Secrets every bride can use to make her wedding unique

(ARA) - Every bride-to-be dreams of putting her unique stamp on her wedding day. Blending her chosen wedding colors into many of the occasion's elements is just the first step toward a creative and beautiful event. Brides in gorgeous gowns, bridesmaids and groomsmen decked out in the wedding party's colors and striking flowers are the perfect accompaniment to the colorful landscape of the summer and fall wedding seasons.

Selecting the perfect ways to feature wedding colors is a very personal representation of the bride and groom. If you're a bride-to-be, picture homemade jewelry embellishing your wedding dress, table decorations that match your wedding theme and colors perfectly, or all your guests looking over unique programs that you made at your kitchen table.

"Making wedding decorations or even gifts for the wedding party allows you to put a lot of creativity and personality into the project. And, because you made it yourself, you'll have a customized, one-of-a-kind item that perfectly matches your wedding and its decor," says Courtney Talkington, manager of education and inspiration for Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. "Another idea for your DIY wedding is to involve your family, friends and wedding party in making the projects, allowing everyone to be included in the fun and creativity."

Using a centuries-old technique of quilling is one way to create a homemade necklace with a unique look in beautiful colors. Not only does the rolled paper look beautiful in decorative flower shapes, it's also a great way to incorporate keepsakes such as ticket stubs or love letters from the dating and engagement years into meaningful, wearable art. Are you new to quilling? Quilling classes will be offered at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores starting in September.

Quilled memory necklace

Supplies and tools:

Thin paper strips for quilling: scrapbook papers, ticket stubs, old love letters and other paper mementos

Quilling tool

X-Acto knife and cutting mat

Tacky glue

1 spool tiger tail

1 package each of 3 mm and 4 mm Blue Moon glass pearl beads

1 clasp set

Crimp beads

Crimp tool

Bent-nose pliers

Wire cutter

2 6 mm jump rings

1/4 yard Tulle

1/4 yard of 1/4 inch wide Organdy ribbon

Hand sewing needle

Thread

Optional book: "The Art of Paper Quilling, Designing Handcrafted Gifts and Cards"

Directions:

1. Using paper strips for quilling, make several flower shapes in various sizes and colors. Set aside.

2. Cut two pieces of tiger tail about 12 inches long.

3. Attach one end of one tiger tail strand to clasp using crimp bead and crimp tool. Trim excess wire.

4. String glass pearl beads for about 8 to 9 inches.

5. Attach one jump ring to opposite end using a crimp bead and crimp tool. Trim excess wire. Set aside.

6. Repeat steps three to five for second tiger tail strand.

7. Cut two pieces of tiger tail - one 8 inches long and another 10 inches long.

8. Attach tiger tail strands to jump ring. Adjust the 8 inch strand to measure approximately 6 inches and the 10 inch strand to measure approximately 8 inches.

9. Lay paper flowers out on work surface so they fit nicely between the two pearl strands and on top of the two tiger tail strands.

10. Cut two pieces of tulle slightly larger than your flower layout, following the outline of the flower shapes. Cut two large strips of tulle - about 3/4 inches wide and 3 inches long - to tie onto necklace at the sides.

11. Sandwich the two tiger tail wires between the tulle. Hand stitch the tulle together close to the tiger tail wire.

12. Tie the tulle onto the necklace at jump rings. Trim tulle to desired length.

13. Cut two pieces of organdy ribbon each 2 1/2 inches long. Tie onto necklace at jump rings. Trim.

14. Glue paper flower in place on top of the tulle following desired layout. Let dry.

15. Add glass pearl beads to flower centers. Let dry.

If you're looking for something for your guests to take home with them, consider designing your wedding programs with a keepsake envelope. The directions below use fall burgundy colors, but feel free to mix and match the colors to personalize the program to your wedding.

Personalized wedding program

Supplies and tools:

8 1/2 inches by 11 inches of Burgundy suede cardstock

12 inches by 12 inches of Black Magic cardstock, black/red two-sided

12 inches by 12 inches of Burgundy suede paper

Lime green cardstock

12 inches by 12 inches Vellum sheets, translucent clouds

2 shades of purple, narrow ribbon

5 round beads, grape

5 seed beads, grape

Silver leaf charm

Silver "Follow your heart" charm

5 headpins

2 jump rings

Silver heart brad

20-gauge Silver wire

Grape leaf template

Paper trimmer and scissors

Corner rounder

Hole punches, regular and large

Vellum tape

Adhesive dot runner or glue stick

Jewelry tools: wire cutter, round-nose and chain-nose pliers

Computer (to generate text)

Ruler and stylus (or bone folder)

Directions

1. Cut burgundy suede cardstock 5 1/2 inches by 12 inches. Score 4 inches up from bottom edge and fold, using ruler and stylus, to create a pocket. If left and right edges are not quite even, trim them now, up to 1/2 inch total. Punch top four corners of folded pocket with corner rounder.

2. Using included pattern, trace a grape leaf on the back of the pocket flap and cut out with scissors. Print the bride's and groom's names and wedding date on vellum, so that it will fit the leaf shape. Attach the vellum to the inside of the pocket with adhesive dot runner. Attach a panel of lime green cardstock behind the vellum for a subtle green hue. Cut a thin strip of burgundy suede cardstock to fit behind top of pocket. Round corners and attach so the back side of the paper is visible behind the suede pocket. Using large hole punch, punch a notch on the left and right sides, using photo as guide for securing ribbon.

3. Print vellum panels with wedding information, no wider than 4 1/4 inches. Mount on burgundy suede paper and Black Magic cardstock; round top right corner of vellum.

4. To create bead grape cluster, string a green seed bead on a headpin, followed by a round green bead. Make six to eight. Create a wrapped loop at the end of each. Curl one end of 20-gauge wire and string on grapes and leaf charm. Create a wrapped loop.

5. Wrap narrow purple ribbons around the wedding program pocket and tie in a knot to the right of the leaf cut-out. Slip the bead cluster onto a jump ring and attach over the knot. Tie the ribbon, catching the jump ring, to prevent it from sliding. Attach the "Follow your heart" charm to a second jump ring and attach it to the first jump ring.

6. Punch a hole through all three layers of the program and insert a silver heart brad.

"There are so many ways to take your wedding from mainstream to magnificent" advises Talkington. "A little inspiration is all you need to incorporate your ideas into the wedding of your dreams."

For additional ideas for unique ways to personalize your wedding through crafts, visit www.joann.com/wedding.

Courtesy of ARAcontent