Urban Comfort

Hearts & Scones

Today is my 14th wedding anniversary, which seems impossible. It's gone by so quickly,  I could swear I just married him a few years ago!  At any rate, to start the day off right I found these sweet coffee cups from Mark and Graham. I generally like my dishes neutral, shapely, and graphics free, but this year I was feeling whimsical. For us, it's perfect.  We drink a lot of coffee and we drink most of it together, every morning and every afternoon. It's our time to connect and slow down together. For all I know it's been our secret for a happy marriage.

To accompany our morning coffee, I wanted scones for a change so I made almond scones with raspberry jam and clotted cream, a nod to our almond wedding cake with raspberry filling. It's a variation of Alice Waters' recipe from The Art of Simple Food. They come together quickly and couldn't be easier to make, leaving you with plenty of time to enjoy the rest of your day.

 

Almond Scones
Makes 8

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/3 cups heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
Finely grated zest of a small lemon 
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons raw sugar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Farenheit. Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Mix the heavy cream and almond extract together, then add the cream and mix together, gently, with a wooden spoon until the dough just comes together. Gently fold in zest. Turn the dough onto a floured surface, flatten into an 8-inch circle. Brush the top with the melted butter and sprinkle with the raw sugar. Cut dough into 8 triangles and arrange on an ungreased baking sheet, spaced about an inch apart. 

Place baking sheet on center rack in oven, and bake for 15-17  minutes until scones turn golden. Allow to cool on wire rack for about 10-15 minutes. Serve with jam and clotted cream (whipped mascarpone makes a fine substitute if you can't find clotted cream).

 

Organizing in Style

The way I organize has changed a lot over the last few years. I used to have a tremendous amount of paper to deal with (not just the usual receipts and bills, but massive stacks of clipped tearsheets from magazines). And while I was early to pay bills online and get paperless statements, I never imagined that one day I'd read all of my magazines online - and save all of those tearsheets digitally as well. It's been a relief to get rid of that paper. So much of a relief, that I've started scanning just about everything I can, backing it up to multiple sources. There's something immensely attractive about the idea of holding most of your world in your hand.  

Slower to change has been the way I work. It's just physically impossible for me to keep the craft supplies and tools contained in one nice, neat, small package, no matter how much I crave it, which means that I'm always looking for new and better ways to store the little odds and ends of my job, preferably in a clean, stylish manner.  

So when Avery sent me a few pieces from the Martha Stewart Home Office collection at Staples, I was delighted with the idea and the look of the Shagreen boxes from the Stack + Fit line. It's modular storage with mix and match capabilities, all in the streamlined, sleek look and color palette that we've grown to expect from Martha.

One of the things I really love about these boxes is how well they fit in with existing decor. If you find that you're usually crafting in your living room or at your dining room table (like I do, even though I have a craft room upstairs), you can stash your most used tools and supplies in these boxes and give them a home on a bookshelf (or even in a china cabinet)  and they'll just look like a pretty accessory instead of practical storage.

The other item I really love from the Martha Stewart Home Office collection is the wirebound notebook. I'm completely old school in that regard and I always have a notebook in hand. If something doesn't get written down or explored on paper, it doesn't stay in my brain. And because I use a notebook every day and use it across multiple areas of my life, it helps if it's college ruled, has a pocket, a durable cover, and looks pretty at the same time - which is just what you get.  

Organized, but not boring. That works for me.

 

*Visit the Staples website to see more of the Martha Stewart Home Office Collection with Avery. 

Better Bacon

I've never met a piece of bacon I didn't like. But over the last couple of years I've taken note of some particularly good bacon being served in several of the better restaurants here in New Orleans (there's a fried oyster and bacon salad at Lüke that just knocks my socks off). And I needed to know where that bacon came from - you know, so I could bring it home and have it live in my refrigerator. Turns out the bacon was from Benton's Smoky Mountain Country Hams in Tennessee and that it could indeed be mine.

Now, I'm a big believer in buying local, and the idea of mail ordering bacon seems a little absurd, but it was worth every penny. It's my special occasion bacon, this weekend's occasion being the start of football season (even if our start was lackluster). I fry it in a cast iron skillet on medium heat, slow and steady, because I like my bacon cooked through, but still chewy. It's also perfect in savory dishes and I use it for things like shrimp and grits (substitute bacon for the tasso), or risotto. 

With shipping, 4 pounds of bacon cost me $38, which isn't a whole lot more than I pay per pound at my local grocery store. And when I'm finished cooking it, I strain the bacon grease and keep it in my fridge to add a little extra flavor when frying up breakfast potatoes or making steaks. 

So I thought I'd share my little secret with you. But hurry, bacon is currently shipping about 3-4 weeks after an order is placed. Seems like it's not such a secret anymore!

Visit Benton's Smoky Mountain Country Hams 

Back to School: Easier & Better Stenciling

  

I'm back. Hurricane Isaac and four long, sweltering days without power are behind me, so I'm itching to get down to some creative business. And in the spirit of a new school year, I've decided to add a new feature here. Back to School will cover subjects I previously considered myself well versed in, but have discovered something fundamental that changes, streamlines, or elevates my old process.

Today's Back to School involves stenciling. I've done my fair share of projects, with some nice successes, but I've also had my gripes with it along the way. First is the edge bleed. It doesn't happen all the time, but I've never been able to complete a project without some edge bleed, no matter how much adhesive I've used, how light I've stippled, etc. And I'm a little bit of a perfectionist, so I end up going back and fixing everything with a liner brush. Effective, but not the most efficient use of my time. Second, I abhor stencil adhesive. I've always assumed it was a necessary component of stenciling, but it's difficult to completely remove and I end up having to line all of my used stencils with waxed paper so they don't stick together. It's not all that cheap, either.  But honestly, I just didn't know there was another way.

 

So when I was learning about Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Lisa Rickert passed on a stenciling technique she'd picked up from Melanie Royals of Royal Design Studio. The first thing I noticed were the brushes she pulled out. They didn't look anything like the brushes I've purchased at Michaels and other craft stores. The bristles were longer and softer, not what I think of as a stenciling brush. The second thing I noticed (after she'd offloaded almost all of the paint onto a paper towel), was the light, swirling motion she used over the stencil instead of the traditional pouncing or stippling motion.

 

I tried it for myself and was surprised at how much easier it was than the stenciling I'd been doing, how little fatigue I felt in my hand, how quickly I was able to move across the stencil, how little paint was required for good coverage, how clean the final design was, and how not one bit of stencil adhesive had been used. I was so blown away, I went right home and emailed Melanie.

 

I've been thinking about what I learned ever since and with a set of Melanie's stencil brushes in hand, I tried my hand at stenciling fabric. I experimented with both smooth and nubby fabrics, small and large stencils, and used Chalk Paint for all of it (Lisa had informed me that Chalk Paint could be used on fabric without the addition of textile medium.) The swirling technique worked every time, on every fabric, just like it did on wood.

 

 

I have lots of experimenting to do, and as I complete projects, I'll post them. But for now, here's what you need to know:

 

1. Forget the cheap, hard bristled stencil brushes that you find in craft stores. Invest in good, natural bristle brushes instead. (I highly recommend the set of brushes from Royal Design Studio.)

 

2. Instead of using stencil adhesive, try either holding the stencil secure with your hand (which is generally enough for a smaller stencil), or tape the edges to the surface you're stenciling (better for larger scale stencils).

 

3. When you load your brush with paint, turn around and offload the excess paint onto a paper towel - until the brush seems almost dry.

 

4. Instead of using a pouncing or stippling motion, swirl the brush in a circular motion, working along the edges of the stencil first, gradually moving in to the center of each design area. (See this tutorial for examples.)

 

And if you try this out, I hope you'll comment and let everyone know how it goes for you. I'm truly excited about what I've learned because I know I'll be able to finish projects in half the amount of time it normally takes me - without having to go back and touch up!

Japanese Rice Paper Plant

 

Fa la la! Christmas is...OVER (at least for a little while). And like the actual season, it was great fun while it lasted, but now I'm happy to put away the decorations and Christmas craft supplies and get back to what's left of summer. 

But during my monthlong crafting marathon, held mostly at my dining room table, I couldn't help but notice how well my Japanese Rice Paper Plant has been growing, with only a minimum of care and a summer of torrential rains that have allowed it haphazard light at best. You know, a good plant for those of us with not-so-green thumbs. And it seems only fair that I share it with you, because I didn't even know these lovely plants existed until recently. So perhaps you don't either.

My cousin, Stephen, who not only has a green thumb but makes magic out of just about any material that passes through his hands, has great stands of these plants on his property and they're enormous. I like to stand under them and look up into their leaves, and indeed, their leaves are so large they'd likely shelter you in a storm. They are, in a word, dramatic. Which is exactly how I like my plants. 

I won't bore you with growing zones or a lot of details about care (so far, my care has consisted of watering it once a week. Some days it gets a little sun, some days not, and it's been in an air-conditioned 74 degree house all summer long). You can research that on garden sites, with experts who know more than I. But if you love tropical plants, this is a good one to add to your collection. It makes me swoon a little each time I pass by. Low maintenance, high visual impact. That's a formula I can live with.

 

Online source for Japanese Rice Paper Plant (Tetrapanax papyrifera): Plant Delights Nursery

Have a happy weekend!

 

Beautiful Bugs

I hate bugs. No, let me clarify. I am terrified of bugs. And when I'm faced with one of the prized specimens sprung from the murky swamplands of Louisiana, I do what any sane woman does - I call for my husband (or any male within shouting distance). I'm a wimp in this one particular area and I have absolutely no qualms about admitting it. 

But they always tell you to face your fears, so I've found a way to live with bugs - I enjoy them as art. Then I can admire their intricate details and marvel at their coloring, all the while enjoying the swells of cicada calls just outside my window.

 

Mister Finch

I'm smitten with the many fairytale creatures that spring from the fertile imagination of textile artist, Mister Finch. Made from bits and pieces of vintage finds, his sculptures are a mix of whimsy and old world craftsmanship, one-of-a-kind beauties.  (See more of his work on his website - also includes the link to his Etsy store)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kari Herer Photography

I first discovered Kari Herer's work when I stumbled onto her magnolias photographed against illustrations. She's at it again, this time mixing magnolia petals with illustrations of bugs, an entirely unexpected and strangely alluring combination.  (See more of her work on her website - includes link to her Etsy store.) 

 

 

 

Paul Villinski

Butterflies don't scare me and Paul Villinski's beer can butterfly installations hardly qualify as creepy, but I'm including them here anyway, just so you'll know about his work. Utilizing recycled cans (and sometimes old LPs), the artist creates soaring, beautiful installations that take my breath away. (See more of his work on his website.)

 

 

 

In Pursuit of Beauty (Part II)

It's my birthday this weekend, and with the gain of another year I thought I'd take my annual dip into the topic of beauty. Yes, inner beauty is of utmost importance, but there's no reason you can't look pretty on the road to enlightment.

Beyond the tips I had last year for turning back time and an economical approach to makeup experimentation, I thought I'd share the makeup tips and products I've been using that have been working for me.

I'm like every busy mother, and because I work from home, there are plenty of days that I roam around without makeup. But that makes the days when I am wearing it a lot more fun. And while I still enjoy experimenting, I also need to get out of the house in a timely fashion, so here's my tried and true.

Lay the Foundation:

I was always a liquid foundation lover, but you can't beat the ease of mineral makeup. I tried a number of brands before settling on my favorite, Raw Natural Minerals Active Mineral Foundation. I've been using it for the last couple of years and it's hands down my favorite of all the mineral makeups I've tried. It stays in place for a good twelve hours, holds up to heat and humidity, supplies coverage from sheer to full, and doesn't look shiny or shimmery. I do have to mix two shades to get the exact color I need, but it's easy to combine the powders in the lid. I love it!

 

Highlight the Eyes:

When you're tired it shows up in your eyes. And as you get older, it shows up more and more. If you use a product like Eye Beam from Smashbox, you can highlight the inner corners of your eye and the brow bone. It's an instant brightener that makes you look younger and more alert.

 

Lale Beauty

Tightlining:

This is a little trick I picked up from Pinterest. If you lift your lid and apply liner at the lash line, from the inside of your eye, it gives you subtle definition that still looks natural. It's great for everyday wear, when you don't want to go all out. I still use the technique at night and apply liner on the top of my lids as well.

Beautylish

 

Enhance the Lips:

I'm lucky in that I have naturally full lips. But I do notice a certain deflation that's taking place over time. It's subtle, but I endured a lot of teasing as a child over my lips. I've earned them and I'd like to flaunt them as long as possible, not to mention that fuller lips automatically make you look younger (unless you've gone the extreme surgical route, which we've seen the unfortunate results of on celebrities who should know better).

So here's the trick - highlight the upper ridge of the lip. This could be a highlighter pencil or even a lighter concealer  (I use an inexpensive highlighter from Maybelline - DreamLumi Touch Highlighting Concealer). The other product I use on top of my lipstick is Sally Hansen Full & Radiant Lip Definer. I like the texture and it adds just enough luminescence to enhance my lips without looking fake and overly shimmery.

The Beauty Department

 

Go Nude:

In my twenties I was all about red lipstick and much deeper shades. The older I get, the better I look with lip shades that are more natural (it also makes your lips look fuller than deeper shades do). This year I went even more natural with Kevyn Aucoin's Flesh Tone pencil in Medium (I use it on my entire lip). I can't tell you how many women stop me and ask what lip color I'm wearing. It's natural, but somehow dramatic. 

 

So there they are, my beauty tips for the year (along with self-confidence, a perennial favorite). And I may be a year older, but you know what - I'm getting better and better with age. I bet you are, too.

Sweet Paul Magazine

I love Fridays, the beginning of a new month, and new magazines on the (virtual) newsstand. Today, I have it all!  

Have a happy weekend!

See Sweet Paul Magazine here.

Sweet As Honey

I'm on a honey kick right now, craving it in food and cocktails, drawn to it in color and decor. Maybe it feels like a true sign of summer (as if the temperature outside wasn't making it clear). Whatever the reason, I can't seem to get enough of it!

I am completely smitten with the idea of using honey dippers as swizzle sticks for cocktails. Barenjager Honey Liqueur is also one of my favorite cocktail ingredients, so you can bet I'll be using this idea. The Sweetest Occasion

 

 

I found these sweet honeycomb stitched linen buttons on Etsy. I'd use them as a special gift wrapping element for a small gift or envelope (paired with yellow string) Humble Bea

 

 

Sheets of beeswax wrapped around clear cylinder vases and votive holders lend a sunny, textural note to the table. Martha Stewart Weddings

 

 

Artisanal honey paired with cheese.  Can there be anything better? Martha Stewart Weddings

 

 

Imprinted with an actual honeycomb foundation, the honeycomb collection from dbO Home is lovely, with an organic feel and a delicate touch. 

 

 

I love the simplicity of this beehive cake, charming precisely because it's unlike so many of the specialized beehive cake pans I've seen. Devour the Blog

 

 

Perhaps my favorite soap on the planet - Pre de Provence honey soap (especially Pollen). Comfort Zone

 

 

I definitely don't need another cake stand, but I'm finding it hard to resist this cake stand and beehive cloche from West Elm.

 

 

Sweet gift packaging you can make yourself (not to mention honey candy from the Natural Candy Store). Martha Stewart Weddings

 

 

You can use this hand carved stamp set for all of your summer correspondence, labels, or gift packaging. And since the honeycomb and bee stamps are separate, your designs can be one-of-a-kind. TC Witchcraft Factory on Etsy.

 

 

I just might need this handmade etched wood iPhone skin. Grandma Woodentooth on Etsy.

 

Pair raw honeycomb with cheese, fruit, or edible flowers for a truly decadent experience. Savannah Bee Company

 

Back from New York

I was in New York last week. I meant to tell you beforehand, but there are times when I'm just grateful to get to the airport on time. At any rate, I was at the National Stationery Show, helping my friend, Whitney (from Whisker Graphics) make her trade show debut. 

It was my first time being on the exhibitor end of a trade show and I'm in awe of what small businesses and designers do to get their wares to market. There's an extraordinary amount of time, energy, and expense that go into what's essentially a gamble. And in fact, the trade show floor feels very much like a casino floor, minus the bells and whistles that alert you to a winning streak. But if you're sensitive to your surroundings, the losing streak is easy to spot and heartbreaking. One thing I know - it usually takes just as much time and energy to create a poor or mediocre idea as it does to create a great one. And sometimes it's not the idea at all, but the timing or marketing of an idea that fails. But still, especially with smaller companies, you know that it's someone's hopes, dreams, and livelihood on the line.

Fortunately for us, we had a great show and I didn't make it out of the booth all that much (which is the best possible scenario). But the beauty of a trade show is that lots of great people come to you. I met Amy Atlas, who was delightful, as is her book Sweet Designs: Bake It, Craft It, Style It. I also met the talented and gracious Elizabeth Demos, whose first book, Vintage Wedding Style, is being released this fall by Chronicle Books (definitely one to watch for). Then there were the bloggers and magazine editors, shop owners and other exhibitors - a tremendous number of energetic, thoughtful, detail-oriented, passionate people under one roof. It was a lot of fun.

As far as products go, I barely touched down, so I can't give a complete report. But I'm mad for just about everything offered by Chewing the Cud. Also, Rifle Paper Co. has some gorgeous new products that I look forward to getting my hands on. I have a big crush on East of India and I'm in love with every single product from Set Editions. Oblation Papers is one of my new favorites as well, along with their line of irreverent cards from Hat Wig Glove. 

I know there are so many other vendors and products that deserve recognition. If you're interested, google "National Stationery Show" and you'll find reports from lots of other bloggers. As for myself, it was a great experience, but it's good to be back!

Child's Own Studio: Soft Toys Made from Kid Art

Yesterday I attended my son's Kindergarten graduation (and tried very hard not to be overly emotional and embarass my son, but c'mon!). I also came home with a boatload of art and projects to add to the boatload I've already collected over the year. At the moment, I can't part with a single piece of it. I know this will change, but for now, everything feels like a masterpiece, something special or sentimental to hang on to. 

But I'm always looking for ways to get art out of boxes and bins and there's only so much wall space I can dedicate to it. So I was excited to find Child's Own Studio, where Wendy Tsao, a craft artist, creates toy keepsakes that are faithfully created from your child's drawings. For me, this is a much more satisfying idea than two-dimensional art, and probably a lot more satisfying for children as well. After all, who doesn't want to see their masterpiece brought to life?

Clearly, I'm not the only person who's fallen in love with this idea. There's currently a wait list for Wendy's creations. However, she has a "Softies Showcase" on her site that features other crafters who can help you with your project (along with examples of their work and pricing). 

 

 
Polly Peanut Butter Bee by Joel

 

 Mika, by Jayme, age 5

 

Self-portrait by Zoe, age 5

 

"Stobbayew," the 6-legged bunny, by Maya, age 4

 

All photos by Wendy Tsao

Style Crush: Hans Blomquist

                                               © The Natural Home (Ryland Peters & Small)

I have a huge style crush on Hans Blomquist, stylist, art director, and author. Whether he's being moody or lighthearted, masculine or feminine, I get him. Right down to the soles of my feet. 

I discovered him slowly, as I found myself drawn to images from various sources, all connected by one name - his. Infatuation. Then I ordered his book, The Natural Home, and...love. Admittedly, his book will not be for everyone. If it's color and contemporary design that move you, his is not the book for you. But if you love the moody, patinaed, textured, quirky and eclectic, with a distinctly European style, this book is most definitely for you. 

What can I say? He's everything I hope for in a stylist.

 

More of his work:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bringing Nature Home

I don't usually mention so many books in such a short time, but yesterday I received my copy of Bringing Nature Home and I was too excited not to share it with you. I think it's quite possibly the most beautiful (and accessible) floral design book I have ever seen - though it's not quite just a floral design book. One could argue for its interiors as well.

Conceived and photographed by Ngoc Minh Ngo, with arrangements created by Nicolette Owen of Brooklyn's Little Flower School, Bringing Nature Home contains page after page of gorgeous, yet doable, arrangements photographed in interiors that are equally beautiful and inspiring. The book is divided by season and includes a guide to arranging the flowers, but it's thoughtfully placed in the back of the book instead of interrupting the visual abundance of full page photos. 

It really is one of the most beautiful books I've ever seen, with accessible "back to nature" arrangements. If you're a fan of nature, flowers, interiors, or beautiful photography, buy the book. It's well worth it!  

(All photographs ©Bringing Nature Home: Floral Arrangements Inspired by Nature, Rizzoli New York)  

 

 

 

 

 

Note:  I purchased my book through Amazon, which currently says it's shipping within 1-3 months. However, you can search online for independent booksellers who currently have it in stock.

12 Free Fonts

You can find me on Momster today with a roundup of free fronts.

Book Review: The Homemade Home for Children

I've looked at a lot of craft books over the years. If a book contains at least six projects I want to make, I'll generally buy it. But then there are the few craft books that are so lovely to look at, so inspired, that it takes a while before I'm even willing to put them away in a bookcase. That's how I felt when I received The Homemade Home for Children by Sania Pell. (CICO Books, $24.95. www.cicobooks.com)

The book is packed with 50 innovative ideas that cost little to make but are stylish enough for the most discerning of parents (and children). There are projects for the nursery as well as bedroom decor for the older set, projects for children to use in play, fashion accessories to make, outdoor projects, and one of my favorites, stylish storage ideas. The styling and photography are gorgeous and the projects are accessible, with clear, concise directions. 

If you have children or need ideas for unique gifts, this is definitely a book to add to your library. And for more of Sania Pell's unique perspective, you can purchase her first book, The Homemade Home. She also has a beautiful blog, At Home.

 

Play Sail

© CICO Books

 

Curiosity Cabinet

© CICO Books

 

Treasure Jars

© CICO Books

 

Clay Butterfly Garland

© CICO Books

 

Graphic Boxes

© CICO Books

 

Artist's Palette Chalkboards

© CICO Books

Etsy Find: Empty Nest by Lucy Snowe Photography

I've added another piece of affordable photography to my collection and I'm just as happy as can be with it, so I thought I'd share it with you. No, it's not a pretty washed pastel version of a nest with eggs in it, but that's not the kind of photograpy I live with anyway. I's beautifully printed and nuanced and makes me happy whenever I look at it. It's also living very comfortably with the rest of my collection. 

The photographer is Lucy Snowe and you can find this photograph, French Country Empty Nest in her shop on Etsy (available in two sizes). She has lots of other nature photographs as well, both in black & white and color. 

Blog Love: Aunt Peaches

I'm a little obsessed with coffee filters after making my flower baskets and carrots, so I spent some time looking for other coffee filter crafts. My search kept leading me back to Aunt Peaches, who I daresay might be the queen of coffee filters.

Filters aside, Aunt Peaches is irreverant and fun and not at all afraid of color (like I am), so I greatly enjoyed the different perspective  and thought I should share her blog with you, in case you're not familiar with it. I learned how to preserve blown eggs with ModPodge on the outside and the inside of the egg, figured out exactly what  to do with the vintage costume jewelry I have hanging around once I saw  spangled slippers made with tile adhesive, and suffered serious pangs of envy when I saw the most amazing coffee filter roses EVER (pictured above), along with a tutorial for coloring them with acrylic paint.

I think you'll enjoy her, so go visit. She definitely inspired me!

5 to Inspire: Spring Greens

It's that time of year, that moment when I look around my house and realize I'm desperately in need of green. That desire won't be satisfied for a few weeks, but in the meantime, I've gathered some visual greenery - just in case you have the same needs I have.

 

White on Rice Couple

 

 bhg.com

 

 

Ken Bosma

 

Cindy BeLove

 

Harmonica Jane

 

 

 

 

DIY Paper Flowers

I love paper flowers, perhaps as much as I love the real thing. It's possible to get so close to the realism of a natural flower, but I appreciate the intrinsic whimsy as well. They just make me happy. 

I've got a flower project that I've been thinking about for Easter, so I've started gathering up inspiration. And what inspiration there is! I found so many beautiful examples that anyone can make, and most of them require little more than paper, a template or paper punch, and glue. Don't be intimidated, especially if your first flower takes a little while to make. It gets easier as you go and faster as you get used to the process - and it's absolutely worth it in the end!

 

DIY with Tutorials:  

One day, I want an entire wall of these giant flowers in my workspace (in red!). I feel like they'd make me happier than happy. (from Ruche for Design Sponge)

 

 

Transform paper flowers into floral party hats (or perhaps an updated version of an Easter bonnet?) from Oh Happy Day

 

 

These structured flowers are made from 1-inch circles made with a paper punch (from Cotton and Brass for The Wedding Chicks)

 

Less realistic than some examples, but no less charming. Scalloped edge scissors and crepe paper streamers make up this ruffly flower from It's in the Details. 

 

 

Here's my tutorial for crepe paper daffodils from a guest blog post I did for To Be Charmed.

 

 

Inspiring:

From The Green Vase  (See lots of other beautiful examples on the site as well.)

 

 

Iceland Poppies via Emmaline Bride  (a kit you can order)

 

 

Whimsy from Thuss+Farrell

Valentine Stamps

 

 

Personally, I've been appreciating more of an industrial mood this Valentine's Day, so I ordered some new rubber stamps that reflect that aesthetic. I'm so happy with them I thought I'd share the resource.

You can find all of these rubber stamps at Impress Rubber Stamps. If you hurry, you can still get them in time for Valentine's Day. And while you're there, peruse their other designs. They're one of my favorite stamp and ink resources and I tend to find cute packaging items on their site as well.