Creating Wedding Hangers With A Silhouette: A Step-By-Step Guide

Personalised hangers are a must-have for every bride's wedding day. They are a dreamy addition to your wedding photos and can help relieve stress by keeping things running smoothly. They can also serve as a pleasant surprise for your bridal party and even your groom! They are pretty simple to make and will make a nice present for your maid of honour, bridesmaids, etc. You can use vinyl stickers, bows, ribbons, printable tags, wire lettering, paint, and more to create your own personalised hangers.

Using vinyl stickers

To make your own, you'll need printable adhesive vinyl and Silhouette Studio Designer Edition Software. You can adjust the colours of your designs, add gradient fills, and create patterns. You can also make stickers for lists and menus by adding patterns and playing with transparency. Once you're happy with your design, check that only the outside cut lines are set to cut, and print!

If you're buying vinyl stickers, you'll need a vinyl decal, transfer tape or transfer paper, and a smooth, dry, clean surface to stick it on. You can buy these in kits, or separately.

First, you need to 'weed' the vinyl, which means removing all the excess vinyl around the outside of the letters, as well as the bits inside of the letters. Then, take your transfer tape and lay it over the top of your wording, trying to get it as straight as possible. Use a vinyl scraper or a plastic card to smooth down the transfer tape to get rid of any bumps or air bubbles.

Once the transfer tape is secure, flip it over and rub the back, then slowly peel the paper away from the decal. Place your design on your chosen surface, and use your card again to smooth down the letters, making sure the vinyl is stuck with no bumps or air bubbles. Finally, slowly peel off the transfer tape.

Adding ribbon bows

To make a simple bow, you will need a ribbon in your choice of colour, plus a glue gun. You can follow these steps:

• First, cut a piece of ribbon between 15 and 20 inches long. The length will depend on how big or small you want the bow to be, but this length will make a nice-sized bow with 1-inch thick ribbon. Adjust the length accordingly for different ribbon thicknesses.
• Next, make a "bunny-eared" loop and twist the longer end two times so that it becomes rope-like. The same shiny side of the ribbon should still be facing up.
• Create a second "bunny ear" with your ribbon, adjusting the loops to be the size you want your final bow loops to be. Make sure your tails are fairly even, too.
• Now, take the left loop and fold it over the right loop, bringing it around and back through the centre hole, just like tying a shoe.
• Pull it tight to create a knot, then tug on the loops and tails to finesse your bow. Don't worry if you don't get a perfect bow on the first try.
• Once you're happy with the bow, trim the ends if desired.

You can also add a small pearl or crystal embellishment to the centre of the bow for a touch of elegance. Alternatively, you can make a double bow or a mini bow with a fork for a fun and easy variation.

Using wire to spell out names

Wedding hangers with names spelled out using wire are a fun DIY project and a great way to add a personal touch to your wedding. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you create these hangers:

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

You'll need hangers in your preferred colour (IKEA's Bumerang hangers are a popular choice for their low price), 12-gauge floral wire (available at craft stores or on Amazon), needle-nose pliers, a hot glue gun or super glue, a drill with a 3/16" bit, and ribbon for embellishment.

Step 2: Prepare Your Hangers

If you're using suit hangers, remove the bottom part that holds the pants. This can be done by pulling it off and then removing any nails inside with the needle-nose pliers. If you're using regular shirt hangers, skip this step.

Step 3: Plan Your Lettering

Before you start bending wire, plan out your lettering on paper. Draw the names or words you want to spell out, keeping the pen on the paper at all times. This will help you figure out how to cross your t's and dot your i's without cutting the wire. Feel free to make the letters loopy and add hearts for extra flair!

Step 4: Start Bending the Wire

Take a decent length of wire, depending on the length of the word or name. It's better to be generous here, as you can always cut off any excess later. You can start with a loop before the first letter and end with one too—it's a cute touch! Bending the wire can take practice, so don't be discouraged if you don't get it right the first time. Remember, once you bend the wire, it's hard to straighten it out again, so commit to each bend. Try to twist the wire around the letters to add strength and durability.

Step 5: Drill and Attach the Wire

Use the drill to make holes in the hanger where you want your wire to go. If you're using a suit hanger, you can use the existing holes where the pants hanger was attached. Measure and cut the wire so that it fits into the holes and is centred on the hanger. Use a small amount of hot glue or super glue to secure the wire in place. Be sure to bend the wire parallel to the top of the hanger and cut any excess.

Step 6: Embellish with Ribbon

Finally, add a ribbon or other embellishments to your hanger. Tie a bow or use any other creative techniques to make your hanger unique and match your wedding theme.

Creating these wire name hangers can be a fun and rewarding project. Don't be afraid to experiment and add your personal touches. Happy crafting!

Adding printable tags

Step 1: Choose your design

You can find free printable designs online, with various themes such as beach, floral, and modern. Alternatively, you can create your own design using a computer and printer. Consider incorporating your wedding theme or colour palette into your design.

Step 2: Gather your materials

You will need a printer, cardstock or paper, a glue gun or adhesive, ribbon or string, and scissors. If you plan to use a template, make sure you have the required font files installed on your device.

Step 3: Edit and print your design

Download the template of your choice and edit the text to include the names, roles, and wedding date of your bridal party. Then, print your design onto the cardstock or paper. Cut out each hanger tag, ensuring that they are the correct size to fit your hangers.

Step 4: Assemble the tags

Cut strips of ribbon or string and glue them in a loop to the back of each tag. Alternatively, you can use a hole punch to create a hole at the top of each tag and thread the ribbon or string through. Adjust the length of the ribbon or string to fit your hangers.

Step 5: Attach the tags to the hangers

Use a strong adhesive or hot glue to attach the tags to the hangers. Ensure that the hangers are clean and dry before attaching the tags. Position the tags in the centre of the hangers, or slightly off to one side if you prefer.

Printable tags are a versatile and affordable way to personalise your wedding hangers. They can be customised to match your wedding theme and colour scheme, and they make a lovely keepsake for your bridal party.

Painting hangers

Shabby Chic Distressed Hangers

Start by sanding down the hangers with fine-grade sandpaper to create a rough surface for the paint to adhere to. Wipe down the hangers with a lint-free cloth or a damp rag. Once they're dry, paint a light coat of paint over the hangers. If you're using two colours, paint one coat of the darker shade first and then a coat of the lighter colour. Let the hangers dry completely before adding additional coats. After the final coat, use medium-grade sandpaper to distress the paint, especially on the edges. You can also use steel wool to achieve this effect. Wipe the hangers clean before adding any bows or embellishments. For a stunning effect, use a dark stain as your base coat and then paint the hangers white before distressing.

Vintage-Style Hangers

For a vintage-style wedding, capture the glamour of the 20s or the free-spirited vibe of the 70s with these painted hangers. Paint one hanger white and another hanger black, applying 2-3 light coats of each colour and allowing them to dry. On the black hanger, paint a 'V' in the middle using white paint. Add two black vertical dots to the white portion of the hanger and let it dry. Create a bow with black ribbon and glue it to the black hanger. For the white hanger, attach floral or pearl embellishments with glue and let them dry.

Glitter Hangers

Add some sparkle to your wedding day with glitter hangers. Paint one side of the hanger with craft glue, such as Mod Podge, and then sprinkle glitter over it liberally. Once dry, tap off the excess glitter and repeat on the other side of the hanger, as well as along the edges. To prevent glitter shedding on your wedding day, finish with a sealant spray. Alternatively, mix equal parts glue, water, and glitter and paint this mixture over the hanger.

Floral Hangers

Bring a touch of nature to your wedding with floral hangers. Place your hangers flat on wax paper and arrange pressed flowers on them. Prepare resin according to the package instructions and pour it over the flowers and hanger, or dribble it neatly onto the flowers. Use a needle to adjust the flower placement if needed. After about 10 minutes, transfer the hangers to a clean wax sheet to prevent resin build-up. Allow the resin to cure for 24-72 hours. You can make pressed flowers by placing fresh flowers between wax paper and letting them sit under heavy books for 4-6 weeks.

Lace-Patterned Hangers

For an elegant touch, try creating a lace pattern on your hangers. Cut a piece of lace fabric that completely covers one side of the hanger. Lay the hanger flat and place the fabric on top, securing it to the sides or weighing it down with heavy objects. Spray paint over the lace and let it dry. Gently remove the fabric while the paint is still a bit wet, and then repeat on the other side. Embellish with a bow, or pearls for an extra special touch.

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