Author Archive

Vintage Suitcase Treasure

| Decor, DIY Home, Furniture, Grown-Up

Every time I go to a flea market, I stare at old suitcases and wonder what I would do with one if I took it home. Clearly I’m not the first to have thought of the possibilities…take a look.

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Two fabulous options of suitcase tables found at Bijou Kaleidoscope. Brilliant. I’m especially impressed with the engineering of the one on the right.

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I love the idea of turning a make-up case into a vanity case. Found via Crafting a Green World.

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How great would these be in an airline exec’s office? So clever. Found via Apartment Therapy.

 

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Dreaming of Planters

| Nature

I know it’s February and gardening months seem like a distant memory or a far-away future, but that’s exactly why I need to daydream about plant life.

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Imagine if every pothole was planted into a lovely garden? Many tires would be saved! Pothole gardens by Pete Dungey; found at Cup of Jo.

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Have you ever unpacked a box of books from your basement and found that it had been ruined by water damage? Turn them into planters. Found via Happy Cavalier.

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These planters mimic the method of growing avocados; just rest them in a small cup or bowl of your choice. Found via Crib Candy.

Who else is ready to get their green thumb on?

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Faux Antler Crafts

| Decor, DIY Home, Gifts, Grown-Up

I know this trend has been, well, trending for a while, but I’m feeling like faux antlers* are not only lodgey-cool, but they are also utilitarian.

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Not only are these electrical outlets adorable, but they are useful too. Plug your charger in and rest your phone, camera, or whatever on top of the antlers, keeping your electronics away from any dusty floorboards.

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Ever since I visited the Savannah College of Art and Design last summer, I’ve had a major crush on these plush animal busts, cleverly called Plushkill. They are quirky and sweet, don’t ya think?

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My friends Lissa and Alex gave me Fred (this cardboard moose) for my birthday this year. They came late to the scavenger hunt, but they guessed there may be 35 pieces, thus qualifying it for the contest. (Read this post if you don’t know what I speak of.) I can’t wait to hang our friend Fred in the new apartment (more on that later).

*No animals were harmed in the production of these products.

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Good Deed Cookin’

| Food

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For the past 10 summers, I have volunteered a week in August to Birch Family Camp, a residential camp program that brings New York City families living with HIV/AIDS to the woods for a week. It is seven real days of respite for these families that live everyday with the realities of illness, poverty, and many of life’s devastating trials.

Over the last 6 months, we collected recipes from the camp families and volunteers to put together our version of a family cookbook, S’more to Love. It is full of anecdotes, smiling faces, and of course, delicious recipes from all over the world.

We are a teeny program that really and truly improves the lives and spirits of our campers. We struggle each year to meet our budget so that our campers can shine with glitter and drink bug juice for one more year. $40, the cost of the book, can feed a whole group of campers for a full day. That’s nothing, right? Nothing, but everything.

Special thanks to Blurb.com for their generous donation and professional printing.

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Balloon Inspiration

| DIY Home, Early Elementary, Everyday Crafts, Grown-Up, Older Elementary, Tween to Teen

I must begin with a confession: I don’t like balloons. But honestly, these photos might make me change my mind. Really, they might.

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As Color Me Katie says, “Every morning should start with a colorful bunch of balloons!”

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The more the merrier was most definitely the intention behind this balloon party. Found via Oh Happy Day!

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A French chateau with balloons spilling out? Nothing better. Found via Party Perfect Blog.

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Leave it to Martha to dress ’em up like sweet ‘lil animals.

I take it back. Balloons have won me over.

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Colored Pencils Galore

| Everyday Crafts, Gifts

Why is it that a new box of colored pencils thrills at any age? I always hate to ruin the shiny points that line up perfectly in a fresh set. It’s definitely a universal feeling, as proven by these amazing examples below…

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Helsinki based artist Jonna Pohjalainen was inspiried to make this pencil sculpture during a summer Environmental Art workshop at the Open Air Art Museum in Pedvale, Latvia. Found via The Jealous Curator.

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If you are crazy about Jonna’s sculpture, you can buy a mini Colored Twig Pencil Set at A Toy Garden. Via Ohdeedoh.

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And if you are really obsessed with colored pencils, you can subscribe to 500 Colored Pencils. You’ll receive 25 pencils for 20 months.  I love this quote describing it: It’s about enjoying an unhurried creative process and the artist, that over time, you become.  The names of the colors are amazing, like Tea with Milk, Autumn Fog, Miss Muffet, Pretty Polly, and 496 more!

 

 

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Last Minute Valentine Idea

| Everyday Crafts, Gifts, Grown-Up, Holidays, Valentine's Day

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As an individual, I don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day traditionally. But as a crafter, I simply can’t avoid it. It is a holiday ripe with creative possibility! And, I’m a bit of a sap, so one small gesture per year is allowed.

If you are in need a last minute Valentine for the significant other in your life, this one packs a big punch. Last year, I made a numbered list of each day that I had known Michael. I know, it sounds daunting, but with auto-type on Word, it’s super easy. I figured out important dates (like when we were in Argentina, I wrote in Spanish) and described them accordingly. To make it easier on myself, I often copied the same sentence over and over to complete the list. I rolled the scroll and tied it with twine.

So for this Valentine, you just have to have patience and math skills.

(Love to you all.)

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(Non-Christmas) Wreathes

| Decor, DIY Home, Everyday Crafts, Holidays

February may seem to be a strange time to blog about wreaths, but lately I’ve become a big fan. Having grown up in a home where we didn’t celebrate Christmas, wreathes were the equivalent to having a tinseled, lit tree in your living room. But today I’m declaring that stigma over. For good. These delightful examples prove my point…

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This beautifully crafted wreath would be amazing on the door at an intimate wedding. Felt flower winter wreath from The Purl Bee.

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The color choices here are phenom. Felted ball wreath from Pickles.

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Paper Wreaths by Haru, via Craftzine.

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Paper circle wreath from Crafty Stylish.

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Tie Wreath from Good Housekeeping.

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Nature wreath from Parents magazine.

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