DIY Event Decor & Gift Ideas

Summer is here and it’s time to DIY! The freedom to customize colors and create something all on your own is what we love most about crafting. This week, we’ve found five ideas that can be utilized as fun decor for events, or can be gifted to friends & family. The possibilities are endless with DIY projects, so channel your inner Martha Stewart and give these DIY’s a try!

1. Edible Flower Pot: This DIY project allows you to essentially have your flowers and eat them too! All you will need to create this jar is colored paper to create the flowers, and the ingredients for the chocolate yogurt and granola. The chocolate yogurt is made up of 12 ounces greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder, and ½ teaspoon of almond extract. To top it off, the chocolate granola ingredients is 1 cup granola, 1/2 tablespoon of coconut oil, 2 teaspoon of cocoa powder, ⅛ cup of chopped almonds, and ⅛ cup of coconut. This delicious idea was found on The House That Lars Built and can be used as a name card at parties or given as a gift to those with a sweet tooth!

2. Beer Bottle Vases: This colorful project was discovered on Brit + Co and puts an awesome twist on the ordinary flower vase! After peeling off the labels of the bottle, you will need spray paint (colors of your choice!), painter’s tape, and puff paint. Grab the tape to start creating designs and voila! Puff paint can be used to create dotted designs that pop out from the bottle. Make sure to let dry for about 30 minutes before spray painting. The finished product makes a beautiful vase for centerpieces or the perfect housewarming gift!

3. Chevron Cork Board: Wine corks have a great amount of versatility when it comes to DIY projects, so save them up! This project found on IKEA Hackers is a fun way to display pictures or information at an event. After gathering corks, you will need a drill frame, spray paint, foam core, cardboard, and a glue gun. Remove the glass and cut a piece of foam core to fit behind the cardboard oval. Prime and paint the frame with spray paint, then lay out the chevron pattern on cardboard. Using a hot glue gun, glue the corks in pattern and hang it up for display!

4. Lemon Boat Name Card: With it being summer right now, we couldn’t help but include these adorable name cards in our top picks for DIY projects! You will needs lemons (obviously!), toothpicks, and two types of printed paper to complete the sail boat. Cut the paper into curved half triangles and glue them to both sides of the tooth pick. Your guests are guaranteed to be impressed by your creation! This idea was found on Delightful Projects.

5. Hanging Garden: Ring in summer with this simple DIY hanging planter to add a splash of green indoors or outdoors! The step-by-step guide to this project was found on Design Sponge. To create the hanging garden you will need 2 square terra-cotta pots, 1 bundle of cotton clothesline cord (50 feet), 1 bundle of green cotton venetian-blind cord, 1 brass snap hook, and 8 to 16 wooden beads. Thread the clothesline and green cord through the snap hook and feed your cords through the draining holes in the pots. Flip the pot over and repeat the steps to add the second pot. Gather the excess rope and knot it at the bottom. Attach the beads to each cord, knotting below to secure in place. Once the pots are hanging, add your plants and display your vertical garden!

Will you be trying any of these DIY projects? Let us know your favorite one and share pictures of your completed creation with us in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!

Startup Monday: et al

Startup Monday is ABCey’s weekly post that features some of the best and brightest companies in the Bay Area. They are often companies that we have our eye on or have worked with in the past & would like to share with friends and followers of ABCey Events.

It has happened to all of us – your friends are planning a group dinner or a special outing and cannot decide what amazing restaurant in San Francisco to try, let alone coordinate a date or time that works well with everybody. This situation typically results in those dreaded long threads of back-and-forth email conversations that overflow your inbox. We believe we have found the perfect phone app that will resolve this issue!

Et al eliminates the email chains and instead give you a way to make plans with your friends in a way that is quick, easy, and most importantly, fun! The phone app allows guests to vote on date, time, and location options. Once votes are in, the details are finalized and an RSVP is requested by everyone. Et al also has text and email syncing capabilities so you’ll never miss an invite! Chat messaging and photo sharing are other features that add to this amazing phone app!

Jenny Hunt founded et al and the app is her vision for a simple and aesthetic experience that makes planning getaways and get-togethers with friends fun again. The app is available on the iPhone and the website offers full functionality as well. Et al is great for hosting a dinner party, bridal parties, weekend trips, or even wine night! We love that et al makes the planning process simple & easy; therefore we can spend more time enjoying the presence of others!

What do you think of et al? Will you be using it for your next get together? Please let us know in comments on Facebook and Twitter!

DIY: Bright Ideas to Transform the Ambiance of Your Event

The right lighting can transform the atmosphere of an event by creating the appropriate ambiance. However, light fixtures can become extremely expensive after purchase and installation fees. At ABCey Events, we have discovered that DIY projects not only allow you the freedom to customize materials and colors to your liking, but are simple to complete without breaking the bank! With that said – grab your scissors & glue gun, and read on for five bright ideas to create appealing lighting effects and fixtures for your next event!

1. Hemp string pendant lamp: These pendant lamps are a great weekend project! All you need are bouncy balls, clear drying craft glue, and hemp string. If you use a 16’’ diameter ball you’ll need 400 yards of hemp string. For a 14’’ diameter ball – 300 yards and for a 9’’ diameter ball only 100 yards. To begin, draw a circle on the ball. This circle represents the portion of the lamp that needs to remain clear of string. Then start applying the glue and wrap the hemp around the ball. Once the glue has dried use the inflating needle to deflate the ball and remove it from the lamp. Install the wires and hardware and your pendant lamp is done! These neutral light fixtures found on Homedit are perfect for any event and can be spray-painted different colors!

2. Tulle pendant lamp: This idea was found on Craftynest and is a fun light fixture for weddings or birthday parties. To create this pendant you will need 10 yards of 54’’ wide tulle, embroidery floss, a light bulb, a pendant lamp, a large embroidery needle, a rotary cutter and mat, safety pins and a straight edge. Start by cutting a 17’’ wide strip of tulle, fold the larger piece so that one side is 17’’ and the other 20’’ and you’ll have three layers. Use safety pins to secure them together. Sew a simple running stitch one inch from the edge of the fold and remove the safety pins. Overlap the right and left sides and wrap everything around the lamp. Tie a knot and insert the cord and light bulb. The fabric used for this DIY project can be substituted to fit different themes!

3. Tree branch chandelier: To make a similar chandelier you’ll first have to choose some branches that you like, clean them, remove the twigs and any loose bark. Then screw the branches together. You’ll also need some lamp cord, small candelabra sockets, some ¼ IP nipple and a light canopy. Wire the candelabra sockets together and screw them onto the nipples. Add the cord and the chandelier is complete! This project was found on Apartment Therapy and is an awesome addition to create an outdoor ambiance while being indoors!

4. Faux capiz chandelier: Although this chandelier looks like a complex and complicated project, it is surprisingly simple and fun to make! To begin, you will need to purchase white spray paint (or any color!), ribbon, scissors, 1 or 2 rolls of wax paper, 2 big pieces of parchment paper, an iron, a hot glue gun, a circle cutter and a cutting mat. Start with a planter basket and spray paint it. Then start making the capiz shells. Cut three pieces of wax paper about the same length and place in between parchment paper. Iron them. Cut ribbon pieces and attach them to the planter basket. Attach the capiz shells until you cover the basket and it’s all done! This fixture is great in creating a retro theme and was found on Design Sponge!

5. Recycled wine bottle torch: These tiki torch light fixtures are the perfect touch to an outdoor event and are a great way to recycle those used wine bottles! You will need an empty wine bottle, Teflon tape, a copper top plate connector, a 1’’split ring hanger, ½’’ x 3/8’’ copper coupling, two hex nuts, two #10 x 1” zinc plated wood screws, 3/8’’ -16 zinc plated threaded rod, a tiki replacement wick and torch fuel. You’ll have to make a hanger first and then to work with the actual bottle. Screw the bolts in and the torch is complete! This creative DIY project was found on Design Sponge.

Will you be trying any of these DIY projects this upcoming Memorial Day weekend? Let us know which one you like best! Share the pictures of your creations with us on Facebook or Twitter!