Thrifted Thursday - Owl Paper Holder

I imagine this little wooden owl is actually a napkin holder; however, I use it as a place to store my current stationery and thank-you cards.


On its own (or against to knotty pine wood paneling), it could be considered dated; but I have it on my desk alongside various white ceramic containers that hold my other desk supplies - a milk glass mug for pens, a white ceramic plant pot for scissors, rulers, and X-Acto knives, and a Jonathan Adler-esque white ridged mini-vase from Ikea. The little wood owl pops rather nicely against the collection!

*swoon*
Paige

Lovey Dovey

Over the weekend, one of my very best friends got engaged, and since I found out I have been in a daze of all things wonderful, and sweet, and lovey dovey.

Take a look at these lovely prints from the best source for handmade, Etsy!

Tree Print - Littlest Flower

My Heart's As Big - GINNIP

La La Love You - Sparkle Power

Always Kiss Me Goodnight vinyl wall sticker - Freckled Hound

The Love Tree - theloveshop

You Are So Loved - Jess Gonacha

Congratulations, Sarah & Chris!

*swoon*
Paige

Home Projects - Coffee Table Art Gallery

I wanted to share with you a little project I finished over the weekend...

Over the years, I have been collecting little "artsy scraps" here and there, but have never been sure how to display them. I thought about the option of framing each one, but that could get costly, and I would eventually run out of wall space. A scrapbook or photo album might work, too, but I didn't want to have to put them away. I wanted to be able to look at them all the time!

My solution came in the form of our coffee table. I located a nearby glass cutter, called them up, and had them cut a piece 33.75" square (the size of the coffee table's top). The edges were also smoothed down to avoid cutting anyone. The total came to just over $60, way less than dozens of custom frames & matting.

The Boyfriend and I picked it up from the shop a few hours later and took it home where I then set to work creating an interesting collage with all of my various clippings, cards, textile bits, and other memorabilia. I had some thin cork and cut little squares for the corners of the table so the glass would stay in place. We gently set the glass down on top of the table, careful not to move any of the "artsy scraps" in the process, and stood back to admire it (well, I admired it... The Boyfriend just plopped back onto the sofa to watch TV. We can be very different at times, but he's very patient with me and my "arts-and-crafts side" considering he's not like that at all.).


I hope you like it! If you're similar in that you have paper or other two-dimensional collections that you hate to get rid of (I'm actually a pretty good purger, but I still like to hang onto some things that inspire me), I would highly suggest this project. It's easy to change new pieces in and out from under the glass, too!


Now I just need some floor pillows to put around the table!

*swoon*
Paige

P.S. We found the coffee table for $15 at a thrift store last summer!

Crafting - Humongous Paper Roses!

Alright, these are just too fun not to post.

I'm on the daily craft email list from Martha Stewart, and today's craft was how to make these enormous crepe paper roses. It's a little odd that I like these so much, because fake flowers are usually not my thing. But, for some reason, these are different...


Editorial assistant, Morgan Levine, makes and sells them at her little online store, Amble Through Bramble; however, she gives a great video tutorial on how to make them. They're a little time intensive, but I think they would make great centerpieces at a dinner party or wedding reception (think three clustered in a short, wide vase).

*swoon*
Paige

Letterpress!

My friend, bride-to-be Melissa, is a huge fan of letterpress, so I thought I would put together a collage of some beautiful invitation and save-the-date options.

While ultra-swoonworthy, letterpress can also be ultra-expensive. For an inexpensive DIY option, buy a silkscreen and some photo emulsion paint to create your own invitations by screening your design onto the paper. It sounds tricky, but if used correctly, the photo emulsion paint will make the design come out perfectly. You can also do multiple colored prints (although it helps to have good spatial skills!). It may not have the same texture as letterpress (slightly raised instead of sunken in), but it will still look oh-so-professional. Trust me. If you have any questions or concerns about this (or would like some direction in invitation design - or would like to hire me to design something!) don't hestitate to ask! If enough people inquire, I would be happy to post a silkscreening tutorial here in the near future.

*swoon*
Paige

1. Bird On A Branch, Pistachio Press (Etsy)
2. Watermark Letterpress, Elum Designs - great for those of you obsessed with typography
3. Save the Date, Invited Ink (Etsy)
4. Vintage Postcard, Golden Rectangle Press (Etsy) - my personal favorite!
5. Save the Date, LHCalligraphy
6. Columbine, Eden Invitations (Etsy)
7. Headline Letterpress, Elum Designs