Ooh la la! Bridal Fantasy recently came across Green Wedding Shoes’ tutorial on DIY Favor Bags filled with macarons! Mmmm . . . macarons, such delectable little things . . . simply mouth-watering just thinking about them.

With color-coordinated labels already made to download, you’ll only need a few more things for this delightful DIY project:
- Color printer
- Glassine favor bags (found here)
- Ruler
- X-acto knife
- Double sided tape
- And of course . . . MACARONS!

Luckily for us Edmontonians, The Duchess Bakery is open every Tuesday to Sunday with a variety of macaron flavors to choose from! These DIY Favor Bags would be great for a wedding or bridal party favor. So say Merci by sharing these little French treats with your family and friends.

Here are the instructions from Green Wedding Shoes’ Blog:
1. Download (visit Green Wedding Shoes to download) the label graphic. Follow the directions in the PDF for printer settings, label folding tips, and cutting advice.
2. Add a finishing touch to the bags and scallop the top with a pair of pinking shears or a rotary cutter.
3. Add macarons and fold down bag opening.
4. Affix the color-coordinated label using double-sided tape.
5. To maintain freshness and avoid food stains on the bag, line it with parchment paper.
6. Voilà! You’re ready to treat your guests to a little taste of Paris.

With the rise of the modern day wedding, weddings have become unique occasions, rich with colours and character; gone are the cookie cutter weddings of the past. Couples prefer to celebrate the state of matrimony today with creativity and style. Just check out this post we found at La Belle Bride! From kazoos to little cactus give-aways this couple managed to host an adorable wedding that is both fun and memorable at the Utah Zion national park.

While you are there, be sure to have a look at some of the other entries at http://www.labellebride.com, where they have plenty of other great ideas for the innovative bride. Their real life wedding section features vibrant photographs of uniquely styled weddings, and we especially love the Do-It-Yourself ideas and invite section! So let your imagination run wild, and make your special day an enjoyable affair to remember!

Be Nice and Treat Yourself, Guilt-Free

For the stressed and budget conscious bride, wind down every month with a DIY (Do It Yourself) home facial, your skin will thank you for it!

1. Always start a facial with clean skin. Start by washing your face with your usual cleanser. Apply in circular motions from your neck moving upwards and then wash off.

2. Next, fill a bowl with hot water (not boiling) and add lavender or eucalyptus oil to the water to induce greater relaxation. If essential oils are not available on hand, feel free to throw in a bag of green tea or chamomile (or even loose tea leaves) to have the same effect. Place your head above the bowl of hot water and drape a towel over your head to contain the steam so that it can help open up your pores. Relax and breathe deeply for a few minutes.

3. After your DIY steam treatment, gently massage your exfoliater onto your face and jaw line in circular movements. Then wash off and pat dry to prepare your face for the facial mask.

Make sure your skin is dry to allow for your mask to dry. Using a face mask that is suited for your particular skin needs, apply the face mask and leave it on for five to ten minutes. Then pop a couple slices of cucumber over your eyes or opt of some cold tea bags to soothe any puffiness around the eyes.

4. Once the five to ten minutes are up, rinse off the face mask with cool water to tighten up your pores.

5. Then tone your skin with a hydrating or clarifying toner, whichever is best for your skin type.

6. In sweeping motions, apply your moisturizer onto your skin from the neck up and then massage it in with small circular movements. By massaging the skin with your moisturizer, it will encourage new cell growth and proper circulation.

7. Finally apply your eye cream gently around your eyes and make sure to not apply much pressure or drag the skin around your eyes.

8. If you are planning on being outside later on, make sure to use a moisturizer with SPF of at least 15 to your skin to protect it. Or remember to apply some to your face before you head out.

So, you’ve been working hard on planning your wedding day. Reception location is booked, the colours and your scheme is chosen, flowers are ready and it’s time for the invites. Cute and sassy? Traditional and elegant? Bright, bold colours or muted tones? Did you ever think about how great it would be to do your own invitations? A wonderful company is showing up everywhere and they’re called Stampin’ Up! With creative products and home shows available, you can all the great ideas, advice and support to create your own beautiful wedding stationary.

This wedding stationary is done in cool shades of brown and blue – perfect for a destination (or destination-themed) wedding. Cute sea shell stamps add a touch of whimsy to the outer portion of the invite, and are copied on the reply card.

Sophisticated silver touches make this set of wedding stationary perfect for a more stylish look. The invite is tucked into a pouch that has a matching stamp done on the outer pouch, the invite itself and the favour box, tying the whole theme together.

For more information check out the Stampin Up! website . You can start shop online, find out how to host a workshop and get information on upcoming events!