This month, the lovely ladies of McMaster & Storm have put together a sweet new favor idea, petite faux bois paper boxes inspired by European baking molds. We just love the wood detail for winter—it fits brilliantly with so many themes and places of the Midwest. All the ideas and instructions are here for making your own—all that crafty goodness!

This month we are loving shades of rich greens, browns, a dash of grey & fun textures. Jaunts to the snowy woods add to our intrigue. We made our containers from card stock and layered wood-grain {or faux bois} contact paper on top. We used light wood tone & a cherry tone.

Materials:
1. Template to cut out shape for the faux bois container (drop us a line and we would be happy to send the jpg along!)
2. Card stock
3. Wood grain contact paper {available at your local hardware and Target or online}
4. 7” hole punch
5. Green polka dot ribbon {McMaster & Storm}
6. Jewelry wire, extra fine silver
7. Amy Butler’s fabric covered brads from K&K Company {available at Michael’s, Hobby Lobby & JoAnn’s}
8. French green velvet ribbon {McMaster & Storm}
9. Silver “snap” tags {available from McMaster & Storm}

Let’s create:

* Copy template onto desired color of card stock in the quantity needed—this will be on the inside of the faux bois container.
* Cut sections of contact paper and stick onto template’s unprinted side.
* Cut out the faux bois container along the solid lines and fold where the dashed lines indicate.
* At the end where you will secure, make sure the rounded “tab” is over the more square tab.
* Glue or use our petite brass colored staples to secure the ends.



Inspired ideas for embellishing:

* We used Amy Butler’s covered brads for fun texture and interest on the middle of the container, placed on the front, on just one of the longest sides. We tied green velvet ribbon around the container, end to end {tab sides} & tied in a knot in the center opening of the container.
* We used two silver tags folded and secured by punching a 1/4” hole in the middle of the longest sides and through the folds secure very thin silver jewelry wire. Wire is then tied into a knot.
* We also used our popular green velvet polka dot ribbon to add some flair, the velvet adds some swoon-y texture.
* For that final perfect touch, fill with natural, fine shredded grass—voilà!

What about the treats to tuck inside?

We love these peppermint ‘ice creams’ from Marich Company. A favorite, these rich white chocolate-coated buttermilk mints with their fresh blue centers (m’mm!) are perfect for snowy, winter wonderland weddings. Promise, it’s a rich, grown-up mint and your guests will be toasting to these! Hint: you can buy bulk or a case from a retailer that carries Marich and McMaster & Storm can order them as well. Or, lining up a trio of macarons from our favorite dessert boutique, Pistacia Vera in Columbus, Ohio would also be heavenly.



One extra hint! The faux bois containers look lovely on woodland cake pedestals. Vary different heights and set them atop a moss covered tablecloth—so easy to assemble.

So delighted to be back from Thanksgiving and have our monthly feature from the lovely ladies of McMaster & Storm! You’re going to love the project and inspiration—one of our favorite wedding ideas of all time! Perfectly heirloom, perfectly fresh, perfectly Midwest…

What’s in store this month? A mercantile-style wedding!

We drew inspiration from old storefronts, vintage display props, scalloped awnings & old ledger books. Our colors: pink, old style gold & bursts of dark aqua. Background colors in favors and tucked elsewhere tans & blacks. We’re bringing a fresh twist to where your mother’s mother might have shopped. So step out of the elevator and “what floor?” The answer is up to your imagination. Pure wedding bliss!

This month’s project: a delightful vintage cone favor. Perfect for hanging on guest chairs. So sweet!

Cut the top {3/4”} off the newsprint bag. This edging will be pleated around top of the cone. The newsprint bag has a fun pinking edge at the top of the bag.

Make a template for the size of cone you are using. Leave enough paper to create a fold that resembles a dressmaker’s sewing detail on the side. Glue the newsprint paper on and tuck the paper up at the bottom of the cone and glue in place.

Pleat the paper edging as you glue it along the top of cone. Make sure some of the pinking edged side of the paper is over the top of cone about 1/8”.

Punch two holes 1/8”evenly with the Crop-A-Dile on either side of the cone. Take a black paper button and place over hole, insert a antique brass eyelet through the holes of the paper button + cone and punch firmly with the Crop-A-Dile eyelet setter to finish off the hole.

Cut a desired length of twine to hang your cone. Take the twine and wind around black button on either side to secure. The cones would be lovely hanging on a old display rack.

Take a decorative paper punch {we like Martha Stewart’s punches} and punch a pinking edged circle out of decorative paper, we used vintage ledger paper and stamp with initial or dates {we like Cavallini stamps}. Attach circle to cone with glue.

Fill with food safe glassine liners and insert fleur de sel toffee; a new twist for an old favorite!

{Black paper buttons, 1/8” antique brass eyelets, pink twine and newsprint bags all available through McMaster & Storm special order.}

More inspired mercantile wedding ideas:

* Rent vintage bust forms for decor at the bridal shower.

* For impromptu photos at the wedding; hang a scalloped canvas cloth with a banner written in calligraphy “photo shoot” {fold top canvas down 15” & sew button holes every 12” and cut a scalloped edge that is folded over with a scalloped pattern from a quilt shop}

* Take a wood & glass store counter, cover with a fitted scalloped canvas tablecloth {we adore painters drop cloths} with a 9” drop on the sides. Display the wedding gifts for your special help. Use varying heights of cake stands, vintage props and display them in old-retail style. A general store ’sweet shop’ spread in glass containers would also look lovely on top of the case as well.

* An old ledger makes for a lovely guestbook.

* Rent an old storefront for your wedding. Some of these buildings have amazing architecture “in store” for a memorable wedding. Did you know some of these buildings even have ballrooms on the upper floors? Research downtowns and contact your local historic downtown programs to inquire about buildings.

* Ask your photographer take some of your pictures in the old storefront windows; a quirky twist! Photo shoots are stunning against the old architecture.

Ta-da, happily ever after!

So beautiful! Thank you, Kara & Darcy, for another beautiful installment of Handmade Love! Definitely check out the lovely goods of McMaster & Storm—there’s so much to love. Until next month—we can hardly wait!