DIY Life

Weddings can be very expensive, and everyone wants to cut pennies where they can. Why not start by making your own guest book? It can be a really simple project, and is an opportunity to create something special and unique that you'll appreciate looking at in the many years of wedded bliss to come!

Things you'll need:

• Blank book: You can get these at just about any craft store
• Xyron machine or glue stick
• Rubber stamps: There are many wedding themes available
• Stamp pads
• Poetry or Quotes you like, related to the theme of course, printed onto cardstock
• Photos
• Ruler
• Pens
• Decorative scissors

And, if you decide to antique the book, you will also need:

• Brown acrylic craft paint
• Sponge brush
• Water

You'll find the instructions after the break!

If you would like to give your book an antique feel, be sure to do so first. To do this, mix one part craft acrylic paint, in a brown shade, with one part water. Take any type of sponge applicator and smear the mixture on each page of your blank book. Allow to dry up to one week. This takes quite a bit more time, so some may want to forgo it. But it does turn out looking nice!

Cut out photos, poetry and quotes with scissors, giving them a decorative edge. Run them through a Xyron sticker machine if you have one. If not, just use your glue stick to place them in an appealing arrangement throughout the book. Ink up your rubber stamps and do the same, until you're happy with how everything looks.

Using the ruler, draw lines on the pages for your guests to enter information on. And there you go: your very own personalized wedding guest book!