Rank Bloog

DIY: Water Balloon Luminaries

Water Balloon Luminaries (via Candletech)

What You’ll Need:
High Melt Paraffin Wax (IGI 1260)
Water Balloons
Double Boiler
Cookie Sheet

Instructions:
1. Fill a water balloon with tepid water.

2. Melt your wax. Optimum working temperature for this project is 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Try to maintain this temperature for your wax while working by keeping it on a double boiler.

3. Slowly dip your balloon into the wax to just below the water level in the balloon. Warning: Do not dip the balloon into the wax past the water level. This could cause the balloon to pop.

4. Hold the balloon in the wax for a few seconds, and then slowly lift it out of the wax. Dip the balloon a few more times, allowing some time between dips to let the wax cool.

5. While it is still quite warm, carefully set the balloon down onto a piece of paper or a cookie sheet, making sure it is level. This will create a flat bottom for the luminary.

6. Dip your balloon a few more times until it is the desired thickness. A good target thickness is 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch.

7. Set the balloon on the paper or cookie sheet again and let it cool.

8. When the wax is completely cooled, hold the balloon over a sink or bucket, facing away from you. Carefully pop the balloon with a skewer or knife and let the water drain out. Throw away the balloon shards.

9. To level the top of the luminary, heat a cookie sheet on the stove and place the luminary top-down onto the hot sheet and carefully melt the edges until it is level.

10. Place a tea light or votive candle inside the luminary and burn on a candle holder in a dark area.

DIY: Water Balloon Luminaries

Water Balloon Luminaries (via Candletech)

THE NEW YEARS BRIDE

Sugar Shimmer

Sugar Shimmer by Mewsmom

Tomorrow we'll be doing some heavier reflecting on the New Years Bride--past and present. But today I wanted to wish luck to those of you saying 'Ido' either tonight or tomorrow. If you're still up-in- the-air about accessorizing your look, here are a few great ideas . . .

The Stuff of Dreams by theoriginalpeapod

STYLE YOUR DREAM WEDDING

With the exception of my six-pound Chihuahua, this has to be the best Christmas gift I ever got and believe me it was read front to cover in one sitting. Lifestyle expert Susie Coleho has reached the pinnacle of wedding style with her book, Style Your Dream Wedding. From the high quality paper and polished layout of this lovely coffee table book to first look inside, it's one visual surprise after another, thanks to some stellar photography. Susie guides us through the planning of your big day beginning with finding your a color palette and wedding style. She describes seven different style weddings: classic, beach, contemporary, country, garden (her favorite and mine), fanciful (your own spin) and exotic. A bonus to this book is not only a pull out booklet offering a color palette for each wedding style, there's a quiz booklet, dress silhouette accordion pullout, six 8-page gatefolds full of photos, a CD of traditional wedding music, postcards, and, of course all that stunning photography.

I would have liked a lengthier section on fashion of course and more descriptions and detail about fabrics, silhouette, style, head chic and so on. However, the strong photography carries this book where words aren't necessary, leaving the bride open to getting in touch with her own muse. Using mostly real life brides and their weddings as examples in the photos, conveys reality at its finest. As you read along you'll realize, yes, with some coordination all this is possible. For me Style Your Dream Wedding will be a great reference tool and inspiration source for tons of upcoming posts. For you, it's a real gift for planning and realizing the most beautiful and unique wedding is indeed in the waiting. . . .

ALICE HART LOOKBOOK: COUTURE MILLINERY FOR THE NEW YEARS BRIDE

Lately some hats and headpieces have become an art form worthy of a place in a fashion museum. Alice Hart Couture Millinery of Vancouver, B.C. is right up there specializing in hats and some magnificent fascinators and cages. Her head wear caught my attention for the pure playfulness as well as originality.

Above the shoulder veils and headpieces like these are great for showing your gown to its best advantage.

Want to see more of Alice's work? Check out her site http://www.alicehart.com/. Also if you're more of a hat bride--oh la la! Definitely worth looking at the craftsmanship on her wide-brims and cocktail hats with feather varied treatments.