Bridal Shower Wishing Well..

Did anyone have an unique wishing well at their shower?

My MOH spent many many hours making mine and I want to do something really cool for hers but I cant think of anything. Nothing country or cutesy..it has to be chic.

Ideas?

Re: Bridal Shower Wishing Well..

my sisters was a garbage pail(covered with a tablecloth) with a mop and broom for the side rails, and the lid ontop, then a cardboard roof was built ontop of the lid and written on...

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mine was a wheelbarrow. fh is contantly working on the house and we had registered at sears for tools. my dad bought it for him as a gift and my mom used it as the wishing well. it went over real "well" ha ha and it was an easy way to transport all those wishing well gifts back home!

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mine is similar to butterfly20's. It's so beautiful and so much time and effort went into it. I can't bear to take it apart... Though I don't think FI will appreciate it in it's current state in the apartment come may...

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my moh is thinking of doing either a lingerie type wishing well or a honeymoon wishing well.

Message edited 4/9/2004 7:48:14 PM.

Re: Bridal Shower Wishing Well..

If they have a house how about a real wishing well that they could put in their yard later... One of the bridesmaids moms from my sisters wedding had bought a real one and used it for the 4 friends shower and now is pulling it out again for the baby showers. She just went the extra mile and decorated it a little with some fabric and the colors of the wedding...
I have no idea what they cost though.

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How much time are you willing to spend making it? Because you could easily (but it takes a long time) take a basin of some sort and do a mosaic on it. That would be awesome to put in the garden or anywhere else afterwards.

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my mom knew i did not want the cheesy looking typical wishing well so she bought the mesh stand up laundry bags and put bows on them. they looked real cute and worked for me b/c they were filled!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Bridal Shower Wishing Well..

Thanks everyone...anyone have any photos?

Im willing to spend a lot of time on it. But it has to be something chic..urban, fashionable, etc.. Of course it has to be homemade but it shouldnt look like its an arts and craft project if that makes any sense.

The mosiac idea sounds cool..but ive never done that before. How do you go about getting the pieces for the mosiac?

Re: Bridal Shower Wishing Well..

i love this idea

well i told my mom and maid of honor...hint hint
someone posted something about a victoria secret wishing well...where people just bring panties or something from there instead of a traditional wishing well

this is right up my alley because i am obsessed with Victoria secrets

the only egative is that it isnt a tiny gift..a bit$$

tell you the truth.. the past couple bridal shnowers i have been to ... there was not much in the wishing well... people tend to forget about it

Message edited 4/10/2004 12:33:25 AM.

Re: Bridal Shower Wishing Well..

Just to clarify..im looking for a unique object to act as the wishing well itself, not for a theme for what to bring.

Re: Bridal Shower Wishing Well..

Just to throw out an idea...you keep saying urban and chic...have you thought about trying to make a martini glass? I can't say I've seen one, but is that the idea you're going for?

BTW...hello, 100th post!

Re: Bridal Shower Wishing Well..

Sabella
That is a great idea! I was thinking along those lines too Stef... "sex and the city"... what if it's a giant Manolo shoe? or a big designer purse that sits open and people put the gifts inside? what about a giant Tiffany's box? That would be easy to do... Or a huge shopping bag from Louis Vuitton or something?

Hmm this might be too "cutesy" though. but maybe not! what is the theme of your shower?

good luck!

Message edited 4/10/2004 9:52:09 AM.

Re: Bridal Shower Wishing Well..

The purse idea is really cool...but how do I do that? Its got to be pretty big. Anyone have any ideas?

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Posted by Sonicstef

Thanks everyone...anyone have any photos?

Im willing to spend a lot of time on it. But it has to be something chic..urban, fashionable, etc.. Of course it has to be homemade but it shouldnt look like its an arts and craft project if that makes any sense.

The mosiac idea sounds cool..but ive never done that before. How do you go about getting the pieces for the mosiac?

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Re: Bridal Shower Wishing Well..

What kind of designs can a first timer do? I wouldnt want it to be just random.

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Posted by Sonicstef

What kind of designs can a first timer do? I wouldnt want it to be just random.

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Re: Bridal Shower Wishing Well..

Materials
When deciding what materials to use in your mosaic, there are a number of practical things to take into account:

Are the materials suitable for where the mosaic will be placed or used? For example, if the mosaic will go out of doors, will the materials survive frost and rain?

If the mosaic will go under foot, will the materials stand up to wear and tear?

Will the materials will give you a flat surface, if this is needed?

How much of the materials will you need and how much will they cost?

Notes on various materials:
Crockery: Often cheap (or free) to get. Can be quirky, fun and evocative ("memoryware"). Can be difficult to get flat surfaces, or a lot the same. May be damaged by frost. The material of choice for pique assiette style.

Household tiles: Can be fairly cheap, particularly if you can get offcuts or spares. Second-hand tiles stripped off walls usually have adhesive on the back, which is a problem to clean off. Vary a lot in quality, thickness and ease of cutting between different types. May be damaged by frost.

Vitreous glass: (right) More expensive. Wide range of colours available. Flat surface. Suitable for outdoor projects. Can be tricky to learn to cut and shape.

Smalti: Expensive. Wide range of colours available. Classical appearance.

Glass: Stained glass comes in a range of colours. Cost depends on source - scrap glass relatively cheap, may vary in thickness. Can be used outdoors. Backing and adhesives must be chosen with care, as may be visible through glass. Mirror glass can be very effective.

Shells: Cheap. Fun to collect. Frost-hardy. Too porous to be grouted in the normal way, as they will stain.

Found objects: Many found objects can be incorporated into a mosaic if you wish ­ metal, plastic, stone, even teeth! ­ if they are stuck down firmly.




Backing materials
If you browse through books or web sites you'll see that virtually any object can be mosaicked. The most commonly used backing is wood. This should be of a kind that will not warp, for example a fibre board (such as MDF) or plywood. If it will go out of doors, an exterior grade wood should be chosen. The back of a tile can be used very successfully as a mosaic base, as it is porous and gives very good adhesion.

It is usual to prepare wooden surfaces by priming and scoring them. Priming involves painting on a coat of diluted PVA glue (about one part glue to 5-10 parts water). This seals the surface, meaning that glue and grout will not dry too quickly. Scoring lines with a craft knife or Stanley knife makes the surface rougher, giving a better grip.

Adhesives
Choice of adhesive is important. For most purposes, PVA (Poly Vinyl Acetate) glue is ideal (also known as "white craft glue"). This is widely available. Generally the most cost-effective way of buying it is in quantity from a builders' merchant. It is fairly quick drying (within several hours), moderately water-resistant when dry, and relatively low hazard.

Household tile adhesive: Good "grab" for 3-D projects. Useful where the tesserae are not flat, as it can fill the space behind. Generally relatively low hazard.

Epoxy resin: Very strong. Fast setting versions available. Good for non-porous contacts e.g. with metal, or where quick repairs needed. High hazard, not pleasant to use.

Bathroom sealant: Very effective for ceramic-to-ceramic bonds. High "grab", so good for 3-D work. Can work out relatively costly.

Re: Bridal Shower Wishing Well..

Just type in Mosaic making into google and you can get templates for different designs. I'm no expert at it and I've done it a few times. It comes out very cool. It's really not hard at all. Just like grouting a floor, which is essentially a big mosaic.

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Thanks for that!

So am I right in assuming I have to buy the tiles and then smash them to make the pieces? They seem sort of pricey from the sites Im finding. Am I looking at the wrong thing?

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We are doing a Galvanized tub that holds drinks for a BBQ or event. It comes on a stand and we are thinking of using Torches for the patio, criss crossing, and tying them together with rafia to make the "roof" of the well. I don't have a picture yet, but when I do I'll post it!