Another DIY "check!"

Card box, card box, CAAAArd box! Is DONEEEEE. Yippee! And I absolutely ADORE it.

Ain't she a beaut?

Mister was very helpful on this project. He helped paint, glued the whole thing together, cut the slit in the top for the cards to go through, did all the gluing of the thin ribbon around the bases of the tiers and the gluing of the rhinestone embellishment up top. Whew, he worked hard on this project, which I am truly grateful for.

For this project I bought round paper mache boxes from "Consumer Crafts" in sizes 8/9/10 for 5.43 (20% off their regular price of 6.97 because of a promotion 4th of July weekend). I then went to Home Depot and purchased an 8oz Behr paint sample in the color "Chocolate Sprinkle" (I especially liked the name!) and 2 foam paint brushes for .69 each. Then we started by painting each box. I think it took like 3 or 4 coats to cover everything evenly. No biggie, about half the 8oz sample is left.

Next Mister cut the slit in the top for the cards to be placed into and cut out some of the tops and/or bottoms of the boxes so the cards would drop to the bottom. He then glued the tops of the boxes to the bodies of them and finally altogether in the tower. Be sure to leave one top unglued though so you can easily get into it after the wedding without ripping apart all your hard work.

I measured around the bases of the boxes to see how much ribbon we would need to wrap around them and then cut the respective sizes. I also cut to size the rhinestone embellishment I bought 50% off at Joann's for 3.19. Mister then glued all of these pieces onto the boxes.

This next part was the most tedious. Running the thick red ribbon from the top of the box to the bottom. It was heck trying to keep it in a straight line while I glued it to the boxes. To attach the ribbon end inside the slit on the top I used glue dots then reinforced it with regular Scotch tape. On the bottom of the box the end of the ribbon is hot glued. Finally I tied a bow in the ribbon, hot glued it behind the cut on top and let the sides of it hang down the sides. I decided I wanted to "scrunch" the sides of the ribbon in line with the tiers of the boxes and right now the "scrunches" are secured to the box with double sided tape and I'm debating making it more permanent with either glue dots of a small amount of hot glue.

But anyway, that's the basic overview of the project. It took a good few hours over the course of a few days, but bit by bit it was completed and now it's finally done! I think I'm going to use my mom's cricut and attach die cut letters for the word "CARDS" but I'm not 100% sure I have someplace to put those, so they may end up in a frame next to the box. I'll leave you with a couple more pictures and until next time:

**All gluing done with hot glue unless otherwise noted.**

Long Weekend, the 4th

*phew*

First off, I'd like to start by saying I suck at keeping up in the blog-o-world. :( I truly apologize for this clear lapse of updates. It will hopefully never happen again (as I quietly snicker to myself as I'm sure it will, in at least some form or another, happen again). Now, on to bigger and better....

The 4th of July weekend was AMAZING. So much fun. The 4th is quickly becoming one of, if not already, my favorite holiday. It's great to hang out with friends, eat food, listen to music, play with the kids, catch up, talk, be outside and carefree, and then finish the evening with lovely fireworks displays. It's great to get to do that, and it was a blast. We had 4 days filled with fireworks and all of the other elements written above. The kids had a great time hanging out together, Mister and I had a great time hanging out with family and friends and also watching our children enjoy the time. It really is something to sit back and watch the kids take life in. Hmmm....

Anyway, now the holiday is over and it's back to work. Only a little over 2 months before the wedding and I have GOT to get my butt in gear! Right now we're working on pew decor (which is all but done just need a couple more teeny-tiny pieces to finish up), cardbox has been started as in has 2 or 3 coats of paint on it already, whoo! But the next BIGGGG project that is looming over my head and has been for some time now is invites. Those puppies need to be IN THE MAIL by July 23. Two weeks. And I STILL don't have all the pieces to them! *Oh lord help me* Give me the strength to not stress, take deep breaths, and complete these blasted invites!!!

What's the element of planning worrying you the most right now?