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Happy Wedding Planning!

Teresa Mariano
Editor-In-Chief
I Do for Brides

On the day of my wedding, my sister in law gave me a white lace handkerchief. She told me to tuck it into the sleeve of my gown to wipe tears, or to hold it folded in the palms of my hands in case they became sweaty. She also suggested I turn it into a bonnet for my first child to wear the day he or she was brought home from the hospital.

Thankfully, I took her advice and carried the handkerchief with me down the aisle. I decided to hold it in my palm, which helped me grip my bouquet, and it was also put to use dabbing a few tears. Though I decided not to craft it into a bonnet,  I do intend to give it to my son’s bride on the day of their wedding, and I hope the tradition continues for many generations.

However, if you are interested in turning your wedding-day handkerchief into a bonnet that can also be passed down for many generations, check out  www.creativeneedlemag.com/newdloads/bonnetma98/index.html.

I’ve always been skeptical about mascara. Besides darkening the tips of my eyelashes, I’ve never understood how it could make my lashes longer. That was until a couple of weeks ago. I received a sample of L’oreal’s Bare Natural Mascara, and it really worked!

My lashes looked like they belonged to someone else. They seemed to increase in length by about 1/8″ and looked fuller. I recommend this mascara to any bride looking for fuller, longer lashes. And if you’re worried about crying during your wedding or making sure your mascara lasts throughout the day without smudging or flaking, this product is definitely for you!

To order, or to check out more L’oreal products, visit www2.lorealusa.com.

Ancient traditions marked special occasions by planting a tree. Give your guests an opportunity to commemorate your new beginning and help the environment with a Tree in a Box favor. Choose from a variety of deciduous and evergreen trees, like the Red Maple, considered to be “the tree of calm”  or the Douglas Fir, which was the first Christmas tree because its great height was thought to bring clear vision in the face of the new year.

Each decorative box contains a soil pellet, seeds and a 32-page growing instructions booklet. You can also personalize the box with your own wedding label.

Visit www.treeinabox.com for more information to view the full list of trees available.

Looking for an inexpensive way to personalize your wedding decor? Consider making decoupage glasses for center or accent pieces.

You’ll Need:

Glass jelly jars, cups or vases
Handmade papers
Fresh-cut or silk flowers
Ribbon
Sponge brushes
Scissors
Glass cleaner
Paper towels

If using silk flowers, you’ll need:
Green foam
Peat moss
Craft moss

Use old vases you have around the house or visit any second-hand store to find various sizes and shapes of glass cups or jelly jars. You can find handmade paper in various textures and colors at most art supply stores.  I like to use a solid-color paper with a textured paper as an accent. Most art or craft stores carry a couple different brands of decoupage medium (for a lower cost alternative you can use white glue).

Directions:

1. Wash and dry glasses.
2. Cut paper to fit around glass. Cut any accent pieces you would like to apply. (Consider ripping paper into small pieces for a patch-work look.)
3. Apply a thin coat of decoupage medium around the glass, using a foam brush.
4. Lay the cut paper around the glass. Smooth any wrinkles.
5. Cut any overlapping paper to avoid showing a seam.
6. Paint paper with decoupage medium, making sure every spot is completely saturated.
7. Apply a strip of textured paper about 1/2″ to 1″ from the top of the glass.
8. Paint strip with decoupage medium.
9. Let dry for one hour.
10. Tie a ribbon that is smaller in width than the strip of accent paper around the top of the glass.
11. Place a small drop of glue under the knot to help hold the ribbon in place.
12. Add water and fresh-cut flowers
13. If using silk flowers, place a small amount of glue in the bottom of the glass.
14. Push the foam into the the glass.
15. Arrange silk flowers by pushing them into the foam.
16. Apply a small amount of glue on the top of the foam.
17. Push peat moss into the glue.
18. Cut any peat moss hanging over the side of the glass.