handmade wedding cake topper {finally}

Inspired by amazing work by Katie Runnels, making a cake topper was high on my list of DIY projects for my wedding. Since I was planning on using {life size} pennants throughout the ceremony and reception, I made a tiny string of pennants to hang over the bride and groom birds. I used wire wrapped in silk to create the arch. I found feather birds from Micheals and covered them in silver glitter and made them tiny outfits. For the base, I covered a round chipboard box with pink silk, a stripe of muslim, and a length of vintage sequin trim. I used the lid from a smaller chipboard box, covered with pink glass glitter as a platform for the birds. In the end, I was really happy with it! I had a really simple cake to save $$$, so the topper was the showpiece.

{glue guns are perhaps the best invention ever}

Illustration friday, "giant"

{my frame can't constrain my giant, happy heart} See other entries here...

the wedding extravaganza ends {and it was perfect}

After a year of endless planning, obsessing over wedding blogs and magazines, dedicating my time to all sorts of DIY projects for the wedding, and being simultaneously extremely excited and freaked out, the wedding extravaganza has come to a close. We had an amazing week with friends and family, then a relaxing week at a beautiful resort in Mexico. I have realized that sometimes the things that you cannot control {such as rain during your outdoor ceremony} can make the most beautiful moments of your life. I also learned that you cannot style every detail of your own wedding and that real weddings are not perfect like magazine weddings. It is the people that surround you during the brief time of the ceremony and reception that make the wedding amazing.

Now that we have made it back home, I am ready for my new life of being Mrs. Kara Kopp and all the wonderful things that will come with that...

I thought that I would feel withdrawal from the wedding madness and projects that went along it all, but instead I feel very excited to be able to focus my time on my career, making new jewelry and art, redecorating our apartment, cooking, and relaxing with Zach.

Photos above by http://www.tanveerbadal.com/2010/06/kz-savannah-wedding-photos-georgia/#more-1548

Also, more photos to come from http://www.kateegrace.com/

as she was our amazing photographer that traveled from California to shoot our wedding.

Please expect regular postings to come as I get into the swing of married life.

xoxoxo

Kara

love is lovely {happy valentine's day}

I can't believe that it is mid-february already!!! {I knew that the beginning of the year would fly by in anticipation of my June wedding} We have an upcoming trip to Savannah, Ga for some serious wedding planning and I am so excited! I haven't been back to Savannah since I graduated {almost 3 years!} and I can't wait to do all of my favorite Savannah things...

I set up an area in my studio as a wedding "mood" table! Here are some shots of some of the items that keep me excited about everything... {and I can go look at my pretty wedding things whenever I get overwhelmed or stressed about the wedding}

I leave for India and China next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to go to markets in India {gemstones and silks} and shopping in Shanghai {pearls pearls pearls}

xoxoxo, kara

Happy New Year!!!!

Happy {belated} New Year!!! It has been entirely too long since I have posted. I have been traveling constantly, having house guests, making Christmas presents, making next year's holiday decorations for all of America, working late, seeing family and friends, attending my own wedding shower, sending out my Save The Dates, and pretty much running at high speed constantly!

This year will hold some amazing things for me:

*holy matrimony and a destination wedding in Savannah, GA!

*planning and creating this dream wedding {less than 6 months!}

*a trip to India and China for work {less than 2 months!}

*who knows what else...I can't wait to find out!!!

I hope to start posting again on a regular{ish} basis, but be warned that most posting my revolve around WEDDINGS!!! specifically mine!

I wish nothing but the best for everyone in the year to come...2010! Wow!

{pictured above, a paper cut that I made for my Mom for Christmas}

Illustration friday, "frozen" {birdsicles}

The Illustration Friday topic this week is "frozen" so I drew some frosty, frozen birdsicles. Here in Minnesota, we would call them "birds on a stick".

If you don't get that joke, consider yourself lucky. Check out other entries here.

Illustration friday, "flying"

The topic this week is "flying". I actually painted this last week, but think that it fits- I am dreaming of flying south for the winter...it already snowed here! Actually- just looked out the window and it is snowing RIGHT NOW! Its only October!

In my painting, the birds are tethered here too. I guess that's kinda mean, huh! Other {nicer?} entries here.