New Obsession

Pinterest is my new obsession.  I'm a little late in the game, I know I know...my fave bloggers have been raving about it for ages but I just never really took a moment to pop over and see what the hype was about.  This weekend however I did and OH WOW!  My life will never be the same.  I plan on blaming my future lack of productivity to this site alone.

Here are some examples of the awesomeness I found on Pinterest this weekend:

Cute button magnets...such an easy fun craft...I like easy fun crafts.

Um hello...are there even any words to accurately express the cuteness here?

 And a really pretty wedding dress.

I could go on and on about all the magical finds...but I have work to do ;)

Toodles!

I'm a Gawker.

Yeah.  

I'll admit it. 

I will spend countless hours gawking at photography blogs, etsy shops, crafty DIY sites, the latest TOMS shoes and Coach purses, digi scrap galleries, and dachshund rescue pages...I need to stop. 

Seriously.

But it's really hard when I come across sites like THIS and THIS that just totally feed into my obsession.

You people are doing me no favors.

But secretly I totally love it. 

So sue me.

craftgawker.com and weddinggawker.com

 

Mini Matchbook Notepads

You know how I feel about lists.

Love 'em.

Pretty much can't live without 'em.

Seriously.

I am totally and completely lost without my lists.

I take great care compiling my lists, and it is these lengthy compilations of to-do's that get me from here to there.

So.

With that being said, this little crafty project was PERFECT for me, not only did it take me literally less than five minutes, but it was super cute, and super practical!

Little mini matchbook notepads!
OMG. The perfect home for random thoughts, lists, and notes to self!

Toooootally adorable.

Now the ones pictured are from the first round I was experimenting with so they are not all that stellar, but you get the idea :)

Craft Projects I WILL Complete...

one day...

I have an ever growing list of saved links to tutorials and craft projects that I simply MUST do.  Yet I never get around to doing them.  This is because I am either missing just one tiny yet completely essential element of the supply list, or an important tool is stealthily hidden in some box somewhere (I am constantly moving so I am never completely unpacked), or I am just plain lazy...one or all of the above is generally the case.

Well I saw this today and yup, added it to the list.  How cool are they?!  I totally gotta make them!  Of course...ummm...I don't have paint swatches, but ya know, one day when I do, I'll totally make them.

image credits: How About Orange, paint swatch boxes

Another thing I HAVE to make is this...for my neice.  She loves pink more than I do, which is saying a lot.  And she loves frills and sparkles and all things fancy.  It's perfect.

image credits: Prudent Baby

Then I also want to make these.  I can use them to compile more lists.  Yay!

image credits: DaisyJanie, mini pocket notebooks

Craft Spot

Think I'm gonna make some of these this week...

Ok, ok, let's get real...probably not this week, but at some point I am totally making these little paper-bow-clips.  So cute.

image credits: How About Orange

Today's a Big Day

Well today's my big day.

I made some cupcake toppers for my lil birthday shindig this weekend...cute eh??

I hope you enjoy your day today! I know I will ;)

xoxo!

Happy Happy!

First of all how could I have possibly let a delightfully colorful newsletter from Rock Scissor Paper just sit in my inbox all weekend long??  And secondly how could I have done so when it had such Happy News tucked inside?!

First of all I adore the ladies of Rock Scissor Paper.  I had the opportunity to meet them at a Stationery Workshop they taught a while back and they were not only inspiring and fun and just absolutely fabulous in every way, but they also were generous with their knowledge and time, and just willing to share everything they had learned throughout their creative journey.  It truly was awesome.

Anyways, the email I just finally opened introduced a few of their new products which is always fun, but most importantly, it had a "save the date" section just for So. Cal locals....aka ME.  *smiling really big*   This section was announcing two super awesome events: a Craft Workshop in conjunction with Tom's Shoes (OMG LOVE THEM so I MUST go!) and the arrival of Unique LA, an independent design boutique/fair...both will be here in a little over a month!  Awesome.  I am SUPER EXCITED.  I love these kinds of things.

Also the newsletter had a link to RSP's blog and I found this posting which I thought was just the yummiest and so cute, and I would so totally make these tasty treats for my sweetheart if I had any baking skills whatsoever.  As it is, I don't even think I own a whisk, let alone have a clue what a pastry cutter is; and is unsalted butter different than regular butter??  I'm thinking I wouldn't get too far through this recipe before disaster would strike.  Dang it.  But they do look delish, don't they?

Happy Monday!

image credits: Rock Scissors Paper - Make Something Happy Blog

I Like Wedding Stuff

Not that I am getting married any time soon or anything, but I happened to be perusing the inspiration galleries over at Martha Stewart Wedding the other day and well, bookmarked a few things...ya know, for future reference...should I ever need them.

For instance, this collection of their favorite Wedding Palettes.  I love this.  There were definitely a few color combos I would never choose in a million years (umm hello marigold and pewter???), but I love color combos in general and just found these to be artistically inspiring.

I enjoyed the gallery of Wedding Decorations as well.  SO many adorable ideas.  Again, quite a few I could certainly do without...I mean a wheat wreath??  Really?  But the wine bottle table numbers, carnation clusters, and the hanging lanterns were among my faves.

On the other hand, I thought this gallery...of supposedly Gorgeous Wedding Gowns was hideous.  I liked maybe one gown out of the 54 spotlighted in the selection.

Regardless, always worthwhile to spend a few spare moments on important research such as this ;)

image credits: Martha Stewart Wedding

Gift Card Cozies

So remember the Gift Card Cozies I was gonna make a few weekends ago??

Well...here they are! 

I whipped these little darlings up today...

Kinda cute, huh?

They would certainly jazz up an otherwise un-cute gift that's for sure ;)

Head Over Heels

I am SO totally and completely head over heels in love with this:

 I think I might buy it.

:)

Also THIS is my crafty project for the week.

Gift Card Cozies.

SUCH a good idea.

And oh so easy.

I'll post pics when they are completed...I think they are gonna be cute!

image credits: Suspect Shoppe

Build Your Own...

Cupcake!

What delicious fun.

Vol.25 is one of my very favorite designers and is the creator of this adorable cupcake construction kit.  You can download it here on her blog for free!  

It's just a cute little something to do for your little ones...or...who am I kidding??! It's a little something to do for big ones like me who are total suckers for cute things! 

image credits: Vol. 25

Every Great Gift...

Needs a really great bow.

And not only do I heart bows tremendously, but I'm gonna go ahead and say that yes, I do tie a darn good looking bow.  However, my talent only goes so far.  When it comes to gifts, my bows may be a bit sub-par...

But never fear! I found the following tutorials that will show us how to make various types of gift bows!  Perfect for all the holiday packages we will be wrapping up in just a few weeks...

Gift Bows...by Scrap a Little

Magazine Gift Bow...by How About Orange

Trouble Free Gift Bow...by Small Notebook

Expert Tips and Various Bows...by Container Store

Yes. I'm a Spontaneous Doodler.

...or if you'd rather, a doodle addict.  

Put a writing implement in my hand and I will draw.  

I draw during staff meetings, on napkins in restaurants, on my students' tests while I am grading them, while talking on the phone or watching a rental...I am a doodler.  

And guess what?!  

I am so not alone!  

I stumbled upon this gem today...a little corner of the blog world for people just like me.  yay.  

You've got to check out the napkin doodling.  OMG.  We are talking serious works of art here.  I gotta step up my game. Next time I go out to eat, I'm bringing out the big guns.  Ok, ok...maybe just some colored markers, but still.

image courtesy of Doodlers Anonymous

Eye Candy

I think I would really enjoy being a wedding planner.
I mean, I've never actually planned a wedding before, but I have been in twelve of them...and I adore...like really really love...bridal blogs and magazines.  We are talkin' serious eye candy...I'm a sucker for stunning color combos, gorgeous flowers, and well, love ;)  I just like to see all the creative ways couples make their special day truly special, truly unique.

I came across this article on Etsy about a completely handmade wedding.  Everything from the bridesmaids hair clips to the wedding invitations to the ceremony decor was purchased from shops on Etsy.  Go look at the photos STAT.  Serious eye candy.  I LOVE everything about this wedding.  I want to BE in this wedding.
:)

And I so want one of those bridesmaid pinwheels.  

Isn't that the cutest idea??!  

Love it.

image credits: rule42

Art Journaling??

So I've found a new hobby that I want to do...art journaling! I stumbled upon some blogs that are all about this gorgeous art form and I instantly fell in love. I think it is totally me. I of course have none of the supplies and seriously buying a ton of new artsy crafty products is so not what I need right now...my craft area is overflowing with stuff,
stuff,
and more stuff...

but oh, I just really think this would be the most wonderful way to combine my love for drawing, scrapping, and journaling (which I do love but seem to always start strong on January 1 of every year but find that by Jan. 15th I have totally fallen off the wagon and the journal remains forgotten for the rest of the year...geez) Anyways, if you do art journaling maybe you could pass along some tips because...
well...
I have no idea where or how to begin! Ha! I just want to do it :)

p.s. apparently there is a magazine dedicated to this craft...hmmm...maybe I will start checking that out...



image above: Art Journaling Magazine, by Sommerset Studio