diy for the birds, with downloadable template (now including rice template)
There are a few wedding traditions that I’m intentionally ignoring, but throwing rice is one I really like. Since rice gets slippery, and the “modern” bubble blowing is not my style, and sparklers get a bit scary after all your friends have had a few drinks and are too eager to say goodbye… we decided to go with birdseed. Instead of having our guests toss birdseed at us after the reception, we’re going to do it post-ceremony and pre-family photos.
I bought a bunch of glassine bags from uline, and designed labels that go with our invitation suite. I printed and cut out the labels at home (on cardstock), then we did a quick and easy zig-zag stitch on my sewing machine to hold the bag closed and attach the label. Once the labels were cut, and with help from a couple friends, we knocked this project out in a couple hours.
Here it is, step by step:
Download Birdseed Layout File*
cut them up
fill the bags
a double fold is prettier
zig zag stitch, then snip off the ends of the thread
and voila!
[You can find bigger photos on the Mint flickr page.]
*please note these files are for peronal use only and are copyright ellie snow.
→ 38 CommentsCategories:DIY, personal work, wedding, wedding + mint
March 11th, 2009 at 8:51 am
very nice, love the stitiching. thanks for sharing all of your fun wedding projects, and congratulations!
March 11th, 2009 at 8:53 am
or stitching. oops.
March 11th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Super cute and looks so easy! Are the bags easy to open?
Thanks for sharing!
March 11th, 2009 at 9:36 am
what a sweet idea. i love the colors.
March 11th, 2009 at 9:55 am
thank you! they are easy to open – the glassine tears easily.
March 11th, 2009 at 11:33 am
sooo cute! is there a certain needle you had to use on the paper?
March 11th, 2009 at 11:37 am
nope! both the cardstock and glassine are so thin that my regular needle was fine.
March 11th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
i love this ellie! the stitching looks fantastic.
March 11th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
[...] Veil from 100 Layer Cake 2. Goodie bags from lovelydesign 3. Birdseed packets from Mint 4. Tool belt apron from Heart of Light 5. Oilcloth table cover from Twig & [...]
March 11th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
So, so cute! I love the stitching!
March 12th, 2009 at 12:35 am
What a great idea – the zigzag stitch is so fun too!
March 12th, 2009 at 8:27 am
I love your idea, it is just great !!!
Sure it will be an unforgetable moment
March 12th, 2009 at 10:19 am
thank you!
March 12th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Holy crap these are cute!!
March 13th, 2009 at 8:26 am
girl…. your attention to detail is amazing! These are so great!
March 13th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
[...] over at Mint has been doing some fun DIY projects for her upcoming wedding…these birdseed packets are so easy and [...]
March 13th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
ooooh! looove this idea! :)
March 14th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
what size bags did you use? i love this idea!
March 14th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
this is so cute! and not as wasteful as using rice. but one question – will you end up w/ birds/pigeons flying around to eat the stuff? that could be disastrous. and gross.
March 14th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
[...] my ever growing list of faves. She posts beautiful things for inspiration, and I loved her adorable DIY birdseed packets that she created for her wedding (complete with downloadable template). Ellie selected Old Sweet [...]
March 14th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
I used the 2 3/4 x 4 1/4″ size from Uline.
And Sandra – hahaha. No, no birds will fly around – there will be a couple hundred people and I don’t think they will be that brave. The toss and run thing happens so quickly, you know. Then afterwards, the staff at the church will sweep it all up.
If that happened, it would definitely be gross… and also I’m sure it would have no chance of becoming the wedding tradition that it is!
March 14th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
What a great idea! I love this! The stitching and everything is adorable!
March 17th, 2009 at 2:38 am
Hi! I love this idea and want to do it for my own ceremony but I prefer the old-fashioned rice and wanted to replace the word Birdseed with Rice:). I was wondering if I could ask you for the non-pdf format of the template? If you could email me, I’d be so grateful.
March 19th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
ingenious idea! i love sewn paper.
xo
kelly
March 24th, 2009 at 6:31 am
[...] you looking for an adorable way to have your guests send you off after the ceremony? Check out this post at Mint to get a DIY project with downloadable templates to make this easy to make packet of [...]
April 10th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Love the idea.. the stitching pulls everything together beautifully.
Thank you for the idea!
Anna Gamboa
San Diego Wedding Insider
May 5th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I love this idea. I am planning on using lavender buds–would it be possible to get the template in Word so I can change Birdseed to Lavender? Thank you so much, your ideas are wonderful!!
May 8th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Hi Sarah – The template can’t be converted to Word, since it uses Mac fonts – which I actually can’t distribute for copyright reasons. I’m sorry! I think throwing lavender is a great idea!
May 21st, 2009 at 10:49 pm
[...] DIY Birdseed (or Rice) Bag This simple and customized holder for birdseed or rice is creative and easy to make. The [...]
June 21st, 2009 at 11:27 am
This is really cute. Only think is, birdseed is very small and round. If the guests throw birdseed at the couple, it could easily get in the bride or groom’s ear and destroy their hearing.
I know it sounds unlikely, but it can happen with rice (google Juliet Gordon Low) and I wonder if the probability of such a thing happening would increase with birdseed as it’s smaller.
But besides that, I have to say that I really love the idea of creating these cute little packs to fill with something else. <3
June 21st, 2009 at 6:04 pm
[...] Source [...]
June 26th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
[...] {Tutorial found at Mint} [...]
June 30th, 2009 at 12:33 am
What a gorgeous project! I was wondering if the packets were easy to open? Did guests rip them, pull a string…? Thanks!
June 30th, 2009 at 9:06 am
hi christiana, yes the paper tears very easily! it’s like opening a sugar packet.
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:47 pm
[...] 1. Bird Seed Packet via Mint [...]
August 5th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Hi Ellie – Just wanted to let you know that I’ve been following your blog for a while and LOVE it! Also – I made these birdseed packets (which slight variation) for my wedding and they turned out so cute and the toss was lots of fun! Thanks so much for sharing this project :)
November 10th, 2009 at 10:35 am
[...] first, I was set on sewing glassine envelopes with our monogram (a la Mint, the design blog). After researching the costs of envelopes or being faced with the task of cutting [...]
December 30th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
[...] This looks to be an easy, simple project that you can do yourself. You don’t even new to stitch the top like she does – you could get away with stapling a folded up paper over the top, use wax to seal up the backs of the envelopes, or use a ribbon punch and pretty ribbons to tie off the top. There are many ways to execute this idea, so make it your own for your own wedding. See the details and get a template of the project over at the Mint blog. [...]