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

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

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

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

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

I take it back. Balloons have won me over.

WELCOME DESIGN MOM READERS!

It’s so nice to have you here. If I could I would serve you refreshments and cookies. With sprinkles.

Did you know that pineapples are a symbol of hospitality? Amazing paint-by-numbers pineapple wallpaper from 2Jane.

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.

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

 

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!

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.)

   

I saw this amazing cabinet over on Joglosmart Furniture Design and it got me thinking of how inventive we can be with skyscrapers.

Goody bag display painted in the form of a cityscape from the May 2009 issue of Parents magazine.

Adorable skyscraper family Halloween costume from Martha Stewart.