Jaimee + Jay: Digital Package

Jaimee took on the task of printing and cutting her programs.  Her Fuschia/Orange theme was based on my DEANNA design for all her program, seating chart, and table cards.  Congrats!

Here are a couple alternative seating chart designs that didn't make the cut, but I wanted to post here for you to see other options available...

 We also worked on the following monogram to be used in any of Jaimee's other DIY projects.

Here's a mini digital package for Lijah & Kory. They will be printing these files at Vista Print using their Rack template. 

Tutorial #1: How To Create a Basic Monogram in Power Point 2007

Time for GE Design’s first attempt at a tutorial for all those DIY Brides out there! I know most girls probably do not have access to software like Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator, so I thought it would be nice to have a step-by-step tutorial with screenshots set up for anyone who’s interested in take a stab at doing their own monogram on Power Point (version 2007 – steps are similar with older versions). Why Power Point, and not Word? In Power Point, it is easier to move objects around the page.

Now there are quite a few video tutorials online that are great, but for me, I like to see tutorials step by step so I can go at my own pace, without having to pause the videos or rewinding to see how things were done. Plus I like to read the instructions and screenshots (click on the photos below to enlarge in a new window). If you prefer videos, do a simple google search, and you’ll find a few online as well. I will try to link to online videos if I find some. But for those who like to read instructions, here goes!  Any feedback is welcome!

1. Open a new document in Power Point

2. Create a BLANK slide (no objects on the slide) for a clean start (Under Home Tab, Go to Slides section, Click Layout, Select “Blank”)

3. Insert a Text Box (Under Home Tab, Go to Drawing section, Click Text Box Button)

        a. Insert Text box in the middle of the slide

         Tip: Center the text in the box (Go to Paragraph, Click Center button)

4. Type the initial of your LAST NAME or the GROOM’S LAST NAME

5. Select the text in the text box (double-click on letter, or hold down CTRL+A)

6. Change font size to 250 (or increase the size to fill 1/3 of the slide)

7.  Change Font
        a. Select text
        b. Click on Font box in toolbar and bring down your font list
        c. Choose your favorite font for the main initial (I chose “Easy Street,” a font very similar to “Edwardian Script”)

        d. While initial is still highlighted, change the color in Font Toolbar at the top of page

TIP: Make sure the text box has NO FILL color or NO LINE (apply this to all text boxes when creating a monogram to allow you to place your letters anywhere without obstructing views)

8. Add Bride’s Initial (First Name Initial)

        a. Follow steps 3-5 above

        b. Change font size to at least half of the size of the first letter

        c. Place the Bride’s Initial to the LEFT of the last name initial

9. Add Groom’s Initial

        a. Follow same steps as Bride Initial above OR Copy Bride’s Initial (Select Bride’s Initial on slide,    Right Click, Copy, Paste)

Tip: Copy and Pasting the Bride’s initial is a quicker step, since you have already formatted it to your liking, and it saves you a few steps

        b. Select Letter, and CHANGE LETTER to Groom’s Initial (First name Initial)

        c. Click and Drag Groom’s Initial to the RIGHT SIDE of Last Name Initial and place in any spot you please.

10. Add Wedding Date (optional)

        a. Follow Steps 3-7 above (except change the font to be much smaller than the initials. For example font size 20, and adjust from there)

        b. Date Format: You can choose to make the date numerical (10.10.2010, 10.10.10, 09.11.10), or spell out completely (October 10, 2010, october tenth two thousand ten). The format depends on how you want your overall monogram to look.

        c. Place your date in the monogram at the bottom or the top, wherever you feel it looks the best. My example will put it off-center at the bottom.



11. Saving your monogram to your computer

        a. Make sure no objects on your page are selected
 
        b. Go to the Editing Bar at the top and click on “Select All” (or with your mouse, select/highlight all objects on your page)

        c. All Objects should be selected, or have boxes surrounding each object individually at the same time

        d. Right Click on all objects by moving your mouse/pointer anywhere in the selected objects. A dropdown menu should pop up as seen below

        e. Select “Save as Picture”

        f. Under File Format, Select “JPEG”

        g. Name your Monogram

        h. Click “Save”

12. Voila! You have your new monogram! It is like a Clipart for you to insert in any document (Word, Power Point, Excel, etc.)

13. Test your new file

         a. In the same document in Power Point, Click on “Insert” Tab

        b. Click on “Picture”

        c. Find your monogram file you just saved

        d. Select your file

        e. Your new monogram should be inserted into your document!

 Tip: For easy access to your Monogram file, save a shortcut or copy of it on your desktop

 Tip: After inserting your jpg monogram in your software, format it fit better, by cropping the jpg so that there is no blank space taking up room on your page. A future tutorial will be available on how to do this.

14. Video Tutorial: Here is a great online video; She did it in a different order, but this will give you a visual and audio to tie it together!

GE Designs Tutorials

I will be adding DIY tutorials on my blog.  To start off with, I will create step-by-step instructions on using Power Point to create Monograms.  I will start off by doing variations of tutorials on monograms because I know that there are some creative brides out there, that would like to have full control of their monogram design, and who probably don't have a design program like Illustrator or Photoshop. 

So if you have any other ideas on other DIY tutorials, please feel free to send me a message and I'll work on it! You can also share ideas on the GE Designs Facebook page (link is on the right)!

Of course, for the more elaborate designs that require a different design program, GE Designs is still available to create monograms for you...

Stay tuned this week for the first tutorial!

Print At Home Table Cards

I've added a new item to my shop:  Simple Table Tent Cards, available for purchase now! Each file is for #1-10, with instructions and diagrams.  Just download, print, cut and fold! Sooo easy. And quick!

I will be adding different fonts soon... Customized versions are also available, just send me a message for your personal custom order!

Sylena's Music Inspired Menus

Here is Sylena's Menu DIY file I created for her reception. Remember, when you decide to print your own wedding paper goodies, mess around with the printer settings (size, output, colors, etc) to ensure that you get the result you want. Use plain paper before printing on your cardstock.

Printing Services available!

Haley had come to me for her DIY projects, including her invitations and now her programs. So I've decided to offer DIY program designs in pdf files for brides or event coordinators to print programs from their own computer. Just tell me what style and size you need, and I will do the rest. In Haley's case, since the date of her wedding was coming up soon, she asked if I could print them for her, which I was happy to do (since she's been so sweet). I ordered the papers, precut, and printed them for her and shipped them over for a nominal fee. Congrats, Haley!!!

GE Designs is now offering to design and print your programs for you, so you don't need to battle with your printer settings or paper sizing. Just wait for the pre-printed, pre-cut programs to arrive and get ready to DIY.

Bana's Table Numbers: DIY (Sort of)

Bana contacted me recently to put together her table numbers in eggplant and antique gold, but then she already had her own cardstock available, and lived so closeby, that we decided to have me do her table numbers, HALF done, and she'd finish them off herself. I created the top layers of the metallic antique gold trim, with the metallic ivory cardstock with her info printed on it. She asked for the NICOLE table number design. She will be having her own eggplant cardstock trimmed down to 5x7 cards, so she can paste my part of it together. A nice collaboration. Congrats, Bana!!!!

Lindsay and Doug's Seating Chart

Here is the completed seating chart design for Lindsay and Doug (getting married next week!).

Stefanie & Colin: DIY Table Numbers, Seating Chart, Etc.

So it all started with a monogram. Then it became a DIY Table Number project, then we added the Seating Chart.

Yi Ting's DIY Table Numbers

Yi Ting's Table Numbers are based on the MAGDA DIY table numbers I list in my Serendipity Creatives shop. She used the theme of significant years to both her and her fiance, Chris. Congrats!

Her color scheme is blue and gray, so this is what it could look like if she were to mount it on blue cardstock.

Kristi's Bridal Suite

I have officially completed Kristi's whole order! We've worked together since last year for her June 20th wedding, so I'm excited that everything's coming together for both of us. I've posted photos of these in the past, but I wanted to include some snippets of each in one entry for your viewing pleasure...

Here is her official monogram used in her reception stationery.. Along with an address label for them to use after they're married.
This was a second monogram used initially. And here's a closeup of the monogram on her table numbers with green rhinestones. Special Reserved signs to be placed in their spots at the reception.

Their table numbers were flat, one sided with the pink and green motif.

And her fan paddle programs for the guests under the sun.

She chose to print her own menus, so here is the pdf I created for her DIY project.
And the last item! Her Seating Chart!

Thanks, Kristi! It's been so great working with you this year, and congratulations!!!!!!!

Stacey's Wine Tasting Party

Stacey had a wine tasting party recently and had asked at first to rush order the DEANNA menus to her, but since there really wasn't enough time, we opted to do a DIY order for her instead. I was pleasantly surprised to get a photo attached to her wonderful feedback for me on Etsy, so I thought I'd post her work here.




Here is her graphic for her menu...



And here was the graphic I created for her matching placecards that she printed and cut herself. Her feedback (via Etsy): "Gorgeous graphic and she made it easy for me to print it on my own to save on time and shipping since i needed it in a rush. I have attached a photo, thanks!!!"

Nicole's Guestbook page

I thought this was a cute idea. Nicole, who came to me months ago to help her make her DIY monogram and table numbers, came to me again to help her with another DIY project. Instead of having standard pages (photo pages, or blank), she wanted something a little unique. So with some collaboration, we came up with the following design for her guest book. Guests can not only sign their names, but share some personal stories and advice with the couple on a whole page. Check it out! And just to remind you of Nicole's table number, here it is. I used the same design to create her guestbook page above.

And here was her original monogram design.

I'll be helping her with her DIY Placecards too. I won't be able to post those here, but these are her proofs...