This amazingly talented artist creates some of the most unique, memorable and stunning wedding DIY accessories I’ve ever come across and generously shares the instructions with all her readers.

One great example is this easy to make Tree Pedestal Cake Stand. See instructional photos below.

1. Select undented cans of similar sizes. Thoroughly clean and remove labels and any residual glue.

2. Fasten ribbon or raffia around the can mid way down.

3. Fill with water and your choice of flowers.

Don’t forget to recycle the cans after the wedding.

Note: Photographer Unknown. If this is your photograph, please let us know so we can provide you with the proper photo credit.

The generous folks at designbetty.com have made available an easy to edit collection of invitations that you can print at home. Their easy to use online editing process is so simple you don’t have to be a designer or have a lot of computer skills to create your own stunning invitations. Simply click and edit, download and print.

In addition to the free collection Design Betty also has a wonderful collection of affordable templates that retail for only $5.99 each.

Don’t forget to print these gorgeous invites on tree free or recycled paper.

So what do you think of these free designs? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

Source: Martha Stewart Weddings

Photo Source: Martha Stewart Weddings

Click here to print instructions.

To cover the soap slice pictured above, our team opted for clean used brown paper lunch bags that we collected from friends and family who just can’t give up using paper lunch bags. By crumpling the bags we achieved a beautiful raw looking texture.

Materials Required:

• Organic soap slices of your choice. (Natural soaps can be purchased sliced or in loaves and you slice them yourself)
• Paper to wrap around soap (ie. clean used brown paper lunch bags, reuse old wrapping paper, wall paper remnants, recycled scrap booking paper, old sheet music, fabric scraps, old maps)
• Scissors
• Non-toxic White Glue
• Artist brush

Instructions:

1. Measure and cut paper slightly shorter than the height of the soap slice so a bit of the soap shows at each end. Be sure to cut the length of the paper long enough to wrap around the soap with enough overlap to seal.
2. Wrap paper around soap.
3. Apply a small bead of glue on overlap and spread using artist brush. Be sure to spread glue to the edge of the paper to ensure a good seal.
4. Press overlap down firmly to seal and allow to dry completely.
5. Tie a beautiful bow around the soap for the finishing touch (optional).

What a great way to recycle your used, clean tin cans.

Materials Required:

• empty soup, broth or vegetable cans
• fine gauge wire
• large nail
• hammer
  sand
• votive candles
• thick gloves
• pliers
• table vise
• permanent marker

Instructions:

1. Remove labels from cans and wash and dry thoroughly.
2. With your safety gloves on, take the pliers and bend down any sharp edges created when the lid was removed with a can opener.
3. With a permanent marker draw dots on the can to create a shape. You can also do this on a sheet of paper to use as a template. I stick with simple geometric patterns rather than intricate representations. It just cuts down on the frustration level.
4. Fill cans with water and freeze. This will help the cans keep their shape when you punch in the holes. Keep in mind that water expands when it freezes. I found that one or two of my cans split down the side. The expansion also caused the bottom of the cans to protrude. This was easily remedied by tapping them back into place with a hammer.
5. Once the water in the can is frozen solid, clamp the can to a work table with a vise.
6. Using a large nail and a hammer punch a hole into either side of the can. This is where you will attach the handle.
7. Then punch holes into the can following the pattern you laid out with your permanent marker.
8. Allow the ice to melt, pour out any remaining water and dry the can.
9. To create a handle, take a length of the fine gauge wire and insert it through one of the side holes. Twist the end to secure. Repeat with the opposite end of the wire on the other side.
10. Place a small amount of sand in the bottom of the can and add a votive candle. If you are feeling particularly festive use a spicy scented candle to perfume the air.
11. Hang these in various places in the garden and light at dusk.
12. Use caution when removing holders after use, as the sides will be very hot.

By crumpling the bags we achieved a beautiful raw looking texture that also disguised the fact that we did not remove all the toilet paper remnants still stuck to the tube. Remember, by using thicker paper or crumpled paper you can save yourself the painstaking task of removing all the toilet paper glued to the tube.

Materials Required:

• Clean empty cardboard toilet paper tubes
• Paper to cover tubes. (ie. clean used brown paper lunch bags, reuse old wrapping paper, wall paper remnants, recycled scrap booking paper, old sheet music, fabric scraps, old maps)
• Non-toxic White Glue
• Artist brush
• Scissors
• Ribbon or Raffia for embellishment (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cut lunch bag along one length crease then cut out bottom of bag to lay bag flat.
2. Crumple bag to create a raw organic paper look.
3. Unravel crumpled bag and lay flat on your work surface.
4. Measure and cut a piece of the lunch bag paper to fit the tube. Cut to exact measurement of tube length and allow a half inch overlap on the circumference.
   Use this cut out as a template to cut more sheets as required.
5. Apply glue to tube and spread thinly and evenly with artist brush. Be sure to coat the entire tube with glue especially the edges at each end of the tube.
6. Apply paper to tube.
7. Apply a bead of glue to the overlap and spread with artist brush. Be sure to spread glue to the edge of the sheet. Press the overlap down to seal.
8. Gently rub the entire tube to ensure the paper adheres to the glue.
9. Set aside to allow the glue to completely dry.
10. Once glue has dried, neatly fold the edges of one end of the tube. Remember to allow a slight overlap of the top fold.
11. Fill the tube with organic chocolates, chocolate covered nuts or candies of your choice.
12. Fold the other end of the tube to seal.
13. Tie a beautiful ribbon around the circumference of the tube for a beautiful finishing touch. (optional)

Your guests can help themselves to the candy canes during the evening or a few lucky guests can take the complete vase home to use for holiday entertaining. If you plan on playing wedding games during your reception, these make great prizes.

 Materials Required:

• Cylindrical vase or clean empty can
• Two sided tape (found at most hardware or scrapbooking stores)
• Rubber band
• Candy canes
• Wide ribbon (must be wider than rubber band)
• Roses

Instructions:

1. Wrap the two sided tape around the vase/can once approximately halfway down the vase/can. (The two sided tape will help keep the candy canes from sliding out from under the rubber band.)
2. Slide rubber band around the vase/can.
3. Begin inserting the candy cans behind the rubber band.
4. Tie the ribbon around the vase/can taking care to cover the rubber band with the ribbon.
5. Fill with water and arrange roses.

Another “Bride Idea”: Use mini candy canes and baby food jars or small fruit cup cans to create small individual vases which can serve as place cards. Just attach a label with your guests’ names to the ribbon.

 Source: http://www.lobzik.pri.ee/modules/news/

Materials Required:

• Maple leaves or any other colorful large broad leaves
• Thread

Instructions:

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These rose ice cubes create a stunning display while keeping your wine or champagne chilled. Remember to use organically grown roses.

Source: Jonathan Fong Style

Materials Required:

(per ice tray)

• 12 spray roses (the small ones)
• 12 twist ties
• 2 wooden skewers
• 1 ice tray
• Floral tape

Instructions:

1. Cut the spray roses, leaving about 2 inches of stem, and use twist ties to attach the stems to the skewers.
2. Place the roses, which are attached to the skewers, upside down in their individual ice compartments of the tray.
3. Tape down the skewers at the ends of the ice tray to keep everything from floating when you add water. Your ice tray should look like the one in the photo below.
4. Add water to the ice tray and freeze overnight.