DIY: Type Drawer Escort Card Display

I'm always spending time on Etsy searching for cool vintage accessories, whether searching for new ideas or items to decorate my home with and recently found seller Blue Bird Heaven who takes vintage letterpress type drawers and converts them into jewelry displays.

It got me thinking... what if you wanted to use these drawers as a cute vintage escort card display? Could be really cool for a rustic or loft style wedding!

This project is definitely for the DIY-inclined and may take a little more time than the average project, but the results could be well worth the effort.

Materials:

• Type drawers: the number of drawers you need will depend on your guest count. We recommend leaving a cubby hole for each couple / single guest on your list.
• Paper for background: various papers in a color palette of your choosing. You can use scrapbook papers, old gift-wrap or wallpaper.
• Pens
• X-acto knife (used with a self-healing cutting matte) or scissors if you're more comfortable cutting with these.
• Ruler
• Heavy-duty double stick tape

Directions:

1. To save yourself valuable time, be sure to pre-measure all the cubby holes in your type drawer. This is the most time-consuming part of the project and you don't want to leave it for the days before your wedding to be cutting out 150 rectangles of paper.
2. Once all your holes have been measured, give each hole a number and determine which pattern of paper you'd like for each hole. Measure out each hole size on your selected paper and cut out. Number the back of your cut piece for the hole it corresponds to.
3. After you have your seating chart finalized, you should begin writing guests names and table numbers on each pre-cut rectangle. To make it easy for your guests, be sure to place names in alphabetical order (by last name).
4. Place the coordinating piece of cut paper rectangle into the matching hole with double stick tape.
5. Admire your brilliant job and enjoy!

Drawers can be found on eBay for around $15 - $50 or try keeping an eye out for them at your local flea market.

an enchanted forest: escort card display

One of my favorite details of the weddings we work on has to definitely be coming up with a fun and easy-to-use escort card display. For the Enchanted Forest Wedding last month, the bride and I had a very similar idea decided on from day one.

Taking a cue from fantasy and mixing it with the great outdoors, the concept began with having a series of paper scrolls from which the name cards would be attached. The original concept went through a few rounds of changes - especially on the actual day, when we needed to enlist some last minute help to construct a stable stand for the piece.

Here's my original sketches showing how the cards were to be placed onto the scrolls.

And here's the close-up of the two-piece design we settled upon.

Lastly, the final display decorated and ready.... I think you'll agree it came out quite fantastic! We used a combination of sheet moss, faux leaves, flowers and butterflies to decorate the base. The scrolls were attached to the frame using bark covered wire and the trees used for the actual frame came from the property.

To replicate this idea, here's a list of resources for where you can get similar materials:

• Butterflies: Floral Trims has a great selection
• Sheet Moss: Can be ordered online or found at Michael's crafts
• Faux Leaves: We used an assortment from Michael's crafts
• Bark Covered Wire
• Mini Envelopes
• Paper Scrolls: We used recycled paper that had bits of bark in the pulp

Brown Bottle Escort Display

I'm always on the lookout for unique and different ways to organize escort cards and found something worth sharing today. Studio 1212 creates some super unique pieces. Looking for a solid wood table for eight? Check. How about a one of a kind mailbox? Check. Cremation Urn. Check.

I know it's a little macabre...but bare with me here.

But the thing I wanted to tell you about was this custom display kit / aka (Traveling Perfumer's Organ), intended for perfumers to showcase their essential oils at craft shows and fairs. Designed to fit inside an easy-to-transport wood box, someone looking for a fun twist on a steam punk theme could really have a lot of fun with this piece.

Just get yourself some small brown bottles (old find old ones on ebay) and handwrite guests names using vintage looking labels. For a fun twist, name your tables after different fragrance, like shown above.

DIY Leaf Tags + Escort Cards

My first Project Wedding Tutorial went live yesterday. Eeek!! I'm so excited to be writing for them and hope you enjoy my first posted tutorial, DIY Leaf Favors & Escort Cards!

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A fun way to add some pops of color to the wedding without spending a fortune is making use of seasonal fruits. Lemons, limes, pears, oranges and peaches can be used to lend some decorative accents in two interesting methods.

First, as favors, they can be left a top a menu card or napkin at each place setting Using a mixture of two tags is a fun way to add some dimension and get all of your messaging into one place. The large leaf should incorporate the bride and groom's name and the small one is perfect for featuring your wedding date.

Secondly, as escort cards, fruit can be artfully arranged on a table and placed in alphabetical order. This is perfect for last-minute shifting of guest. In the weeks leading up to the big day, spend time labeling each leaf with guest names and table numbers. Wait until your seating chart is finalized to match the correct table to each guest.

Try using fruits that not only work with your color palette, but have a special meaning to your location; Apples in Washington, Peaches in Georgia, Oranges in Florida...

For a fun DIY-twist, this project incorporates a coordinating set of scrapbook papers, which have been mixed and matched in a green-blue color palette.

Supplies:

• DIY Leaf Template (you must have Adobe Reader installed to open this)
• Assorted scrapbook paper
• X-acto knife or scissors
• Pearl head pins: these come in lots of wonderful colors and are available at most fabric stores

Depending on what paper you use, 12 sets will cost about $0.55 - $1.00 each,
plus the cost of the fruit

Directions:

1. Cut scrapbook paper to fit inside a standard home printer: 8.5" x 11"
2. Download the DIY Leaf Template
3. Print the template onto your cut scrapbook paper
4. Cut out each leaf shape
5. Mix and match patterns for an interesting look
6. Attach leaves (small on top of large) using head pins

Tips:

• Text can be added to the leaves in many software programs. Experiment with different fonts and layouts to get the right look for your event.
• To keep the design casual, you may want to write directly on the scrapbook paper with your favorite pen or marker. They can also be embellished with rubber stamps.
• Seek out a local farm stand for the best quality fruit you can afford. And be sure to ask if you can take your purchases home in one of their wooden crates. It makes a great piece to help add authentic style to your escort card table.