1st DIY check! WOOT!!!

What is DIY? Do-It-Yourself. Thanks to the knotties and their wonderful bios, I have created quite an extensive diy list. A few things I plan to do are invitations, save the dates, monogrammed aisle runner, sweetheart table banner, reception decorations....the list definitely goes on and on. I also LOVE the Mrs. hoodie (and undies, but I haven't attacked those yet.) Anyhoo, a knottie posted that Old Navy had white hoodies on sale for $10 about a week ago. It's this one.

I actually ordered 2 - one in white and one in purple. Didn't really care for the purple, but you can make returns at the store, so it's gone now. Now I have seen several versions of directions for creating your hoodie. They pretty much all involve the same things: making your pattern on the computer, printing it out so it's backwards, using mylar paper, attaching rhinestones and then ironing onto your hoodie. Here are some of the different directions I had saved to use as a possible guide: try these, or these and here is a video.

All of this was fine and dandy and how I planned to make my hoodie. But the thing is, you have to order this mylar transfer paper from online. (A lot of people get it from ebay.) I have a problem. When I decide I want something (or in this case, want to do something), I want to do it then!

I looked around thinking there must be something similar that I could use found in stores, but I actually had no luck. (I did later find this link from someone, but I had already completed my hoodie! She found something at Hobby Lobby that worked similarly to the mylar paper.) I had just about resigned myself to the idea that I was going to have to order the mylar transfer paper and just wait. yuck. And then I found a knottie (through a board search of 'hoodie') who did hers differently. Her directions are perfect - it's how I made mine after all - but here is how I did it.

You need:

your pattern/what you want it to say
tape
a pin
a pencil
iron-on rhinestones
iron or hotfix tool
teflon pressing sheet (optional)

I used the font Edwardian Script for the Mrs. Lastname and High Tower Text for the est. date and printed it out. I taped the paper down where I wanted the saying to be.







Then I took the straight pin (I actually used a thumbtack; easier to hold onto) and perforated my letters through the paper.








Next trace through the perforation/holes with your pencil. This will put your pattern on your fabric when you remove the paper. (Look closely; you can see the outline on my jacket.) Now just place your rhinestones, lining them up with the outline. I used a pair of tweezers I had already; no need for some special rhinestone grabber thingy (imho). I only did a letter (small ones) or part of a letter (if there were a lot of rhinestones) at a time, and would then iron that section before moving on. Just didn't want to end up with some out of line.


I laid the teflon pressing sheet on top of the section and held my iron (set according to the directions on the rhinestones) ON the letter for about 15 seconds. Don't rock; just place. Repeat until it's all done!

I did the initials on the front and like a complete dodo I put L + W, which are fiance's initials! Of course I did not realize this until I had completed the entire hoodie, so I just threw that C up there and kept it moving!

Jenny also changed out the white drawstring on her hoodie to a color that matched her colors on the hoodie. So I switched mine to one that is a wine color. Just as Jenny did, I just tied my new ribbon on one end of the white string, pulled the white through and the wine in and knotted the ends of the wine.

I am so happy with it!

<3 CRod

"You know, I don't really like fake flowers"

This is a quote from my mother. My mother the teacher. The same profession/pay scale as me! We were having lunch the day after Noodlebear proposed and this lady hit me with that sentence. To which I said, "Well, do you like the price of real flowers?!"

In all honesty, I don't care for fake flowers either. I was already thinking about centerpieces/decorations that involved lots of candles and maybe floating flowers or petals. (To me, those can be fake because they are in water.) I just honestly have trouble wrapping my head around spending any serious amount of moolah on something that will be dead in less than a week! Here is one picture that I found a while ago (sorry, I don't know where it came from; if it's yours, let me know!)

My favorite flowers are calla lilies. I have always planned to incorporate those somehow into my wedding. I found this bouquet on my first day on The Knot. It will be mine!
Isn't she just perfect? ahhh...From the same wedding I love the brides pop of color with her white and the white with the girls' purple gowns!

I just <3 it!!!

Anyhoo, we went to our first florist appointment on Saturday morning. We discussed MY bouquet, 3 calla stems per bridesmaid, calla bouts for the guys, rose wrist and shoulder corsages for the important women, 2 altar arrangements, and 8 calla centerpieces. The quote ended up being around $1100. O.My.G. And what did my mom say when I called her a little while ago? "Hmm, that sounds pretty good." Seriously, Mom? We shall see. If anyone ever starts to read this (which I highly doubt), let me know what you did in the way of flowers!

<3 CRod