One of my oldest friends is getting married this fall, and I attended her bridal shower over the weekend. I wanted to give her something fun and special that I could personalize for her color scheme, so I decided to make her some custom wooden kitchen utensils based on this great tutorial from Erin at House of Earnest.
First, I had to do my research and check out my friend's wedding registry. I wanted to see if there was a color trend on her registry that would help me decide how to paint the utensils. A quick glance at her registry revealed she was all about blue and turquoise, which was convenient for me because I had plenty of craft paint in those colors from this project and this DIY necklace.
The first step is to paint the utensils. I originally painted each handle in one color, but I felt like it needed something more. I decided to paint a contrasting stripe along the top of each to create a color blocking effect.
My drying method? I put the painted spoons inside plastic cups that were inside my glass cups. The plastic cups were too lightweight to stand alone, so I put them inside the glass as a base. It looked silly but did the job well!
I did a couple of coats of paint on each one, and then I let them dry. Once they were dry, I went back to add the contrasting stripes. I didn't tape off the sections and I painted them in slight angles because I wanted the utensils to look homemade and hand painted. That's just my personal preference, but you could do it either way.
Once they were completely dry, I took them outside to seal the paint. I used Zinsser Bulls Eye Shellac and Sealer (spray paint version), purchased at my local Ace Hardware. This high gloss sealer makes the craft paint look more finished and helps it stay put. For this step I did tape off the lines because I only wanted the painted handles to have the high gloss finish. I figured that would contrast nicely with the wooden spoons.
I was loving how the spoons looked at this point, but I needed to compile the rest of the gift. Presentation is everything, right?!
I needed some sort of glass vessel to house the spoons– something my friend could put on her kitchen counters so the cute spoons could be on display. After all, what's the point of having a cute, custom spoon set if you're just going to hide them in a drawer?
I eventually decided to use this small glass pitcher. I thought it was perfect because it was multifunctional. She can use it as a storage spot for the spoons, as a vase for flowers, or even as a pitcher for drinks. Multipurpose kitchen goods are always a great thing to have!
The package of wooden utensils had instructions that they should be hand washed, so I added a cute little tag so my friend would know how to care for these spoons.
Then I added the other parts of the gift, which all coordinated with the color scheme. I love these cleaning goods from Target– the basil smell is amazing! I have never cleaned the kitchen counters so much in my life! Haha.
I scored that adorable chevron shower curtain at HomeGoods. It was perfect for my friend because she's planning to have blue chevron table runners at her wedding.
With all of my blue/aqua items in place, I wrapped it up and brought it to the shower. It was a big hit with the future bride!
I think this might be my new go-to gift for bridal showers and weddings. Do you have a go-to gift for those occassions? My best friend always likes to give a cute apron and a cookbook when she attends bridal showers. It's nice to have a go-to gift, especially something that can be personalized. It takes a little bit of the guesswork out of it, don't you think?
What's your favorite gift to bestow on future brides or newly married couples? What's the best gift you received at your wedding or shower?
* I love weddings, don't you? *
