Friday, 12 July 2013

Wedding Guestbooks.. 10 creative ways to incorporate wood

Why not get a little more creative than a standard paper guestbook! Impress your guests with your creativity.

There are hundreds of ideas out there but we narrowed it down to our top 10 favourites... enjoy!

1) Take a slab and either draw/paint/laser engrave something... a design that incorporates your theme, your initials, wedding date - anything! Have your guests sign on the rest of the slab. Finish the slab... and voila! You have a beautiful keepsake that will for sure be a conversation piece.

Photo courtesy of www.nathannowack.com
Photo courtesy of http://www.stylemepretty.com/gallery/photo/357903/

Photo courtesy of www.rusticweddingchic.com
2) Take a board... cut it at whatever length is appropriate and voila - you have a wooden guestbook. Laser engrave or practice your calligraphy and add a few touches... use the rest of the board as decorations for your other tables. Perfect for holding your cupcakes, candles, decorations etc. Or keep it for yourself as a cutting board!

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/redlilybeading/6695036643/
3) Now this idea is just cool. Take a piece of plywood and cut tiny puzzle pieces. Don't have the right tools? We can laser cut them for you in any shape you want. Have your guests write little messages on the pieces and then put them together for a "wedding puzzle". 
Photo courtesy of http://masonjarsandmoonlight.tumblr.com/page/37
Photo courtesy of http://weddingsbymarytheresa.tumblr.com/

4) Love, love, love! And so simple. Take a few boards and put them together... sketch or engrave the couple (or any design really!) and have your guests sign everywhere else. This would be a beautiful keepsake for your wall.
Photo courtesy of www.bride2be.tumblr.com
5. Now I wouldn't try this by hand.. but why not take a thin slice of wood and make it your cover page for your guestbook. We can engrave just about anything you like. How about your wedding invitation design? Anything is possible.... you could also make two, and have your second one hold all your wedding cards.
Photo courtesy of http://theilenblog.com/
6. This idea is different... have your guests leave their thumb print! Pick a design that relates to your theme.... a tree (thumbprints are the leaves), a peacock (thumbprints are the feathers) etc.
Photo courtesy of www.weddingaces.com
7) This idea is perfect for a couple who can't decide on paper or wood :-) 
Make your sign out of wood and then have a traditional guestbook.... this concept can be easily done for all your wedding signs. We have over 80 different types of wood to choose from - you are guaranteed to find a colour that matches your theme!

Examples: arrows, seating chart, welcome sign, thank you sign



8. You can purchase this already made, or if you want something a little more personalized - make it yourself! We can laser cut the hearts (or any shape) and practice your dove tails on a fancier keepsake box! Text or images can be engraved on the top to make your box extra special.



9) This is a neat idea to have your friends and family always "support" you... take a larger slab and have your guests sign it. Afterwards, turn it into a bench top for the garden or a coffee table. Functional and sentimental!

Photo courtesy of recreatedesigncompany.com

Photo courtesy of http://www.stylemepretty.com/texas-weddings/page/13/

10) Last but not least... turn your own wedding pen. Quick, easy and simple to match your wedding theme style and colours!

Photo courtesy of www.etsy.com

Thursday, 4 July 2013

Spanish Cedar Humidor

We finally have Spanish Cedar thins in stock to make your project even easier!

Here are some resources to help you build a humidor... have fun!

http://www.finewoodworking.com/how-to/video/how-to-build-a-solid-humidor.aspx

Here is a plan and article courtesy of Fine Wood Working and article by Rick Allyn.

Thursday, 20 June 2013

Live Edge Wood - Inspiration for all budgets and experience levels

Here are 21 reasons/designs why working with live edge wood is pretty darn cool!

We've got the wood... here's the inspiration... why not start the summer off with a live edge wood project. They can be as challenging or as simple as you make them! 

Love this. Simple, yet a unique touch for your kitchen.
Beautiful... and easy to make.
Love the continuation of the grain on the side. What a stunning table!

Now how cool is this! Two side tables designed to sit together to form one long table when needed! Genius...
Just love the simplicity of this style
What a neat idea for the base
The opposite position for the two slabs is more common but this is fantastic... something different

Loving the shape of the legs!

Now this is just incredible.... loving everything about the side detail on this table

What a neat idea to add a contrasting wood for height on the table legs... I like it!

Live edge wood always has some character... filling gaps with stones is a great idea

Great concept putting the live edge material on the inside of a table

Gorgeous... just gorgeous.

Now this is a bit too "busy" for my taste... but the concept of different levels and varying shapes is really interesting.

Somebody is thinking.... perfect idea for your desk

This is fantastic.... 

What a great idea... no more worrying about cutting yourself having the bark on the edge of the table! And less work by not having to glue the boards together... 

A perfect compliment to your couch! 

If I owned a bar/restaurant this would be the first thing added... fantastic idea.

How can you not like Walnut?! 

Simple and elegant... the perfect entrance table

Hope you enjoyed these pictures! Now if only I could take credit for the woodworking talent and creativity... images were borrowed from Google and each credited to their owner. 

We'd love to see your work! Please feel free to send along images and we will add them to our gallery.

Saturday, 15 June 2013

Behind the scenes finishing a slab....

Finishing a slab is quite the process! Thought we'd have some fun and finish up one of our new slabs - Figured Ash. I have the easy job of taking pictures while Cathy does the actual work :-)

Dimensions are 95" long, 2" thick and between 18-25" wide.

Figured Ash Slab - on the table and ready to get going! (Excuse the mess...) 
Starting on the bottom of the slab first 
Cathy has tediously picked away most of the bark. Very boring and time consuming! Worth it though...
Now time to smooth the edges so no one hurts themselves while sitting at the table

Time to sand the bottom of the slab and put a coat of finish on.
Now to start on the top...




The bark is gone
Edges are getting smoother
The slab is now ready to be finished
Finished with 4 coats of Livos
Done! Could be the perfect headboard...
Close up of the grain