Child, You Need New Drawers!

Drawers.... as in... undies. :)

One of the best ideas Snapsisters L and A have had (my two MOHs) was to throw me a lingerie shower while I was in Texas. This was SO NICE of them, and an added benefit was that all but two of my sisters could attend. The lingerie shower turned into a bit of a bachelorette party, which meant that any Snapsisters who can't make it up to Chicago (highly likely) for my bachelorette party could partake in bachelorette festivities. The Snapsisses went way over the top, two of our friends were able to come, too.... and I was definitely showered in sexay, tiny gifts. Very tiny. Get back to work, Mr. Dragon.

The entire shower took place at a popular Dallas destination called The Gaylord Resort. The agenda called for drinks at the Glass Cactus, ice sculpture-gazing at the onsite exhibit, gifts of a lingerie nature, and then a slumber party in the hotel room! The Snapsisters went way over the top, and we had a wonderful time. Let's begin!

Unbeknownst to us, there was a show scheduled for the night of our party at The Glass Cactus. It was HI-larious. Please, scantily clad ladies dancing to "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy." Massive photo texting ensued!

We moved ice sculpture gazing to the next morning, as that exhibit is way more popular than we realized, and they ran out of tickets! So we ventured back to our room via elevator...

See all the lovely shower game prizes laid out...

Yummy food and boobilicious cups!

OK, Small Sidebar: In past months, I have been in the presence of several lovely ladies who have discussed how much they hate shower games. I freakin' LOVE shower games! To me, boring shower games are, yes, not so entertaining, but the Snapsisters devised several games that resulted in increasing both our knowledge and our motor skills. Read on.

For our first game, the MOH Snapsisses divided the guests into two teams for a rousing round of Sexual Trivia. For instance, did you know the origins of the Mirkin? Me either, and that's why I lost that question. Thanks for reminding me. Here are the MOH Snapsisses teasing our brains. Clipboards so kindly provided by the accommodating Gaylord staff!

Next, we played create your own lingerie set, suitable for judging. So that I can add to the WeddingBee gallery of amazingly embarrassing blog pictures....

Then it was Present-Time! Lots and lots of bras and undies!

Our last game of the night was a play on bowling. We had a bowling alley with pins set up, and using three oranges as bowling balls, along with an orange suspended in hosiery (and using no hands!,) we had five minutes to knock down as many pins as we could. Yes, five minutes is an inordinately long period of time, but that's how bad we are at bowling. So there.

There WOULD be a picture here, but all of the bowling pictures are just too embarrassing for public viewing, slightly NSFW, and shouldn't you be typing up a report right now anyway, you slacker? ;)

This is how we finished the night, spying on poor, innocent people in the Gaylord Hot Tub.

After a relaxing night in our hotel room, we hit the Gaylord Ice! Sculpture exhibit before heading home the next morning.

Of course we loved this one!

We had such a fun time hanging out together. I am so lucky to have sisters and friends who are so creative, and the whole night was just perfect. Mr. Dragon thanks you, too.

Mixin' It Up!

Hi hi! How is the Hive? What's buzzin'?* I, like so many of you, have been in Holiday Hibernation down in the great state of Texas. After a series of travel snafus, Mr. Dragon was finally able to join me and my family in Christmas-ing it up! Chicago weather was amazingly unkind to fliers this year, and Mr. D didn't get to my house until early afternoon Christmas Day (he was supposed to arrive Tuesday.) We held Christmas until he could get here, and I was so glad he arrived at all! This is how I felt until he showed up:



Cheesy yes, but true. I suppose this is a symptom of the fact that Mr. Dragon and I have become each other's family - we REALLY have a hard time spending holidays apart now. For the last two years we have spent Thanksgiving together, and this was our first year spending Christmas together. Obviously, once we are married, there will be no more questions about spending holidays together. Eventually, I am going to have to "cut the cord" and be ok about not going home to Texas for Christmas... I guess. ;) I will delay that moment as long as possible though.

I WILL say that Mr. Dragon was extremely brave to return to my home in Texas. The last time he visited, we played innumerable practical jokes on him - from which he has still not recovered. I am not going to tell you what they were, because you will judge me. :)

Let's just say the most tame one was that Mr. Dragon has Night Terrors. Once my siblings found this out, two of them staked out his guest bedroom at 2a, making little noises in order to send him into Night Terrors. No wonder he is still scarred. ALTHOUGH, in my family, this means you are loved. They would never waste their time terrorizing someone they hated - trust.

I do have to say that SnapSister A began texting him before he arrived threatening to dunk his sheets in ground beef. I THINK this threat went unexecuted.

Anyway, I was so happy when Mr. Dragon finally arrived. My family loves him, and they only get to see us about 2-3 times per year, so for Chicago Blizzardry to keep him in the Midwest would have been really disappointing.

Here are a few photos from Christmas Day...

Our new dog, Oliver - I think his legs are about 4" long!!!

Yes, Snapdragons wrap presents in Albertsons grocery bags (well, Snapsister L and the BIL do!!)

This is Snapsister L and her hubby's present to me. About a year ago, Snapsis and I took a girls weekend to San Antonio (as we are wont to do,) and we ordered a couple of hamburgers poolside. What a shock to find our bill was $60 - most expensive fast food ever. Since we are packrats, we each kept a tiny condiment bottle as a memento. Snapsis turned the mustard bottle into a Christmas ornament! So yeah... this is a $60 ornament. :)

ANDOHMYGOD, WE GOT OUR FIRST AWESOME WEDDING PRESENT! I present to you, a real deal KitchenAid mixer! Mr. Dragon and I are already dreaming up our first batch of homemade ravioli and sausages! Snapmom and Snapdad were the heroes of the day!

And now, the two most hilarious presents of the day...
Sidenote - I have only posted two pictures of Snapsis A on Weddingbee to date, and in both pictures, her eyes are closed. I promise she generally goes throughout her day with her eyes open. Really!

And here was the real kicker of the day... When my grandfather died, my dad and uncles found a box FULL of 32 years worth of letters between my parents and all of us Snapdragon kids. My grandmother had carefully catalogued and organized each and every missive. Over the past three months, my parents have been secretly typing and scanning in every single one of these letters. My Dad took 120 minutes worth of audio recordings of my grandparents and of us Snapdragons from the early eighties, which he also loaded onto a CD. Christmas morning, my parents presented a 400 page binder of those letters and the CD to each of us. This is our family history. We were extremely overwhelmed, to say the least. Best present ever.

So I put two questions to the Hive -
A) Have you and your fiance begun spending all of the holidays together already, or are you putting that off until after the wedding?
B) For you KitchenAid users, what's the best accessory attachment? Any advice to those of us who are registering for a KitchenAid or who might be new owners of said Wonder-Device?

*Sorry, sorry. ;)

Calling All Chicago Bees!

It's time for a Chicago Bee Meetup! Miss Meatball, Mrs. Jasmine, Miss Taffy and Miss Snapdragon are keeping the holidays rolling with midday Senoritas and Margaritas.

WHEN: Monday, December 29th at 1pm
WHERE: Uncle Julio's Hacienda at North/Clybourn (adjacent to the North/Clybourn stop on the Red Line)
RSVP: PM Miss Snapdragon if you want us to save you a seat! Ask for the Weddingbee table when you arrive.

We can't wait to meet all of you!

Something Simple

Even before Mr. Dragon and I started planning our wedding, I knew one thing for sure... Before tulle and satin and taffeta were thrown on in a cramped dressing room, I was positive about this one piece of my attire! In the midst of all of the experimenting with styles and trying this and that, one choice remained constant...

I was TOTALLY going to steal Katie Holmes' bridal earrings!

Overdramatic I know. :)

(Image Source)

I love my jewelry to be either quite understated or a statement piece, lukewarm jewelry is not por moi! I actually love Katie's entire bridal ensemble - I think the entire look is flat-out gorgeous. Since Katie and I are not, at this time, bosom buds, I can't borrow her wedding gown... I will settle for taking her earrings. PM me, Katie.

Hmm, these will do nicely!

(Image Source)

Though I am dead set on sapphire earrings, I am going to wait to buy my earrings until I have my wedding dress for sure in hand. In my tooling around the internet, here are some other earrings that totally caught my fancy in the event I have to rethink my decision! Several of these would fit in nicely with our Starry Starry Night theme.

Yum to sparkles - sophisticated and understated, too.

(Image Source)

I'm a sucker for all things vintage. Though this set is FAUX vintage, cutie-pies nonetheless.

(Image Source)

I may just buy these beauties regardless!!

(Image Source)

Once I start the wedding gown fitting process I can nail down my bridal jewelry. What's the best source you've found for bridal accessories?

Skin You Can Live in

One of the biggest things I noticed as I reached the age of 30 was how my skin was slowly but surely changing in every way. Pores were getting larger, wrinkles were multiplying at a breakneck pace, and the overall look of the skin [on my face] was just getting really dull, no matter what exfoliating agents I employed. Funny, acne was the one thing that didn't change! (sigh) My soap and water routine (cringe) was fast becoming a no-go... not if I wanted to feel good about my skin anyway! I experimented with a number of different products, to varying degrees of success... and I am going to share them all with the Hive (but of course!) I am a guinea pig at your disposal. All of the items vary in price, some are available at your local drugstore; others are 'spensive, but - in my experience - worth every penny.

Let's get started!

CLEANING UP:
Um, so I used to use soap and water. I also used to use Oxy Pads, which were actually a life-saver to me when my acne was at its height... but that was high school and that facial routine doesn't work for me anymore - must. be. nicer. to my face.

Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser @$7 per bottle (1 bottle lasts me about 6 weeks)
I tried a variety of drugstore cleansers, and this is for sure my favorite. Sometimes I cheat on this brand, always to return on my knees, begging for forgiveness. I'm a face cleanser adulterer, shoot me. I am a bit lazy sometimes, so the fact that this cleanser removes makeup (including eye makeup) is really great. I really only wear makeup on the weekends, but a nice feature nonetheless. The foaminess also feels really great on my face.

(Image Source)

Neutrogena Wave Power Cleanser - Tool is $11.99, Packs of replacement pads are $6.99 per 30

*I promise I don't work or get paid by Neutrogena... their products just gel well with my particular skin sitch!
Whenever I need to clean my skin but don't need to remove makeup - I use this little wonder. Be careful though - it sounds like you are doing something naughty when you turn it on!!! (Your roommates may judge.) Again, the Wave is extremely relaxing after a long day, AND this product makes my skin softer than any other product I have used, hands down. HIGHLY recommend.

(Image Source)

Neutrogena Body Clear @$7 (One bottle lasts me about six weeks)
Grapefruit is HANDS DOWN my very favorite scent - love it, love it, love it. I about had a conniption in the drugstore aisle when I saw that Neutrogena had come out with an entire Grapefruit line.Of course I love the grapefruit scent, but this is the only body wash that helps me with my acne (totally embarassing, but true.) Wakes you up and helps improve your skin's quality - A+

(Image Source)

SOOTHING SKIN:

Jo Malone Green Tea and Honey Eye Cream $50 (One tub lasts about two months for me)
This is the richest, most soothing eye cream I've found. I tend to have dark circles under my eyes, and this cream really helps to lighten that area... and it just feels so good to put it on! This cream is expensive, but for me, worth it.

(Image Source)

L'Oreal Eye Cream (a more budget-friendly eye cream) @$12 (Lasts me about three months - larger jar than the Jo Malone)
This is the brand I use when I am needing to be tight with the purse strings and can't afford the Jo Malone. The Jo Malone is definitely superior (just my 2 cents,) but of the drugstore brands, this one is my favorite and has my recommendation. The formula glides on smoothly and is really cooling to the touch.

(Image Source)

SCRUBBING MY SINS AWAY:

Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Facial Scrub @$8 per bottle (one bottle lasts me about two months)
I don't like rough scrubs, and this one is gentle enough to use on a regular basis. This is also another GREAT way to wake up in the morning - the yummy grapefruitness is just fabulous.

(Image Source)

Got2Be In Your Face Avacado, Clay and Rosemary Masque @$8 (One bottle lasts me four months)
This mask is wonderful - it feels great, shrinks my pores and pulls out a number of impurities. I always look a million times refreshed after washing this off.

(Image Source)

Origins Modern Friction $37 for a 4oz. jar (Don't know how long this will last me yet!!)

This scrub is new to my skincare routine and I must say I like this scrub the best. If you are not on a budget, I totally recommend it. Several of my friends pretty much evangelize for this product, and I am so glad I converted! This product is truly top notch, and my face looks noticeably different, starting from the first time I tried it.

Now here's where you can help me, Hive! What is your favorite heavy-duty facial moisturizer? I have had the WORST luck finding a facial moisturizer that rejuvenates my 30-year-old skin. I used to adore Jo Malone's Carrot-infused facial moisturizer, but she stopped making it! Has anyone tried the drugstore brand Yes to Carrots? What skincare regimen has helped you the most in taking care of your bridely self?

The Engagement Countdown Has Begun

A big day has come in the course of Mr. Dragon's and my journey towards the altar: The engagement ring has been bought, set, picked up, and is now hiding somewhere in my apartment (He made me promise not to snoop.) We have been saving up for this for a long time, and selecting and then making the Big Purchase was an adventure, to say the least!

About six months ago, Mr. Dragon and I - totally on a lark - stopped into a local jewelry store to look at engagement bands and settings so that Mr. Dragon could get an idea of what I like. We spent about two hours in the store, trying on different bands, metals, everything! By the time we were done, we were both totally exhausted and DONE with shopping. Who gets tired of jewelry shopping?!? Oh, the Snapdragons, that's who. Originally, I was dead set on something like this:

(Image Source)

We spent the bulk of our shopping checking out rings similar to the one in the image above. Finally, as we were leaving the store (with nothing in hand,) Mr. D took a deep breath and said something to the effect of "I really want you to get whatever ring you want, but, I don't feel good about that style of ring. It's pretty and nice and everything, but not at all the sort of ring I ever pictured you wearing as an engagement ring."

As soon as he said that, I knew he was right. I like the style, and that's why I was attracted to it, but... it's not the RIGHT one. For me, I *might* someday get a cocktail or right hand ring (in cheaper stones - no diamonds!!!) in the halo style, but it's not my wedding ring.

On our way home, we passed another jewelry store and decided to give shopping another go. Whaddya know - they had a completely different style that Mr. Dragon and I BOTH fell in love with. THAT was the right ring. In less than half an hour, we walked out of the store with our setting.

Now, at the time, we had a family friend who wanted to sell us a beautiful family diamond at wholesale prices (which was the only way we could afford it at the time.) We thought we were set, and we were so excited. We especially loved the idea of buying a diamond that came from a friend we knew and loved. Later that night, we were devastated to find a "pepper flake" inclusion in the top of the diamond that we hadn't noticed before. We were definitely looking for a bargain when it came to the diamond, but.... it was a large "pepper flake" that was totally obvious. We just couldn't pull the trigger on it.

So the setting went into a jewelry armoire for six months...living in a dark and lonely drawer - until now! We scrimped and saved to be able to locate another diamond, we found it, got it set, and Mr. Dragon picked it up last night!

It's exciting, and I can't wait for us to actually have our private moment where we officially commit to spending the rest of our lives together. Though we have been committed in our hearts for a very long time, I can't wait to make our engagement official, and then finally become husband and wife. I'm ready to seal the deal, sister!

Did anyone else end up selecting an engagement ring that was completely different from the image in your mind? Or did your fiance select your ring all on his own?

Wedding Break 2008

A la Miss Martini, Mr. Dragon and I just got back from a five day trip to Cancun. He had a business conference to attend in Mexico, and they allowed him to bring a friend, so.... because he knew what was good for him, he took ME. :)

Mr. Dragon and I haven't been on a vacation together in about a year and a half, so we were due! My plan for the entire trip was to plant my booty on the beach and do nothing but read. Mission Accomplished. In the days leading up to the vacation, I was so excited to get out of cold Chicago (we had a pretty significant snowstorm/cold front in the week before we left.) However, I kept looking at the stack of wedding projects on my kitchen table and thought about how I needed to get them completed. December is my month to knock out a bunch of our big wedding tasks. January/February are horrifically busy for both Mr. Dragon and I every year, so this is my chance to get things done!

Once my feet hit the sand in Mexico, I didn't care about that anymore though. We needed a break! We had a chance to reconnect as a couple and just loaf around - it was awesome.

A few pics from "Spring Break 2008:"
*All pics my own.

Can you guess why I loved the contents of our minibar so much?

Mr. Dragon looking sexay! (Although he was actually saying "Can we please get off the beach and go eat?")

We went to this popular club called the Coco Bongo. The show was fun, but it was so crowded we couldn't dance!

The resort made these fun drinks called Crazy Coconuts - they were actually really yum!

I was forced into taking this picture.

Yes, I had three drinks with my breakfast, and yes one of them was a Coke.

So we had a great time and did a whole lot of nuffin'! Were any of you able to take time out to reconnect with your fiance in the months before your wedding? Do you think it's important in the midst of all the wedding to-dos?

The Things We Remember

(Image Source)

I have been chewing on this post for awhile. I kept starting and dropping and re-writing, never completely sure how to write about this subject. I just can't stop thinking about it!

A few weeks ago, Mr. Dragon and I went out with a few people who will be attending our wedding that we don't see very often. I was really excited to hang out with them. We went to a casual restaurant and wore our comfy jeans, which is actually my favorite thing to do - low-maintenance night out. Because [when you're engaged] everyone asks you about your wedding, talk turned to how excited we were for our circles of friends and family to finally meet. As we all know, I have a somewhat unusual family, as well as other friends that remarkably sheltered peeps might also label "unusual." To me, they are my friends, and that's IT - I don't identify them by their lifestyle, appearance, etc.

I have to be vague so that certain people aren't incriminated and also so others aren't embarrassed.

Anyway, when these particular friends of mine came up in discussing our wedding guest list.... the people we were dining with got really crass. Names, dirty jokes, etc. I got upset once I was over the shock of what was going on. Just because someone is supposedly "different" doesn't make it ok to call them names, belittle them, or reduce them to a joke. I was so taken aback that I was speechless. I am ashamed to say that I was like a deer in headlights. I didn't want to castigate our dinner partners and "create a scene..." - I was just basically unsure of what to do. I just stopped talking and prayed to God for them to stop.

For the rest of dinner, I faked my way through it and hoped it would be over soon. I like - liked - these people a lot, and I was confused as to why they thought, as grown adults, it was acceptable to make fun of people they didn't even know, in such a brutal way. I pretended to be sick, we were able to leave, and I cried all the way home, completely ashamed of myself for not putting a stop to it in the moment. Proven by the fact that I am still haunted by the experience... the whole event was traumatic.

If I could uninvite them from the wedding, I would, but as Mr. Dragon points out: "They had no idea how ignorant they were being, and we already sent them a Save the Date." Oh, Mr. Dragon, you're funny. :)

Here's what I am worried about... I am extremely proud that I have such a diverse set of friends and family members. Because I know how others can treat people with disabilities (either as saints, which is totally annoying and offensive - or that they are invisible - or just straight up mean,) among other belittling situations I have encountered, I do my best to avoid making people feel worthless. This may sound obvious, but... you'd be surprised how many people feel totally fine saying the craziest things to others they think are "less worthy" or that they are uncomfortable with. I just don't make fun of other people's lifestyles or beliefs - I just don't. It does nothing but cause hurt. This is not to say that I have never been hurtful (because I definitely have!) BUT I try to be aware of what I am saying and how I am affecting other people.

The reason I bring this story up is because so many of the Snapdragon wedding guests are from a variety of backgrounds, lifestyles, what have you... I am now scared that a few of our supposedly "mainstream" guests are going to make others feel uncomfortable. I was a bit scared about it before, but now I see my concerns are valid, unfortunately. The super-vast majority of our guests I totally trust to behave like normal, well-behaved people, but... clearly my faith is now wavering a bit, dangit.

This is a bit of a conundrum. I know this sounds weird, but I am kind of hoping to see these particular offending dinner guests before the wedding. I REALLY hope they start saying the ignorant and hurtful things they said before because this time, I am going to [kindly] set them straight. This way, they'll only have said those mean things to ME and not to anyone who will be hurt by it. They will have been "schooled," if you will.

It's a pickle. Is it just me, or are other brides strategizing about how to protect some of their wedding guests, too? Are you a bit nervewracked? For those of you who are dealing with families who underwent an acrimonious divorce - are you worried about how to minimize potential drama?

*I realize that this post was quite fuzzy on the details - hopefully the point still came across. :)

Rockit!

I am going to be extremely open with the hive about my fitness progress leading up to the wedding. Getting into shape (for those of us who are behind the curve) can be quite intimidating, and I want you to know that I am with you all the way, Lady! For me, I am especially concentrating on improving my upper body tone (as are just about ALL brides!!)

Now that I am down ten pounds, my workout was ready to retarget towards toning up. One of my Snapsisters is a serious athlete. SnappySis has run numerous marathons, completed several triathlons, just finished a half-Ironman, and is now working towards competing in a full Ironman next year (I know, I get tired just reading that.) She inspires me though, because she didn't start out that way. She isn't one of those superbabes who have worked out extensively for years. As she would say, it's a myth to say all people who work out regularly love it - the secret is to get over the fact that you hate it, and just freakin' go to the gym because you need to take care of your body. Often the things we might hate are made more manageable if you just quit fighting them. At least that helps me get my booty on the treadmill every day!

That's not to say you have to do workouts you hate. With all the options out there (classes, dancing, ellipticals, bicycles, treadmills, indoor, outdoors,) you can likely find something you at least somewhat enjoy!

I was ready for something new - enter The Six Week Bikini Countdown, recommended by SnappySis. This book also made a BeeTV debut!

(Image Source)

The cover is SO CHEESY! The name is nothing amazing either, but... the formatting and content is outstanding. I just completed my first week, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! Each workout is clearly and simply laid out day by day, with color photos to illustrate each move. My body feels like Jello, meaning that every day I feel the effects. The book combines cardio intervals (perfect for me!,) strength training, and pilates - with six workouts per week. No workout is longer than 55 minutes.

I super-amazingly-strongly recommend this book, if you are looking to shake up your wedding workout routine. The price is right at $19.95, and worth every penny so far. I'll let you know how the six weeks turn out at the end!

Any other brides try this book out? Thoughts? You 30 Day Shredders might also be interested to know there's a new Jillian Michaels Wii Fit game out... anyone give that a spin yet?

Starry, Starry Snapdragons

The Snapdragon wedding has undergone many permutations throughout the course of our planning, the latest of which being our "theme," for lack of a better word. Originally, I gravitated to what I could only describe as Urban Vintage, an Anthropologie-esque interpretation of vaseline glass, Victorian watercolors, tulle, and delicate colors. The problem was... I kept gravitating to bold colors and more graphic shapes. As you can see by my invitation mockup, urban vintage is not exactly what I would use to describe my design. The midnight blues, purples, golds and cranberries felt right though. Images of stars and chandeliers also began to take over the design. SO, we renovated our overall thoughts on the look of our wedding...

(Image Sources 1, 2, 3, 4)

I have a real love and appreciation for art. My family is full of truly talented artists: musicians, writers, actors, and the like. I grew up expressing myself through painting, especially the Masters - Michaelangelo being my favorite. I would spend hours and hours studying anatomy books to emulate my idol, and I loved to recreate his frescoes in 2D form. (Not that I was any professional artist, by any means - I just loved it as a hobby!) Another favorite of mine is Van Gogh. I love art that is abstract - works that capture the essence of their subject, rather than a literal translation. I love the emotion he communicates through his masterpieces.

(Image Source)

My best description of our wedding is "Starry, Starry Night." I don't know that our guests will ever guess that this is the foundation of our decor choices, but it will help me in keeping the FEELING of our wedding cohesive. We'll use representations of stars throughout, midnight blues as a main color, and lots and lots of candles. The fact that the wall to wall windows in our venue will showcase the white lights strung in the trees will also play nicely with this theme. Irises will conveniently be in bloom in June (Mr. Dragon LOVES Irises.) This theme also allows me to incorporate the Van Goghs that I love the most, both literally and in spirit. (Don't worry, I won't play my hand too heavily!)

(Image Source)

I feel really good about our choice - it feels romantic, emotional, colorful, beautiful, and meaningful. Did you choose an unconventional "theme" for you wedding?? Did you change your look multiple times?

120 Pocketfolds for Under $70... If You Dare

All right, I am going to jump right in... Pocketfolds MIGHT be the most ambitious of craft projects, just short of a DIY wedding dress (shudder.) As others who have gone before me have sagely expressed... it's not a true craft project if feelings of frustration, annoyance, and true rage do not follow closely behind!!!! I am in the midst of creating my invitations, and the DIY pocketfolds are the current craft-in-progress.

In designing Lauren Amelie, Mr. Dragon and I selected a Midnight Blue coverstock pocketfold, also known as Stardream Lapis Lazuli. Stardream is not the most budget-friendly of paper choices, but other metallic papers were not the right blue we wanted. (We are going with a navy or darker blue in our color palette.) First, I started out by trolling the internet for pre-made pocketfold options. I found pocketfolds that offered a color similar to Lapis Luzuli, but there was always a problem: sometimes construction, sometimes the vendor did not offer coordinating envelopes, always too expensive. The cheapest pocketfolds I found, in the numbers I needed, totaled out to over $180 (metallic pocketfolds run roughly double the cost of matte) - ALWAYS. After getting a price quote from Anchor Paper (Miss Ballet Flat is also a fan!) of $50... my path was clear. I was going to make... my own... pocketfolds. Oh the horror!!!

After resigning myself to my fate, I got started. Anchor Paper is fabulous because not only is their customer service and prices outstanding, they do custom cuts, so in no way did I have to deal with cutting my pocketfold stock down to size. HUGE help. Also, they gave me a lovely bonus to my order: they happened to send me the leftovers from the cut, which happen to be the perfect size to create our menus - for no extra cost. I don't know if they usually do that, or if they were just being super-amazing that day, but it brought a tear to my eye nevertheless.

Again, this is just the system that is currently working for me - please feel free to make adjustments to these instructions as they work for you!!! And again, in full disclosure, this is a big project - I'm a little crafty crazy, so... yeah.

SUPPLIES for 120 A7 "Signature" Pocketfolds, plus extras for Mistakes:
*A popularly named "signature" pocketfold is oriented so that the inserts are stashed on the righthand flap, in a pocket that sits on the bottom portion of the page. You'll see that this is a different style than the fantastic pocketfold post from Miss Ballet Flat. This style is more work intensive, but for me, was the style I selected for my particular invite design.

• 160 6.75"x14" sheets of Coverstock [120 full sheets for the main pocketfold, 30 sheets for the pockets (4 pockets can come out of each single sheet,) the rest for mistakes]
  
• A few dispensers of archival, permanent 1/2" doublestick tape
• Paper Cutter, with Scoring Tool
• Small Scissors
• Ink Pen (with Ink that matches your coverstock - super important. In my case, I needed to use Blue)
• Beverages, snacks, a comfy chair, and The Office on DVD for entertainment (TV on DVD is CRUCIAL for crafting!!) ;)
  

*One caveat on the paper measurements. My pocketfolds have different dimensions than you might see on other DIY Pocketfold instructions because my invitations include a significant embellishment on the belly band. The big-booty button I am pasting to my belly band requires that I slightly reduce the size of my pocketfold so that the entire thing fits in the A7 envelope.
**Be SURE to make one complete invitation mockup before beginning mass assembly of your invitations. You will have a nervous breakdown if you finish your invitations.... only to find they don't fit in the envelope. This is one step you must not skimp on. (Imagine me with my serious Miss Snapdragon face on.)

STEP ONE:
Pull out the trusty invitation mockup that you have so dutifully created. Using a plain piece of cardboard or stiff paper, you are going to create a template for the front flap. Trace and cut. The purpose of this template is to easily recreate the pointy part of the front flap.

STEP TWO:
Using your newly created template, trace the pointy part (the top part in the picture you see above- NOT the flat sides) onto the sheets that will be used for the main pocketfold. I am using a blue ink pen because the ink blends into the blue color of my pocketfold, thus being more forgiving of inky mistakes.

STEP THREE:
Cut those puppies out! (following the ink marks you made using your trusty template.)

STEP FOUR:
Using your SCORING TOOL in your Paper Cutter, score at 4 and 5/8"...

Then again at 4 and 6/8."

STEP FIVE:
Foldy McFolderson!!! Some people swear by bone folders - I am okie dokie without one. It'll depend on your particular crafty situation, as well as your personal preferences. Snapsister (who is basically the High Priestess of Crafting) says I need to get with it and use one... so I will bow to her wisdom and knowledge. :)

STEP SIX:
On to the pocket components of our pocketfolds!
Again, count out the number of coverstock sheets you will need to create the pockets. For me, I was able to get 4 pockets out of each sheet. Now measure and cut each sheet to the correct dimensions. My pocket cutouts needed to be 5.5"x3.5," allowing for .5" adhesive flaps on each side (this will make sense later on when we get to the taping portion of this how-to.) See below for how the cuts layout. The narrow strips you see at the top are scrap.

STEP SEVEN:
NOW, you are going to create another sturdy template to use to create cut-lines using your invitation mockup OR using the measurements you have settled on from creating your invitation mockup. You will see this template is a bit different in style from the one you made for the front flap. The pockets show mistakes much more obviously, as well as being more difficult to cut, since they are small. For this reason the tracing step for the pockets is two-fold. Read on to see!
Your trusty pocket template:

STEP EIGHT:
We are going to trace your pocket template onto your coverstock. First, trace one side with your ink pen down to about where the bottom point of your point will be (should be in the middle of your template.) Then make a small end mark at the lowermost point of the slant onto your coverstock. This mark won't show because it falls where you will be adhering the pocket to the main part of your pocketfold. You will be using the small mark to help you line up the pocket on your paper cutter.

Reverse and trace the other side of your pocket.

STEP NINE:
Cut according to your template.

STEP TEN:
Next, score .5" flaps on the straight sides of your pocket.

Then cut little squares where seen in the pic. This is needed so you can fold in the flaps properly.

Fold, fold fold!

STEP ELEVEN:
OK, time to put all of this together... Using your double-sided tape, apply a strip to the bottom of the pocket-holding page of your main pocketfold, then a strip each to the sides of the actual pocket. In terms of application, the bottom flap of you pocket should sit BEHIND the side flaps. This will reduce the likelihood of the bottom flap interfering when you scoot your invitation inserts into the pocket. Very important!

STEP TWELVE:
Stick it! Now you should feel free to play around with the dimensions, especially if you - unlike me - are declining to stick a bulky button to the front of your invite. Also, my design preferred a wider front flap - you may like a more narrow front page.

So, this process is undeniably laborious, but so far, I have been quite pleased with the results. My tight budget, combined with the lack of appropriately colored pre-made pocketfolds meant that DIY pocketfolds were the correct route for me. For other brides like me, I hope you found this tutorial helpful!!!

Anybody else take on an intense craft project? Was it worth it or no?