make do {and make lovely} – the wedding, part 1 – a craft

Friday one of my very best friends in the whole universe got married.
It was beautiful and perfect and sweet and fun. My role in the whole shebang ran the gamut – from best friend to co-officiant to party planner.
The ceremony was small and sweet and simple- on a friends deck, over looking the rolling Arkansas hills at sunset. The reception was on the rooftop of a local Italian join and was lively, happy and rockin. Both were completely Jeff and Amy.
Because we were working on a budget we kept things pretty simple overall. Amy wanted the reception to be colorful and bright and happy – a real celebration. She also wanted it to reflect both their styles, taste and interest.

Once of the ways we did this was by creating 5×7 chalkboards to go each table. Because Amy and Jeff both work in education, the chalkboard idea seemed a natural fit.

To get started I ordered a case of 24 wooden frames from Dollartree.com  (I love being able to buy in bulk from them? It is so easy and they will ship to their stores for free!)
I took the glass and backs out and spray painted them in our four colors – red, green, aqua and orange.

While those dried, I sprayed the glass inserts with green chalkboard paint I picked up from Hobby Lobby.

I left the photo that came with the frame behind each piece of glass so that I could tell where one left off and another began.
I also butted them up as close to each as possible in order to use my paint the most efficient way.

Each table had a frame, and the guest had fun (especially the kids) finding each letter of the alphabet throughout the venue. (I know some of you are wondering how we did 26 letters with only 24 frames, well the trick was that the final two letters J and A were on a large chalkboard in the lobby with the guest book together!)