When a special occasion happens, it's all about memories. Weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and more are all about celebrating old memories as well as making new ones, and, of course, sharing them with the people you care most about.
There's no better way to share memories than letting your friends and relatives write theirs down for posterity. That's why guestbooks are so popular at weddings and other big events.
They create a lasting collection that captures the moments in time so that years later, others can learn about and appreciate it, just like the couple who found a collection of WWII-era love letters in their home.
The classic version of the guestbook is, well, a book. Usually, it's a cute notebook with a pretty cover.
But that's not the only way to do it. This vintage-inspired design, created by Instructables user belsilene, turns the guestbook into a pretty and shabby-chic centerpiece that celebrates special memories forever.
The best part about this cute project is that it uses simple materials that can easily be picked up at a craft store, and it can be endlessly customized for any occasion.
Check it out below, and see how belsilene did it!
[H/T: Instructables]
First, belseline gathered up her materials, including a wooden shadow box with a glass lid, wood stain, wood wax, paint, chicken wire, and some felt for the bottom.
Next, she removed the hinges…
…and the glass.
These were set aside, and they'll come back later.
Now that the box was dismantled, it was time to treat the raw wood.
First, she applied a single coat of stain and let it dry.
Then she waxed it to really bring out the new color.
Now it was time for the chicken wire. Measuring against the box, belsilene cut a rectangle about five centimeters larger than the inside of the box.
She marked it off with a wire and cut it using wire snippers.
The chicken wire would rest inside the box like this, with the excess bent up to hold it in place.
After the chicken wire was measured, belsilene started painting.
Don't worry about the stain underneath, this is all part of the plan!
After the paint dried, she distressed the wood with some sandpaper, allowing the darker stain underneath to show through for a vintage, shabby-chic look.
The chicken wire was set inside and secured with some staples to keep it secure.
The hinges and glass were replaced…
…and some adhesive felt was cut to size and placed on the bottom.
Then, belsilene measured some paper to the depth of the box and cut it into the right-size note cards.
When guests wrote on the paper, they could then roll it up and place it inside the chicken wire, creating a cute alternative to the classic notebook-style guest book.
And it looks like a great little treasure when it's done!
As an alternative, you can also slide in a personal photo under the glass.
The chicken wire guest book is a popular alternative at weddings, and can be tailored to match any color scheme.
Many people also use them as well-wishing "books," where guests write down their wishes and hopes for the couple.
Of course, they don't just have to be for weddings. A graduation, an anniversary, a milestone birthday, or any other big occasion can use one of these!
A variant on the chicken wire box is this window frame lined with chicken wire. It's less of a keepsake, but just as cute!
They can also be any size you like, like this fairly large one!
Of course, some people eschew the chicken wire altogether and go for this "message in a bottle" style, which is also adorable!
What's your favorite style of a guest- or wish book? Let us know in the comments, and SHARE this project with anyone planning a big event!
