Last-Minute Valentines

February 13, 2013
Everyday Crafts, Gifts, Holidays, Parties, Valentine's Day

Ok, it’s February 13th and you know what that means. Procrastination must turn to action—now! Valentine’s Day is just minutes away and it’s time to get resourceful and use what you have. You’re at work with no craft supplies you say? Fear not—these last-minute Valentines can all be made from “borrowed” office supplies from your desk drawer.

FRONT-AND-BACK
Grab some Post-it notes and after your love falls asleep, arrange them in a heart-shape on the wall of your bedroom or living room. If you really want points, write all the reasons you love him on the the backs. It’s okay if you don’t have a gorgeous array of colors like these from The House that Lars Built. See below…the effect is still totally presh.

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Post-it note heart from Desire to Inspire.

Heart_breakout_product2
This is a Blik wall decal, but can easily be replicated with Post-it notes! Via Brooklyn Bride.

Heart-stickers
You probably don’t have heart stickers laying among your legal pads, but just grab a marker and draw a heart or write I LOVE YOU on some Avery mailing labels. Easy peasy. These cute stickers are from Inspire Lovely on Etsy.

0106_kids_tacboard_l
Ok, no Post-it notes or plain labels on hand? Tacks, cardboard, and binder clips make cute little frames for your kids’ artwork. Via Martha Stewart.

You’re welcome.


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Spirograph Crafts

February 12, 2013
DIY Home, Everyday Crafts, Gifts, Grown-Up, Parties, Tween to Teen

Gift-tag-2-kopie
As I’m working on my craft book, I’m trying to summon craft ideas from my youth and give them a modern spin (no pun intended; read on). I came across these spirograph gift tags on Pinterest today (via Nadel & Gabel) and spiraled down a little memory lane trip. I am clearly not the first person to have found the spirograph images inspiring and super modern!

EmmaCleine-hero-spirograph-pillowThese lovely pillows are a mix between spirographs, doilies, and sunflowers. Via The Design Files.

Once-wed-spirograph-2_1
An entire wedding decor was inspired by the spirograph. Check out this post on Design*Sponge to see how they didn’t miss a single detail.

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This hand-stitched bag makes my head spin. Via Pinterest.

Spirograph-notecards

Spirograph flower notecards. Of course! For sale at Mimosa Cards on Etsy.

Spirograph-plate
I love everything going on in this photo. I want those plates, and if you speak Dutch, will you tell me where I can buy them? Via Style Cookie.

Spiropins
A perfect marriage of two awesome 80’s crafts…spirographs and shrinky dinks! Via Clean & Scentsible.


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Clever Business Cards

February 11, 2013
Everyday Crafts, Grown-Up

Ed-ruscha-biz-card{Ed Ruscha business card featured on Flavor Wire.}

The topic of business cards keeps coming up in my life these these days, and yet practically, they seem so antiquated. I mean, I can bump my phone to another and exchange contact info, so why spend the time and money to craft or print a little card that possibly ends up creased at the bottom of your purse?

Well, when you see a good business card, it makes a lasting impression, and it can really identify your brand in a big, creative way. Plus, no one would dare throw it away. If you dismiss business cards as an analog, dated form of social networking, think again.

Alt-summit-business-cardsIf you’re of the crafty sort, study this photo within an inch of your life. These are business cards that The Proper Pinwheel collected at Alt Summit. I’ll need to start planning mine now for the summer event in NYC.

AGRIE_BusinessCardPeal back the painters tape to reveal the contact info for a stand-out paint service company.

 

Bizcards10
An interior designer should only have fabric business cards like Francesca Pasini’s.

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Dilly Dally is a toy store. ‘Nuff said.


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Paper-Cup Animal Crafts

February 8, 2013
Everyday Crafts, Food, Holidays, Parties, Upcycled

This post makes me want to write a whole book on crafts to do with paper cups. As I was stumbling upon these, I started searching for crafts that I swore had to exist and they didn’t! But the overwhelming amount of genius paper-cup animal crafts was staggering. Who knew?

Paper-cup-animalsI can’t even contain my dropped-jaw expression for these artful paper cup animals by Gautam Datta. You also have to see how he crafted Hindu divinities from paper and cups. Amazing.

Paper-cup-animals-vintage
I found these on Pinterest, but there’s no source from where they came. Sad. Because they are beyond the beyond. The winking bunny sends me.

Paper-cup-reindeer
Yes, this last one from Handmade Charlotte has a Christmas slant, but how smart is it to cut up straws to make antlers on a reindeer cup? Love. Love. Love.


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Time for Unusual Planters

February 7, 2013
Decor, DIY Home, Everyday Crafts, Grown-Up, Nature, Upcycled

I think February is usually the month when I say “I’m done with winter. Gimme green. Now.” Thank goodness I married a guy with a green thumb, or else I’d really be hungry for plant life. There are so many clever ways to incorporate plants into your decor these days.

Planter-light
This gorgeous light fixture/planter blows my mind. Via Design Vagabond.

Jean-jacket-planter
I have 2 jean jackets in my closet that I can’t seem to part with. I kind of love the idea of using the pockets for a planter. Via Small Home Love.

Light-bulb-planter
Did you know you could turn an old lightbulb into a planter? How enlightening! You can use your trusty glue gun to add three small dots to the base to make it stand on end. Via 1 800 Recycling.

Planter-typewriter
I do love my old typewriter, I do, but it just sits on a shelf under my desk and takes up space. How cool is this planter idea? And by the way, have you seen the digital magazine, Covet Garden? It’s gorge.

Check out more cool planter ideas here. Clearly it’s where my mind goes in February.


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