Large bowl

Citric acid (try your local chemist, just tell the pharmacist what you want it for)

Baking soda

Dried lavender

Lavender essential oil

Food colouring

Almond oil (if you can't find this at your local supermarket try a health food store)

Molds (if you can't find specific bath bomb mold you could use chocolate molds for smaller bombs)

Waxed paper

1. Mix 1/2 cup of citric acid, 1 1/4 cups of baking soda and 1/4 cup of dried lavender together in a bowl.

2. Add 15 drops of your lavender essential oil, 2 tsp of water and a couple of drops of blue and a couple of drops of red food colouring.

3. Slowly add between 2 to 6tbsp of almond oil until the mixture with hold together.

4. Roll spoonfulls of your bath bomb mix into lightly oiled molds and leave to set for a few minutes. They will start to expand. Remove from the molds and allow to thoroughly dry out on waxed paper for a day or two.

5. Wrap a ribbon around the bath bomb from top to bottom and finish off with a bow, or display surrounded by little shells as above.

I've often read that the most stressful thing in life is to move house - well whoever came up with that statement had clearly never planned a wedding. Most days I'd happily take packing boxes and setting up utility accounts over all the drama and politics that come hand in hand with a wedding.

The mother-in-law is interfering and your sister doesn't like her bridesmaid's dress. Auntie Flo won't speak to you unless you invite her neighbour from across the street. Well why wouldn't you? You went round that time and had tea with her when you were seven after all! And if that wasn't stressful enough - you've decided to DIY. (Our tag line is not tantrums, tiaras and sticky tape for nothing you know.) So what's a crafty creative bride to do? Well, take a deep breath and put down the glue gun because we've got some top tips for making your special day, and the lead up, as stress-free and as fun as possible.

We're all better at some things than others. Be realistic and only take on what you know you can do well. The idea of putting together 20 floral centerpieces might seem like a good one, but if you've never done it before, stop. If you are planning on trying something that's new to you, do a test run with plenty of time to call in a professional if it all goes horribly wrong.

Enlist help. Get the girls together for a DIY craft day. If you know anyone with a specific skill or profession that might helpful, a hairdresser or musician for example, ask for it to be your wedding gift.

Make a list of everything you plan to DIY for your wedding, then look at the timing. The further out from your wedding date the more you can do which is why things like invitations and decorations that can be safely stored are a great option to DIY. You don't want to be up assembling and gluing at midnight before the wedding after all.

Remember things like fresh flowers will need to be done the night before, so if you think it might be too much, get a professional. Equally make sure you're not doing things too early. If you're making sweets or baking make sure they will still be fresh on the big day.

Don't forget get what this is all about, you and the person you love. So enjoy it!

• Lavender salt glow. Exfoliating sea salt scrub with coca butter. Unwind before the wedding or great for wedding favours and bonboniers. US$14.50 from Inner Earth Soaps.

• Lavender and linen printable DIY table numbers. The perfect finishing touch to your table decorations. Number 1-12 $10 from 'i do' it yourself.

• Lilac three piece party pom set. US$15 from Party Poms.

• Adorable white and lavender ring bearer pillow. US$22 from Emici Bridal.

• Purple passion bunting banner. US$30 from Giggleberry.

• White beach pebbles with customised engraving. US$14 each from SJ Engraving.

• Purple floral print guest book with four matching little books for bridesmaids. US$65 from Kate Blocher.

• Set of three porcelain sea urchin votive candle holders. US$125 from Element Clay Studio.

• DIY print at home paddle fan. Available in all styles in the 'i do' it yourself range. US$10

Via Apartment Therapy.

Simple and stylish, keep your cool with these easy breezy wedding decorating ideas.

Sea urchins can be found in a range of colours to fit your beach wedding decor. Scatter them around the tables or use porcelain alternatives as beautiful tea candle holders.

If you're planning outdoor dinning by the beach then your venue decorations are pretty much sorted for you! Keep table centerpieces simple with beautiful bunches of colour co-ordinated flowers in silver pales. Just don't forget to weigh the corners of that table cloth down. Pic via Brides.com. A stunning table display simply achieved with old glass bottles as table centerpieces and a scattering of coral. Via Brides.com.

The perfect finishing touches: Hang a lavender wreath decorated with starfish. Fill large glass vases with seashells as well as flowers, pic Michelle Rago Events. Starfish and purple scallops glued to white ribbon creating a beautiful beachy garland. US$15 from Surf Gifts. Simple sprigs of lavender lie with place cards. Pic by Weddings by Two via The Brides Cafe. Metallic beads glued onto natural star fish make very pretty decorations and great favours, finished with a nylon loop they can be suspended in bunches around the room. Three for US$8 from Natural Home.

Going all purple with the table decorations, just gorgeous, bunches of lavender in footed glasses via Martha Stewart Weddings. Last bite - you'll find the recipe here for delicious macaroons with violet and vanilla bean buttercream by Tartelette.

DIY paddle fans are the perfect addition to a beach wedding and just the project for keeping your wedding guests cool this summer. Use them for a unique order of service, create stunning wedding invitations or as we've done here add a simple but beautiful poem.

We've designed loads of beautiful fans for you to print at home or just take the file to your local printer. Some are instant downloads which you can add text to yourself, while others we customise for you. See available fan designs here.

HOW TO ASSEMBLE
You will need:
A4 card paper
Printer
Scissors
Double sided sticky tape
Ribbon or shells to decorate (optional)
Tongue depressors

Yep, you read the last one right, tongue depressors. Paddle pop sticks are a bit too small for the fan handles, but tongue depressors are perfect. You can pick them up at most chemists for about 20c each.


DIY project:
1. Order and print out one of our paddle fan designs on some fairly thick card paper.

2. Neatly cut round the design and fold in half.

3. Place some double sided sticky tape around the edges, then using more tape on both sides, stick your tongue depressor to the center of one of the pages.

4. Close the card and press firmly to seal.

You can decorate your paddle fans with additional details such as ribbon or shells.

The traditional bridal veil is fading and the tiaras are sitting tarnishing on the selves - ok thats a bit over dramatic, but the the fascination at the moment is certainly with the fascinator! From the flamboyant and dramatic to the adorably cute, it's the headwear choice for any stylish bride.

Main image by photographer Frederic Farre

1. Lara fascinator hair comb US$26.95 by Chloe and Maddie

2. The butterflyaway fascinator in purple US$32 by Stylesmith

3. Vivid red and purple 'june' feathered headband US$18 by Live In Style

With it's sweet smell almost good enough to eat, nourish your skin with APIVITA almond and lavender bath and shower gel, $32.90. And, get some inner calm with lavender aromatherapy, APIVITA natural scents. Revive your skin with organic Byron Natures Gift lavender and orange mist, $22. Refresh your linen with uplifting Tasmanian lavender body and pillow mist from evodia, $23.95. APIVITA almond and lavender body cream, $39.90.

Available in all of our styles, just like our thank you cards, we can tweak the wording to fit your wedding. Only US$10 on our etsy store.

For this wedding stationery we wanted to steer clear of the usual tropical beach motifs, like palm trees, and really convey a feeling of calmness and serenity. The sound of the waves and soft ocean breezes. But we got there in the end with this new design. Enjoy!

Credits: Be swept away with loose romantic curls, photo via brides.com; starfish make beautiful additions to wedding invitations or decorations; white beach pebbles can be custom engraved with guests names for a beautiful addition to your place settings, US$14 each from SJEngraving; lavender bouquet via lavender fanatic; purple decorated cake via brides.com; purple floral bobby pins perfect for your bridesmaids, US$28 from Mollusa; a stunning seaside wedding, a bridal bouquet sits on an old white wicker chair, via brides.com ; lovely lavender inspired drinks, photo by Shawn Connell for Christian Oth Studio via Style me Pretty; lavender champagne and lavender whisky sour from Martha Stewart Weddings; lavender shell beads; pretty reception table design via Once Wed; beautiful bridesmaids in blue photography by Paul Johnson; yummy lavender macaroons photographed by Jennifer S Rau.

Yeay! Our 2010 calendar is out! Featuring all of our most popular photographic prints its a great pressie idea for only $27 via our redbubble page here.

As it's the Melbourne cup today I thought we'd share our tips for picking a winner - in the fashion stakes that is. Headbands, hats and fascinators are firm favourites at weddings as well as the races. Make a statement with bright, bold colours and fabulous feathers, or opt for soft pastels with over-sized floral designs. We've got our money on these handmade beauties...