My STD, Message in a Bottle (pics)

[krsmith]

So the very first thing I thought of when we decided to do a DW was MIB invites! Don't know why, but they made me really excited! It was A LOT of time and work, but SO worth it! I'm hoping they will really get everyone pumped to go! Anyways here are my MIB and how I did it! 

 

 

 

Supplies:

• 50 plastic bottles/corks                    
• 50 boxes
• 1 bag of small sea shells
• 1 bag of beach sand

(http://www.sandartsupplies.com)

 

• 1 roll of thick hemp thread    
• 1 roll of packaging twine
• Glue Gun

(Michaels)

 

• 100 mini Starfish
• 50 small Starfish

(http://www.qualityshells.com)

 

• 50 Stickers

 (http://www.zazzle.com)

 

• Labels
• Packing Raffia
• Parchment Paper in Copper

(Staples)

 

Drink Umbrellas

Plastic Palm Trees

(Sorry,I can't remember where I got these!)

 

 Once I had all my supplies my next task was coming up with the actual STD! I ended up using some of the same wording as another bride had posted on hers (Thank you!!) I can't say I am good with coming up with clever/cute wording! I made it on iPages (Mac), and used "landscape" as the paper layout. I was then able to fit 2 STD on 1 sheet of paper! I figured half of a sheet of paper would fit rolled up into the bottle. 

 

 

After cutting each piece of paper in half, it was time to roll them up! This was really a 2 person job and luckily my FI was willing to help! I rolled (using a pencil) and he tied each end with the packaging twine. We attached a 3rd string to one end so we could hang it outside the bottle for easy removal.

 

I figured out how much sand I could put in each bottle, and went for it using my kitchen scale. I then put about 15 sea shells in, and then 2 mini star fish. After that I put a mini umbrella and palm tree inside. I sometimes had to use a pen/pencil to shove them in there. 

 

 

Once everything was inside the bottle, it was time to dress it up! I ordered personalized stickers from Zazzle, and stuck those on the front. I then cut the hemp and wound it around the top of the bottle and then tied it in a knot. I took the larger star fish I had and hot glued them to the piece of twine I left hanging out of the bottle. To finish it all up I dabbed a little Vanilla Lime fragrance on the twine (I couldn't find Coconut for the life of me!). 

 

 

I got the template from the labels we had bought (Avery) and created our address labels and the "if this message should reach you" label. 

 

 

So this is the finished project! They go out tomorrow just in time for Valentines Day!  Thank you to all the wonderful ladies for all your ideas that helped inspire me to create these! Next project: Boarding Pass Invites!

[lindajoleane]

WOW!  Those are crazy cute.  What a great idea

[merrylee]

very cute!  Can you pass along how much they cost for postage?  Just curious since we are using these for our actual invites 

[lilstar714]

wow those are soooo awesome u did great job!

[Brandy]

I love these, they turned out awesome!!!!!

[coconoir1908]

Simply Beautiful, You go girl!!!

 

Originally Posted by krsmith 

So the very first thing I thought of when we decided to do a DW was MIB invites! Don't know why, but they made me really excited! It was A LOT of time and work, but SO worth it! I'm hoping they will really get everyone pumped to go! Anyways here are my MIB and how I did it! 

 

 

 

Supplies:

• 50 plastic bottles/corks                    
• 50 boxes
• 1 bag of small sea shells
• 1 bag of beach sand

(http://www.sandartsupplies.com)

 

• 1 roll of thick hemp thread    
• 1 roll of packaging twine
• Glue Gun

(Michaels)

 

• 100 mini Starfish
• 50 small Starfish

(http://www.qualityshells.com)

 

• 50 Stickers

 (http://www.zazzle.com)

 

• Labels
• Packing Raffia
• Parchment Paper in Copper

(Staples)

 

Drink Umbrellas

Plastic Palm Trees

(Sorry,I can't remember where I got these!)

 

 Once I had all my supplies my next task was coming up with the actual STD! I ended up using some of the same wording as another bride had posted on hers (Thank you!!) I can't say I am good with coming up with clever/cute wording! I made it on iPages (Mac), and used "landscape" as the paper layout. I was then able to fit 2 STD on 1 sheet of paper! I figured half of a sheet of paper would fit rolled up into the bottle. 

 

 

After cutting each piece of paper in half, it was time to roll them up! This was really a 2 person job and luckily my FI was willing to help! I rolled (using a pencil) and he tied each end with the packaging twine. We attached a 3rd string to one end so we could hang it outside the bottle for easy removal.

 

I figured out how much sand I could put in each bottle, and went for it using my kitchen scale. I then put about 15 sea shells in, and then 2 mini star fish. After that I put a mini umbrella and palm tree inside. I sometimes had to use a pen/pencil to shove them in there. 

 

 

Once everything was inside the bottle, it was time to dress it up! I ordered personalized stickers from Zazzle, and stuck those on the front. I then cut the hemp and wound it around the top of the bottle and then tied it in a knot. I took the larger star fish I had and hot glued them to the piece of twine I left hanging out of the bottle. To finish it all up I dabbed a little Vanilla Lime fragrance on the twine (I couldn't find Coconut for the life of me!). 

 

 

I got the template from the labels we had bought (Avery) and created our address labels and the "if this message should reach you" label. 

 

 

So this is the finished project! They go out tomorrow just in time for Valentines Day!  Thank you to all the wonderful ladies for all your ideas that helped inspire me to create these! Next project: Boarding Pass Invites!

[Tennyt1]

Great Job!

[BeachBridein11]

Wow! You definitely did an amazing job!  Thanks for sharing all the details!!!  Made me wish I would have done this...  oh well! LOL

[krsmith]

Thanks ladies! It was my first real DIY project! I was surprised I actually pulled it off! The boarding pass invites seem like they will be much more difficult...

[krsmith]

Thank you! I just got back from the post office, and each one was about $1.73 for postage. Not too bad!! All together it cost me $79.58. I was expecting MUCH worse, so I was happy! I do have 1 international one...I have a feeling that one will be PRICEY! I couldn't send it because I didn't know what country it was going to (My FI aunt and uncle)...its Sweden or Switzerland...you have to know FOR SURE and neither of us did. Oh well!

Originally Posted by merrylee 

very cute!  Can you pass along how much they cost for postage?  Just curious since we are using these for our actual invites