Ok, so for my wedding, I am kind of combining the "place cards" with the wedding favors... I am making little wooden heart (for the ladies) or oval (for the gentlemen) keychains with their names wood burned on them. I plan to hang them on a tree branch, with a number sticker on the back, and the guests will come in, find theirs, and it will lead them to their table... and be their wedding favor.
Ambitious? Perhaps. Especially in light of the fact that I know NOTHING about woodburning. Ok, not totally true, as a kid, my uncle had a kit, and I woodburned the outline of a race car on a 2x4 for my dad. But that's it.
SO, I was wondering if any of you could give me any pointers on wood burning? I would also consider other (perhaps easier) ways to get the names on the key chains, but I want it to be pernament, and I'm not totally keen on painting them... unless someone has a really cool idea related to painting... :) I had thought of metal stamping, maybe? But I'd have to buy the stamps... but it's an idea...
Our wedding is kind of rustic/country/shabby chic... just fyi...
Any ideas? Suggestions?
I already have all the hearts, ovals, and key rings, so I have my heart set on this idea... just need to decide what is the best way to put names on them... :)
No idea how to do it but wanted to say that is one cool idea for a wedding favor! Love it! Hope it works out for you!
When burning, keep moving. If you stop and pause, you'll end up with a "dot". Slow, steady, even movements :) Love this idea!
What about choosing a simple design, like your initials (yours and your fiance's), or a flower that means something to you, or something symbolic related to your wedding or your personalities? Rubber stamp that onto the hearts or ovals (using ink that doesn't run - you can find that in a stamping supplies store). Either stamp it in a color related to your wedding and skip the woodburning, or stamp it in a light color and woodburn that image. Tie a pretty tag to the key chain with their name and table number on it. That way, you are not woodburning names and a variety of things, but woodburning just one image. Then give it a coat of polyurethane or some other coating that will make it permanent.
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I think it's a fabulous idea, goes well with your theme. I would practice on some scrap wood first to get the feel of it.
I love the idea and agree with you that this will be a big job. No wood burning experience here but I have done many other projects that involved white hot tools and steady hands.
Keep it simple. I would suggest only writing the initial, rather than the entire name. It will save time and the chances of you messing up half-way through would decrease. You could attach a tag or ribbon that states their full name to help them find their keychain.
I would also practice a great deal before you start to figure out the best technique (would cursive be easier?) and size of the letter(s). Do them in small batches so that your attention and dexterity are fresh each time. If you do them all at once you will have greater quality differences.
Another thought... what about branding the letters onto the wood? It would be much easier to control and would look great. Not sure how much that would cost but it may be worth checking into.
I love the idea and wish you the best of luck. I think you will need to post a link to pictures so we can all see just how beautiful your wedding turns out.
Great idea! I made almost everything for my wedding and it really makes you feel good to see all your work make your guests smile. It is a little bit of a challenge to get the hang of wood burning. You might want to check out some sites on esty. I was looking there the other day and saw this place. http://www.etsy.com/shop/braggingbags?ref=seller_info She might be able to do the work for you and minimize your pre-wedding stress.
Good Luck!!
You may want to get some kind of finish or stain to go over the wood after you've burned the name in. That'll help protect the wood and make it more permanent.
That sounds cute. But to warn you I bought a wood burner once and tried it out all around the edge of a cutting board (designs and sayings) as a gift for someone and I was not pleased with how it came out. It was too shallow and just didn't look right. Try one first to see if you like it!
No advice, just want to say, perhaps you should consider a career as a wedding planner, specializing in smaller personal weddings, when you get back from your honeymoon. This is a really cool idea, and so have been ideas from previous posts!!
:)
Do you have your heart set on wood? I have seen ribbon keychains that are pretty easy to make. Then all you have to do is find a friend that has a sewing machine that does lettering.
Trust me you have a friend that does and it will be the last friend you think of. I know because I have one and most of my friends are shocked when they find out. :p
You could do shorter dark colored ribbons for the men, you know, manly foo foo, and longer pastels for the women.
I really do like the wood idea it just seems like a lot of work. :)
Okay so you already have the wood. Well in that case do they make stencils or guides? I really wish I knew something easier than burning that would stay on the wood.
My only suggestion would be to make sure you write the names with pencil before you start woodburning free-hand. It would be silly not to be able to fit in all of the letters to Alexander, or Georgina.
Another thing you might do, to make the job easier for you is to just woodburn their initials, or the initial of their last name. put their full name and seating information on a piece of cardboard shaped like a key, or with a key, or several key outlines traced/ printed onto them.
Sandra L. from the Food Network has a differant place card keepsake idea everyweek. She has 100s of them. I would look on the website for some options and inspiration.
