame but myself because I always bite off more than I can chew. I just keep reminding myself that 2 weeks from now it will all be a fuzzy memory LOL In the meantime, who needs sleep right?

[MOB Karen]

Canada Post / USPS is so efficient! I find out from the customer that the platter has been delivered before they send me notification! LOL

Glad you like it. We wish everyone (bride, groom, kitties, doggy, & MOB) much happiness & a wedding day without stress or complications!

Amber & I wish the same for you, Elizabeth!! Good luck with your last week and a half before your butterfly wedding!!! :D

[ladymelissa]

I absolutely adore your spiral decoration, it is gorgeous and so unique! I love your dress as well. Best wishes and I hope the last couple weeks go great.

[SerendipityCrafts]

I absolutely adore your spiral decoration, it is gorgeous and so unique! I love your dress as well. Best wishes and I hope the last couple weeks go great.

Thanks! Things are already going better .... we found Hugh a ring last night and YES!!!!!!!!! they can size it in time.

[SerendipityCrafts]

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/WeddingFund.jpg

Hugh and I have been saving pennies for 5 years now. We joked that this is what would pay for our wedding. Well, it didn't amount to enough to pay for the wedding but, it did add up to enough ($53.30) to buy us this!!!

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/PennyChampagne.jpg

[hummingbird521]

neat idea.

[Jenn060306]

LOL that is super cute!

[SerendipityCrafts]

One down .... two more to go. This is our first of 3 banners that we are doing. We were going to ask our guests to sign it with a sharpie but we have decided against it - it's too "purty" and we don't want anyone messing it up! LOL

The work in progress; paper stencil, acrylic paint & stencil brush. The butterflies were done with fabric and iron-on adhesive.

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/WeddingBanner1.jpg

The finished product (we still have to hem the right side in a bit so that the lettering is centered on the fabric)

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/WeddingBanner2.jpg

[MOB Karen]

It's beautiful, Elizabeth, and you're the DIY Goddess!!! :D

[SerendipityCrafts]

2nd down .... one more banner to go.

The work in progress; patio door, acrylic paint & paint brush. The butterflies were done with fabric and iron-on adhesive.

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/WeddingBanner3.jpg

The finished product!!!!

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/WeddingBanner4.jpg

[hummingbird521]

Very nice. I bow down to you Elizabeth.

[SerendipityCrafts]

Very nice. I bow down to you Elizabeth.

LOL Thanks! Hugh is responsible for the design. It's truly a labour of love from the both of us.

The banners are done!!!!! Whoooo hoooo! Here is the last one.

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/WeddingBanner6.jpg

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/WeddingBanner5.jpg

[ikkin510]

O wow, Elizabeth, I love everything you have done! The banners look unbelievable!!
You are almost are you big day! Good luck with your last minute details. I Definatly can not wait to see your pictures!!!

[SerendipityCrafts]

Our arch - which will have tiny white lights and be decorated with velum butterflies (like the spiral)
http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/Arch.jpg

Hugh helping out with the cake decorations
http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/CakePrep.jpg

The clerical stolls for our friends
http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/Stolls.jpg

[MOB Karen]

You are so talented, Elizabeth!!! Everything looks wonderful!!! The arch sounds lovely, the cake decorations are amazing, and the stoles are beautiful!! I can't wait to see pics from your wedding!! :D

[countrygirl]

Wow, everything looks sp pretty.You are very talented people Elizabeth.

[SerendipityCrafts]

Whoooo hoooo!!!!! All the DIY stuff is done :) Now it's all about me ... me me me LOL

The butterfly house (decoration or card box for very small cards :) )
http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/ButterflyHouse.jpg

Our signature platter. Hugh painted the image and I did the lettering.
http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/ElizabethandHughPlatter.jpg

[cowboysbride]

I just got over here to look at your stuff (don't stone me)! I love what you have done **** girl you ARE the DIY GODDESS!

I think it's awesome that Hugh has helped, I love that pic of him rolling out the cake deco's (he looks like OK ELIZABETH---PUT DOWN THE CAMERA)! Lol you are doign a great job I am so excited for you!

[SerendipityCrafts]

I think it's awesome that Hugh has helped, I love that pic of him rolling out the cake deco's (he looks like OK ELIZABETH---PUT DOWN THE CAMERA)! Lol you are doign a great job I am so excited for you!

Hugh has done quite alot but behind the scenes. The banners, the stolls, the platter, and the favours are all his designs. We have just a bits of information left to get, and he'll be doing our program as well.

He's been helping our cake lady because I have just been too busy with the other stuff. He'll also be doing all the photoshop work on the professional photos we are having done :) It is sooooooo nice to have a twin creative partner!

You are right though .... that is exactly what he was telling me to do with that look! LOL You would think he would be used to his partner, the camera bug by now!

[ikkin510]

I've decided to crash your wedding. What you have done is so beautiful that I would LOVe to see it in person!

[SerendipityCrafts]

I've decided to crash your wedding. What you have done is so beautiful that I would LOVe to see it in person!

Cool! So if you are going to be crashing it anyhow ... we will just have you sing! :)

[SerendipityCrafts]

Set up last night .... I can't even begin to tell you how many times I was up and down that ladder. BTW - Hugh did a great job of taking pictures when he was supposed to be holding the ladder LOL

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/Setup1.jpg

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/Setup2.jpg

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/Setup3.jpg

[SerendipityCrafts]

Ok I have to admit that hanging the spiral was a bit tricky since the ladder wasn't tall enough! I just hope that I tied my knots correctly so that the 4 x 20 lb fishing line will hold!

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/Setup4.jpg

Hard to see in the pic but the pews face inwards so our guests won't be looking at our backs. The banners are off to the right and the left, ouside of the camera shot.

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/Setup6.jpg

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/Setup7.jpg

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/Setup8.jpg

Hmmmm the decorations look so small but the sanctuary isn't all that big ....

[bnd94]

WOW Elizabeth!! Everything looks gorgeous. You both have worked so hard and it truly shows. :D

[hummingbird521]

Everything looks beautiful Elizabeth. It is going to be wonderful. You look so happy.

[MOB Karen]

You did an amazing job, Elizabeth!! http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_19_3.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm824YYUS) I wish I could be there & see it!!!

[SerendipityCrafts]

I wish I could be there & see it!!!
You (or anyone else for that matter) is more than welcome to come. Montreal is nice this time of year - not too hot & not cold at all. If you can't make it (you aren't busy are you? LOL), not to worry, Hugh will be compiling video clips and we will post them along with the pics when they are ready.

BTW - It's so nice to have a FH that is a pro with photoshop .... he can take away blemishes (wouldn't you know it - I have a zit that is coming out on my upper lip!), take off pounds and he's even been known to switch out a body LOL

[Valmai]

OMG everything looks wonderful - i didnt realise ur wedding was this close lol xxx

[cowboysbride]

OMG how beautiful it all is! I guess Hugh got the photobug from his beloved, instead of holding the ladder! LOL

I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU!

[ikkin510]

Elizabeth, It look beautiful!!! I"m so exctied for you!

[Diamend]

Set up last night .... I can't even begin to tell you how many times I was up and down that ladder. BTW - Hugh did a great job of taking pictures when he was supposed to be holding the ladder LOL

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/Setup1.jpg

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/Setup2.jpg

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/Setup3.jpg

Are the hanging lights yours too?? I'm wanting some of those!!

[SerendipityCrafts]

Are the hanging lights yours too?? I'm wanting some of those!!

No - those are actually the church's fixtures. You could mimick the same look though. I know that I have seen chinese looking paper globes at Ikea. They look something like this -

http://www.sexybloomers.com/LUAU/hc/GlobeLights6106xxl.jpg

[Callys_bride]

very pretty butterflies are my favorite animal!! I love em!

[The future Mrs. Monroe]

You did an amazing job with everything! I hope I become inspired by your greatness!!

[SerendipityCrafts]

You did an amazing job with everything! I hope I become inspired by your greatness!!

LOL Greatness? I thought only my husband thought that :) :) Thanks for the kudos!