Introducing a New Service! Damaged Fingerprint Guestbook Reproduction

We would like to think that all of the guests at your wedding will be perfectly behaved angels and that that the fingerprint guestbook concept is fool-proof.  But, in reality, people are human and sometimes it doesn't go all as planned. The vast majority of guestbooks we send out do turn out fantastic, but when they don't, we have a new solution to help you out! This sister of the bride had some trouble with their guestbook balloon at the wedding. A pen got dropped on it on one corner, a few stray thumbprints were wiped in another and someones drink dripped on it and smudged the text. She was devastated that it was not perfect, but I'm so glad we were able to help!

 

She sent us the original damaged guestbook art, after the wedding, and we had it professionally scanned, then edited it remaking what was damaged and preserving the most important parts (the fingerprints and signatures of her loved ones). We thoughtfully reproduced the poster on the same beautiful fine art paper the original was made on, matching each color, that you would never be able to tell that it had been reprinted.

Maybe you weren't happy with the results of your special artwork after your guests marked it all up or maybe you are just worried that your guests might mess it up. Rest at ease knowing that it can always be fixed! Just send us what you have and we will make it beautiful and new. The service is just $35 plus the cost of return shipping to you (prices vary based upon country mostly).

Contact us if you think you might need help cleaning up a mess.

Up, Up, and Away Nursery!

Hot air balloons are so colorful and whimsical! I love catching a glimpse of them in the distance when driving! As a child I remember thinking they were the greatest thing ever. Here are a few inspirations for a hot air balloon themed nursery, baby room, play room, baby shower or birthday party. Enjoy!

Check out this DIY paper hot air balloon mobile pattern here. 

Come Fly away with me, Pillow Cover from Olive Handmade on Etsy.com

Add some color along a wall, behind the crib or across a window with this DIY fabric streamer (also great for wedding cake backdrops).

Up! cupcakes with sprinkled cake pops on top!

A poppy red and aqua color palette is so fun and perfect for this theme and would work for boy or girl rooms!

This balloon wreath is so fun!

Check out this clever use of paper lanterns!

So many of our balloon designs would work dashingly in a nursery along this vein. Find the one that speaks to you most to welcome your little love today!

Custom Couple Balloon Examples

One of the most fun things about what we do is getting to connect with so many brides, and grooms, in such a fun stage of their relationship and wedding planning. We love all of our customers, but we do have to communicate quite a bit more with those that chose to order custom couple balloons from us.





These can be personalized by choosing one of three stances, then sharing with us what you and your sweetheart will be wearing on your big day. The artwork, in the end looks like you two holding, or being carried away by, balloon thumbprints of all of your special loved ones that attended the wedding!



Here are a few examples of custom couple drawings we have done.

 A few colorful inks brighten any room in your home as this cheery design reminds you of that special day.

 Three different stances are available to customize with your dress, suit, hair and veil details.

Visit our etsy shop today and pick out which one you like best, then an artist will email you for details on your wedding attire.

On the go! New Design: Red Getaway Scooter Couple with Thumbprint Balloons

Its always exciting when a client's vision inspires a new product to offer to more possible couples. This sweet red scooter is the perfect getaway vehicle for a cool couple of newlyweds donning helmets and shades. Strings are drawn tied to the back of the scooter, flying behind them so that they carry the mark of their loved ones in tow.

This idea came to us from a couple in Australia. The design is now for sale in our shop and comes in red, though we could change the color of the scooter, upon request.
Book your vintage Vespa today then come on over to BDT Handmade and let us make you a personalized guestbook that will blow your guests away!

We were inspired by these stylish rides!

Photo by Kailey J. Flynn Photography

Sail Away

In our attempts to create more ocean themed or tropical wedding products, in addition to the fingerprint leis, we have brought you this new sail boat thumbprint balloon. Would be ideal for a nautical wedding or something on the cape... Sounds dreamy!

In a smaller size, this is also great for a baby shower or birthday party for your little sailor.

Set your sails for our etsy shop to get yours today!

House a Home

Every now and then we get a sweet request to turn someone's new home into a floating house. I love this idea. Now, it does not work for every house (example a rambling ranch house, huge mansion or home too covered by treed to get a good picture of it aren't good material for this concept). This is a great idea for a housewarming party or a wedding where the couple has bought a new home or are having their wedding at a unique architectural venue. Here is a shot from someone's wedding we were sent today. Love it. When its all filled in, the balloon will make it fly!

Their wedding reception was held at the Historic Blaisdell Manor.
Contact us about crafting a custom drawing of a special building for you too!

New balloon designs

Two years ago, BDT Handmade started selling our totally original design of the thumbprint balloon house, inspired by the movie 'UP!'

Since then, the concept has grown to convey so many versions of the idea. All of your loved ones marks making something special to you fly. The tandem bike thumbprint balloon is one of our most popular designs for weddings, representing marriage beautifully. Many of our creative clients have asked for so many different ways to represent the thumbprint balloon idea, that we've decided to share some of our favorites with all of you, available for purchase. All of these are now up in our etsy shop, or check out some other more custom designs to help get you inspired for something special for your wedding, birthday party or upcoming special event.

Great for birthdays: the Elephant balloon, monkey balloon and tricycle balloon designs are loads of fun!

Great for weddings: dream a little dream with the Over the Moon Design, fly into the sunset with the Vintage Prop Plane design (available upon request), float away in style with the Hot Air Balloon Basket Design

Check them all out and see what inspires you!

Up! Inspired kids party

From a feature on OhDeeDoh. Many of our products are geared towards the wedding day but lots of what we make can be fun for kids too... (cant wait to share a new line of products for little ones). I love the balloon wreath on the table! Now imagine all of this with one of our guestbook balloon houses.

We can only imagine Kieran's delight at this delightful party. Francine shares: Kieran's second birthday party was inspired by the Pixar movie UP! We used balloons as the main decorating element, including using them on a cardboard replica of Carl and Ellie's house. The replica was made by my husband using three large furniture cardboard boxes turned inside out.

On the gifts table they made a smaller replica using a wooden shadow box house and also created Paradise Falls using crepe paper. The food was all homemade by us: cookies, cupcakes, sandwiches, sausage rolls, fruit salad, and the birthday cake. There was vanilla ice-cream too!

She made fabric tote bags to use for goodie bags and they contained a car caddie, an Adventure Book, an activity book, a crayon, and a foam paintbrush and mini canvas for the art activity: hand print canvases. The three little guests were also given home made playdough to take home. The bags were housed in Kieran's little walking wagon which was made into a balloon cart. Party hats were made from 12x12 scrapbook paper.
Check out Francine's blog Callaloo Soup where she shares more of the party here and here.
(Images: Francine/Callaloo Soup)

Tandem Bike Love

Dont you love her faintly blue wedding dress?

Via Green wedding shoes... Check out this divine post about using irish wedding traditions. Images from Shane O’Neil of Aspect Photography

Using a tandem bike at your wedding? What a wonderful symbol of team work and love along life's open road together. Get your tandem balloon guestbook today: http://bdthandmade.blogspot.com/p/make-it-fly-balloon-designs.html

Katie & Matt's wedding featured in Wisconsin Bride Magazine

We received word yesterday that the wedding of one of our lovely clients was featured in Wisconsin Bride Magazine, both in print and web! It was a phenomenal event with the ceremony at Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum and reception at Bacchus Restaurant in Milwaukee. I love the aged architectural details and views of the lake at the reception and the stunning greenhouse room at the reception. Katie ordered a guestbook thumbprint balloon drawing in our original house design.  I looks great!

Check out a few images of their big day below. Photography by Erica Rose

The reception was a brunch. Such a fun alternative to the traditional dinner reception.

Gown: Melissa Sweet | Shoes: Kate Spade | Hair & Makeup: Janice Well Spa at the Pfister Hotel | Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal | Tuxedos: Jos. A Bank | Cake: Simma’s Bakery| Flowers: daffodil*parker | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Bird House Card Holder:Door County Woodworks | Thumbprint Guest Book: Bleudetoi | Harpist: Amanda Basich | Videographer: One Fine Day | Day-of Coordinator: Laura Ursin from Brides on a Budget