Impromptu Vacation - Ogunquit, ME: Preface

Before I launch into the fun details about our weekend getaway, I wanted to share some background information. Not sure how pertinent it really is, but I want to capture it so that we don't forget this moment, oh let' say, 20 years down the road.

Every winter since we started dating, Jake and I escape the harsh New England winter. On our first trip, we visited Aruba. Last year we jetted to St. Lucia. This year there was no trip to be planned. You see, between the million and one weddings scattered across the country (world, as it turns out), I just didn't have enough vacation time. Money of course is also a factor. So we just sucked it up and agreed that a tropical vacation was not in the cards *giant sad face goes here*.

The last couple weeks (potentially months) have been rough at work for me. It got to the point where I almost inflicted pain on my boss not once, but multiple times in one day. I finally had enough and needed a break. Generally, I like to think that I handle stress fairly well. But in this case, it got pretty bad, so bad that anything wedding related exacerbated my stress levels. I couldn't bear to even look at a single wedding blog (and I follow approximately 20 of them). I took two days off at the last minute. My plan was to just get away, clear my head, and recharge my batteries. But I realized that WE needed to get away. WE needed a vacation together.

So at the last possible minute (we're talking the night before), I booked the only ocean view room left at Ogunquit. It must have been meant to be, because when I emailed the Beachmere Inn Wednesday morning, they didn't have any ocean front rooms available. When I called at 7pm there was an opening! Someone had called an canceled at 3:30pm! Ocean front room complete with private deck + 80 F weather, the stage was set.

(Personal Photo - we stayed in the victorian building in the middle.)

Previously:

Wedding Crashers

Wedding Crashers

Just kidding. While vacationing in Ogunquit, ME we stumbled across a wedding at the beach. I couldn't help but just sit from afar and take pictures of the event.

Wedding in progress. I love the lone pair of heels off to the right of the "aisle." It was a tad bit windy.

Clap, Clap, Clap!

Parting of the masses.

All Done.

Have you witnessed a random wedding?

Seriously, how much?!?

(Source)

This is a JIGster. Basically, it is a contraption that helps you create layered stationary. I'll be honest, I think it's a great idea. Heck, they beat me to it! I had the idea in my head months ago. But back to the JIGster, want to take a guess at how much this sucker is going for? $70 pre-tax, pre-shipping. Really? Seriously? I don't even know what it's made out of, but wow that seems absurd.

Thanks, but no thanks Envelopments, I'll just jimmy-rig my own for way less.

Video on how to use JIGster

Happy Mother's Day!

Any normal person would have just gone to the store and picked up a card......Team Hung-Perkowski is not normal. We, OK, I, decided to make cards this year. But Jake helped!

I found this time lapse video on how to make a pop up flower card:

We used it for the inside of our cards, but on a smaller scale. We utilized super small sheets of origami paper for the flowers spruced up the front of the cards a bit using scraps of cardstock, origami paper, scrapbook sheets, and precut alphabets.

The front:

The inside:

 

Those really look like poppies don't they? Check out the envelope liner! It's scrapbook paper that I found on sale at Michael's. 

We like to think of this as practice for our invitations.

A Bridal Party Proposal

After we got engaged, I trolled around Weddingbee like a mad woman. Once I spotted Mrs. Mascara's and Mrs. Duckling's wedding party proposals, I knew I wanted to do something similar. So what did I do? I merged the two ideas together and added my own spin on things! I have to admit, I was a paper crafting virgin prior to this project. Honest to god, I've never scrapbooked in my life, but I was determined. Now on with the program...the first of many wedding related projects.

First up, the bridal party: maid of honor, bridesmaids, and a bridesman. I personalized the front of each card with a collage of pictures of us throughout the years. All (black) text and photos were printed on my Epson R1900. The colored letters were outlined letters printed on scrapbook paper and then painstakingly cut out with a craft knife.

The inside of the bridal party cards read:

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, Will you be my Maid of Honor/Bridesmaid/Bridal Attendant? Please, Say 'I do!'

I added just a touch of embellishments using real miniature pressed roses that I'd found at Paper-Source (I later spotted them at Michael's and A.C. Moore) and Martha Stewart jeweled stickers.

Because all members of my bridal party live in another part of the country and lead busy lives, (who doesn't?) I wanted to make it clear to my bridal party what they were getting themselves into. I came up with a description of duties, attire, and my promise to them, which reads:

I promise not to make you wear an ugly dress. I promise to not become Bridezilla. I promise not to make you fold a bazillion bows for wedding favors. I promise not to give you paper cuts from putting together ceremony programs.

Next, we have the flower girls and ring bearers. I didn't have pictures of me with all the kids, so I had to improvise. The inside of the card reads:

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, Will you be our Flower Girl/Ring Bearers? Please, Say 'I do!'

Our ring bearers are brothers, currently the age of 3 and 1. I figured they wouldn't mind sharing a card.

Since I post alot of the pictures that I take (mostly for my cupcake blog), I wanted to copywrite my work. I created the logo below and have since put it on everything I create. I figured if Wedding Paper Divas does it, why shouldn't I?