have you seen...

 

this ATC holder? 7Gypsies also makes photo carousels.... both of which are great ways to share photos or create "moveable scrapbooks" as gifts for loved ones! 

I really think this is neat way to display ATC cards.... (ATC stands for Artist Trading Cards). ATCs are simply mini cards (around 2x3) that display a work of art, photograph, or similar type of scrapbooking or journaling. I just received mine in the mail and am very excited to start displaying my own ATCs. 

I also picked up two of the larger photo carousels, which hold 4x6 photos or index cards (can be purchased at TwoPeas). There are SO MANY uses for these! (see Ali Edward's blog for more fun ideas! She has even started her own class you can sign up for to help walk you through the "spinner making process"!) These photo carousel projects have become very popular lately... there are plenty of ideas out there on how to put one together. I think they are an excellent way of displaying photographs, rather than keeping them closed in a scrapbook or album. Something like this can be set upon a coffee table, end table, or other shelf for people to peruse. And its super easy to add to also! I am planning on using at least one of them as a gift, using the theme of "Family" and having each member of our family contribute a special note, etc. There are special pockets you can purchase that work with these also, along with photo protectors, and other fun things to help create a "moveable scrapbook"! 

This is just one of the many handmade holiday gifts I am beginning to work on! I am planning on using my free time (since my hours were cut at work) to get this all finished. Luckily, being crafty is what I love doing most! Just wanted to share the ideas if anyone was looking for something unique to give a mom, grandma, or friend for Christmas! 

handmade holidays!

Just received these from my mom! What better sources for the best handmade gifts for the holiday? I've already picked out a few things from the Martha Stewart Holiday magazine (and last years issue also) that I will be adding to my list of gifts. There is absolutely nothing better than making something handmade or getting something in return:) 

and now all is right in the world...

Since I got married in September I have battled with the enormous piles of clothes surrounding the bedroom, my office, and Tylers. The upstairs closets had one shelf and one bar. Attached to each other so they couldn't be used. The clothes ....they were everywhere. And boxes. I could never find the shoes I wanted, or the other sock to wear with my boots. And then I couldn't remember what clothes were clean. It increasingly got worse as I dug through more boxes and finally brought home what was left in my old closet. After a particularly irritating morning of not being able to find either pair of pants, the other red shoe I needed, or the skirt I had finally settled on I left with the house looking like a tornado had blown through. And I was late for work to boot. Tyler came home that evening and said he needed to discuss something with me....would it be okay if we purchased a closet organizer for the bedroom? Because he had finally had enough of the clothes.

I was like. Um. Yes please:)

And so it finally came in the mail on Friday, the John Louis Closet Organizer from Target (see photo 1). And it is AMAZING! After five hours on Saturday night (and me insisting the inside of the closet needed painting first) it was finished. I spent all Sunday morning figuring out the best organization for it (see photo 2). Im sure it will change by next weekend. But this was such a good thing... I've purged just about everything I didn't need or haven't worn in over a year (I'm a huge pack rat so this is a big deal). I feel so much better and though all my clothes do not fit in the closet I love it. I would definitely recommend this to anyone and if you have a walk in, well one could go on each side! (Thats my big plan someday:)

Anyway. I can finally breathe in the bedroom (almost) and Tyler has his office back. What a perfect ending to the weekend!

"Above all else, it is about leaving a mark that I existed: I was here. I was hungry. I was defeated. I was happy. I was sad. I was in love. I was afraid. I was hopeful. I had an idea and I had a good purpose and that's why I made works of art." Felix Gonzalez-Torres. 

This is by far my most favorite quote. I plan on putting it in a frame and hanging it on my wall. Sometimes it all just comes down to this. 

just a little bit of prettyness....

This lovely stationary from Linda and Harriett is just so awesome. I found this site through another blog I read and just love everything they are selling (but unfortunately it's a bit out of my price range). I'm not sure exactly how you would adhere vintage wallpaper to the inside of an envelope without it lying weird or being goopy, or if vintage wallpaper even has any glue left on it. Maybe that is why this set of cards is $490.00. I'm not sure. But I do know that I absolutely love it and am going to think of a way to do something similar...maybe with vintage looking paper?! I love sending letters and this is the perfect way to make the whole letter opening excitement just a little bit better:)
And then.... I went searching through my office to find my other shoe and behold! A vintage vase from the thrift store that matches these envelopes perfectly. No wonder I love them so much. Ha!

trying something new....

Welcome to my blog! Hi! So I have always wanted to start my own blog, if for no other reason than because I post on about a hundred other blogs and am never able to leave my own site address....At any rate, this is my attempt. I encounter so many interesting things when I am perusing online in all of my abundant free time, so this is the perfect way to share a lot of that with people I know. It is also the perfect place for my Etsy customers to talk to me or request orders, I guess a lot of designers on Etsy already have their own blogs. So. Here I am. You don't have to read it or like what I post, but hopefully it will be something I can keep up on and enjoy doing:) And I am really looking forward to sharing some of the great ideas and people I have found online!
The picture above really makes me happy. Fall is here (my absolute favorite time of year) and being home with a few candles and a good book is the best. And what better time to start something new?