Wedding Decor: Craft It with Paper

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Thinking of making some of your own wedding décor, Mother of the Bride? Why not craft it with paper?

Since roses and weddings go together like tea and crumpets, paper roses would add a beautiful touch to any wedding celebration. The classic whites, creams, blushes and beiges will work with almost any color scheme, but gorgeous roses in the specific colors of your daughter’s wedding will add the perfect splash of color.

Roses, of course, aren’t the only flowers that crafters can create. Take a look at this post from Paper and Lace: 10 of the Best Paper Flower Tutorials.  (Notice the two different links – the first for the home page and the second for the actual tutorial.) You’ll be amazed at how beautiful the flowers look. Also check out brand new book Paper to Petal: 75 Whimsical Paper Flowers to Craft by Hand by Rebecca Thuss and Patrick Farrel. You can purchase it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Paper luminaries for candles are another creative idea for weddings. On this Martha Stewart The Bride’s Guide post, you’ll see not only paper luminaries but also delicate paper grasses that look amazing in varied sizes of white vases.

I bet these ideas are enough to get your Mother of the Bride-creative-wheels turning. So how about it? Anyone ready to go out and stock up on paper? :)

*What are some other ideas for crafting it with paper for a wedding?

Flickr photo by kilted01

Developing an Eye

I’m doing it! I’m developing an eye for taking better photos!

How can I tell? Certain hallmark signs are there. Lately, I’m spotting good light or noticing great vantage points. I’m focusing on color but noticing backgrounds and striving for centered shots. I’m giving attention to detail. (Notice the morning light and winter trees behind the icicles in the shot I took above? I didn’t even realize how cool that would look until after I took the picture. I was concentratig mainly on the icicles.)

Developing an eye doesn’t happen by accident—in photography or other endeavors. I’ve invested time in taking lots of shots. In other words, I’ve endured the dross before the gold. And to be honest, I end up with a lot more dross than gold.

At the same time, though, I’ve benefited in several ways from taking time out for wonder while taking a host of photos. Not only am I becoming more adept at capturing better pictures, but I’ve been energized by my new pursuit and have also grown more appreciative of the beautiful world God’s given us.

The concept of developing an eye certainly carries over into other areas of our lives as well.Consider the spiritual realm. Do we notice spiritual applications to things that we see or experience in our everyday lives? (Writing blog posts has helped me develop an awareness for this.) Do we spot God at work in people or situations or can we see him in the background? Do we notice when people are hurting or in need but also pick up on their joys?

If we don’t feel like we’re actively developing a spiritual eye, we can take steps to do it. Remember, developing an eye doesn’t happen by accident.

We need to invest time—time in learning to think in spiritual ways. We do this as we read, study, and meditate on God’s Word and as we talk with him. Talking with others about spiritual truths will also spur us on in our growth. And when we notice hurts or joys of others and interrupt our lives to share in what they’re going through, we’ll continue to develop that eye for spiritual things.

So what do you say? Let’s be people who continue to develop and grow in our lives, whether it be in our walk with the Lord or the pursuit of our interests and skills. Let’s continue to develop an eye!

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,” 1 Peter 2:2

*For what interest or skill are you developing an eye?

*The new issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, came out Feb. 1st. It’s not too late to receive it. Sign up is free and to the right!

Blown Away by Talent

Do other people’s talents sometimes blow you away? I’m amazed at those with artsy/craftsy talents. Yep, the talents I don’t have :)

This Christmas I was once again in awe of gifts my daughters made. Kristin and Kelli have both learned to knit in the past few years, and Kelli, among other things, is even teaching herself to sew, thanks to the gift of a sewing machine from her sweet hubby.

Kristin surprised me with a gorgeous knitted scarf that could rival any found in the quaintest of  shops to the nicest of department stores. She also knitted the most clever little “sweaters” for clear ball ornaments and gave some to all the ladies in our family. She made red ones as well as gold ones and white ones with sparkles. Absolutely adorable.

And Kelli? She outdid herself this year by making a dress for Kristin. This amazed us all because she completed her first sewing project just one year ago.

At first, Kristin thought the dress came from Gap because the inside tag was a Gap tag. Kelli then pointed out that it was a top from Gap to which she had added a waistband and gathered skirt. Such a fun surprise and so creative!

If I sound like I’m bragging, I guess I am :) I don’t know where my girls got their craftsy creative bents. Definitely not from me. Maybe that’s why I’m so blown away when I see their finished projects. I love watching this side of my girls blossom.

When I stop and think about it, I do indeed know where Kristin and Kelli got their varied talents. The Author of all talent gave their gifts to them—and to us all—very generously.

God gifts each one of us in numerous ways, doesn’t he? I may not possess the artsy/craftsy talents my girls possess, but I do have other talents. God has given me the ability to write and to sing, to encourage and to teach. I’m not a great cook, but I’m a pretty good little baker when the occasion arises. I can also plan and organize the heck out of whatever needs planning or organizing :)

What about you? I know God has gifted you as well—and I’ve been blown away by many of you and your talents time and again. After all, we are all God’s workmanship, and nobody blows us away like the Creator of it all!

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

*What talents has God blessed you with?

*Here’s the pattern for the knitted Christmas ornaments above.

*My photo

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, will come out in early February. Sign-up is free and to the right!