How -to: Rosebud topiaries are a perfect wedding craft

Today's stylishly frugal brides are turning to the friends for help in making their own wedding decorations and reception favors. Such projects are as beautiful as they are cost-conscious, and add a touch of handmade charm to even the most elegant of weddings.

Heidi Tyline King and Nancy Worrell have createdr a beautiful book of wedding crafts for Lark Books, a publishing company in Asheville. From an elegant, yet simple doorknob sachet - perhaps a gift for the maid of honor - to a dainty flower girl's basket, the book features dozens of traditional wedding projects for the big day. Also included are directions for items which can be made as tokens of appreciation by the bride to the wedding party or by family and friends to the couple.

Here's a look at two of the projects from their book, "Beautiful Wedding Crafts" (ISBN: 1-57990-084-4, $ 24.95):

Tabletop topiaries

Cut flowers last only days, but tabletop topiaries - whether dried or planted - can be enjoyed long after the wedding and reception. Use them as centerpieces at your reception, then give them as bridesmaids' gifts. If you choose a live topiary, start growing it well ahead of time, so that you can trim the topiary into the desired shape by the wedding.

Dried Herb Topiary

Here's what you will need:

• 4-inch diameter polystyrene ball
  
• Loose rosebuds, lavender, rose petals or potpourri
  
• Floral foam
  
• 6-inch diameter terra-cotta pot
  
• 1/2-inch diameter twig, 15 inches long
  
• Spanish moss
  
• Ribbon (optional)
  
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
  

Here's how to make it:

1. Cover a small portion of the polystyrene ball with hot glue, the stick rosebuds onto the ball one at a time until the entire ball is covered.

2. Cut a piece of floral foam to fit snugly inside the terra-cotta pot and wedge in place

3. Stick the end of the twig into the bottom of the ball and the other end into the floral foam.

4. Cover the top of the floral foam with Spanish moss.

5. If desired, tie a bow around the center of the twig or around the top of the pot.

Easy Etched Stemware

Though it may seem as if etching would require advanced crafting skills, this technique is really quite easy to master. All you do is apply etching paste to glass using a precut pattern. For the pattern, use stencil designs or patterns from gift wrap or magazines that have distinct outer edges and no small, intricate lines running through the pattern.

Here's what you will need:

• Paper with adhesive backing
  
• Purchased champagne glasses
  
• Etching creme
  
• Pencil
  
• Craft knife
  
• Spatula
  
• Plastic container large enough to cover champagne glass (for etched glass with clear design only)
  

Here's how to make it:

1. First, trace the chosen design on adhesive-backed paper. Use a craft knife to cut around the design about 1 inch from the outside edge of the design.

2. Remove paper backing and position design on glass. Smooth adhesive paper flat against glass with a spatula. Make sure all bubbles and wrinkles are smoothed out.

3. To create an etched design on clear glass, cut around the outside edge of the design, then cut a slit down the center of the design with a craft knife. Using the tip of the craft knife, carefully lift the inside of the design from the glass. Smooth the edges of the adhesive paper against the glass with a spatula. Carefully apply etching creme over the clear cutout in the adhesive paper. Do not drip or spill etching creme on any other part of the glass, as it will cloud the glass.

4. To create an etched glass with a clear design, cut around the outside edge of the design. Using the craft knife, carefully lift the adhesive paper around the design from the glass, leaving the adhesive design intact. Smooth the edges of the adhesive design against the glass with a spatula. Pour the etching creme into a plastic container, then dip the glass into the creme.

5. Leave creme on glass for 15 minutes, the dab off excess with a clean rag. Rinse with cold water. Do not allow creme tat is rinsing off to run onto the bare glass. Remove the paper design from the glass.

Where to find it: Materials mentioned in this article are readily available from local craft and floral suppliers. You may even have some of the materials on hand.

The book "Beautiful Wedding Crafts" may be available at your local bookstore.