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Mrs. Ramen, Phoenix Age and Occupation: 26, Optometry Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Industrial Designer Engagement Date: January 3, 2009 Wedding Date: December 19, 2009 Venue: Phoenix Art Museum About Me: I'm an SF-born, Seattle-raised girl, transplanted to Phoenix where I'll be getting married, and planning all the way from Orange County where I go to school (yes, it feels as crazy as it sounds). I loooooove Yogurtland, am slightly very obsessed with all things paper, am heavily addicted to wedding blogs, deeply desire a puppy, thoroughly enjoy cooking, cry when I watch (almost all) movies, thrive on solo car-karaoke, can't stop being sarcastic, am neurotic about taking pictures of almost everything I eat before I eat it, and aspire to travel the world. My super-talented fiance and I are attempting to DIY a majority of our massive (~350 guests) "clean & modern, yet romantic, but completely unexpected, with a teeny dash of vintage" wedding, stay within our not-so-massive budget, and somehow get a really luxe (but still fun!) look/feel at the same time. In music terms (since we're both really into music) think Coldplay meets Motown meets Kanye meets Sinatra.
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Remember that little Manzanita forest I have going on back home? Yes… the nekkid branches, that’s right. I promised to tell you how we decided to decorate the branches, right? Well…

We’re approximately 50% decided on what to do with them.

Crafting Craze Continued: Hanging Votives! :  wedding crafts decor diy reception Z203899 Aug-Labor Day 09 116

And that 50% would be to make a little army of hanging votives. If you remember, I was a bit disgruntled at the beginning since we couldn’t use real candles at the Art Museum. So, these votives are really more like hanging vases. The plan is to put about 3 on each tree, and a teeny bit of water (maybe), and 1 white dendrobium orchid blossom inside. I have high hopes for these! I *COULD* use some LED votives, but… for now, we’ll just use orchids.

There are about a million tutorials on how to make these, and of course, I didn’t read any and just went with the flow. I cut a length of wire about the length of my arm, maybe a bit longer. I wrapped it around the lip of the votive (purchased at Walmart for about $0.60/each - yeah, yeah, I know, I shop at Walmart; it’s a Phoenix staple!).

I then wrapped the wire around the bottom of the votive, looped it around the part that makes up the rim, then back around the bottom, and made another loop at the rim-wire, and over to make the handle. I attached it back to the rim-wire by twisting it around a million times. Yeah, those directions don’t really sound great, but… it’s hard to explain unless it’s in person. So hopefully this picture will help explain what I did…. my motto is: “When in doubt… wrap some more!”

Crafting Craze Continued: Hanging Votives! :  wedding crafts decor diy reception Z20389901 Aug-Labor Day 09 139Crafting Craze Continued: Hanging Votives! :  wedding crafts decor diy reception Z20389902 Aug-Labor Day 09 140
Yes, Mr. Ramen was there to help.

After finishing most of them, and seeing what they looked like hanging up, one fell and shattered into a million pieces on the table. To be on the safe side and make sure that didn’t happen during the reception, we decided to bust out the trusty old finger-burner, Mr. Glue Gun. I put a little bit on the bottom and a tiny dab on the sides for extra insurance. They are MUCH more steady now, so no one will have any shards of glass flying into their eyes. YAY! I know it’s not the prettiest effect, but… it works, and I doubt anyone will be studying the votives closely. I hope. At least the glue is clear and removable.

Crafting Craze Continued: Hanging Votives! :  wedding crafts decor diy reception Z20389903 Aug-Labor Day 09 138
Glue-gunning

2 of my lovely cousins spent Labor Day weekend in Phoenix with us, and helped in the wedding labor pains. Thanks, cousins!!!!! This is one of the little projects we whipped through in those 3 days. It probably took 3 of us a good 3-4 hours total to cut, wire, and glue all 60+ votives. Not bad…

Did you have to revise any crafts after testing them out?

Tags: crafts, decor, diy, reception |
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15 Responses to “Crafting Craze Continued: Hanging Votives!”

1.
Miss French Fries
Bee
Miss French Fries (message)  2,217 posts, Buzzing bee

Those look like they will be great! And you’re right, nobody is going to be looking closely enough to notice the hot glue. :)

 
2.
alishaneva
Member
alishaneva (message)  2,152 posts, Buzzing bee

I bet they’ll be great - and I wouldn’t have actually read any of the tutorials, either!!

 
3.
Miss Elephant
Bee
Miss Elephant (message)  6,177 posts, Bee Keeper

Can’t wait to see what they look like on your centerpieces! And I doubt anyone will really be looking at the bottom hot glueness

 
4.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Scissors (message)  7,343 posts, Bee Keeper

I can’t wait to see them all lit up!

 
5.
kmattso2
Member
kmattso2 (message)  1,046 posts, Bumble bee

I can’t wait to see what they look like hanging from your branches.

 
6.
Miss Poodle
Bee
Miss Poodle (message)  3,387 posts, Sugar bee

add another voice to the “I can’t wait to see them all lit up”

 
7.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Moonbeam (message)  1,732 posts, Bumble bee

Ooh, they should be cute when they’re all done, how much do the LED votives weigh?

 
8.
Miss Giraffe
Bee
Miss Giraffe (message)  4,216 posts, Honey bee

I can’t wait to see the finished project. I’m sure it’ll look great!

 
9.
Mrs. Mouse
Bee
Mrs. Mouse (message)  5,844 posts, Bee Keeper

This is going to look beautiful when it’s executed!

 
10.
Member Icon
Member
KMSull (message)  6,442 posts, Bee Keeper

They look great! And thats not long at all for a project that will have such a big impact!

 
11.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Parfait (message)  1,755 posts, Buzzing bee

I love this idea, and I’m so excited to see that you’re doing it!

 
12.
Guest Icon
Guest
lilx8n6el

I seriously hate those things. I just couldn’t get them right!

 
13.
tea
Member
tea (message)  7,263 posts, Bee Keeper

oooh, i can’t wait to see how it turns out!

 
14.
mrspaetz
Member
mrspaetz (message)  3,805 posts, Honey bee

you could use LED throwies with an orchid, so the tree still glows :)

 
15.
Guest Icon
Guest
Austin eye care

Thanks for sharing - this looks like such a great (and affordable) idea. Do you recommend a certain type of votive candles? Thanks so much for the detailed instructions; I can’t wait to try it out.

 

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Mrs. Ramen
Mrs. Ramen

Mrs. Ramen, Phoenix Age and Occupation: 26, Optometry Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Industrial Designer Engagement Date: January 3, 2009 Wedding Date: December 19, 2009 Venue: Phoenix Art Museum About Me: I'm an SF-born, Seattle-raised girl, transplanted to Phoenix where I'll be getting married, and planning all the way from Orange County where I go to school (yes, it feels as crazy as it sounds). I loooooove Yogurtland, am slightly very obsessed with all things paper, am heavily addicted to wedding blogs, deeply desire a puppy, thoroughly enjoy cooking, cry when I watch (almost all) movies, thrive on solo car-karaoke, can't stop being sarcastic, am neurotic about taking pictures of almost everything I eat before I eat it, and aspire to travel the world. My super-talented fiance and I are attempting to DIY a majority of our massive (~350 guests) "clean & modern, yet romantic, but completely unexpected, with a teeny dash of vintage" wedding, stay within our not-so-massive budget, and somehow get a really luxe (but still fun!) look/feel at the same time. In music terms (since we're both really into music) think Coldplay meets Motown meets Kanye meets Sinatra.

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