rockchalkchick
06-16-2009, 04:36 PM
Ok, so I have to thank SC - I would never have thought of seed packets if it weren't for you! We're garden-y people, and I liked the idea of a favor that a) didn't cost too much, b) could actually be useful for those who took them, and c) we could hopefully use any leftovers that people leave behind (since it always seems like there are a lot of favors left behind at weddings, at least around here.) Plus, we used yellow and white mum daisies for all our flower arrangements, so daisy seeds just seemed ideal!
So, our favor packets:
I ordered a pound each of shasta daisies and gloriosa daisies from American Meadows. They estimate about a million seeds/lb, or 4000 seeds per packet (aka, TONs of flower seeds).
Since we had 200+ guests expected, and I was trying to survive my second semester of vet school, I decided not to try to make the envelopes from scratch like SC did. Instead, I started out with the idea of printing straight on coin envelopes, but I couldn't get them to feed through the printer. So, back to the store for labels. Problem is, there isn't a pre-cut label that will fit well on a 3.25"x6" envelope.
http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/Staples/s0288250_sc7?$sku$
2"x4" was going to leave ugly uneven borders, and be difficult to center. And I didn't want to be wasting a bunch of expensive labels when they don't print quite right.
So, after a lot of hemming and hawing about the right way to do it, I decided to use full-page 8.5x11" "labels" and cut them down myself. Especially once I realized that I could get 6 labels at 5.5x2.75(ish) without any waste, which would give me a 1/4-inch margin all around.
We're not mushy people, and the whole wedding was a fun, funky, brights-and-polka-dots event, so I didn't want anything too sentimental or lovey-dovey for the favors. At the same time, I had to put something on there!
I found a few phrases about daisies being given in friendship, which definitely fit what I was going for, but it wasn't quite right. At the end, I cobbled together a few different inspiration paragraphs to come up with:
"Thank you for sharing in our celebration!
Traditionally, flowers are given with the belief that they create a special bond between each of us which is never broken. Daisies in particular symbolize cheerfulness, simplicity, and shared sentiment. Please accept and plant these daisy seeds in upholding this cherished tradition."
On the back, another label with a picture of the flowers and planting directions.
I superimposed these over a background of random dots, and spent a long evening with the printer and a rotary cutter. It didn't take long to get down a rhythm of how to fold back the edge of the label and center it properly, then "roll" the rest of the label down off its backing.
Just after assembling - 300 envelopes plus stickers!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3655/3405047313_c824ed2740.jpg?v=1238631004
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3591/3405860488_608d04f64a.jpg?v=1238630984
Then it was just a matter of filling them, which my baby brother and now-husband did during a couple hours one weekend, while my cousins and I made creamcheese mints. 1/8 teaspoon of each daisy into each packet, which is a lot more than you would get from prepacked seed packs.
Total price for favors for 250:
Envelopes: with Staples 15% off coupon, ~$8.
Label sheets: ~$10.
Ink cartridges (went through 1 full set of black/color for invites, programs, and favors) - 1/3 of full set ~$20
Seeds: $18/lb plus $6 shipping - $42
Total cost: approx $80, or $0.33 each.
Total time: 7-8 hours to design, print, cut, and apply labels. 2 hours for 2 people to fill and seal envelopes. So approx 12 total manhours. (Not counting all the time spent websurfing to hunt down designs/ideas/phrasing/etc.)
The best part: we only had probably 70 left lying on the tables, the rest actually went home with people! And we were able to sow those around my parents' pond, so they'll have wildflowers for years.
So, our favor packets:
I ordered a pound each of shasta daisies and gloriosa daisies from American Meadows. They estimate about a million seeds/lb, or 4000 seeds per packet (aka, TONs of flower seeds).
Since we had 200+ guests expected, and I was trying to survive my second semester of vet school, I decided not to try to make the envelopes from scratch like SC did. Instead, I started out with the idea of printing straight on coin envelopes, but I couldn't get them to feed through the printer. So, back to the store for labels. Problem is, there isn't a pre-cut label that will fit well on a 3.25"x6" envelope.
http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/Staples/s0288250_sc7?$sku$
2"x4" was going to leave ugly uneven borders, and be difficult to center. And I didn't want to be wasting a bunch of expensive labels when they don't print quite right.
So, after a lot of hemming and hawing about the right way to do it, I decided to use full-page 8.5x11" "labels" and cut them down myself. Especially once I realized that I could get 6 labels at 5.5x2.75(ish) without any waste, which would give me a 1/4-inch margin all around.
We're not mushy people, and the whole wedding was a fun, funky, brights-and-polka-dots event, so I didn't want anything too sentimental or lovey-dovey for the favors. At the same time, I had to put something on there!
I found a few phrases about daisies being given in friendship, which definitely fit what I was going for, but it wasn't quite right. At the end, I cobbled together a few different inspiration paragraphs to come up with:
"Thank you for sharing in our celebration!
Traditionally, flowers are given with the belief that they create a special bond between each of us which is never broken. Daisies in particular symbolize cheerfulness, simplicity, and shared sentiment. Please accept and plant these daisy seeds in upholding this cherished tradition."
On the back, another label with a picture of the flowers and planting directions.
I superimposed these over a background of random dots, and spent a long evening with the printer and a rotary cutter. It didn't take long to get down a rhythm of how to fold back the edge of the label and center it properly, then "roll" the rest of the label down off its backing.
Just after assembling - 300 envelopes plus stickers!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3655/3405047313_c824ed2740.jpg?v=1238631004
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3591/3405860488_608d04f64a.jpg?v=1238630984
Then it was just a matter of filling them, which my baby brother and now-husband did during a couple hours one weekend, while my cousins and I made creamcheese mints. 1/8 teaspoon of each daisy into each packet, which is a lot more than you would get from prepacked seed packs.
Total price for favors for 250:
Envelopes: with Staples 15% off coupon, ~$8.
Label sheets: ~$10.
Ink cartridges (went through 1 full set of black/color for invites, programs, and favors) - 1/3 of full set ~$20
Seeds: $18/lb plus $6 shipping - $42
Total cost: approx $80, or $0.33 each.
Total time: 7-8 hours to design, print, cut, and apply labels. 2 hours for 2 people to fill and seal envelopes. So approx 12 total manhours. (Not counting all the time spent websurfing to hunt down designs/ideas/phrasing/etc.)
The best part: we only had probably 70 left lying on the tables, the rest actually went home with people! And we were able to sow those around my parents' pond, so they'll have wildflowers for years.