As summer is in full swing here on the California coast I didn't have to look far for embellishment inspiration to pair with the Katherine design. I came up with what I'm calling the Sandbox Belly Band. It's a wide belly band in any color you like with a big cut out window that the bride and groom's names can peek through. In the window of the belly band is... wait for it... real sand! And starfish, or any other accent pieces that take your fancy. Since moving to the coast Conan and I get to feel the sand between our toes on our morning walks and I'm thrilled to be incorporating a little of our daily ritual into a Download & Print design.

The belly band template is free for you to download, and as it's a generic design you can pair it with any 5 x 7" invitation. So 1... 2... 3... go crazy with ideas on what to fill the window with and what Download & Print invitation to pair it with.

This isn't a hard tutorial to follow along with. The video tutorial explains it best, or jump below to the pictorial.

• Printable PDF template
• Printer (I like Epson Workforce ink-jet printers
• 12 x 12" scrapbook paper in three coordinating colors
• X-acto knife and ruler, or scissors>
• Scoring tool
• Bone folder
• 3 x 4 ¾” clear treat bags
• Décor sand
• Starfish / sand dollar punch or Starfish punch
• Double sided tape (here's the tape gun I'm using)
• Katherine 5 x 7" wedding invitation, RSVP and enclosure card
• A7 euro flap envelope
• Condiment bottle (optional)

Download the free PDF template for the sandbox belly band (you’ll need Acrobat to open this) and print on white or scrap paper. Cut along the lines of the outer rectangle and inner rectangle. The easiest way to do this is with an X-acto knife and ruler. You can use scissors or a paper cutter for the outer cuts, and scissors will even work for the inner cuts if necessary, but you’ll get much crisper corners if you use an X-acto knife and ruler. This forms the template for the window that you'll use on each belly band.

Mark 4” wide strips on the 12 x 12” scrapbook card that you plan to use for the belly band. You’ll get three belly bands from each sheet of paper. Cut the paper along these marks. You’ll end up with three 4 x 12” strips.

Place the template that you cut in the previous step onto the center of one strip of paper. It doesn’t need to be perfectly centered so just eyeball the placement.Trace around the inner rectangle/window of the template onto the belly band. Keep the window template in place!

Score the belly band along either side of the window template. This marks where the creases will fall and makes folding in the flaps much easier. If you don’t plan on using a scoring tool mark along the edge of the window template where you’ll need to fold.

Move the window template out of the way and cut out the window that you marked using a ruler and X-acto knife.Remove the window cut out and fold in the flaps along the creases that you started, or the marks that you made. If possible, use your bone folder to make the creases nice and crisp.

Place strips of double sided tape around the window cut out of the belly band on the reverse side of the paper. Adhere the bottom of a treat bag to a long strip of double sided tape, then press down the bag along the other three sides of the window, smoothing out the bag as much as possible.

Start filling the bag with sand. I first put the sand in a condiment container and squeezed it into the bag. Any way you can find to control the flow of the sand is going to make your life easier. Fill the bag with as much sand as you like, you’ll need to turn over the belly band to get a good look at the level of the sand. Just hold the bag closed while you flip it over so you don’t get sand everywhere! I liked just a small sliver of sand showing at the bottom of the window.

Using your two remaining colors of scrapbook paper punch out starfish using the Martha Stewart punch. I chose to use a starfish as it coordinates with the starfish on the Katherine invitation, however let your creative juices flow and fill the bag with anything that best coordinates with your wedding. I do like the idea of a punch as a paper embellishment will lie flat, making the invitation package easier to stuff in an envelope. If you use shells for instance your envelope will be much bulkier. Anything flat will look great in the sandbox.

The punch I used gave me a starfish and a sand dollar with the starfish silhouette. It’s kind of like a two for one deal! I placed two starfish in each belly band bag, and I could use the sand dollars to decorate the cake table at my wedding, on favor bags, as confetti, or in countless other ways.

Trim the open edge of the treat bag about in line with the top of the belly band. You’re going to fold over the open edge to seal the bag, and you don’t want the open flap showing through the window.

Place a strip of double sided tape along the open edge of the treat bag. Fold over the top of the treat bag and press firmly. Use another smaller strip of tape on the inside of the treat bag to stick the two flaps together. This will help prevent any sand falling out.

Fold in one belly band flap. With the belly band lying face down, add a strip of double sided to the edge of the flap that is still open. Add a second strip of tape to the edge of the flap that is closed. Fold over the open flap and press down firmly to secure the belly band closed. You should end up with two strips of tape down each edge of the overlap to hold the band closed.

Slip an invitation into the band. I designed this belly band specifically to pair with the Katherine Collection. I like to place the band so that the bride and groom’s names show through the clear window.

You could however create the belly band in any color, use any embellishments in the widow, and slot in any 5 x 7” invitation. Bright confetti in the window would look fabulous with the dotty Olivia collection.

Slot your RSVP and enclosure cards into the band behind the invitation. Place the invitation package into an A7 envelope and mail away, mail away, mail away.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and I’d love to see or hear what ideas you have to fill the window with. Send me a note or let me know in the comments.

Until next time, with template love,

(Although all the products listed in this tutorial are products I personally use, I will be compensated if you make a purchase through some of the links provided.)

But seriously, it's just a piece of card. So why the ungodly price tags?

In true Download & Print fashion we are here to show you how to make your own pocketfolds for less. They, of course, are no less stylish.

I've put a list together of five of my favorite DIY pocketfolds They range from traditional, to simple, to creative and fun. We've got a pocketfold to match your wedding, whether your theme is vintage, romantic, or modern.

You can use these pockets with invitations you've purchased to save a little cash. Or choose one of our DIY wedding invitation collections and create the entire invitation package yourself. Aside from getting a completely custom invitation suite, you'll get a great feeling of accomplishment when admiring your handiwork.

Forget expensive die-cut invitations, this DIY pocketfold is made from a paper doily overlayed on your invitation of choice. With a little help from a can of black spray paint the doily is given a vintage wrought iron look. The intricate cut-outs of the doily play nicely with the stark black and white. Use this for a vintage wedding, industrial wedding, or black and white theme.

This is the simplest pocket on this list, and it's more a pouch... but still effective! Pocketfolds hold your wedding invitation, RSVP and enclosure cards in a neat bundle, and this DIY pocket does just that. No frills, no added embellishments, just an envelope hacked into a stylish pouch. Create this pocket with just a pair of scissors.

If you got some killer engagement shots this DIY pocket is for you. It's a simple pocket to hold your invitation bundle, and reminds me of a page right out of a vintage photo album. We fell in love with the tiny photo prints when we saw them and it wasn't hard to find a way to incorporate them into a DIY wedding invitation. Print the same pic for each pocket, or give each guest a different picture.

This vellum pocket shimmers and shines, and has details so fancy you'd think you were looking at a super expensive invitation. Ha! It's got all the elements of a classic Download & Print wedding invitation DIY. Time-honored wedding colors, gasp-worthy presentation, budget-saving beauty and simple steps that even the most un-crafty can handle with ease. If you really want to wow your guests, this invitation is for you.

This pocketfold is a crowd favorite. It's just like a traditional pocketfold, but DIY'd for pennies. If you stick with black or white I'm talking less than 30 cents each. One sheet of paper and one envelope is all it takes to make this pocket. We've added a lace edge for a romantic feel, but leave a straight edge for a classic (and quicker) version.

Telescoping Pocket

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Button & String Pocket

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Felt Pocket

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(Although all the products listed in this tutorial are products I personally use, I will be compensated just a tiny bit if you make a purchase through some of the links provided. Thanks for supporting small biz!)

I have them lined up neatly in my sewing room full of buttons, ribbon, thread and bits and bobs.

My pantry features neat rows of Mason jars packed to the brim with nuts, grains, seeds, and flours.

Of course my craft room has it's own collection of jars holding pretty things and sparkly delights.

I've made hanging vases with them, I've packed a salad in a jar, I've tied pretty ribbon around them when gifting homemade goodies, and now I'm turning them into frosted lanterns that double as table numbers.

Perhaps that's the appeal of Mason jars, they are equally at home in my pantry as they are as a centerpiece on one of the biggest days in a girl's life.

Love 'em or hate 'em, you can't deny how useful and cost effective these little jars are. Read on for my trick to create a frosted effect on the glass, and my tip on how to turn them a fab shade of vintage green or blue. I've included a free template for the table numbers, just click the link at the bottom of the page.

I'm trying out a new style of video. Less me babbling on and more let's get down to the nitty gritty of the project.

• Quart sized wide-mouth mason jars
• Matte Mod Podge
• Paint brush
• High heat spray paint
• Card stock
• Number template

Download the number template and print onto standard paper. Cut out each number. A small pair of detail scissors works best.

Trace each number onto black card stock. Reverse the number so that the pencil lines end up on the back of the card.

Cut out each number.

If you are using light card to tie in with your wedding colors you can print the number template onto your colored card and skip the tracing step.

Remove the lid from each mason jar. Apply a generous coating of matte Mod Podge to the jar, there's no need to do the base or top thread. Place one number on the jar and apply a layer of Mod Podge over the number.

Allow to dry for 1-2 hours.

Pro Tip: For a vintage vibe tint your jars blue or green by adding food coloring to your Mod Podge.

Spray the lid ring with high-heat spray paint. I know this doesn't come in a rainbow of pretty colors, but if you plan on using real candles in the jars you are going to want to play it safe and use the high heat paint. If you are going to use LED candles use any pretty color spray paint that you like.

You will not be using the lid cover, but if you plan on using the jars after your wedding to store craft supplies etc, you can also paint the lid covers and save them for later use.

When the paint and Mod Podge is dry screw on the top ring.

When you are ready to use the table numbers light a small candle and place in the jar. Using kitchen tongs will save burning your fingers!

 
With template love,

(Although all the products listed in this tutorial are products I personally use, I will be compensated just a tiny bit if you make a purchase through some of the links provided. Thanks for supporting small biz!)

You can customize the collection online by changing the text, colors and fonts. I've printed on cream paper but white or kraft would also be good choices.You can choose a light colored paper to tie in with your wedding colors, or something with texture would look amazing too.

If you decide to go with minimal color as I have, using the black and white print with a classic and vintage look will save you on printing costs. Yippee!

As with all Download & Print templates, Doodle Love comes with a no questions asked money back guarantee. We want you to love your invitations. Planning a DIY wedding is stressful, creating your invitations shouldn't be.

Now if your heart is fluttering as much as mine is over this collection use the button below to see each template in detail and place an order.

Pro Tip: This collection can also be printed on A4 paper.

If you were given a little surprise from a loved one did you like the paper it was wrapped in? Did you notice the paper it was wrapped in?? Was it even wrapped in paper???

I love pretty gifts, the packaging is half the fun for me, and consequently I have a stash of wrapping paper that I will probably never get around to using and that takes up far too much space in my closet. Let's not mention my Pinterest board showing creative and tidy ways to store wrapping paper. Turns out it's a pipe dream.

But... today I am getting creative with wrapping paper and getting some of it out of my jumbled pile in the closet!

Lets talk envelope liners to go with your DIY wedding invitations. These take a regular old envelope and turn it into something custom and luxurious. You can fancy up any of the designs in our Download & Print invitation collection. Making envelope liners is quick, easy, and definitely worth the effort.

In this tutorial I'm making envelope liners out of wrapping paper as it's inexpensive, comes in large rolls, and can be found in every color and pattern under the sun. You can really have fun with it. However any paper as large as your envelopes will work. Sheet music, book pages, scrapbook paper, maps, photocopied pictures... if it can be printed on a sheet of paper you can use it.

• Wrapping paper
• Envelopes
• Double sided tape
• Pen and ruler
• Scissors

The first step is to turn one of your envelopes into a template. Mark along the flap on the inside edge of the adhesive. Continue to mark down around the pocket of the envelope, staying about half an inch in from the edge of the envelope.

You are aiming to end up with a template that is the same shape as your envelope, just slightly smaller.

You can do this with any size and shape envelope. If your envelopes have square flaps, the same steps apply, you’ll still draw your line on the inside edge of the adhesive.

Cut along the lines you just marked. The front of the envelope will fall away, discard this.

You will be left with a single thickness envelope template.

Jumbo Confetti

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Kraft Paper Pocket

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Paper Dress Invitation

View Tutorial

With template love,

(Although all the products listed in this tutorial are products I personally use, I will be compensated just a tiny bit if you make a purchase through some of the links provided. Thanks for supporting small biz!)