DIY Wedding
Glitter and Shine Monogram
comments (2) January 25th, 2010
Khris Cochran, contributor
11 users recommend
Create a glittery monogram to decorate any celebration.
Photo: Jack Deutsch
excerpted from The DIY Bride: Crafty Countdown
Oh, glitter, how I adore your sparkly blinged-out goodness. Is there anything you can’t make better? I submit there is not! Take this door monogram, for example. What started off as a homely sheet of white craft foam is miraculously transformed into a glamorous adornment that’ll greet your guests at the ceremony door. Who wouldn’t feel like a VIP when gliding through an entrance topped with this?
For just a few dollars and a few minutes of your time, you can create this chic glittery monogram at home. There are dozens of gorgeous hues of glitter on the market to match your decor and preferred level of glitterification. But beware: Glitter is highly addictive! Once you get a taste for it, be prepared to start looking for ways to add a bit of the “Big G” to all of your crafting projects.
Time Wise
Allow yourself 1 hour or so for this project. While it’s easy to do, sculpting the foam will take some time. It’s best to allow the adhesive to dry overnight before you display your glittery creation.
A Little Me Time
Parts of this super-easy solo project should be done outdoors, but spend the remainder of your crafty time listening to tunes or catching up on your favorite TV shows.
Supplies
Computer and printer
1-in.-thick craft foam, at least 15 in. by 15 in.
Permanent marker
Craft knife or serrated knife
Ruler or straightedge
Sandpaper or heavy-duty emery board
Newspaper to protect your work surface
Foam brush
White craft glue
Glitter
Craft wire, about 18 in.
Wire cutters
Directions
1. Before you get started, you’ll need to decide on your monogram design. Once you decide on a font style, print out your initial(s) in the largest size you can to see if you like the look of the monogram and if it’ll work when carved in foam. Fonts with thin lines or a lot of curves will be difficult to cut from the foam. Try to stay with bold lines.
2. The next step is to draw the letter on the face of the foam with a permanent marker. If you’re not good with freehand drawing, an alternative is to have an enlarged print of the initial made at a copy shop. This’ll cost
anywhere from a few cents to a few dollars, depending on the size of the paper and the shop. Trace the printout onto the foam sheet by taping it to the foam and pressing over the lines of the letter with a hard object like the tip of a pencil or even a screwdriver.
3. Now that you’ve got your initial transferred onto the foam, it’s time to cut it out with the craft or serrated knife, using a ruler to give you a nice straight edge to cut along. I recommend doing this outside because foam dust and bits will get everywhere. Take your time with this step! Foam is brittle and breaks easily. Once your initial is carved from the foam, smooth out the edges of the letter with a piece of sandpaper or a heavy-duty emery board.
4. It’s time to glue. Place newspaper on your work surface to protect it before starting this step. Using a foam brush, apply a generous, even coat of craft glue to the front and sides of the initial. You don’t need to cover the back of the letter unless your guests will be able to see it.
5. Are you ready to get your glitter on? Working quickly before the glue begins to dry, pour glitter all over the sticky glued surface of the initial. Don’t hold back! The thicker the layer of glitter, the better the coverage will be. Use your fingers to press and smooth the glitter onto the surface of the initial. If you find areas on the monogram with uneven glitter coverage, add a bit of glue to those spots and—that’s right!—pour on more glitter.
6. Gently shake off any excess glitter onto a sheet of newspaper. Again, it’s best to do this outside. Glitter will get everywhere, and it is a pain to clean up. Allow your glittered initial to dry overnight or per the glue manufacturer’s recommended drying time.
7. The last step is to create a wire hanger to attach the monogram to the church or venue door. Cut a length of wire, about 18 in. long. Insert each end of the wire through the sides of the initial and out the back, about 1 in. from the top of the foam initial. Twist the ends together to close the loop and you’ll be good to go when it’s time to hang the monogram. If your venue does not allow you to hang anything on doors or walls (be sure to ask ahead of time), this project looks great displayed on the cake table, the bride and groom’s table, a mantel, or windowsill.
Tips & Hints
• There are different grades of glitter: ultra-fine, fine, medium, and chunky. Typically, the larger the glitter particle, the more shine and bling factor it has.
• Most glitter is made of plastic-type materials. Glass glitter (or German glass glitter) does exist and is made of, you guessed it, crushed glass. This is considerably more expensive than regular glitter but has an amazing sparkle. Do be extra careful if you decide to use glass glitter—it will cut you and embed its tiny particles in your skin if you don’t wear gloves. Ouch!
• Consider doing a few letters—maybe the first initials of you and your guy or, if you’re not taking your hubby’s last name, both of your last initials.
Crafty Calculator
What to Budget
Sheet of craft foam $8.00
Glue $3.00
Glitter, 5 oz. $8.00
Wire $3.00
Total $22.00
Cost Comparison
I haven’t seen anything like this available on the bridal market yet. Door monograms made of fresh flowers will cost $40.00 or more. So in addition to being a trendsetter, you get a gorgeous monogram at almost half the price!
After you make this project, show off your work to other members!
Post your project in the gallery
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Comments (2)
Posted: 6:03 pm on March 16th
Posted: 6:23 pm on January 26th