M&M Favors, Part Deux

In a previous post, I had blogged about utilizing my Gocco Machine, as well as my time stuck in the house during DC's Snowpocalypse 2010, for a wedding project. That was to print little 1oz glassine bags with the graphic flourish that I will use throughout my wedding.

Well, with the help of my skillful mom, I was able to complete the task. Here's what you'll need...

Materials Needed: Glassine bags, M&Ms (or your choice of candy), precut fancy tags w/ your monogram, colored thread, and an awesome sewing machine.

What I used: 1oz White Glassine Bags purchased from papermart.com gocco'd with my flourish, Orange and Pearlized white M&Ms, Precut Tags that say M&M and the date on it, and gold embroidery thread.

You then have to stuff the bags with M&Ms. My mom was extra anal and decided to count the M&Ms so that everyone gets an even amount, but you don't have to do that. You jsut have to make sure you don't put too much in that you cant fold it to sew it later. We did 27 M&Ms per bag.

Another tip, because the orange was so strong, i decided to double bag them. I am actually using 2 bags, one printed and and the inside "liner bag" plain white, so that you can actually see the design i goccoed without too much interference from the orange M&M color.

And then you just fold, add the tag (which is also folded over), and sew them with your trusty singer machine. I won't lie, my mom did the sewing. If i did it, it would be all kinds of crooked.

Here's a tip from my Mom... To save yourself from re-setting up the thread on teh machine, keep the sewing at a continuous loop, and don't snip off the thread of the bags until the next one is sewn. (not sure if i said that right, but it worked out for me)

Here is the finished product!

Hope you like it! I happen to love it!

Ceramic Candle Holder Favors

Another labor of love... Packaging the Candle Holder Favors!

My mom and I were a little busy this weekend...

We started off with the ceramic cut out candle holders that my aunt so generously bought me, made in the Philippines... Cavite to be exact.

We had to package them special with lots of newspaper and bubble wrap before stuffing it into our luggage back to the US. It wasn't the smartest choice given how heavy and bulky they were.

In fact, we had to ask two of my mom's friends to put it in to their suit cases as well.

As you know from my one post about ideas, that I was going to get 4x4 tucktop boxes from papermart to hold them. I also got chocolate tissue paper from the same web site for a little contrast when you open it up.




Afterwards, we finished it off with a similar sash and ribbon that was on the invitation, only this one was 16.5 inches long while the sash on the invite was only 12 inches long.



My mom came up with a great idea of sealing the chocolate tissue wrapped candle holder with a gold sticker that we bought from Staples. It added a nice, classy touch when you open it inside.



How does it look? DO you like it? i happen to love it!

The Graphic Designer Bride

In case any of you don't know this by now, I'm a motion graphics artist and a graphic designer by day. I have a lot of training on things such as layout, and typography. I know trade secrets liek "the grid," and the all important "white space."

I LOVE GREAT DESIGN.

And incase you haven't figured it out... i also love weddings.

About six years ago I offered to do my cousin's wedding invitations and reception print items. I designed them, printed them, etc. I found it to be stressful (what design job isn't) but fun at the same time! To do design work that doesn't have a department of defense theme or a higher education accounting concept is WONDERFUL!

I've done about seven weddings since my cousin's in 2006. I am even in the middle of another wedding reception design right now!

As you all know, with the work I’m trying to get into with print design for weddings, I have a bunch of ideas for my own event. It’s my way to showcase what I can do, so a lot of what I’ve planned is a bit involved. Since I’ve got my tasting this Saturday, I’ll be able to secure the entrée choices and schedule. Printing for invites will go out a week from today, so after the weekend of 4^th , it’ll be go time!

Just to give you an idea of what I’m gonna do, here are some ideas revealed:

Invites:

http://www.mygatsby.com/product.jsp?ProductID=405856

• So that's the format, but with a much better design and layout than the rotating gif above (which to me is a little too generic. sorry mygatsby, but its the truth).
• the cards that are actually printed will be from a real print house in Maryland. They’re using something called “offset” printing. I’m using a great uncoated (Nonmetallic) textured ivory paper and a dark orange metallic ink, and an uncoated chocolate ink. I’m using my gocco to add a gold swirl to the main invite card (to save money b/c a new color means an extra $200).
• The cards in the pocket will be taller than what you see in the picture. Some people will have 4 cards for the rehearsal dinner invite. There will be an extra vellum sheet behind the directions which is the map of the area.
• The metallic ivory gatefolds will be wrapped in a vellum/ribbon sleeve with the swirly design. The sleeve a little monogram of our first names as a seal on top (see picture below, but without the cheesy bow) and then stuffed w/ a metallic ivory envelope which is lined w/ the same swirly designed vellum.

Yes, I just reread that and it sounds just as confusing to me as you might feel right now. But it will be awesome. I promise! lol

Programs:

http://www.weddingbee.com/2007/05/10/programs-done/

• I have the gold thread to sew them together and all, just like Mrs. Plumeria did (who happens to be a graphic designer too. I got the idea of sew-binding a book from my bookmaking class in graduate school
  

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• The cover won’t be vellum like the example online. It will be a hard cover (same paper as my invites), but there will be a vellum page utilizing 2 of the awesome engagement photos that Trang did for me in march.
  

Ceramic Favors (to be done by one of my witnesses/godmothers/primary sponsors):

• They will be stuffed in this box with chocolate colored tissue paper:
  

• They’ll then have a vellum sleeve that matches the one that wraps around the invite, just to bring in some continuity… kinda like this, but without the cheesy bows:
  

·

M&M Favors:

• These are my very bags, of course w/ my swirly design:
  
  

• and then im ordering orange and cream M&Ms (and since they’ve already got M on them, I don’t need to do any special printing.
• these are what I plan on doing with the bags, but with gold thread:
  

The favors will alternate on the tables between place settings (ie you get M&Ms and the people on either side of you get candle holder.

Other items that we’ll have that im doing myself are:

• Table Numbers/Names
  
• Menu cards per place setting
  
• Escort Cards/Place Cards
  
• Welcome Bags for Hotel
  
• Cookie Favor Bags
  

Favors Finalized!

My favors are done!

As I told you in a previous post about my favors, one of them were filigree/cut-work ceramic candle holders. Pictured is the original prototype that we had copied (the original vendor had shut down). My aunt found a shop that makes something like this, but stoneware instead of porcelain. Its rather lovely and the cutouts will illuminate beautifully w/ a candle inside!

There was some issues with the bulkiness, weight, and fragility of the items. Apparently my mom and I didn't think this through, in regards to packing these into our luggage and getting them safely to the U.S. Luckily I was able to get about 52 of them into my 2 large suitcases. We're sending 12-18 with other family friends that are currently there and are coming to the states. My mom can't pack many because she'll be taking my gown and hers with her, and thats enough to cover one piece of luggage itself!

anyway, so, i can check off the box next to half of my favors now!

Back from manila!

I'm back! however, I'm suffering from jetlag so this post will be short! i got a lot done though!

here's a quick list of what I got done:

• Favors
• Flower Girl Dresses
• Wedding accessories (bearer pillows, cord, veil, coins, garter)
• Church Wedding Dress
• Bridal Shower Dress

Still being done (coming back with my mom next week):

• My Gown (to include the veil, petticoat, headpiece and matching pouch bag)
• My mom's Gown (matching clutch)
• Mr. Smallville's Mother's gown

i'll post everything in the next few days, so please stay tuned!

Dessert Favors too??

So right now all I have for dessert is a cake.

This concerns me.

That and in 2008 my family and I attended a wedding in Toronto where it's a fad to provide midnight snacks to your guests-- an adopted Italian tradition that they just made standard for all weddings up there. My mother and I were intrigued.

The venue doesn't allow for us to bring in our own food to serve. It must be ordered through them... But they're pricey. And I'm a budget bride.

However, I do know they allow FAVORS.

So I am adding yet another idea to my seemingly neverending list of favors.

This time, these favors will be self-service, and you pick them up at one table. You can snack on them right there if you want. You can even bring them home.

I can individually bag treats (cellophane bags) and label them w/ our monogram and a thank you note. Options for these are:

• Brownies from Becky's Kitchen in Manila - fudgy goodness. something about chocolate desserts in manila have a very indulgent factor to them.
• Cookies from Costco - they're large and their good. Nuff said
• Peanuts and Peanut Candies from Whitley's Peanut Factory - over by Mr Smallville's house. Virginia peanuts, sometimes hand dipped in awesome chocolate.

I may do some. I may do all. who knows?

One of my many brainstorm posts.

A Visit to Manila

Going to Manila in April from the 8th to the 22nd.

I haven't been there since 2006, for my grandmother's funeral.

Happy to go back for a more joyful occasion.

Things I plan to do there:

Favors:

Ceramic Filigree Lace Candle holders, like i mentioned in a previous post. I plan on giving away about 90, but we're ordering 120-130 of them incase some break during our flight back.

Attire:

Labor and Fabric are cheap in the Philippines, so I am going there to get a bunch of gowns made for the wedding party and a few choice outfits for myself. Below are the things we're getting done

• Gown for Mother of The Bride
• Gown For Mother of the Groom
• Dresses For Flower Girls
• My Dress for the Catholic Ceremony (which will double for my rehearsal dinner dress)
• My Bridal Shower Dress

And last, but most important,

• MY WEDDING GOWN!

Decorations:

Colored Table Runners, because I dont feel like paying $12-20 per orange table clothes to rent them, when we can get them made for half of that price, and I'd OWN them, lol.

Invites?:

Well, I probably wont get them printed there, but i was contemplating getting my Folio Pockets done there with our Monogram embossed on the inner pocket. Maybe. I don't know.

And most important, I get to see my family. I have a slew of extended family in Manila, of all which I treasure dearly, and can't wait to see again!

One of a Kind Favors

Ceramic Lace/Filigree Candle/Votive Holders!

Different, elegant, and something classy for a wedding!

I'm going "home" to Manila in April to get a hundred or so of these beauties. They're very cost effective if ordered from there.

Now, pictured above are examples of it. Mine will be square or round candle holders that are no larger than 3.5 inches by 3.5 inches.

They will be packaged in a 4x4 inch tuck top box I got from papermart.com.

It will then be wrapped in a sleeve that matches the sleeve that will wrap around my Folio Pocket for my invitation.

It will be placed at the table setting, every other seat, alternating with the M&M Bags that I began creating during the storm.

More to come soon...

M&Ms In Stitched Gocco Glassine Bags - Part 1

so what do you when you're snowed in for days in DC?

Wedding stuff!

In a martha stewart magazine article, i found these image of favors ideas. I was most intrigued by #6, which on the site reads:

6. Stitching seals lemon candies inside glassine pouches stamped with subtle lemon-slice designs.

Hmm... so Mr Smallville and I have the same first initials (M), and i immediately thought of M&Ms (i love chocolate over lemon candies).

I own a gocco machine, a lovely birthday/christmas gift from a good friend. I also currently live w/ my mother who owns a full size sewing machine. I figured i might as well make use out of my resources and make some of my favors a labor of love!

Of course the wedding isn't till September, so i won't exactly purchase the candies until august. However, I CAN begin printing onto the packaging.

First, I must begin by saying since i'm a graphic designer of a little over 10 years, i'm designing my own invitations. Second, I decided to use the leafy-swirl-flourish design on my invitation in most everything i do for the wedding, including this project.

I ordered my glassine bags from papermart.com which was an affordable $20-ish for 1000 bags. Of course i'm not making 1000 (i'm making approx 100), but it helps to have more in case you mess up.

i had to print out a black laser jet image of the flourish, and then exposed it onto a high mesh master using my Gocco Machine.

I then mixed the Daidai Orange, Red, Black, and Brown (and a bit of gold for added shimmer) Gocco inks until I got my desired shade of Burnt Orange.

I then applied the mixed ink to the master and printed on the glassine bags directly one by one. It was a serious labor of love, but the end product is beautiful...



This is ready for the M&Ms. I will be stuffing approx 1 oz of orange and shimmery white M&Ms per unprinted bag (liner) and then layering it over with the bags above. They will have a fold-over flap label and be sewn shut with gold embroidery thread.

So until August.. this post is TO BE CONTINUED...