Decor – Framed Wedding Invitations

Posted on June 22, 2016 by barbara

Since the month of June is customarily a popular time for weddings, I decided to share some ideas that can be used for a Framed Wedding Invitation. As many of you know from reading my blog, my personal design style for home accessories is to create customized display items that are visual reminders of those important moments in our lives. A wedding invitation specially framed would be a perfect example of this type of home decoration.

A wedding is perhaps one of the most important events that a couple shares in their lifetime and there is a wide selection of wedding invitations to choose from and sometimes the process of selecting one can take time because it will set the formality, style and colors of the wedding and reception. No matter the size or shape of the wedding invitation that a couple has selected, a custom Framed Wedding Invitation can be designed to fit any room décor whether it will be hung on the wall, placed on a side table or bookshelf.

The first step in creating a Framed Wedding Invitation is to select a the perfect frame. There are numerous choices that can be found in retail and craft stores ranging from a flat frame to a shadowbox and there are numerous varieties of finishes made of wood, different types of metal, resin or porcelain. Depending on the style of the wedding invitation, you can decide if it should remain simple (just the frame and the invitation) or to create a more elaborate display with embellishments.

Shown below are two examples of floral embellished ideas for a Framed Wedding Invitation. The first one was made with artificial pink flowers and ivy accented with two small white doves and the second one was made using several porcelain flowers. All the items were glued directly to the double ivory photo mat and were found at my local craft store.

The next example features a charming little Wee Forest Folk figurine of a bride and groom mouse couple that could have been used as decoration on the wedding cake. The frame that I used had a deep recessed area and I placed the figurine in the center and attached it with hot glue. I think it is a cute way to display a wedding invitation with just a touch of whimsy.

Sometimes the right frame can be hand made and the example shown below features a simple craft project that I made which uses two wooden pieces. The bottom piece is a plain wooden frame and the top piece is one of the popular laser-cut frames that are currently available in any local craft store and this particular one features several hearts. To complete the project, I painted the bottom piece with bronze paint and the top piece painted in gold with a bronze border. I then glued the two pieces together and embellished the top piece with golden crystals that added a little sparkle and were the perfect finishing touch.

Listed below are several additional ideas and suggestions for items that can be used to embellish a Framed Wedding Invitation:

In a shadowbox with a wedding invitation set inside a mat frame display a wedding garter, the groom’s tie, a lucky penny or sixpence, a dried boutonniere or flowers from a bridal bouquet. Perhaps you can arrange the bridal veil into gentle gathers for a lovely background.
Another idea using items from the wedding is to set the toasting glasses inside a shadowbox along with the matted wedding invitation, perhaps add a small bottle of wine or champagne served at the wedding ceremony. This type of Framed Wedding Invitation would look great displayed in a dining room or kitchen.
One more idea using items from the wedding is to set the cake topper and cake cutting knife inside a shadowbox along with the matted wedding invitation. Usually the cake knife is engraved with the names of the bridal couple and the wedding date white a cake topper is selected to fit the style and theme of a wedding. So, instead of being tucked away in a storage box think about displaying these items along with the wedding invitation.
Seashells for a beach-themed wedding or perhaps some sand if the ceremony took place on the beach
Resin or plastic snowflakes for a winter-themed wedding or a couple of sprigs of artificial pine branches or holly
Scrapbook embellishments for a Disney-themed wedding (click on a link to see a photo frame which was originally used for to framed vacation photos but could be easily adapted to hold a invitation)
A resin wagon wheel, boots and a cowboy hat for a western/country-themed wedding (click on the link to see a photo frame which was originally used to frame vacation photos but could be easily adapted to hold a wedding invitation)
A resin or glass Eiffel Tower, London Bridge or other iconic ornament for a European destination wedding
A bamboo frame accented with an artificial orchid or flower lei for a Hawaiian destination wedding
Vintage glass wedding bell ornaments added to a Framed Wedding Invitation shadowbox for a simple classic style

As you can see, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination!

Decor – British Royal Memorabilia

Posted on April 19, 2016 by barbara

Dating back over 40 years ago my interest in the British monarchy started when I read a series of books by the historical romance novelist Jean Plaidy on the life of Queen Victoria. Throughout the following years I have read other biographies about King Edward VII, King George V, King Edward VIII (who renounced the throne for the “woman he loved”, Wallis Simpson), King George VI and finally Queen Elizabeth II. Of course, along with the millions of other people, back in July 1981 I woke up before dawn to watch the television coverage of the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer and then again in April 2011 for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Serious collectors of royal memorabilia divided the items into two distinct categories – commemorative and personal. Commemorative items are made on the occasion of royal coronations, weddings or births and can include stamps and coins, medals and medallions, china plates and mugs, tea towels and handkerchiefs, dolls and figurines, books and other printed material. Personal royal memorabilia is defined as items that were previously owned by a member of the royal family such as clothing, jewelry, or perhaps a cigarette case. Another personal item could be a painting or drawing done by a royal. Royal memorabilia can be found in antique stores or on the internet through sites such as e-bay.

In this post I will discuss the many different categories of items in my personal royal memorabilia collection which I have accumulated over the years. These items include coronation and jubilee medals, commemorative stamps and coins and a small collection of Wedgwood plates created to honor the royal weddings and finally numerous books and biographies about various members of the royal family.

Coronation and Jubilee medals

Queen Victoria jubilee and memorial medals – These are the two oldest medals in my Royal memorabilia collection. The first is a Diamond Jubilee medal which dates back to 1897 on the occasion of the sixtieth year of the reign of Queen Victoria; she ascended to the British throne at the age of 18 upon the death of her uncle King William IV on June 20, 1837. The second is a memorial medal which commemorates Queen Victoria’s death in January 22, 1901, she was 81 years old.

King Edward VII coronation medal – This medal commemorates the coronation of King Edward VII in June 1902, the date indicates his originally scheduled coronation but when the King had appendicitis just days before the event it was postponed to allow time for surgery and then his recovery. The King was crowned at Westminster Abbey on August 9, 1902 and the images of both King Edward and Queen Alexandra are featured on the medal.

King George V coronation medal – This medal commemorates the coronation of King George V which took place on June 22, 1911 (He ascended to the throne when his father, King Edward VII died in May 1910, in general it takes about a year to plan and execute an elaborate coronation ceremony). Featured on the medal are the images of both King George and Queen Mary.

King Edward VIII coronation medal – This medal is unique because it was for the coronation of King Edward VIII which never took place. Although he ascended to the throne upon the death of his father, King George V, on January 20, 1936 he caused a constitutional crisis when he abdicated on December 10, 1936 to eventually marry the twice divorced Wallis Simpson.

King Edward III - coronation medal front

King George VI coronation medal – This medal commemorates the coronation of King George VI who ascended to the British throne following the abdication of his older brother, the uncrowned King Edward VII. King George’s coronation took place on May 12, 1937 at Westminster Abbey, the medal features both King George and Queen Elizabeth, who later became known as the Queen Mother after the death of her husband.

1936 commemorative medal – This unusual pin commemorates the year of 1936 which is known as the “Year of the Three Kings”. The front of the pin depicts King George V on the right (reign May 1910 to January 1936), on the left is King Edward III (reign January to December 1936) and in the center is King George VI with Queen Elizabeth (reign December 1936 to February 1952). The back of the pin has the inscription that reads, “Souvenir of the coronation of King George VI and the historical year of 1936 during which England had three Kings”

Queen Elizabeth II coronation medal – This medal commemorates the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II which took place on June 2, 1953. Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne after the death of her father, King George VI, on February 6, 1952. (For more information about the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, please click on the link)

Queen Elizabeth II - coronation medal front

Queen Elizabeth II - coronation medal back

Commemorative stamps and coins

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth 25^th wedding anniversary stamp – This first day cover commemorates the 25^th wedding of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, it is date stamped in Edinburgh, Scotland on April 26, 1948. (For more information about their wedding in 1923 at Westminster Abbey, click on the link to British Royal Wedding – Part Three) Shown below is a shadowbox with the anniversary stamp framed with the coronation medal of King George VI.

Prince Charles and Diana Spencer wedding stamp and coin – This first day cover commemorates the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, it is date stamped in London, England on July 22, 1981. The envelope features two stamps and a special coin depicting both Prince Charles and Lady Diana. (For more information about their wedding, click on the link to British Royal Wedding – Part Four)

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip 50^th wedding anniversary stamp set and coin – The first commemorates the 50^th wedding of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, it is date stamped Westminster Abbey in London on April 21, 1997. The coin features both Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip. The second features four different stamps dated November 13, 1997 in Warrington (For more information about their wedding in 1947, click on the link to British Royal Wedding – Part Three)

Princess Diana memorial stamp set and coin – The Royal Mail set of four stamps honoring Princess Diana was issued after her death in 1997. The Princess Diana memorial coin shown was issued in 1999.

The Queen Mother’s 100^th birthday stamp set and coin – The Queen Mother’s 100^th birthday stamp and coin was issued in 2000. The coin features The Queen Mother and the stamp set includes four different stamps depicting the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and Prince William.

Royal Commemorative Wedgwood Jasperware Plates

Wedgwood is a British pottery company which was founded by Josiah Wedgwood in 1759 in Stoke on Trent, England. Jasperware is traditionally made in light blue with white decorative scenes featuring Greek or Roman mythology, other colors have also been used. Later, Royal Wedgewood Jasperware plates were made to commemorate coronations, wedding and births.

Prince Charles and Diana Spencer wedding plate – This Wedgwood Jasperware plate commemorates the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson wedding plate – This Wedgwood Jasperware plate commemorates the wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson which took place on July 23, 1986 at Westminster Abbey in London, England.

Books and other printed material

Sparked by my interest in the British royal family, throughout the years I have collected several books which I bought in my local bookstore or online, also I have come across out of print books which I purchased at antique stores. These books are displayed on the bookshelves in the library of our home.

Listed below are some of the most noteworthy books:

“Victoria in the Wings”, “Victoria Victorious”, “The Queen’s Husband” and “The Widow of Windsor” from the Victorian series of historical novels written by Jean Plaidy – these books tell the story of Queen Victoria’s life from her birth in 1819 to her accession to the throne of England in 1837 and to her death in 1901. (These are the books that started my long term interest in Queen Victoria and the British royal family)

“The Beautiful Life and Illustrious Reign of Queen Victoria” by Rev. John Rusk – this book was published only 4 months after the death of the Queen in 1901 and includes many photographs. (The antique book has a lovely book cover and it is displayed as a decorative item in the bookshelf in my home office)

“Silver Wedding – The Record of Twenty-five Royal Years” by Louis Wulff – this book was published in 1948 to commemorate the 25^th wedding anniversary of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

“The Little Princesses” by Marion Crawford – when this book about the two daughters of the Duke and Duchess of York was first published in 1950 by their Nanny “Crawfie” and it caused a scandal in England. No Royal servant had ever divulged the “secrets” of the Royal family before in print but the stories about Princess Elizabeth (later to become Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister, Princess Margaret, are actually very sweet. Unfortunately, the Queen Mother and the rest of the royal family never spoke to Nanny “Crawfie” again.

“God Save the Queen” by Allan Michie – This book was written in 1952 after the death of King George VI and before the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The book details the life of King George from his birth to his childhood to his accession to his early and untimely death.

“The Last Great Edwardian Lady” by Ingrid Seward – This book was published in 1999 and discusses the life of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the Queen Mother. She was born at the turn of the century and lived until the age of 101. (The copy that I have has a special in memoriam overleaf on the cover)

“A Dress for Diana” by David and Elizabeth Emanuel – This book was published in 2006 and is written by the designers of the iconic bridal dress that Lady Diana Spencer wore to her 1981 wedding to Prince Charles. (For more information about Diana’s wedding dress, please click on the link to British Royal Wedding Dresses- Part Two)

Listed below are some of the guidebooks collected on our trip to England in 1997:

(For more information about of these travel destinations in England, please click on the links shown above)

Decor – Downton Abbey-inspired entertaining

Posted on January 19, 2016 by barbara

When watching the Downton Abbey television series, viewers will immediately notice the grand and elegant entertaining style of Lord and Lady Grantham. There are simple breakfasts served most mornings from the sideboard or lavish multi-course dinners served very formally in the dining room or tea served in the drawing room, these scenes are all filmed for the television series on location at the real-life Highclere Castle (please see the photo below of the Highclere dining room) In this post I will discuss the entertaining styles shown throughout the series beginning in the first season during the late 1910s in the post-Edwardian era dictated by strict rules and traditions to the final season during the mid-1920s when social changes were happening at a rapid pace after World War I as England was moving into more modern times.

Back in England during the post-Edwardian period of the mid-1910s, a woman such as Lady Grantham would spend quite a bit of time planning a dinner party. Special care was taken in choosing the food and drink for the menu, selecting china, silver and crystal for the table service, flowers for the centerpiece and the seating arrangements for the guests. Entertainment was an important part of the aristocratic social life and it was also a way for gentlemen to conduct business away from the office. (The photo below shows the beautiful Downton dining table set for a formal dinner in season 3 episode 2)

For special dinners it was customary for invitations to be addressed and sent to the guests four to six weeks in advance. In general, the dinner time would start at eight o’clock in the evening and guests were expected to arrive at least fifteen minutes prior to the time indicted on the invitation for pre-dinner drinks. In contrast to the lengthy formal dinners lasting several hours during the Victorian and Edwardian times, by the 1910s there would a considerably shorter eight course meal lasting under an hour. Upon arrival, the guests would remove their coats and then proceed into the drawing room for pre-dinner drinks. (as shown in the photos below) Once all the guests had arrived they would go into the dining room and seat in very specific places depending on their rank and status. In general, the head of the house sits at the head of the table but in Downton Abbey Lord and Lady Grantham sit on opposite sides in the middle of the table. In either case, the guest of honor or most important man or women sits next to the host and hostess. (the photo below shows a typical Downton Abbey dinner with the guests seated at the table)

Each place setting would be carefully laid out defined by strict etiquette rules with the correct plates, utensils and stemware for the meal being served. (as shown in the photo below) On a more formal occasion, each guest would have a place card with their name and sometimes several menu cards with the each course written in French would also be placed on the table. Lighting for an evening meal would be keep low with candlelight and there would be floral centerpieces or perhaps fruit in silver or crystal bowls that could be eaten later during the dessert course. The meal would be served by butlers working their way around the table starting with the host or hostess, serving on the left side of the person and taking away used plates from the right side always in a manner that is quiet and without disturbing the guests or interrupting conversations. During each course the butlers will stand a short distance behind the table and keeping watch in case a guest should need attention. (the photo below shows Carson waiting to serve the guests in between courses)

At the conclusion of the dinner, the ladies would “go through” to the drawing room for coffee while the men would remain in the dining room for port, sherry or claret and cigars or cigarettes. Later the gentlemen would join the ladies and occasionally there would be entertainment in the evening and it could be laying cards, charades or other games. In the case of Downton Abbey it would be an invited Opera singer or perhaps a visiting Jazz band or music from the gramaphone. (the photos below show the various forms of after-dinner entertainment as depicted in Downton Abbey)

Downton Abbey - after dinner entertainment - opera singer

Here is a list of items needed to set a proper Downton Abbey-inspired table:

Table pad or other cloth, goes underneath the formal tablecloth to keep it in place
White tablecloth, length should hang with the end between the floor and the table edge
White napkins, approximately twenty-four to twenty-six inches square. For a very formal table the napkins should be folded into the Bishop’s Miter style
Place the plates, utensils and stemware in a formal place setting, if you are a real stickler for details you can use a tape measure for precise placement (look for an example in the photo below)

Candlelight would set an enchanting mood; use long white candles that are slightly longer than the candlesticks
Floral arrangements add beauty to a formal table but be aware that placement does not block the view of the guests. Fruit in silver or crystal bowls and fern or other greenery placed on the table are another alternative.

Decor – Disney-themed Christmas Wreaths

Posted on December 10, 2015 by barbara

Disney is a big part of our family’s life and we love all things Disney! In this post I will show three Disney themed Christmas wreaths – Cinderella, Ariel from the Little Mermaid and Alice in Wonderland. All of the wreaths featured a Brass Key porcelain doll and were embellished with inexpensive items that could be found in any craft store.

Cinderella Christmas Wreath

Starting with an artificial pine wreath, I placed a Brass Key porcelain Cinderella doll in the center and attached it with wire. Then, using the color of Cinderella’s dress as inspiration, I added sparkling blue leaves accented with glitter, small silver berry sprays and large pearls embellishments to complete the wreath. (Of the three Disney wreaths discussed in this post, this one is the most simple but elegant one)

Ariel Christmas Wreath

Using another artificial pine wreath, I placed a Brass Key porcelain Ariel doll in the center and attached it with wire. Inspired by the “under the sea” world of Ariel, I hot glued several starfish to the wreath and positioned the two largest ones on either side of the Ariel doll. Next, I added golden leaves and gold berry sprays and then to finish the wreath I added two resin figurines of Flounder and Sebastian.

Alice in Wonderland Christmas Wreath

The last Disney Christmas wreath was an Alice in Wonderland themed one. I started by placing a Brass Key porcelain Alice doll in the center of an artificial pine wreath and attached it with wire and positioned a White Rabbit figurine to the right of the doll. Then, inspired by the story of Alice in Wonderland, I found miniature playing cards and red paper roses at my local craft store and attached these to the wreath. To finish, I added golden leaves and gold berry sprays to complete the wreath.

Also, shown below is another version of an Alice in Wonderland themed Christmas decorations using the same items for a tabletop Christmas tree.

Please look at another Décor post, Special Ornament Wreaths, that feature several special Christmas wreath using Hallmark Princess ornaments and other ornaments that were purchased at the Disneyland Park in Anaheim. Just click on the link for more information.

Last month, I posted another Disney-themed wreath that could be used for the Christmas season. The Mickey Mouse wreath was made to honor the Disney character’s birthday in November. For more information about this wreath with a list of supplies and instructions, please click on the link.

Decor – Special Ornament Wreaths

Posted on December 8, 2015 by barbara

Christmas wreaths are a wonderful way to add character and personality to holiday decorating. In this post I will show three Christmas wreaths that use special Hallmark ornaments. Sometimes special themed ornaments can get lost on a Christmas tree filled with the numerous ornaments and by using them on a Christmas wreath it allows them to be showcased in a creative way.

Claus and Co. Railroad Christmas Wreath

The first Christmas wreath used a set of 5 Hallmark ornaments called Claus and Co. Railroad that were originally issued in 1991. The set had four train cars (the locomotive, the gift car, the passenger car and the caboose) and a trestle base. I attached the trestle with wire to an artificial pine wreath and then I hot glued the separate train cars to the trestle. Next, I completed the wreath by adding velvet holly leaves and red berries.

Santa and Reindeer Christmas Wreath

The next Christmas wreath used a set of 5 Hallmark ornaments called Santa and Reindeer that were originally issued in 1992. The set of five featured Santa on his sled and four pairs of reindeers – Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder and Blitzen. Each of the ornaments was attached with wire to an artificial wreath and then a thin ribbon was laced through the reindeer harnesses. Then, I embellished the wreath with velvet holly leaves and red berries.

Disney Princesses Christmas Wreath

The final Christmas wreath used several Hallmark Princess ornaments and several more additional Princess ornaments that were purchased at the Disneyland Park in Anaheim. Listed clockwise in the photo below are Snow White, Aurora from “Sleeping Beauty”, Belle from “Beauty and the Beast”, Rapunzel, Anna and Elsa from “Frozen”, Merida from “Brave”, 2 different Ariels from “The Little Mermaid” and Cinderella. To create the Christmas wreath I attached white wooden snowflakes with wire, evenly spacing them around the wreath. Then, to complete the craft project, I attached the Princesses with wired around the wreath.

Last month, I posted another wreath that could be used for the Christmas season. The Mickey Mouse wreath was made to honor the Disney character’s birthday in November. For more information about this wreath with a list of supplies and instructions, please click on the link.

Two more interesting posts regarding decorating with a variety of Christmas wreaths have been posted a few years ago on this blog. The first, Christmas Wreaths, featured a Gingerbread Men wreath inspired by a White House Christmas decoration, a Nutcracker Ballet wreath, a Boyd’s Bear wreath using several collectible ornaments and a Teddy Bear wreath using miniature plush teddy bears. The second, More Christmas Wreaths, features using Department 56 miniature building ornaments from the Dickens Village and the North Pole series. For more information about this wreath with a list of supplies and instructions, please click on the link.

The Enchanted Manor

a lifestyle blog by Barbara Jones

Tag Archives: Decor

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