Brown Paper Bag Perfection

I was honored and excited when Stephanie & Ela from the Elite Bridal Network asked me to design programs for their wedding planner seminar in Key West this month. I racked my brain for something creative and beautiful and was thrilled when Stephanie sent me these favors she saw on Martha Stewart as inspiration.

I blogged about my obsession with kraft paper a few weeks ago and mentioned these fantastic gifts. I wanted to do a take on the brown paper bag, because the programs for the Elite Bridal Network were filled with goodies and snacks for the planners to enjoy during the weekend! I really love the idea of having something be both stylish and practical.

Creating a program or favor like this is not only simple, but it's also extremely economical. The programs looked so elegant and chic when they were assembled! Here's how I did it:

1. I purchased a package of large lunch bags. You can find there anywhere, I found them at my local grocery store.

2. I purchased wood clothespins, again a staple at the grocery store or Target.

3. My final purchase was this vase filler from Target. It's a mixture of glass accent rocks and stones, usually used for floral arrangements. I chose the brown mix to match the Elite Bridal Network logo.

4. I hot-glued a brown glass stone at the top part of each clothespin.

5. I designed the program and printed it on white card stock. We used a simple brown font and printed their gorgeous logo at the top.

6. Lastly, I attached each program to the bag with a clothespin. I rolled the bag down 3 times at the top for a neat and folded look.

Voila! Fabulous programs/goodie bags!

The best part is that there are tons of options to make brown paper bag favors fantastic for your next fete!

Here are a few alternative suggestions:

a. Try closing the bags with a beautiful button like the ones featured in Martha Stewart. You can create your own fabric buttons on Busy Beaver Button Company. Have a button printed with your own slogan.

b. There are tons of things you could hot glue onto a clothes pin. A few of my favorite ideas are seashells, mini sand dollars, sequins, swarovski crystals, fabric flowers, or paper flowers {like these above via paper-source}.

c. Fill the bags with meaningful food, candy and/or favors. In the Martha version, the couple filled their lunch bags with grits from a local farm. They attached a recipe for "Shrimp and Grits" onto the outside of the bag, and gave them out as a favor for their Southern Savannah wedding. Yum!

Hope you are inspired by the incredible versatility of a simple brown paper bag.

Thanks to the Elite Bridal Network!

xoxo,

Niki

Kraft(y)

I love the rustic charm of kraft paper. It's not just for crab dinners or lunch bags anymore. Kraft paper is so versatile it can even be used at the most elegant affairs. It also adds homemade charm to everything that it accentuates. Use it across the board: as paper to draw on at a kids table, as favor bags and boxes, menus, invitations, programs and even gift wrap.

{via once wed, style me pretty, luscious verde, sunday suppers, twig & fig, martha stewart, emerson made and design sponge}

I was so inspired by all of this kraft paper madness that I actually created a program for the lovely ladies of Elite Bridal Network using kraft lunch bags, clothespins & glass vase filler... details and photos to come.

Stay krafty!

xoxo,

Niki

Tie the Knot: Silk Ribbon

I'm finishing up an exquisite wedding program today, which will be tied together with a gorgeous hanah silk ribbon. I'm not exactly a "bows & ribbons" type of girl, but I happen to love how elegant and delicate hanah silk ribbon is. It's gorgeous on these invitations from Real Card Studio, Delicate Pen & Luscious Verde. I absolutely love it on Arak Kanofsky's fan/program.

Hanah silk ribbons come in a wide array of colors, textures and widths. To make this particular papery & cakery program stand out, the ribbon binds together the cover and the inside pages. Photos are coming soon! Instead of tying it into a bow, the ribbon is knotted together at the bottom of the program, leaving two long strands of ribbon hanging. It's absolutely stunning!

Silk ribbon can be used on the invitation & program, and also: to hang seating cards, to bind together pieces of the invitation, around a belly band, at the top of a menu card, to wrap chairs, bouquets, centerpieces, or even a dress sash. I've ever seen it wrap around a wedding cake or a cupcake display stand for a decadent addition.

Happy tying the knot!

xoxo,

Niki