DIY: Create an Eco-Chic Centerpiece without busting the bank!

Dearest, darling readers,

We wanted to get you something special and thoughtful for Valentine's Day this year - something fitting of your high eco-friendly standards and exquisite taste, something you could take with you and use in your own green V-Day celebrations.

We're delighted to present Eco-Posh Event's very first DIY instructional!

When Magnolia's contacted us to create an eco-chic centerpiece for their upcoming post titled "An Evening at Home with the Chef,” we knew exactly what to do. These aluminum vases are so popular with the Eco-Posh audience. We would love to hear how this project worked for you and can't wait to see your photos!

SUPPLIES

• Floral foam
• Tree-free paper, decorative paper (alternatives: fabric scraps, organic fabrics, hemp, moss, tree bark, newspaper, leftover issues of The Pitch, scraps of wallpaper, or low voc paint)
• Aluminum cans of various size (reuse)
• Glass jar lids (reuse)
• Soy/Bee’s wax candles ($12)
• Fair trade, locally grown, organic flowers of your choice (Whole Foods provides a great selection)($25)
• Floral knife
• Floral shears
• Oasis floral glue or glue gun

DIRECTIONS

Step1

Soak floral foam in container of water.

Step 2

Measure and prepare selected paper (alternative material) to the size of your cans. Set paper aside.

Step 3

Add floral foam to shorter cans and glass jar lids. 

• Use waterproof floral tape if additional support is needed.
• (Hint: Decoupage your container to waterproof it. This will also allow for the container to be used again and again and again!)
• Remove floral foam debris.

Step 4

Add water to taller cans, and be sure to remove excess water.

Step 5

Affix paper (or alternate material) to the outside of the tall and short cans. 

• There's no need to paper the glass jar lids. The greenery and flowers should cover the entire top.
• I like to use floral glue because it holds well and is easy to remove, so I can reuse the containers.  Paste (flour and water) and hot glue works just as well.

Step 6

Add your choice of flowers to foam and water containers.

Voila!

These are the basics of creating an absolutely Eco-Chic Valentine arrangement for you and your Sweetie.  Make it personal. I embellished mine with a small table candelabra I received as wedding gift. Other suggestions for embellishing and creating unique aluminum can centerpieces: 

• Place on cake platter
• Place on charger plate
• Place on wood stump

A Truly Eco-Posh Bout

A few months ago I posted the following on my FB page:

Today I broke one of my favorite pair of earrings. At first I was disappointed but immediately became excited when the thought occurred to break the other and create a boutonniere out of them. I LOVE WEDDINGS! Who will be the lucky groom? Follow up in June for photos! 

Here's the follow-up!  The earrings are the gold leaf like parts.  The feather is also from an earring ( I lost its counterpart).  I am very pleased with the outcome and hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

A special thanks to Silver Thumb Photography for the photos!

Green Fashion

This past week I had a wonderful green find.  I'm absolutely in love with my new purse!  It's a Lily Bloom design, and the fabric is made of recycled plastic bottles.  I love the patterns and colors!

Flower Girl World

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Lynelle Woolley, the woman behind Flower Girl World, at a convention. 

She has a few books out - Rosie and the Wedding Day Rescue and Camellia the Fabulous Flower Girl. Camellia has quickly become my daughter's and my new favorite bedtime book. (Shh, I secretly may enjoy it more than she does!)  It's wonderful because it helps give young girls a sense of responsibility and belonging in a wedding party. Camellia the Fabulous Flower Girl won a special place in not only the Eco-Posh family but also the Piquant Family.

Here's a short synopsis of the book:

Camellia Azalea Gardenia Bloom thinks she knows everything about being a flower girl. She can dance down the aisle, smile in a special way, and drop petals in a perfect path behind her. But Cami is in for a huge surprise – she’s not the only fabulous flower girl at her aunt’s wedding!

Please be sure to check out Lynelle's exciting and unique book.  This would make the perfect gift any flower girl or flower girl in waiting. 

Check out my special flower girl - don't you just love that face? :)

Eco-Posh attends Wedding MBA Las Vegas

This past week the Eco-Posh office attended the Wedding Merchants Business Academy Convention in Las Vegas!  

While the WMBA has run consecutively the past 7 years, this was Eco-Posh’s first year in attendance.   Let me say we plan to attend next year.  What a wonderful time we had learning about mobilizing Eco-Posh, The Royal Wedding, what makes a Martha Stewart wedding, hottest trends and much more.   There were also keynote speakers such as Carley Roneym Co-Founder and Editor in Chief of The Knot, and Kathy Ireland.  Now I know exactly what you’re thinking, what does Kathy Ireland have to do with Weddings?   Well, Miss Kathy Ireland launched Wedding by 2be with the leadership of Steve Lang of Mon Cheri last spring. 

We’re excited to implement all that we’ve learned and have been inspired to create.